From FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) (Joe Patrick) :

As from the 1508 Bristol TM^‡(resolve) - Severn Beach and the 1522 Severn Beach - Bristol TM TODAY (Sat 3rd Feb) there will be no trains for the rest of the day - trains replaced by buses.

I've just found this on National Rail Enquiries and had no idea this was happenning. There were no posters at stations I use (to my knowledge) & it was very badly publicised. I hope nobody gets caught out, the bus from Severn Beach takes a whopping 1h 5m!

Curiously this was reported elsewhere, and on Network Rail's site as Engineering Work related. Perhaps someone at FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is getting a little too used to typing certain phrases on their service issue reports!

RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) Bristol Rail Branch now have a section of their website dedicated to defending Severn Beach Line services (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/cgi-bin/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=3&search=severn+beach

Lighting problem, are you sure that it was only interior lights, as if Tail/Headlights were not working, then the train will be cancelled

Assuming the new Power Cars don't go up in flames first!

First Buses are even more expensive than First Trains.  It's ^6 return from Bath to Bristol (at any time), but off-peak it's cheaper on the train.

From FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) :

Known Cancellations

14/03/07 16.35

19/03/07 06.45

27/03/07 06.45

31/03/07 09.08

04/04/07 14.35

05/04/07 06.45

10/04/07 11.35

25 / 04/ 07 07.23 The train turned back at Avonmouth this morning.

From FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) :

USE YOUR LOCAL STATION

Travel the Severn Beach Line for ^1 per day.

From the 16 April 2007 to the 19 May 2007 First Great Western in association with Severnside Community Rail Partnership, are offering passengers the opportunity to travel on the Severn Beach Line using a Day Ranger* ticket costing just ^1.

The Day Ranger ticket is valid after 9 am, Monday to Friday and offers unlimited travel on the day of purchase. So whether you are a regular traveller on the Severn Beach Line or tempted to become one make the most of this opportunity.

*Terms and Conditions apply - please check when purchasing your ticket.

Sarah Collins, Partnership Officer, Severnside Community Rail Partnership has requested that FOSBR help publicise the above special offer.

This clarification has been given

" The offer does not apply on a Saturday and after investigation there does not seem to be any other terms and conditions that apply to this offer."

(Isnt it strange that Saturdays are not included , when this is the ONLY day that St Andrews Road and Severn Beach stations have an all - day train service - Lee)

There has been some reaction to this :

"I assume that Day Ranger ticket is valid on Monday May 7th when a special bus service replaces trains on the line.

For replacement bus timetable see
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Documents/Custom/FGW%20-%20214.pdf

Seems strange to finish on Saturday 19 May if "offer does not apply on a Saturday" !"

"I'm sure we'd be happy to publicise it, but the other parties aren't!

Severnside CRP^▸ (Community Rail Partnership)'s website has no mention of any offer, and I can't find anything on FGW's site."

"Complete farce as far as I can see. Half way through the offer period and no publicity at all. Definitely no poster on Sea Mills station, for example. Not being promoted by guards on the Saturday train, possibly because it does not apply on Saturdays, and I have not heard of it through any press or flier route.

It would not have been too difficult to get an article in the Evening Post, free of charge.

My daughter was offered it when buying a ticket at Temple Meads, but this is hardly promotion."