GWR Reading to Somerset services

[adwm]

Hi all,

I recently read a comment on Facebook that said the following:

'GWR have a similar thing [referring to fast trains that frequently make unscheduled stops] with a few services and Reading. On really busy days they have been known to skip the Reading stop and run a relief train starting at Reading. This also leaves the sneaky Reading commuters going all the way to Taunton'.

As someone who has to travel between London and Somerset quite often, I'm intrigued -- but not sure I fully understand. Does anyone with good knowledge of this route/GWR practices know if it's possible to reliably book a train to Reading but end up being taken to Taunton?

 

[RPI]

Hi all,

I recently read a comment on Facebook that said the following:

'GWR have a similar thing [referring to fast trains that frequently make unscheduled stops] with a few services and Reading. On really busy days they have been known to skip the Reading stop and run a relief train starting at Reading. This also leaves the sneaky Reading commuters going all the way to Taunton'.

As someone who has to travel between London and Somerset quite often, I'm intrigued -- but not sure I fully understand. Does anyone with good knowledge of this route/GWR practices know if it's possible to reliably book a train to Reading but end up being taken to Taunton?

I'm assuming this is regarding trains that are "pick up only" at Reading, if that's the case then Reading won't be shown as a station stop on the departure screens at Paddington, if that's the case then you shouldn't be boarding that train if you intend to travel to Reading, you run the risk of being over carried to the first advertised stop.

 

[sh24]

I'm pretty regular from Paddington to points west beyond Somerset and I've never seen GWR drop a relief service in like that. Can't imagine there are spare IET's and crew to make that happen on an ad hoc basis. Could someone be getting confused with the super fast Penzance service in the summer timetable which IIRC was first stop Exeter, and a slower Plymouth service running right behind?

 

[Mag_seven]

I'm pretty regular from Paddington to points west beyond Somerset and I've never seen GWR drop a relief service in like that. Can't imagine there are spare IET's and crew to make that happen on an ad hoc basis. Could someone be getting confused with the super fast Penzance service in the summer timetable which IIRC was first stop Exeter, and a slower Plymouth service running right behind?

I agree - relief trains are a throwback to BR days and even then they would probably start at Paddington.

 

[Benjwri]

I wonder if someone has got confused and merged the stories of relief trains from BR days, and the old full and standing Reading skips on pick up only trains from the FGW days merged?