Recent Public Posts - [guest]
09:45 Westbury to Swindon due 10:30
09:45 Westbury to Swindon due 10:30 will be cancelled.
This is due to a points failure.
09:45 Westbury to Swindon due 10:30 will be cancelled.
This is due to a points failure.
10:34 Swindon to Westbury due 11:21
10:34 Swindon to Westbury due 11:21 will be cancelled.
This is due to a points failure.
10:34 Swindon to Westbury due 11:21 will be cancelled.
This is due to a points failure.
| Rail passenger numbers and crowding published In "Across the West" [377481/32283/26] Posted by John D at 09:56, 28th July 2026 Already liked by Mark A, Witham Bobby, eightonedee | ![]() |
New figures just released (haven't read them all yet)
But have spotted in section 5.3 that Bristol has highest PiXC (passengers in excess of capacity)
Rather proves Bristol rail in peaks is struggling, and so far this year not really done anything about transferring in extra stock
section 4.2 says peak passenger numbers at Paddington grew 6% in a year, 7% increase in off peak in a year
Section 5.4 has the busiest services (into cities when surveyed, so could excludes things like Portsmouth-Cardiff when 2coach set is used), South West trains has 4 of 10. The third busiest nationally is a Bridgend to Rhymney train !
Section 6 says 13% of long distance services are in excess of capacity
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rail-passenger-numbers-and-crowding-on-weekdays-in-major-cities-in-england-and-wales-2025/rail-passenger-numbers-and-crowding-on-weekdays-in-major-cities-in-england-and-wales-2025
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377480/32282/4] Posted by Mark A at 07:39, 28th July 2026 | ![]() |
An off-peak return from Pewsey to Weston-Super-Mare costs an eye-watering £103.60
...
...
Not as cheap as going via Bristol, but I note that the following fares for Newbury-WSM via Taunton are available:
Off-peak return £82.80 valid 09:15 and later from Newbury.
Super Off-peak return: £63.00 valid 10:30 and later from Newbury,
Break of journey is allowed in both directions for these tickets. Perhaps someone would confirm that this permits the train to be boarded at Pewsey?
To my knowledge, yes, that's allowed.
There are no fewer than 3 off peak return fares Newbury to Weston-super-mare. Cheapest via Trowbridge, then via Taunton, then not via London. Note that if you travel outbound on a via Taunton ticket, you need to come back the same way - you can't drop back to the cheaper route via Trowbridge.
If the route taken on the outbound trip constrains the passenger as to the choice of route on the return, doesn't that rather conflicts with the following?
"And that fare should then be accepted by any route that will get you there next; it should not be the customers' concern than the rail industry sends them a long way round because there is no appropriate direct or connecting train"
Thinking of my occasional day trips from Bath to the likes of Stroud, Gloucester, or Cheltenham, it was the case that staff were relaxed about the route taken (via Bristol or Swindon) as it's either one or the other would provide the fastest service. Lately I recall that it's the ticketing system that's become more prescriptive while staff on the ground are still pragmatic about this.
Mark
07:45 Westbury to Swindon due 08:34
08:44 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26
09:45 Westbury to Swindon due 10:30
10:34 Swindon to Westbury due 11:21
12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 13:05
13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06
17:45 Swindon to Westbury due 18:26
18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
20:12 Swindon to Westbury due 20:56
21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12
Facilities on the 22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12.
Disabled toilet facilities are not available.
This is due to a fault on this train.
08:44 Swindon to Westbury due 09:26
09:45 Westbury to Swindon due 10:30
10:34 Swindon to Westbury due 11:21
12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 13:05
13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57
14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06
17:45 Swindon to Westbury due 18:26
18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21
20:12 Swindon to Westbury due 20:56
21:16 Westbury to Swindon due 21:58
22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12
Facilities on the 22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12.
Disabled toilet facilities are not available.
This is due to a fault on this train.
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377478/32282/4] Posted by grahame at 05:48, 28th July 2026 | ![]() |
An off-peak return from Pewsey to Weston-Super-Mare costs an eye-watering £103.60
...
...
Not as cheap as going via Bristol, but I note that the following fares for Newbury-WSM via Taunton are available:
Off-peak return £82.80 valid 09:15 and later from Newbury.
Super Off-peak return: £63.00 valid 10:30 and later from Newbury,
Break of journey is allowed in both directions for these tickets. Perhaps someone would confirm that this permits the train to be boarded at Pewsey?
To my knowledge, yes, that's allowed.
There are no fewer than 3 off peak return fares Newbury to Weston-super-mare. Cheapest via Trowbridge, then via Taunton, then not via London. Note that if you travel outbound on a via Taunton ticket, you need to come back the same way - you can't drop back to the cheaper route via Trowbridge.
| Re: Interrail trip 4 - the journey continues In "Introductions and chat" [377477/32275/1] Posted by grahame at 05:37, 28th July 2026 | ![]() |
Completing the answers ...
1 Kolobrzeg
2 Vienenberg
3 Wernigerode Westerntor
4 Halle
5 Eisfelder Talmühle
6 Drei Annen Hohne
7 Berlin Hbf
8 Pasewalk
9 Hotel Altora dining room, Wernigerode
We took yesterday R&R - onward today ...
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377476/32282/4] Posted by Trowres at 00:02, 28th July 2026 | ![]() |
An off-peak return from Pewsey to Weston-Super-Mare costs an eye-watering £103.60
...
...
Not as cheap as going via Bristol, but I note that the following fares for Newbury-WSM via Taunton are available:
Off-peak return £82.80 valid 09:15 and later from Newbury.
Super Off-peak return: £63.00 valid 10:30 and later from Newbury,
Break of journey is allowed in both directions for these tickets. Perhaps someone would confirm that this permits the train to be boarded at Pewsey?
| Re: Eurostar - merged posts, ongoing discussion topic In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [377475/26929/52] Posted by IndustryInsider at 23:34, 27th July 2026 Already liked by grahame, Mark A | ![]() |
Seems odd really when Antwerp is only 50km or so from Brussels and there are plentiful HS services along that route - perhaps testing the waters or trying to keep the competition at bay.
The Eurostar trains slow right down as they go through Antwerp Central anyway ... and remember that you loose a significant proportion of customers travelling from C to A if you make them changes at B - and not just crossplatform along the way.
...and it's a big old place. Just a smidge less than populations of Manchester, Sheffield, and Cornwall according to Wikipedia.
| Re: Eurostar - merged posts, ongoing discussion topic In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [377474/26929/52] Posted by grahame at 21:53, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
Seems odd really when Antwerp is only 50km or so from Brussels and there are plentiful HS services along that route - perhaps testing the waters or trying to keep the competition at bay.
The Eurostar trains slow right down as they go through Antwerp Central anyway ... and remember that you loose a significant proportion of customers travelling from C to A if you make them changes at B - and not just crossplatform along the way.
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377473/32282/4] Posted by grahame at 21:49, 27th July 2026 Already liked by eightonedee, Mark A | ![]() |
All fares ought to be the same for recognised routings....based on one metric (miles per £1 maybe?)
Indeed - for the shortest routing. And that fare should then be accepted by any route that will get you there next; it should not be the customers' concern than the rail industry sends them a long way round because there is no appropriate direct or connecting train
| Re: Eurostar - merged posts, ongoing discussion topic In "The Wider Picture Overseas" [377472/26929/52] Posted by Noggin at 21:46, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
Not sure they'll stop on the return though? (Are they going to add a full border post there?)
All the reports I have seen state that there will not be an Antwerp stop in the opposite direction and changing trains at Brussels, to complete immigration checks, will be required.
Indeed. Perhaps in a parallel universe, the UK would have been a part of the Schengen zone (and indeed remained in the EU) and travel from Belgium to the UK would have been as easy as crossing the German - Poland border which I think we have done 4 times in the last few days. I say "I think" - I know we did it twice on the train, but I think that the rail replacement bus from Goerlitz to Zittau took us from Germany into Poland and back into Germany again.
Seems odd really when Antwerp is only 50km or so from Brussels and there are plentiful HS services along that route - perhaps testing the waters or trying to keep the competition at bay.
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377471/32282/4] Posted by ChrisB at 21:22, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
All fares ought to be the same for recognised routings....based on one metric (miles per £1 maybe?)
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377470/32282/4] Posted by grahame at 21:17, 27th July 2026 Already liked by hoover50 | ![]() |
well, it's done on shortest, not quickest....shortest always valid
In my view, it should be done on both, and earliest arrival is the most important. Customers are most concerned about how long a journey takes / how quickly that can get there, not how many miles the rail industry choses to take them to achieve that.
Here's another example - Chippenham to Southampton Central. The shortest route is taken by the 06:19 getting you there at 08:09 ... the next train via that route at 08:59 with a change and getting you to Southampton at 11:03.

