XC via Castle Cary

[carriageline]

TBW is put in when more than one signal needs to be passed at danger consecutively, so I would presume they have a fair old stretch out

 

[43167]

Unlike Virgin who I always thought were a good passenger friendly Company.
Story is that they are not going to divert via S&C in the future and instead subjecting passengers to long bus journeys without catering and in many cases, without toilets. Passengers would prefer an 80 minute longer journey on a train without being disturbed. After all, they wanted to travel by train in the first place otherwise they would have gone by National Express.
It is alleged that to divert is too costly especially hiring "drag" Diesel locos but surely, if the will was there, Class 221 (Voyager) diagrams could be adjusted to achieve this. Not necessary to divert every trains, perhaps. They have done it over the Chiltern route.
I hope that if this post creates a lot of interest a separate thread could be opened as this deviates off the original topic.

Its sad they have taken this approach. There was a time when Virgin were happy to use any route possible. Not only the S&C, but there was Carlisle-Glasgow via GS&W, Preston/Liverpool-Crewe via Manchester and Nuneaton-Birmingham New St/Wolverhampton for Drags.

 

[FQ]

There's flooding between Bridgwater and Taunton, not sure if that's anything to do with it.

Yes that is the reason.
See National Service Indicator for more details

 

[Thomas6187]

The line between Bristol TM-Taunton seems to be open in a limited capacity. I was on the 14:46 off Bristol today which was sent straight to Taunton, with a brief signal stop just after Bridgewater. It arrival 29 minutes early

 

[bb21]

Its sad they have taken this approach. There was a time when Virgin were happy to use any route possible. Not only the S&C, but there was Carlisle-Glasgow via GS&W, Preston/Liverpool-Crewe via Manchester and Nuneaton-Birmingham New St/Wolverhampton for Drags.

The Manchester one is still used when needed, via Bolton previously but now via Eccles with 390s.