More Hard Hats And Buses

I'm not normally someone who majors on criticising weekend engineering work disruption. I recognise that the vast majority of it serves some useful purpose, and thus needs to be done. It is also obviously better than leaving the rail network to rot.

Indeed, Network Rail have just completed a set of clearly-defined and well-publicised engineering works on consecutive weekends between Bristol-Taunton and Bristol-Severn Tunnel Junction.

However, I hope I will be forgiven for being somewhat annoyed that a series of seperate engineering works on different sections of my route to Bristol combined to derail my travel plans for today.

I was considering a suggestion from the chairman of Friends Of Suburban Bristol Railways to attend a celebration of one year of improved services on the Severn Beach Line. However, to get there from Portsmouth would have involved me negiotiating:

- Line closure/diversions between Portsmouth-Southampton.

- Rail-replacement buses between Salisbury-Warminster.

- Trains avoiding Temple Meads.

I cant help but also ask why they chose to schedule three seperate engineering works on the same route on the same day as a new timetable came into effect.

As I like to make a day of it when looking around the FGW area, mucking about with the above plus arriving later than planned/leaving earlier than planned didnt really appeal to me.

So I wished FOSBR good luck with today, and hope it went well.

On a more positive note, I continue to be impressed by with how FGW are conducting themselves on the ground. Yesterday, virtually every FGW staff member seemed to be in a cheerful mood, and had a smile on their face.

Also, and not for the first time, an FGW guard offered his help regarding information about onward connections, with absolutely no prompting from me.

Now, I might not particularly need that kind of help, but if I appreciated being asked, then I'm sure a less seasoned passenger would have regarded this personal touch as a godsend.

To top it off, yesterday continued the trend of FGW trains I travel on being relatively on time.

If only they could combine with the other key players to offer a proper TransWilts service, then I could see myself becoming quite a fan...