Didcot Parkway - station, facilities, services, improvements, events and incidents (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Details of the series which is based on the Agatha Christie characters Tommy and Tuppence from the 'Partners in Crime' short story collection:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partners_in_Crime_(UK_TV_series)

http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/tv-news/news/first-look-david-walliams-and-jessica-raine-in-new-agatha-christie-series-partners-in

[grahame]

From a contact of mine who turned up at Slough for a fast service to London ...

I now know that the Oxford services that provide most of the fast trains between Slough and Paddington are suspended due to work at Hinksey, which is of course beyond Didcot, let alone beyond Slough.

There's no reason for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) not to run the Oxford services at least as far as Didcot from where there is a replacement bus service anyway, other than for profiting by displacing and inconveniencing customers.

Is his suggestion that the fast Oxfords are completely withdraw for purely profit reasons, or is there another reason (such as the facilities at Didcot not being able to cope with turning around all the extra trains)?

[IndustryInsider]

They're not withdrawn are they?  I can see two fast Slough to Paddington trains per hour running from Didcot.

[ChrisB]

indeed, not sure what their problem is? what time was this?

[didcotdean]

Travelled on one yesterday. They are turning round on Platform 3 or 4 with the Cross Country to Bournemouth using 5. The stopping services are going from 4.

Does seem to be only one per hour outside of peak though.

[grahame]

They're not withdrawn are they?  I can see two fast Slough to Paddington trains per hour running from Didcot.

indeed, not sure what their problem is? what time was this?

Train expected at Slough at 10:11 on its way into London.

I should probably have further checked the story:

The 10.11 fast train to Paddington did not stop at the station. I am now on the 10.14 stopping train and will be late for my appointment. Evidently timetables are guides not commitments.

and

I now know that the Oxford services that provide most of the fast trains between Slough and Paddington are suspended due to work at Hinksey, which is of course beyond Didcot, let alone beyond Slough. The only reason I chose to drive to Slough rather than catch the train in Bracknell ...

There's no reason for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) not to run the Oxford services at least as far as Didcot from where there is a replacement bus service anyway, other than for profiting by displacing and inconveniencing customers.

[IndustryInsider]

Looks like that one has indeed been withdrawn this week.  The vast majority are ok though - slightly different timings on a few of them.  Probably due to a lack of capacity at Didcot I would imagine.

[didcotdean]

I suspect the loadings particularly off-peak may be lowish too - people avoiding travelling from Oxford, or when they get to Didcot going on a HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) for Reading / London rather than a 5 carriage 165.

There ought I suppose be some local advertising at Slough.

[Adelante_CCT]

The 10.11 fast train to Paddington did not stop at the station.

Not really a case of it 'not stopping', just that it was not due to run, slight difference*

Remember, "always check before travelling"



*(Not like the 17:32 from Morton in Marsh a week ago Wednesday where the driver did actually forget to stop at Slough, I was on the returning 19:22 from Paddington to Hereford where the train manager was very apologetic to those 'still on board'.)

[bobm]

For the duration of the works Swindon gains an extra service to Paddington at 05:55 - it runs in the times of the 05:59 ex-Oxford from Didcot Parkway.  Can't remember the last time Maidenhead was announced as a calling point at Swindon. 

[TonyK]

Back to normal on 15 August?

[ChrisB]

it should be....

[TonyK]

I'm glad I read this thread. I was able to give valuable information to the former Miss FT, N!, who was heading for London yesterday from Hanborough, and had no idea of the closure. She was going to bustitute to Didcot, but took my advice of a shorter bus ride to Oxford Parkway, then Chiltern to Marylebone. It saved her 45 minutes, and her husband a lot of money on his ticket apparently.

[bobm]

"The former Miss FT, N" - I thought for a moment you had disowned her.  Glad the last sentence made it clear!

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Great Western Railway press release:

Work starts on new £20 million multi-storey car park for Didcot Parkway
 
£20 million work has begun today to build a new 1,800 capacity multi-storey car park at Didcot Parkway railway station.
 
The scheme, which is part funded by the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, will see the number of car parking spaces at the station increase by over 65% to 1,800.
 
The work, which to take place in the Foxhall Road car park, is being divided into two phases:
·         Phase 1 from April 17 to Summer 17: A temporary deck will be constructed over half of the car park, to be completed this Summer. The east end of the car park will remain open
·         Phase 2 from Summer 17 to Summer 18: Construction of a new multi-storey car park will begin and will be completed by next Summer.

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Regional Development Manager Tom Pierpoint said: “Didcot Parkway is used by over three million customers every year, and offers quick and easy journeys to Oxford, Banbury, Reading and London – making it a key hub. With London around 40 minutes away by train, a new multi-storey car park, complimenting new trains and more seats, will provide a better travelling experience for all those who use the station both now and into the future.”
 
In addition, Network Rail is constructing a new covered footbridge at the west end of the station. When completed, the footbridge will provide customers with a direct, covered walkway route from Foxhall Road car park to the station.
 
From October this year new Intercity Express Trains will enter service and provide over a fifth more seats per train, more tables in standard class, efficient air-conditioning, a digital reservation system and well-equipped kitchens, ensuring a more comfortable experience for passengers.
 
In addition, in early 2018 new Electrostar, suburban trains will start between Paddington and Didcot Parkway. These trains are eight carriages long, benefiting customers who travel between Didcot Parkway and intermediate stations.
 
GWR continues to investigate alternative parking arrangements to minimise the potential for a loss of parking space while work is being carried out.
 
Three car parks serve the station: Foxhall Road with 890 spaces, being increased to 1,800; Didcot East with 143 and Didcot West short stay with 43 spaces.