Why should customer have to pay a higher fare for a longer distance because of the very thin services provided on the most direct line?
| Re: South Western Railways Waterloo - Bristol services axed In "South Western services" [377469/25368/42] Posted by ChrisB at 21:13, 27th July 2026 Already liked by Mark A | ![]() |
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377468/32282/4] Posted by ChrisB at 20:50, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
well, it's done on shortest, not quickest....shortest always valid
| Re: Two East Midlands Railway trains collide near Bedford, 19th June 2026 In "The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom" [377467/32151/51] Posted by stuving at 19:59, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
it's been suggested that Will Rogers' sudden exit may be connected with the statements from EMR in the last couple of weeks blaming their service reductions on Hitachi's Class 810 trains. First reported 17th July and in broader terms 21st July (both from the BBC).
East Midlands Railway (EMR) has released more details about the problems with its fleet of trains which prompted it to reduce services.
Last week, the company said reliability and maintenance issues with the new Aurora (Class 810) trains - made by Hitachi Rail - were to blame.
Now EMR has outlined "challenges" with both the 810s and the older Class 222s, affecting the toilets, air conditioning and catering equipment.
It added that the Class 222 trains had also required "additional maintenance support to accommodate increased running and operational requirements".
The operator first introduced the Aurora trains into passenger service in December, after what EMR said was a three-year delay.
Several Intercity services, which run to and from London St Pancras, have been cancelled because of problems with the new fleet, while other services will have fewer carriages.
Will Rogers, managing director of EMR, said the performance of the Class 810 fleet had "fallen below the levels we and our customers expect", and that the timetable change was "necessary"...
Last week, the company said reliability and maintenance issues with the new Aurora (Class 810) trains - made by Hitachi Rail - were to blame.
Now EMR has outlined "challenges" with both the 810s and the older Class 222s, affecting the toilets, air conditioning and catering equipment.
It added that the Class 222 trains had also required "additional maintenance support to accommodate increased running and operational requirements".
The operator first introduced the Aurora trains into passenger service in December, after what EMR said was a three-year delay.
Several Intercity services, which run to and from London St Pancras, have been cancelled because of problems with the new fleet, while other services will have fewer carriages.
Will Rogers, managing director of EMR, said the performance of the Class 810 fleet had "fallen below the levels we and our customers expect", and that the timetable change was "necessary"...
Is that speaking out of turn? Or he might have not jumped through all the hoops required by EMR's management contract with DfT before issuing it.
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377466/32282/4] Posted by grahame at 19:40, 27th July 2026 Already liked by Mark A | ![]() |
Interestingly, this is what from my customer focused journey planner suggests, Pewsey to Bristol Temple Meads.

Most of those are "change at Westbury" but the 18:00 is change at Taunton.
My personal view as a rail passenger is that if I turn up at station "A" (or "P") and want to get to station "B" as early as possible, I should be allowed to use any reasonable route, where any reasonable route includes the one that will get you there earliest, no matter where I may need to change along the way.
This is not just an issue with Pewsey -> Bristol Temple Mead ... I can find lots of other examples.
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377465/32282/4] Posted by hoover50 at 19:15, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
Pewsey to Bristol Temple Meads via Taunton IS a mapped route in the Routeing Guide. However it fails the 'fare check' rule meaning it isn't a permitted route.
The fare from Pewsey to Taunton is more expensive than the fare from Pewsey to Bristol Temple Meads. This rules out using the Pewsey to Bristol TM ticket via Taunton.
OK, many thanks for the confirmation and clear explanation. The fare from Pewsey to Taunton is more expensive than the fare from Pewsey to Bristol Temple Meads. This rules out using the Pewsey to Bristol TM ticket via Taunton.
Looks like going via Bristol Temple Meads and splitting the tickets at Bristol Temple Meads is the best way of getting the cheapest fare.
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377464/32282/4] Posted by JayMac at 17:34, 27th July 2026 Already liked by grahame, hoover50 | ![]() |
Pewsey to Bristol Temple Meads via Taunton IS a mapped route in the Routeing Guide. However it fails the 'fare check' rule meaning it isn't a permitted route.
The fare from Pewsey to Taunton is more expensive than the fare from Pewsey to Bristol Temple Meads. This rules out using the Pewsey to Bristol TM ticket via Taunton.
| Re: Station fire at Paignton. Footbridge? In "Shorter journeys in Devon - Central, North and South" [377463/32262/24] Posted by REVUpminster at 17:27, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
The station is expected to open tomorrow. The car park is closed today, but after it already filled up. Access will be via the car park, as it is during the air-show, and a portacabin ticket office is being brought down (forgot where the chap said it was coming from) although might not be open tomorrow.
The trains are going to pull up the far end of platform.
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377462/32282/4] Posted by grahame at 16:50, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
I did the same on the GWR site with the same result.
There is this on BR Fares concerning the £21.40 ticket.

When it says "VIA WESTBURY" does it mean that the ticket is only valid when changing trains at Westbury or does it cover trains that stop at Westbury and go onto Taunton from where I can change and get a train to Bristol?There is this on BR Fares concerning the £21.40 ticket.

A "via" does not mean that a stop is needed, and indeed it's valid if the train takes an avoiding line. - the curve at Didcot, the Rhubarb Loop, the Weston avoider.
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377461/32282/4] Posted by hoover50 at 16:33, 27th July 2026 Already liked by Mark A | ![]() |
I did the same on the GWR site with the same result.
There is this on BR Fares concerning the £21.40 ticket.

When it says "VIA WESTBURY" does it mean that the ticket is only valid when changing trains at Westbury or does it cover trains that stop at Westbury and go onto Taunton from where I can change and get a train to Bristol?There is this on BR Fares concerning the £21.40 ticket.

| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377460/32282/4] Posted by bobm at 16:28, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
I did the same on the GWR site with the same result.
There is this on BR Fares concerning the £21.40 ticket.

Not on your line, and before your time, an opportunity to absorb the landscape of that part of London as it was in the early 1870s. Camille Pissarro's painting of Lordship Lane station.
Mark
https://www.camillepissarro.org/lordship-lane-station-dulwich.jsp
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377458/32282/4] Posted by grahame at 16:25, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
Others may find different but to me that £21.40 fare to Bristol Temple Meads seems to be valid only via Westbury.
I suspect that the routing guide from Pewsey to Bristol does not allow via Taunton. I put in the Pewsey to Bristol journey in the TransPennine Express ticket engine which lets you add a "via" and with a "via Taunton" it said no journeys - so, sorry, no break of journey in that way is rather confirmed.
I changed Bristol to Worle looking for a price either way round, and the price went up through the roof
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377457/32282/4] Posted by hoover50 at 16:22, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
Others may find different but to me that £21.40 fare to Bristol Temple Meads seems to be valid only via Westbury.
How can I check / confirm that please?| Re: North Cotswold line delays and cancellations - 2026 In "London to the Cotswolds" [377456/31371/14] Posted by Witham Bobby at 16:18, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
Monday 27th July 2026
According to RTT
1W21 1053 Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill was cancelled after Oxford "due to an unknown cause".
The service had departed Paddington 9 minutes late, remained at around that much delayed until Reading, from where it departed 27 minutes down, and expired at Oxford also 27 minutes late.
The return working, 1P26 1316 Worcester Shrub Hill to Paddington, did not run between Worcester and Oxford, also because of "an unknown cause"
| Re: Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377455/32282/4] Posted by bobm at 16:12, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
Others may find different but to me that £21.40 fare to Bristol Temple Meads seems to be valid only via Westbury.
| Can I Break My Journey at Weston-super-Mare? In "Fare's Fair" [377454/32282/4] Posted by hoover50 at 15:59, 27th July 2026 | ![]() |
An off-peak return from Pewsey to Weston-Super-Mare costs an eye-watering £103.60
However, going via Bristol Temple Meads and splitting the tickets at Bristol Temple Meads brings the off-peak return cost down to £30.70 which is quite a saving.
Going one step further, would I be allowed to use an off-peak return from Pewsey to Bristol Temple Meads via Taunton (costing £21.40) and then break my journey at Weston-Super-Mare?
From Facebook
SYDENHAM HILL STATION & ITS HIGHWAY TO HELL. Built for the Palace: Opened in 1863 to serve the Crystal Palace, it sits right at the mouth of the massive 2km Penge Tunnel. The station dropped "for Crystal Palace" from its name in 1936—the year the Palace burned down. Very active station to present day.
In my youth, I travelled by train to school - from Petts Wood to Sydenham Hill for four years, then to Sevenoaks for a further four, and finally after a year break to Holborn Viaduct (with brief diversions to Charing Cross and back to Sevenoaks) for a further four.
Penge tunnel was a daily passage - twice a day, and yet this article has for the first time made me think of its history; I was young at the time, so I could tell you a lot more about the other that came when I was just a handful of years older.














