The service was pretty reliable when the service was operated by 37s and Mk2 coaching stock in the days of Regional Railways and later by Wales and West who ended the loco hauled era trumpeting that more modern DMU rolling stock would improve the service.

I was at Bath Spa on the first summer Saturday of the new timetable when the replacement for the morning Weymouth loco hauled service, a 2 car 158 with a 153 attached rocked up almost full from Bristol.

It left absolutely wedged with passengers down the line standing no chance of boarding. This was at the time when Wales and West had reduced the Summer Saturday morning Bristol to Weymouth trains to just one train leaving Bristol around 9am. Next train not until around 12pm.

This was fine when you had a full rake of loco hauled Mk2s operating the solo morning service but not a when it was a 2 car 158 with a dog box attached! Some improvement not!

Many fond memories of day trips to Weymouth from Bath when it was loco hauled. Comfortable Mk2s with plenty of seats for everyone. Sadly the appeal of going to Weymouth on a 165/166 just doesn’t do it for me.

 
Do you happen to have the cancellation data from those years?

Mark

 

What of the frequent cancellations, due to rolling stock issues, of the loco hauled Weymouth services in the days of Wessex Trains? FGW didn't do much better on the reliability front with their 'Weymouth Wizard' HSTs. I bet all those cancellations did a lot to put passengers off taking the train to the seaside.

 

Following up from the weekend just gone ... the Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham to Weymouth through service ran ... as far as Westbury! Offputting to the public who had planned a day out, and it does long term damage to the railway's reputation, use, and whether people will risk it again for a very long time.

 



Which sums up my reasons for dislike of DMUs. Very often shorter, often less reliable, put passengers off.

 

Similar to the 08:42 from London Paddington to Carmarthen.    Running empty to Swansea to pick up the return working, starting at Swansea, later today.

 
Until (relatively) recently: a loco + 7 carriages to meet a reliable demand from the travelling public.

Now: a multiple unit with the possibility that the provision is 2 carriages on that service - and a strong possibility that it is cancelled at short notice. Travelling public making other plans. Many miles of expensive rural inter-regional railway doing not very much at all.

Mark

 
Instead of carrying a train full of people looking forward to a day on the beach, it will be carrying a train full of fresh air! Sad.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C27682/2025-06-29/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:91846/2025-06-29/detailed