A joint communication from the Unions/GWR on 2nd July rather contradicts that:

“Further progress has been made at this week's 7-day railway talks. By early August, we aim to be in a position to approach the DfT seeking authorisation to proceed with the consultation phase. If received, we will arrange depot visits to listen to drivers' views about the package that is being developed.”

08:44 Swindon to Weymouth due 11:08
05/07/25 08:44 Swindon to Weymouth due 11:08 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Frome, Bruton, Castle Cary, Yeovil Pen Mill, Maiden Newton, Dorchester West and Weymouth.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 13:01
13:13 Swindon to Westbury due 13:55
14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:05
17:35 Swindon to Westbury due 18:18
18:35 Westbury to Swindon due 19:17
19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29

05/07/25 19:44 Swindon to Westbury due 20:29 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Some problems yesterday including:

1523 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street cancelled between Oxford and Worcester Foregate Street due to disorder (VA)
1552 London Paddington to Great Malvern cancelled between Worcester Shrub Hill and Great Malvern due to late arrival of an inbound service (YI) (departed Oxford 59 late, arrived WOS 69 late)
1658 London Paddington to Great Malvern cancelled between Worcester Foregate Street and Great Malvern due to late arrival of an inbound service (YI) (departed Oxford 19 late, held at Wolvercote Junction and arrived at WOF 69 late)

17:04 Didcot Parkway to Evesham due 18:23 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.

18:51 Evesham to Oxford due 19:50 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train.

"The trains on the branches will be running at normal times, but connections may not be made so you may have to wait for the next train?

"The trains on the branches will be running at normal times, but connections may not be made so you may have to wait for the next train?

Google maps indicates around 4 direct well spaced out TGV services to Paris per day taking around 3 and a half hours, the first before eight, the last one at 6:55pm arriving Montparnasse at around 10:20pm.

Mark

You’re saying it would have been more sensible to write “We apologise, but this will increase the likelihood of a passenger disturbance on branch line trains, but your train might well be quieter.” 

My emphasises.

I'll take that final sentence as a question, Phantom. No expertise beyond my own dealings with the DWP and its handsomely rewarded, but poorly performing, contractors. No expertise beyond studying up on all the legislation, reading the Decision Makers Guidance and Health Professional's Guidance. I have the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and the Social Security Act 1998 bookmarked in my browser. No expertise beyond reading case law. No expertise beyond helping several other people navigate the PIP claims and assessment process. No expertise beyond helping someone else successfully appeal at tribunal where, but for Covid, I would have appeared as a McKenzie Friend. No expertise beyond contributing and discussing my experiences with those involved in Upper Tier Tribunals and judicial reviews for PIP. No expertise beyond my OWN lived experiences.

Am I an expert? Far from it. But I do have some expertise borne from lived experience of being in the 'system'. All that said I continue to dread my next reassessment. It's a soul destroying, demoralising, dehumanising process that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

In other news, an agreement for solving the Sunday situation has been reached between the Unions and GWR, unfortunately the DfT have reportedly rejected the proposal. 

Oh yes it does - won't it reduce the loadings by having people miss connections, and increase the passenger angst and chance of passenger disturbances on the branch trains?   The JourneyCheck wording written from an operational rather than from a passenger journey viewpoint?