I guess the GWR masterplan of shove everyone to the Elizabeth Line and forget about them wasn’t so full proof after all.

 

GWR DMUs are failing all over the place today



Clearly a serious DMU crisis, units breaking down, no serviceable spares, are they simply be worked unrealistically hard, beyond point where they can repair them fast enough

 
Has there just been a report that all lines from Paddington are closed?

[Edit] Ah. https://bsky.app/profile/gwr.com/post/3mqa3vg7sno2l

⚠ Travel Update - 09/07 ⚠

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between London Paddington and Reading all lines are blocked.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised.

Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Mark

 

I don't believe we have such a class - we are a USER group - but we would love to have you as a member, Mark.   On the other way round, WWRUG *is* a member of organisations which have corporate memberships.

 
Apart from being mortified that I've not joined, I wonder if the WWRUG  has a category of membership for the likes of organisations. A 'Corporate' class of membership as it were..

Mark

 
There are now no through trains inbound to Stratford-on-Avon from Marylebone.

Heading for London, a train departs Stratford on Avon at 21:33 (that sounds too early for people leaving a performance). It reaches  Marylebone at four minutes to midnight, so, around two and a half hours - it calls at most stations on the way. Today, it's a 2 carriage 165.

Mark

 


We have space on the server, and for completeness I will quote it.

Due to a broken down train between Swindon and Westbury fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
The train operating between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham has failed and there is no spare train available to replace it
-

What are your options?
-
We are sorry for the disruption to your journey today, these are the current options available to you:
-
Option 1: Passengers from Westbury and Trowbridge are advised to await the next service towards Bath Spa and then change there for services towards Chippenham and Swindon.

Passengers from Swindon and Chippenham are advised to await the next service towards Bath Spa and then change there for services towards Trowbridge and Westbury.

Passengers from Melksham are advised await the rail replacement services to Chippenham and Westbury via Trowbridge
Passengers from Westbury or Trowbridge for Melksham should contact station staff for onward road transport.
Passengers from Swindon for Melksham should travel to Chippenham on the next available service and then liaise with station staff for onwards road transport to Melksham.

-
Option 2: Replacement transport provided by us will operate between Chippenham and Westbury via Melksham and Trowbridge will start operating from 18:00 onwards
-
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.
-
Option 4: Consider postponing your journey until our service returns to normal.
-
For more information:
-
Use the National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner to check if a journey by rail is currently possible. If you are at a station please check the live departure boards or speak to a member of station staff.
-
Let us help you:
-
If you're already travelling when disruption happens, we'll get you where you need to go. If you miss the last train of the day due to cancellation or because another train was delayed, we wont leave you stranded.
-
If you require help, further information or would like to provide feedback, to help us improve in the future:
Speak to staff at the station or on the train. Use the Customer Help Point on the platform.
Message us on X @GWRHelp, Facebook Messenger @gwruk, Instagram @gwruk or WhatsApp 07890 608043. Our team is available daily between 06:00 and 23:00 Monday to Friday and 07:00 to 23:00 Saturday and Sunday.
Call our Customer Support team on 03457 000 125, who are available between 08:00 and 20:00 Monday to Friday and 09:00 to 17:00 Saturday and Sunday, or National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950, who are available 24 hours a day.
-
Delay Repay:
-
If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can apply for Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
-
Further Information
An update will follow within the next 2 hours.
Last Updated:09/07/2026 17:14

Looks right "no spare train" in the Cardiff -> Portsmouth is running with only 3 and 2 car trains.   Love it that you can take "next 2 services" - that reads to me that you can use today's ticket on the first train or two tomorrow.

 


Now in Journeycheck;

Cancellations to services between Swindon and Westbury
Due to a broken down train between Swindon and Westbury fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled.
Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
The train operating between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham has failed and there is no spare train available to replace it

............there is some lengthy advice about rail replacement and alternatives if you're at either end of the line but didn't want to fill the space up here!!!

 
So does Stanton Drew - The Druids Arms. 

 

Sound bites shared for members from the BBC for critical review and further comment:
Mayor of Bradford-on-Avon at  https://www.passenger.chat/lib/SBBBCWilts090726.wav
Myself as a committee member of WWRG at  https://www.passenger.chat/lib/GJEBBCWilts090726.wav

 

Oh dear - five trains out of 9 each way cancelled, and only one train Westbury to Swindon after the 09:45 - that's the 20:06, left, and only one train Swindon to Westbury after the 10:41 (the 11:05 normal time, but running earlier) - that's the 18:44.

No alternative transport mentioned on JourneyCheck, and no suggestions to passengers as to how they should travel.  It appears to be purely an operational announcement, with nothing to help passengers get to where they need / want / planned to go.


Most passengers I speak to would prefer to have a service and get home, rather than getting there money back and being left to fend for themselves on how to travel ... by a travel company!

 
Avebury has a pub too.

 

What happened to the Marylebone - Stratford upon Avon direct trains?  A service that obviously would  be very useful for tourist visitors

 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8rdj8x0k9o

 
School trip as a kid. Visited again a few years ago - via the public footpath. Too expensive for an 'official' visit.

Ambivalent. But would like to get my drone up there. Although that would be limited to the south of the stones as they are bisected by a No Fly Zone.

 

Course not.  'twas Wednesday

 

At Avebury you can also see the stones being reset twice a year - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10154178800268586

 
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

17:45 Swindon to Westbury due 18:26
17:45 Swindon to Westbury due 18:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

20:12 Swindon to Westbury due 20:56
20:12 Swindon to Westbury due 20:56 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58
21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12 will be cancelled.
This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

 

One thing you can be sure of - it won't be Prince Harry's ferry!

 

 
But yesterday was Wednesday

 
I went with my family back in the 1970s when you could walk around it more freely.  Certainly agree that Avebury has more to offer...and I do remember the HTV series set there.    Special mention too for the lesser known but not unimpressive stone circles at Stanton Drew in Somerset, which I think are the third largest in the country after Avebury and Stonehenge.

 

Same story in my local large supermarket, although they were very honest with the reason saying the fridges couldn't cope with the hot weather.  Also a smaller shop local to me was closed yesterday with the fridges empty when I peered through the window.  The chocolate was also absent from the shelves indicating it might have been a store wide air-con failure and not just the fridges.

And to top it off, my Costa had run out of ice so I couldn't get a nice refreshing frappe!

 
Is King Harry's ferry going to temporarily change its name to King Harry Kane's ferry? 

 

This one is still ongoing, and now we also have;

Delays to services between Reading and Slough

Due to a problem with line-side equipment between Reading and Slough the line towards London Paddington bound high speed is disrupted.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed. Disruption is expected until 11:00 09/07.

 
...and Avebury has its own TV series, a blast from the past for those of us of a certain age:
https://youtu.be/SwT0wLnT7Rc?si=UAhk1c8xlnha-ksa

 
Agreed; never visited Stonehenge, driven past it quiet a few times and might stop one day.

 
Avebury is much much better to visit.  It feels so very atmospheric of the past, and it's spacious and does not feel crowded.  But don't tell everyone!

 

I should have a link to the interviews with the Mayor of Bradford-on-Avon and the Committee member of WWRUG who spoke within the next 24 hours.

 

[Edit] Touched on at 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00am in the news updates, and then at 8:08am, interviews including with Grahame. Other transport issues covered, an unpleasant disruption on the A36 and a residents vs I think Highways Agency meeting on the issues with the A303 given the recent cancellation of the 'Enhancement'.

This probably won't be a direct link, you'll need the 9th July programme, available for a month.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_radio_wiltshire

Mark