the same time![/url]

As an aside - and not attempting to tempt providence - let's hope nothing untoward happens between Exeter St David's and Taunton on GWR's main line, requiring a diversion between St David's and Castle Cary!

16:58 Great Malvern to London Paddington due 19:26 will be terminated at Reading.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:03/08/2025 16:48

Amber warning issued ahead of Storm Floris



Weather warnings have been upgraded to amber for most of Scotland as Storm Floris bears down on the UK.

The warning lasts from 10:00 BST on Monday through to 22:00 and warns of danger to life as damage to buildings and trees due to storm conditions is expected.

There is also a yellow warning across northern England and Northern Ireland from 06:00 BST on Monday through to midnight.

Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024/25 season, and the first since January.

The storm is yet to develop but there will be a rapid drop in pressure as the system nears our shores on Sunday night.

It expected to bring "unusually strong" west or north-westerly winds to much of Scotland.

The amber warning covers a wide area as far south as the country's central belt - including Glasgow and Edinburgh and also the Highlands.

Gusts of 50 to 70mph are expected, even inland. Exposed coasts, hills and bridges could see gusts of 80 to 90mph, while some models have even suggested 100mph gusts which were last seen during Storm Éowyn in January.

The worst of the winds will be in the western coastal areas of the warning zone between late morning and early afternoon.

As the storm spirals away by late afternoon and early evening the strongest winds will move further eastwards to coastal areas of Aberdeenshire.

Trees are in full leaf at this time of year and are more likely to be toppled with branches broken off than during winter when the wind can whistle through them unimpeded.

Power disruption is also possible while heavy rain and flooding could be an additional hazard.

Named storms in August are not that rare.

Last year, Storm Lilian struck the UK on 23 August just before the bank holiday weekend, closing stages at the Leeds Festival and cancelling Heathrow flights.

In 2023, Storm Antoni brought wet and very windy weather to south Wales and south-west England affecting events such as Brighton and Plymouth Pride. Less than two weeks later Storm Betty brought further disruption.

In 2020 there were also two August storms - Ellen and Francis - that the Met Office describes as "two of the most notable August storms in the last 50 years."

These two storms brought wind gusts of 79mph and 81mph respectively with transport disruption, coastal flooding and power cuts.

The storm follows the UK's fifth warmest July on record, according to provisional figures from the Met Office.

All four UK nations recorded one of their 10 warmest Julys, and July was the sixth consecutive month of above-average mean temperatures for the UK, the Met Office said.

The first day of the month brought the highest temperature of the year so far, with 35.8C in Faversham, Kent.

The amended service for the 11th p is now on RTT
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/
It seems that pathing on the single line means more use is made of Honiton and Gillingham vice Axminster and Tisbury loop, and those stops are extended, not the usual couple of minutes

Not long enough to add a third rail these days ... just sayin'

Track and signalling upgrades linked to train service improvements will affect trains between Guildford and Redhill or Gatwick Airport.

On Sunday 14 September, additional track maintenance work will also affect all train services via Guildford.

Sunday 7 September, plus Monday 15 to Saturday 27 September

Trains will run between Reading and Guildford with replacement buses planned between:

Guildford and Gatwick Airport – non-stop
Guildford and Redhill – stopping at all stations
Southern train services will still run between Redhill and Reigate or Gatwick Airport.

Thameslink and Gatwick Express services will also operate to/from Gatwick Airport.

Sunday 14 September

Trains will run between Reading and Ash with replacement buses planned between:

North Camp and Gatwick Airport – stopping at Guildford only
North Camp and Redhill – stopping at all stations except Shalford and Chilworth
Guildford and Gomshall – stopping at Shalford and Chilworth
South Western Railway will provide alternative transport between Guildford and Aldershot – stopping at Ash and Wanborough stations.

Important to note

Rail replacement services will pick-up or drop-off at the front of Dorking (Main) railway station instead of Dorking (Deepdene).

20:20 Hereford to London Paddington due 23:38 will be terminated at Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system.
Last Updated:02/08/2025 20:48

or the good burghers of Crewkerne threw their collective toys out of the prams.

