Numerous dead gulls have been seen locally. Reported as being due to gorging on flying ants. Some claim that these insects are toxic if eaten in large numbers, others claim that the birds overeat to such an extent that they become too heavy to fly, and expire of heat stress.

16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19

17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:19 will be cancelled.
This is due to a fault on this train.

..............unhappy tourists/commuters, happy taxi drivers.

...........and another

Cancellations to services between Slough and Windsor & Eton Central

Due to a fault on this train between Slough and Windsor & Eton Central fewer trains are able to run on the line.

Train services running to and from these stations have been cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

HS2 was conceived to provide extra capacity (sorely needed in many places, not just on the London to Birmingham route) and to be fit for the future

Lord Hendy now saying that it didn't need to be constructed with such high speed limits in mind does not fully explain the tunnels, many of which are for NIMBY reasons, the viaducts instead of earthworks, the slab track, or the bat tunnel, and several other specification extravagances

Another Turbo has sat down.

Cancellations to services between Newbury and Bedwyn
Due to a broken down train between Newbury and Bedwyn fewer trains are able to run.

Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

What has happened?
The train operating the Newbury/Bedwyn shuttle has failed.

What are we doing about it?

Some long distance GWR Westcountry services will call additionally and rail replacement transport is being arranged.

20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:06

Facilities on the 20:06 Westbury to Cheltenham Spa due 22:06.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.

"Shortage of train crew"? "More trains than usual needing repair"?

Flying Scotsman services were due to run today. That's going to be a lot of disappointed folk.

I do hate it when companies say 'operational issues' without explaining further.

*Sits on hands*

*Fails, hands escape and fly to the keyboard*. The utility and value to passengers and to the industry of that Waterloo-Bristol through service that ceased to run only a few years ago. Class 159, three carriages, well timed departures from Waterloo that didn't impose a peak fares massacre (as well as an easier-to-understand fares structure, and, often, advance fares available). Oh, and comfy seats and, though busy, spare seats every trip plus a trolley service for drinks and a bite.

And... if it has a driver and train manager at Waterloo - which it always did, SWR weren't in the habit of dropping the ball when the train split at Salisbury.

Mark

I’m glad I postponed my trip. Received a text message to say my connecting train this evening from Salisbury had been cancelled. Not heat related but shortage of train crew related. The last thing I’d have wanted after a long hot day.

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 13:05

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 13:05 is being delayed at Westbury.
This is due to train crew being delayed.

I had a leisure trip planned for tomorrow that involved going to Kent via Salisbury and Waterloo. I’ve postponed it because I think it could be a very similar picture on the Cardiff-Portsmouth and associated lines again tomorrow if there are poorly 165/166’s out of action due to heat exhaustion.

And it appears disruption continues into Friday

Not a good start, looks like early trains already being cancelled

05:58 Westbury-Cardiff
06:38 Weymouth-Gloucester

Also seems some Weymouth trains are just 2car units today (shame, it is beach weather)

Looking at the WSR timetable it seems that the only services booked to run today and tomorrow are those hauled by Flying Scotsman.

I do hate it when companies say 'operational issues' without explaining further.

Cancellations to services between Bournemouth and Southampton Central

Due to forecast severe weather between Bournemouth and Southampton Central fewer trains are able to run on all lines.

What's Going On:
Train services running through these stations will be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

What We're Doing About It:
Due to forecasted severe weather today caused by high temperatures between Bournemouth and Southampton Central, fewer trains are able to run on all lines.

We are having to reduce the amount of trains which are running between these stations, to help minimise delays. This will be in effect from 10:00

Unfortunately we are unable to serve Beaulieu Road and Ashurst New Forest in the direction of Southampton Central from 10:00

Travel Advice from 10:00:
If you are at Beaulieu Road or Ashurst New Forest, wanting to travel in the direction of Southampton, you are advised to travel to Brockenhurst and change for a service towards Southampton Central. For further assistance in planning your journey please press the station help point.

If you are wanting to travel to Beaulieu Road or Ashurst New Forest from the direction of Brockenhurst, you are advised to travel to either Totton or Southampton Central and change for a service towards these stations.

To assist you with your journey, your ticket can be used, at no extra cost, on the following services:
CrossCountry services between Basingstoke and Bournemouth in both directions. CrossCountry tickets can also be used on South Western Railway services in the same area.

Our journey planners have been updated to reflect any changes, and customers are advised to check before you travel.

For further information or onward travel advice please speak to a member of staff or use a station help point.

We are very sorry for any delay that this may cause to your journey.

Further Information
A track circuit is one system used by Signallers to identify where trains are on the tracks. When these fail, trains have to stop at each affected signal and verify that the track beyond the signal is clear. Once they have authority from the Signaller to continue, they must do so at caution until they have completed that signalling section. This process takes up to 10 minutes per affected signal.