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.

Due next week, I understand. Timetable similar to last time, but speeded up by 30mins end-to-end, I'm hearing

Good afternoon,
 
Temporary Timetable Changes on the West of England Line from Monday 10 August
 
We are writing to inform you that South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail Wessex will introduce a temporary revised timetable on the West of England line between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids from Monday 10 August until further notice.
 
Following record-breaking temperatures and prolonged low rainfall, clay embankments supporting the railway between Salisbury and Exeter are drying out, affecting the stability of the track.
 
To keep customers safe, trains will run at reduced speeds between Tisbury in Wiltshire to Honiton in Devon, a 60-mile stretch of largely single-track railway which is particularly vulnerable to drought-like conditions. 
 
With only six passing loops where trains can pass each other on the single-track, fewer services can run while these speed restrictions are in place. The temporary timetable limits further disruption and delays while providing a safe and reliable service for customers.
 
Service levels from Monday 10 August
 
From Monday 10 August, until further notice:
Services between London Waterloo and Salisbury will continue to run every 30 minutes
One train per hour will run between London Waterloo and Yeovil Junction
Every other hour, the London Waterloo service will extend to run to and from Exeter St Davids
Most journeys from London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction will take three minutes longer than usual, with journeys from Yeovil Junction to London Waterloo taking 13 minutes longer than usual
Most journeys from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids will take up to 24 minutes longer than usual, with journeys from Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo taking 27 minutes longer than usual
 
Customer information
Journey planners will be updated ahead of the timetable changes. Customers are advised to check their journeys carefully and allow extra time to complete their journeys. See below a link to our Plan My Journey Page:
 
www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey
 
Since last year, SWR and NR Wessex have continuously monitored more than 30 sites between Salisbury and Exeter and strengthened the line by carrying out extensive tamping work, installing 5,000 tonnes of new ballast, and removing over 200 dead and diseased trees that suck in moisture and could further destabilise embankments.
 
SWR and NR Wessex are also working with the University of Southampton to develop longer-term measures to improve the resilience of the West of England line to the effects of climate change and extreme weather.
 
Click here for more information on Soil Moisture Deficit and how extreme hot weather impacts the railway here.
 
SWR and Network Rail will continue to monitor conditions closely and will restore normal service levels as soon as it is safe and operationally possible to do so.
 
We will continue to keep you updated as this progresses. We will shortly issue a press release to inform passengers, local communities and stakeholders. Please find a copy below for your reference.
 
Press Release: Temporary timetable changes to West of England line from Monday 10 August
 
From Monday 10 August, trains between Yeovil Junction and Exeter will be reduced to one every two hours
An amended timetable is being introduced to keep customers moving safely while speed restrictions are in place following prolonged extreme hot, dry weather that has affected track across the route
Customers are still able to travel between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids, but are advised to allow extra time to complete their journeys
 
SOUTH Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail Wessex (NR Wessex) will introduce a temporary timetable on the West of England line between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids from Monday 10 August.
 
Following record-breaking temperatures and prolonged low rainfall, clay embankments supporting the railway between Salisbury and Exeter are drying out, affecting the stability of the track.
 
To keep customers safe, trains will run at reduced speeds between Tisbury in Wiltshire and Honiton in Devon, a 60-mile stretch of largely single-track railway which is particularly vulnerable to drought-like conditions.
 
With only six passing loops where trains can pass each other on the single-track, fewer services can run while these speed restrictions are in place. The temporary timetable limits further disruption and delays while providing a safe and reliable service for customers.
 
From Monday 10 August, until further notice:
Services between London Waterloo and Salisbury will continue to run every 30 minutes
One train per hour will run between London Waterloo and Yeovil Junction
Every other hour, the London Waterloo service will extend to run to and from Exeter St Davids
Most journeys from London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction will take three minutes longer than usual, with journeys from Yeovil Junction to London Waterloo taking 13 minutes longer than usual
Most journeys from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids will take up to 24 minutes longer than usual, with journeys from Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo taking 27 minutes longer than usual
 
Journey planners will be updated ahead of the timetable changes. Customers are advised to check their journeys carefully and allow extra time to complete their journeys.
 
Lawrence Bowman, Managing Director of South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex, said:
 
“The record-breaking heat of the last few months has had a significant impact on railways across the UK, and parts of our route are particularly vulnerable.
 
“Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common, and this is the second year in a row that prolonged hot, dry weather has affected our network.
 
“Since last summer’s intervention, we’ve invested in strengthening the route, carried out extensive work to the track and embankments, and developed a plan that customers can rely on.
 
“As a result of that careful planning, we've managed to reduce journey times in our amended timetable by around 30 minutes compared to last year, minimising the impact on our customers while also keeping them safe.
 
“We are sorry for the disruption these changes may cause. We will restore the regular timetable as soon as conditions allow.”
 
Since last year, SWR and NR Wessex have continuously monitored more than 30 sites between Salisbury and Exeter, and strengthened the line by carrying out extensive tamping work, installing 5,000 tonnes of new ballast, and removing over 200 dead and diseased trees that suck in moisture and could further destabilise embankments.
 
SWR and NR Wessex are also working with the University of Southampton to develop longer-term measures to improve the resilience of the West of England line to the effects of climate change and extreme weather.
 
Notes to Editors
Click here for more information on Soil Moisture Deficit and how extreme hot weather impacts the railway here.
 
Spring 2026 was the warmest on record in England and Wales, with well below average rainfall. In June, the Met Office issued a Red Warning for Extreme Heat for an unprecedented three days in a row. 35C has been recorded in three consecutive months (May, June and July) for the first time, and large parts of England have so far recorded 0% of the expected rainfall in July.
 
In 2025, speed restrictions forced trains to travel at 40mph, down from 85mph, on some sections of track between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids. This year, speeds will be restricted to 50mph down from 85mph between Tisbury and Honiton.
 

Elizabeth Line?

17:45 Swindon to Westbury due 18:26
 
17:45 Swindon to Westbury due 18:26 will be cancelled.
This is due to a points failure.

Following a points failure between Bath Spa and Westbury some lines have now reopened. Disruption is expected until 18:00 28/07.

Train services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham will be cancelled, delayed or revised.

[snip]  ... 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.

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 13:05

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 13:05 will be cancelled.

This is due to a points failure.

13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57

13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled.

This is due to a points failure.

14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01

14:18 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01 will be cancelled.

This is due to a points failure.

15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58

15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58 will be cancelled.

This is due to a points failure.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

An off-peak return from Pewsey to Weston-Super-Mare costs an eye-watering £103.60
...

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.

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.

All fares ought to be the same for recognised routings....based on one metric (miles per £1 maybe?)

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.

well, it's done on shortest, not quickest....shortest always valid