Or B9 and B10, possibly?

Learner drivers still forced to wait months to book tests

Learner drivers have to wait an average 20 weeks, or around five months, before booking a practical test, according to new figures, despite attempts to reduce delays.

The data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for August is only a marginal improvement from 20.2 weeks in July.  The average wait time between booking and sitting a test is unchanged at 11.1 weeks.

The DVSA initially had a target of reducing the average waiting time to seven weeks by the end of last year. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander pushed the target back to summer 2026, but subsequently admitted even that would not be possible.

The DVSA made a number of changes to its practical driving test booking system earlier this year.  Only the learner driver themself is now able to book their driving test, blocking an instructor or third parties from booking using the learner's details.

There is also a geographical restriction which means a learner can only book a test at their three local test centres, rather than one at the other side of the country if they found a test available.  The number of times a would-be driver can swap a test date has also been restricted.

(BBC article continues)

Part of me has a twinge of jealousy - but just a twinge.  I am happy for the people who live and want to travel along the corridor, and I am delighted at the example being set.

It shows me that innovative changes can be made at a timetable recast - and could be done in the recast that SWR (rather than SER) are preparing for December 2027 - it sets a precedent for improvements, such as joining up the Bristol -> Salisbury service to the Salisbury -> Waterloo service

It acknowledged that services from residential areas into the centre of London to different termini throughout the day are a useful / wanted / required service, and with that is a reminder that Paddington is not Waterloo and that services from Bath and Westbury to both termini will be servicing different markets rather than competing with each other

It confirms the need for two trains an hour - or four or six per hours in the inner suburbs - for a Metro service suitable for daily lives in the areas

Based on previous experience, there may be teething troubles and I really hope that SER have the stock, staff and track capacity to deliver at least 90% of the trains they promise - but then with the frequency timetabled, if a train is cancelled there will be another one along at a maximum of 30 minutes later.   What a contrast to my home station where a cancellation leaves the next one not along until 120 minutes later, and because that's likely to be the same train or crew it's liable to be cancelled too.    Give us the 30 minute service and we'll fill the trains, especially with the 80% uplift in new house numbers that's planned

Indeed, I have long felt it sensible to keep a reserve of food, water, fuel and other supplies.
We are vulnerable not only to extreme weather, but also to industrial disputes, wars, coups and revolutions overseas, and other emergencies.

Cancellations to services between Oxford and Hereford via Worcester Shrub Hill

Due to vandalism of railway equipment at Evesham trains have to run at reduced speed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Train services between Oxford and Hereford via Worcester Shrub Hill and Great Malvern may be cancelled, delayed or revised.

Customer Advice
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What has happened?
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Network Rail advises that the signalling in the Evesham area has been affected due to vandalism.
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What are we doing about it?
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We are working with Network Rail to be able to return to running our normal timetable as soon as possible.

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What are your options?
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We are sorry for the disruption to your journey today, these are the current options available to you:
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Option 1: If there are other rail companies or local public transport operators who may be able to help you make your journey, we will provide details here.
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Option 2: Replacement transport provided by us such as a buses, coaches or taxis, have not been requested at this time. We will continue to monitor the need for this as the situation develops and provide updates here.
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Option 3: If your train is cancelled, you may travel on either of the two services before, or two services after, your original train. If these are peak services or less flexible, you can still travel with your original ticket, at no extra cost.
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Option 4: Consider postponing your journey until our service returns to normal.

Thanks, Graham - doing the weekend splits enabled me to spot a mistake I made, so I've since corrected the figures in my posts above... (basically the weekday gap between last and this year is a bit higher in the favour of last year, and the all week gap is also a bit higher, but in favour of this year).

The weekend stats are hugely significant, thank you.   They rather confirm our decision to promote both train and bus days out at weekends this summer.    We have still been somewhat muted on the promotion of the direct trains from Melksham to Weymouth and back on Saturdays; with the trains being just 3 carriages all the way these says, rather than 5 south of Westbury, it would have been all too easy to load not only full-and-standing but beyond that to crush south of Yeovil Pen Mill.  As it was, on both occasions I went the down train was certainly not carrying fresh air when it got to Dorset.

Separate stats for weekdays/weekends give:

Weekdays:
Summer 2026 - 94.30% 91.92% of services ran
Summer 2025 - 94.78% of services ran

Weekends:
Summer 2026 - 91.94% of services ran
Summer 2025 - 68.72% of services ran

So, a slight drop in 2026 for weekdays (-0.48% -2.86%), but a huge rise at weekends (+23.22%).

The government has given permission for a new guided busway route between Cambourne and Cambridge by making the necessary Transport and Works Act (TWA) order, awarding legal authority to proceed with the scheme.

Curious timing for this to pop up with no real news - perhaps no coincidence that it's in the run up to the Budget?

The route did indeed change yesterday to serve the new atop by the new entrance, but it is not running the final route yet due to the roadworks allowing the right turn from Avon Street not being finished. It is running via Old Market Street for the time being which does mean the two stops on Avon Street are not yet being served.

Hugely appreciated, thank you.   It's a drift towards in the right direction, appreciated when it could have been a canter or even a gallop in the wrong direction.  And, indeed, the wider picture is that the railways are not well set to cope with extreme weather. 

How easy (or otherwise) would it be to separate out weekday and weekend stats?

Just updated my Melksham statistics for the whole of summer 2026, compared with summer 2025

Summer 2026 - 90.69% 91.92% of services ran
Summer 2025 - 88.47% of services ran

So that's a modest, but welcome, 2.22% 3.45% improvement from last years very low base score.  Especially welcome given the number of hot days in 2026 compared to 2025, which we know has an effect on infrastructure/train reliability.

It's pretty quick and simple to do, so I might cover the whole of the year when I have a bit more time.

I think the question is more why is there a shortage of train crew during the normal working week?

We can characterise it that we have moved from a useless service after 9th September 2006 to a sparse service with significant issues, but useable in many cases, as at 9th September 2026.

Outstanding issues are ...
1. Train reliability. 90% of trains run but on an infrequent service we really need 98% plus
2. Train frequency. We need a minimum of one train each way per hour and (really) two
3. Unfriendliness to new users of station and information and ticketing systems

We have moved forward - those issues are nothing like as dire as they were in 2007, and they are generally acknowledged, appreciated, and projected to be addressed in upcoming strategies. And they need to be.