Campaigners say passengers are being priced out, with advance fares in south-east up by almost 10%

Rail fares across Great Britain have risen by 5.1% in a year, with cheaper advance fares increasing by almost double the rate of inflation, the latest official data shows.

Campaigners said passengers were being priced off the railway after the rise in the price of tickets surpassed the government cap on regulated fares, which account for about half of rail journeys.

The Department for Transport capped the increase in regulated fares in England and Wales – which include season and anytime urban tickets – at 4.6% in March 2025, while Scotrail capped its increases at 3.8% in April 2025.

According to figures from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for the financial year ending in March 2025, unregulated long-distance advance fares went up by 5.9% and advance fares on trains in south-east England rose by almost 10%.

The ORR said overall fares across Great Britain increased by 5.1% over the 12 months, compared with an inflation rate of 3.2% over the same period, as measured by the retail prices index.

The consumer prices index, which is no longer the official measure of inflation for train tickets, was 2.6% in that period. The government decided to set regulated rail fare increases at 1% above the RPI rate in July 2024, a rise of 4.6%.

The cost of rail travel has in some years risen below the cap, with the industry saying cheaper advance fares set by operators offered more affordable options. However, those are now rising faster than regulated fares, the figures released on Thursday show.

Ben Plowden, the chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Rising rail fares are putting people off using the railways and making rail travel unaffordable. The government must make fares and ticketing reforms a priority under Great British Railways to help tackle inflation-busting fare rises and make rail travel more affordable for more people.”

Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, said: “I understand that passengers are frustrated rail fares keep rising despite unacceptable levels of delays and cancellations, which is why this government made sure this was the lowest increase in three years, and below the growth in average earnings.

“We inherited a railway that was not fit for purpose, and I know it will take time for trust to be restored. My number one priority is getting the railways back to a place where people can rely on them, and through public ownership and the creation of Great British Railways we’ll be putting passengers at the heart of everything we do.”

13:50 London Paddington to Great Malvern due 16:17 will be terminated at Oxford.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.
Last Updated:02/08/2025 13:29

An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 16:03 Worcester Shrub Hill to Great Malvern due 16:17.
Last Updated:02/08/2025 13:29

15:14 Hereford to London Paddington due 18:24 will be started from Great Malvern.
This is due to a problem currently under investigation.
Last Updated:02/08/2025 13:28

20:03 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 22:24 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a late running train being in front of this one.
Last Updated:02/08/2025 14:29

A railway line between Surrey and Gatwick Airport will be closed for 13 days in September to allow signals along the route to be upgraded, Network Rail has confirmed.

Southern and Thameslink trains to and from London, Reigate, Redhill and Gatwick Airport are not affected by these works and will continue to operate.

Trains now running normally at Westbury
Following a safety inspection of the track at Westbury some lines are now open.
Train services running through this station are now running normally.

Cancellations to services at Westbury
Due to a safety inspection of the track at Westbury some lines are blocked.
Train services running through this station may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

09:52 Westbury to Swindon due 10:36
09:52 Westbury to Swindon due 10:36 will be cancelled.
This is due to a safety inspection of the track.

11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:48
11:05 Swindon to Westbury due 11:48 will be cancelled.
This is due to a safety inspection of the track.

Due to a safety inspection of the track at Westbury some lines are blocked.
Train services running through this station may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Due to a safety inspection of the track near Westbury, services maybe diverted between Bristol Temple Meads - Melksham, cancelled or altered.
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We're sorry for the delay to your journey.
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We will update this message with more information when we have it.
Further Information
Customers are requested to check the stations Onward Travel Information poster and wait for replacement road transport at the designated stop. Customers are advised that the replacement road transport may run later than the advertised train times owing to the additional time taken by road between stations and the time required for loading and unloading at each stop.
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Rail replacement has been ordered to operate from Westbury, calling at Pewsey, Hungerford and Reading. No ETA for arrival.
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If you require further information please speak to our staff at the station or on the train, use the Customer Help Point, message us on X @GWRHelp or call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950.

If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay