Great Western Coffee Shop

Cancellations to services at Maidenhead
Due to a fault with the signalling system at Maidenhead some lines are disrupted.
Impact
Train services running through this station are returning to normal but some services may still be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 09:00 20/01.

Good to see things are returning to normal but a pretty miserable experience for a lot of people this morning, delays, cancellations and some dreadful overcrowding. I was 15 minutes late leaving Taplow and by the time we got past West Drayton the train was absolutely rammed.

Worse for those heading West I believe.

As I understand it there were 2 explanations/reasons being offered - signal problems caused by overnight engineering work and just good old fashioned signal problems!

You were lucky you only had 15 minutes delay.  At Pangbourne the busy 0836 to Reading and Paddington (which Mrs GTBE was going for to-day) was cancelled, and the next train (the 0849) didn't turned up until 0905.  It then managed to drop another 2 minutes to Reading, so 31 minutes late on a 9 minute journey.

Your fault per chance GTBE?

Er.. yes. She^s on the train 3 days this week, so far played 2 lost 2.  Just hope tomorrow goes Ok. 

I think many of us who work or worked on the railway get the same treatment from our wives/husbands, friends etc.  At least us retired ones can say ^it wouldn^t have happened in my day^.  And maybe sometimes we^re right.

Yeah been a bit of a mess for me as well the past two mornings. Yesterdays 0738 from Goring was 2 car instead of 5. Arrived at Reading and were told it was running to Slough and Paddington only due to short form to avoid excessive overcrowding, which I thought was actually very well planned out as it would have been horrendous by Maidenhead.

Then this morning it was 5 cars as usual, then on arrival at Reading we were all turfed off due to a train fault (no idea what). The 0811 was then delayed, and just before we left around 0815, the 0758 from Goring arrived at Reading.

On a slightly different note, I thought 1st class was being removed from the turbos ? Since Christmas we have had 1st class on the 0738 almost every day (and I was just getting used to sitting in a comfy seat  >:( ;D )

I thought that was only on the 165s? One section on the longer-distance 166s was being kept?

Ah, that may explain it then, they have been 166's almost every day as well... Sorry guess I got confused, I thought they were only being kept on one particular line (very hazy memory so sorry for the vagueness!).

No train fault on the 0738 from Goring, it was terminated early at Reading due to issues with the points at Ruscombe (between Twyford and Maidenhead).

Oh, shame no one explained that then!

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Slough
Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident between London Paddington and Slough all lines are blocked.
Impact
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 60 mins. Disruption is expected until 17:00 20/01.

A fun evening to match the morning by the looks of it - I'm hearing someone on a bridge threatening to jump?

I appreciate the frustration this may be causing (on the top of all the other delays) but it may be worth exercising discretion on the forum and avoiding speculation. Nothing personal TG

Understood BB - things seem to be on the move again - happy ending thankfully.

Yes, thankfully it appears that the suicidal male at Royal Oak (I'm assuming on an over bridge), was talked down by skilled negotiators.

Top marks to all those involved in what appears to have been a satisfactory result. Yes, there were delays and disruptions (my and bobm's plan to visit the London Transport Museum being one such curtailed plan). However, one less railway fatality. For that, praise is due to all the staff, both rail and emergency services, who dealt with this incident this afternoon.

At least everyone got home in one piece.

I do find myself pondering how much this type of incidents cost to all concerned.....dozens of cancelled/hugely delayed trains, thousands of disrupted journeys........must run into ^hundreds of thousands?

My view is probably completely unacceptable so I will keep it to myself.

I wouldn't wish what must have been that person's state of mind on anyone here. And I hope you wouldn't either

Would your view include a Derek and Clive lyric?

Delays to services between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington

Due to a fault with the on train signalling system between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington some lines are blocked.

Impact
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 15 mins. Disruption is expected until 12:45 21/01.


......new day, new reason! (would this be HEX/Heathrow Connect?)

It was a points failure at Southall!  Connect services were suspended as a result.

Message on GWR website;

Our apology

Major Incident on Wednesday 20th January.

 As a result of emergency services dealing with a serious trespass incident at Royal Oak, all lines between London and Slough had to be closed and we were unable to operate any services into or out of Paddington Station.

 Unfortunately this incident caused severe delays and cancellations throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

 We are very sorry if your journey was affected by this and we work continuously with British Transport Police and Network Rail to see what measures can be taken to reduce incidents such as these.

 Ben Rule

 Operations Director ^ Great Western Railway

...........the shape of things to come?

Alterations to services between Hayes & Harlington and London Paddington 

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between Hayes & Harlington and London Paddington the London bound line is closed.

Impact
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 20:00 06/02.

Customer Advice
South West Trains are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.

No necessarily.  This is still the old OLE (Overhead Electrification) which is known for having problems.  That is why the new stuff (west of Stockley Bridge Junction) has a full gantry (rather than wires between the posts at the top) and the gantries are closer together, together with other changes to make it more robust. 

... but less aesthetically pleasing to those in the Goring Gap.  >:(

*MODS*

I started a separate topic on a more relevant board before seeing these recent posts here. I wonder if the last few posts could be moved and merged as today's engineering overrun wasn't in the Thames Valley (for a change!).

All done - see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=16743.0  ;) :D ;D

Thames Valley punctuality performance last month was at 86.4%, over 1% lower than it was last month, but still enough to increase the MAA (Moving Annual Average) from 84.3% to 84.6%.

All other sectors are still easily achieving the season ticket discount 'trigger' levels, with all except HSS also above the 'target' figure.

I'll do a monthly update on this thread, so we can follow the trend from what should be the current low (old trains, lack of capacity, lots of engineering works) to a future high when Crossrail launches.  I'm sure there will be a few peaks and troughs in the intervening years!

.......I do love the refreshing honesty of these new excuses!  :)


09:18 Reading to London Paddington due 10:18 

This train has been delayed from Reading and is now 36 minutes late.
This train will no longer call at Twyford, Maidenhead, Taplow, Burnham, Slough, West Drayton, Hayes & Harlington, Southall and Ealing Broadway.

This is due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time.

I wonder if it is actually the HEx 332s that are causing the problems? 

AIUI they are out of service while their anti-roll bars are checked for cracks, and the Connect 360s are running HEx; so GW are running a Paddington - Hayes stopper...

Paul

I was on a Virgin Trains service from Euston to Glasgow yesterday (Sunday) and made use of the toilet.

When I locked the door there was a recorded announcment stating the things that should not be flushed down the toilet- I've convinced the last thing in the list was "Goldfish"....

it was, you heard right...

Presumably in the future, for class 800/801/345 etc., it will say something like "this is due to the train supplier delivering too few trains today".

That announcement is the same as the signs seen on raised toilet lids, or next to the toilet, on trains in the Stagecoach/Virgin fleets:

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/Mobile%20Uploads/rps20160229_145646_zpsr3v4heic.jpg)

And it's reasonably amusing the first time you hear it, but less so over time!

Not sure this is working out particularly well - I note that a similar message is on RTT today and my usual train was crush loaded from Hayes onwards, people left on platform..........then we roll past OOC to see lots of shiny HEX trains in the sidings!

Any idea how long this is likely to continue?

Alterations to services at Southall 
Due to a speed restriction over defective track at Southall the London bound main line is blocked.
Impact
Train services running through this station may be delayed by up to 25 mins or revised. Disruption is expected until 16:45 01/03.

Reading - Paddington Stoppers non stopping Langley/Iver/West Drayton/Hayes/Ealing - not exactly ideal with Heathrow Connect down too.........Advice for those wanting Langley - Ealing? Go to Paddington and double back.

The HEX website refers currently to 29 Feb - 1 Mar - so maybe back to normal in the morning? Either that, or they don't yet know & maybe that date will change daily until they do?

40 mins late into work this morning from Twyford as my usual, fast train was half size and couldn't get on. Apparently due to rolling stock being cascaded around although no mention on the GWR website about this. Again if GWR provided full information other than just saying it affects Hayes then I could make alternative plans rather than standing in the rain wondering if I'll get on the next train.  >:(

What I don't really understand is why GWR are providing rolling stock for Heathrow Express which is so far as I know a completely separate company and even a rival on the Heathrow route. Presumably a commercial arrangement has been agreed to switch the rolling stock and GWR are being compensated? I would have hoped their own customers should take priority?

Perhaps next time there's a major incident I'll be allowed to use my ticket on the HEX as that does provide an alternative way home (if friends are still working out that way).

HConnect is part-owned by HEX, or HEX contract GWR to run HConnect services, don't they?.....so there'll be some arrangement in their contract to enable this. I don't think GWR have much choice?

Wikipedia says, in its usual authoritative tone of writing:

That's borne out by the GWR Franchise ITT, where we read:

So HEX OWN & operate HConnect...so of course they'll use them on the HEX trains if needed. GWR being franchised to operate between PAD & Hates, are doing that with 165s. Does make sense

Looks like the same situation today.

I imagine that HEx's track access agreement doesn't include serving the stations en route. So, "obviously", it's easier for GWR to sub-lease train and crew and operate part of the route than alter the TAA.

I'd always thought HLA were dragooned into co-providing the HC service, but it now looks as if that's wrong, and rather unfair on them.

Just mentioned on uk.rail newsgroup

and
From RailNews (http://railnews.mobi/news/2016/03/02-heathrow-express-fleet-withdrawn-indefinitely.html)

So ongoing, with indefinite time-frame currently

Journeycheck is now saying:

I can't help feeling that this new-style reason is a bit of an understatement in this case.

And while it may be literally true that these trains are "between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5" at the moment, it's hardly relevant, is it?

Being pedantic  ::) the problems with HEX class 322 is not a railway infrastructure problem its a traction and rolling stock problem

The Journeycheck item is not well written, particularly the opening para.  The item doesn't even state that the new Hayes shuttle stops at every station.

Not sure what Northern Rail units have to do with this  ;)

Ah being pedantic about my pedantic  ;D

Full stop tonight. The 19.00 to Bristol has come to a stop near Ealing with smoke onboard. Nothing moving. Joy.

Not the infrastructure at fault this time. Dragging brakes in Coach A.

On this thread, last infrastructure faults reported on March 1st and Feb 6th.

Just the three trains badly delayed by over 30 minutes, including the train which was the culprit. Couple of local services cancelled as well to free up some slots on the relief lines.

I trust they were dragging quietly.  ::)

Lol! And that the passengers in Coach A weren't tutting too loudly :)

Signal problems yet again in the Thames Valley this evening.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/paddington-station-chaos-after-signal-failure-a3217956.html

......and prior to that, no service for Burnham/Taplow for several hours in the morning, and after that more track problems between Maidenhead/Reading causing major delays to late evening services

I won't recount all my woes in detail here (I got stuck morning and evening, and spent a total of six and a half hours travelling to and from work yesterday due to the railways failings) - thankfully my rail replacement service (Mrs TG) dropped me at Slough in the morning, and collected me from Uxbridge Tube station at about 9pm last night, but yesterday really was one of  those days when you ask yourself if we have a railway worthy of the name, on which a lot of us spend thousands of ^ annually. 

One thing I will say for yesterday evening though, the comms was better and clearer at Paddington - people were left in no doubt whatsoever that there would be no trains leaving for some time, and they would be better off trying Waterloo for Reading etc etc - better bad news than no news at all. I was headed for Waterloo via Baker St when I spotted a Met Line train for Uxbridge and realised that would be a better option, however I fear the two spousal "rail replacement" services may cost me more than I had thought!!!  Lets hope for better today.

I like the comment from 'bj east london' below the Standard article:

I was due to travel  on the 00:20 (ish) this morning from RDG to Thatcham which was cancelled just after it was due to depart - apparently one of the signalling team that controlled the section of track we were due to travel on was taken sick and no replacement.

On this occasion I can't fault the comms from GWR - to the point when we got on the replacement bus a GWR team member came on to the bus and apologised.

It wasn't all plain sailing through - the bus driver didn't even know where he had to go but this was no fault of GWR.

.............I almost did..........try asking my wife for a lift to/from another station twice in one day!!!  ;)

Another great start to a GWR week.....

Delays to services between Ealing Broadway and Hayes & Harlington 
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Ealing Broadway and Hayes & Harlington:
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 30 mins.

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Greenford 
Due to a fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Greenford all lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 08:00 11/04.

..........last Monday it was overrunning engineering in the morning, signal failure in the evening, other way around today?  >:(

Not wanting to be picky, but...
"Over-running Engineering Work" in the Evening would suggest that the Engineers started early, before the end of traffic.  While we're all keen to get on with the job, we tend not to start until the last train has passed... ;)

............it's Health and Safety gone mad!  ;D

Depends where the engineering work is; during the day for example at OOC it is possible that some of the lines into the depot are blocked for engineering work, the block being lifted in time for the run up to the evening peak

Yesterday (3rd May) evening -> Acton signalling.
This morning -> Didcot signalling.
This evening:
"Due to a fault with the signalling system between Ealing Broadway and London Paddington the London bound relief line is blocked.
Impact: Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 20 mins. Disruption is expected until 16:30 04/05"

More of the same signalling problems today.

And Swindon/Didcot this morning (09/05)

There were problems between Iver and Slough this morning as well. I caught the 0959 down stopper from Hayes and Harlington which used the Down Main until just after Slough and missed the HOT connection at TWY.

After the flooding last night (discussed elsewhere) there are more problems this morning.
The Newbury - Thatcham line was closed due to a level crossing fault.
There were signalling problems through West Drayton and Southall.

These two conspired to delay me by around half an hour into Paddington (where I spent an hour last night wondering what was going where).

Signalling problems at Basingstoke this morning affecting my local services to Reading. Another 35 minutes delay.

I'm probably being blind and stupid, but I've looked, and can't find anything about the flooding.  Can you point me in the right direction plz?

Have a look here (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=17030.0)

Delays London bound through Hayes this morning due to earlier failed Heathrow Connect(?) service.

......seems to be lots of ticket office closures too for some reason?

... neither of which are really infrastructure problems, are they?

Signalling problems at Oxford this morning causing knock on delays through Reading into Paddington.
The HST stopper I joined at Reading at 0700 was rammed(*) after Maidenhead.

(*) Technical term ;)

Full & Standing for the non technical   ;D ;D

Lots of "non stoppers" at Maidenhead this morning, some very unhappy/squashed/late people judging from friends reports and Twitter feed...........for once I was pleased to get on my "slow" all stations train from Taplow!!!

Most, if not all, caused by the points failure at Oxford, mentioned by Jason.

Delays to services between Plymouth and Totnes 
Due to a shortage of train drivers between Plymouth and Totnes some Newton Abbot bound lines are blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 60 mins.

.............what on Earth are they doing to block the line? Sleeping on the tracks?  ???

Ooh, you'll be in for it Taplow, that's nowhere near LTV land!

Anyhow, an NR engineering train broken down, the driver is out of hours and there isn't another available for it.

Ouch! Good luck to those trying to get to Twickenham from the Westcountry then..........thankfully I'm travelling via Windsor!

We heard the driver employed by the freight company didn't actually sign the route outside of the engineering worksite so they had to find another driver to go and move the train.  Sounds more like a rostering error by the freight company.

Another one of the hazards of splitting up the railways.

How can you have a driver who only signs for a worksite?

Possibly a driver who does not know the area of the works, but who has been specifically authorised to drive within the work site only.
Most, perhaps all of the normal route knowledge, is not relevant within a worksite.
Location of signals, often not applicable as they may be out of use for the works, and it is usual to give permission to pass signals at danger due to the works requiring more than one train in a section.
Speed limits, often not applicable as the maximum speed permitted in a work site is often much lower than the usual line speed.
Stopping places, and braking points to stop correctly at stations, not usually relevant as engineering trains stop as needed for the work.
And so on.

.........and the consequences of having no back up plan were many journeys disrupted and days out ruined on one of the busiest days of the year with a number of major events taking place.

What a way to run the railway!

And yet again GWR get all the flack for not being prepared and being short of staff to move this train (sic).

.............here we go again.......

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway 




Due to a fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway fewer trains are able to run on some lines.



Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 20 mins. Disruption is expected until 11:30 01/06.

I think GWR must be chomping at the bit for the Elizabeth Line to take over the reliefs out of Paddington, just so TfL get the flack instead.

........but surely Network Rail (NR) will have all the signalling in perfect working order by then? ;-)

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

I wonder if it will be TfL who get the flack or the actual operator, MTR...... although I suspect most will still think its run by First!

I thought it was Thames trains runs the TV service!

...............could be a fun journey home  >:(



Cancellations to services between Slough and Hayes & Harlington 

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Slough and Hayes & Harlington all lines are blocked.

Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 16:00 06/06.

It is not much improved now...

Following a fault with the signalling system between Slough and Hayes & Harlington some lines have now reopened.
Impact: Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 mins or revised. Disruption is expected until 17:00 06/06.

Just what you need on a warm day.

  .....wait for it........If it keeps up pretty soon this seasonally normal weather will be cited as the reason for the next tranche of delays/cancellations if previous years are anything to go by!

.....Happy Friday!  ::)

Alterations to services between London Paddington and Slough 

Due to a broken down train between London Paddington and Slough all lines are closed.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 20 mins or revised.

Disruption is expected until 18:15 10/06

Unconfirmed but customers on Twitter are saying that there is a fire on the train in question.

Alterations to services between London Paddington and Slough 

Due to a broken down train between London Paddington and Slough all lines are closed.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 45 mins or revised. Disruption is expected until 19:45 10/06.

Wondered why I haven't heard any trains recently.

  .......according to Journeycheck two trains broke down in the same area! Clearly it's not just traincrew that GWR are running short of, lack of maintenance too!

1C89 suffered a flash over and resulting fire in the power car at Hayes and Harlington
1Y70 has been declared a complete failure just outside Heathrow tunnel.

hmmmmm

and another.....

For the record. Here's the recalcitrant power car after it skulked back into Paddington before going to Old Oak Common. (Not a lot to see - but a lot of people thought it was going to be their train home and queued next to it - only to see it leave empty)

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/hstflash.jpg)

http://pressreleases.responsesource.com/news/90829/gwr-and-plymouth-s-gaia-spa-to-offer-free-on/   .......don't worry, everyone can get a free GWR stress relieving massage tomorrow, I'm sure that will be a great help after a 3hr journey home tonight and an evening ruined!  ::)

It looks rather like smoke or fire damage to the platform canopy, but not in the right place as the errant power car is clearly further away from the camera than the canopy.

Has something else caught fire recently ?

Just carbon deposits from the exhausts of countless High Speed Train (HST) power cars stopping at the same spot

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

We need a new thread for train failure ;) ?

Due to a broken down train between Swindon and Bristol Parkway the Bristol Parkway bound line is blocked.
Impact: Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 mins or revised. Disruption is expected until 09:30 13/06.
Customer Advice: Due to a fault on a train just West of Swindon services towards Bristol Parkway and West Wales & Chippenham, Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads will be delayed.

Was a refurbished alternator as well that went up in smoke.

It can't have been particularly well refurbished!

Could be nasty, hope no-one is injured...............

Due to an obstruction on the track between Castle Cary and Taunton all lines are blocked.

Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 45 mins or revised. Disruption is expected until 13:45 13/06.

Customer Advice
This is due to a train having hit a tree.
South West Trains are conveying passengers between Westbury and Exeter St Davids via Yeovil Bus Station in both directions until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.

Extending the Thames Valley again, TG? :-)

Minor damage to the nose cone and to the lifeguard.  It's the damaged lifeguard which is preventing the train from being moved

That's German engineering for you! 

The lifeguard being a metal bar running in front of and in line with the front wheels designed to deflect/break objects and stop them from hitting or going under the wheels.  Image shown here:  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Lifeguard_on_Class_43_powercar.jpg

Trains been moved.

Eh?

Doubt you'd get one into/round Pen Mill

Maybe this time it will be.

Get one what?  A passenger or a train?  ;D

I was replying to the previos post....


So maybe a bus?

I guess it was just an extremely obtuse way of saying - you can use the Weymouth service, change at Yeovil Pen Mill for the bus service to Yeovil Junction and pick up the SWT service to Exeter St Davids  :o

Doesn't that bus service also go via the bus station though?

Yes!

This incident is being discussed on two threads as somebody has posted on the "Paddington outage"  (also querying the language of outage)  and pointed out this thread is for Infrastructure posts.

Yup - needs a mod to do some moving of posts!

Fully aware, Gentlemen ... also aware of the mess I would make if I start but cannot finish the job and I'm juggling lots of balls today.

What a fun way to spend your Friday, I do hope you mean that literally!!  ;D Although disappointingly I suspect you're just busy with a lot of things!

I remain fully aware - and aware of repeated notifications too. Somehow the two thread, same topic stuff feels trivial tonight - see http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=17162.msg197342#msg197342 . I'll sort it in the morning.  In the meantime, please feel free to carry on posting - you can help me by doing so in the other thread (at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=17158.msg197344#msg197344 ) if it's on the specific subject of the derailment at Paddington and its aftermath.  Thanks.

The incident referred to here is the derailment of an empty passenger train at Paddington on 16 June 2016: the relevant posts following this one have now been moved and merged into a definitive discussion, at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=17158.0

Please bear with us, on the admin / moderator team, in dealing with such issues: we all do this in whatever 'spare time' we have available.  CfN.  :)

I saw this at about 8am this morning and I guess we are going to have to get used to this:

@nationalrailenq: Delays of up to 15 minutes between Reading and #DidcotParkway due to overhead wire damage between the stations

But was surprised by this given there are no electric trains and it isn't windy.

The first of many, I suspect

Stray wire hanging down over one of the lines apparently.  Probably not too surprising it's happened at least once given the installation isn't complete in several locations still, with plenty of temporary fixings still in place.

Three for the price of one this morning!


Cancellations to services at Guildford 
Due to a fault with the signalling system at Guildford some lines are blocked.
Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 mins or revised. Disruption is expected until 11:00 23/06.

Delays to services at Slough 
Due to a fault with the signalling system at Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on the London bound main line. Train services running through this station may be delayed by up to 10 mins. Disruption is expected until 10:45 23/06.

Due to a fault with the signalling system between St Erth and St Ives all lines are closed.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 12:30 23/06.

I believe the Guildford one was caused by a lightning strike?

On the grounds that it's drifted from "Thames Valley Infrastructure", I suspect it will get split into a separate thread. But I would doubt it will be deleted.  Many forums are like that ... but this is "The Coffee Shop".

Getting back on topic, and not to test Grahame’s patience any longer, Today’s Railways UK reports that the wires between Scours Lane and Milton Junction go live at 2230 hrs next Saturday 2nd July.

Should I turn my computer off at 2225 hrs?

No, nothing has been deleted.  ;)

I have simply (actually, it's rather more complicated than that, but never mind  ::) ) moved and merged some posts from here to a more specific and relevant topic, here: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=17190.0

10 days without a post on this topic??  Sorry to ruin what could be a record, but....

Am tracking 1O84 Newcastle Southampton which I am catching from Reading to Basinstoke. It has passed  Derby as I write.

So also tracking Taplow times. Just noticed 10:18 to Reading  shows up as delayed left Padd on time delayed reaching Ealing Broadway. Plan B?  Panic over seems to have dropped 3 minutes to Southall. Is this a quirk of the system?

Will be catching 11:21 from Taplow to connect with 1O84

Live departures was having some issues earlier, should be okay now.

I caught that from Reading to Southampton  :)

Due to a points failure between Reading West and Reading fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Impact: Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 16:30 08/07.

I had my reserved seat between Reading and Basingstoke (didn't sit in it got off at at Basingstoke to catch following SWT train to Weymouth. interesting a School Party also got off at Basingstoke and caught my train to Southampton. Must be a Cross country ploy to put people on SWT trains asap.

I dropped Mrs FT, N! and her friend at Tiverton Parkway yesterday, to catch the 1426 Plymouth train en route to TQY. When we were told it was running 20L because of problems with overhead wires, she looked at me with a puzzled expression, and said "Aren't the nearest wires somewhere like Heathrow or Brirmingham?". I explained, smugly, what was happening and why problems the other side of Reading in the Thames Valley could have such a knock-on effect.

Wrong. This one was due to problems with Over-Head Line Equipment (OHLE) at Berwick-upon-Tweed. The train was cancelled from there and restarted as 1Z52  from Newcastle. Which mattered nothing to her as I stuck them on 1C45 instead, telling them to change at EXD rather than NTA.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

From Journey Check

Isn't this all new signalling now?

New doesn't mean immune from faults.  If for example the comms to Didcot are down it won't matter how new it is.

Paul

I understand there was some sort of software upgrade overnight and the system didn't initially come back up as expected.

This coupled with points run through at Wootton Bassett and signalling problems at Thingley junction and the Badminton line haven't made for a good morning today.

That's the problem with using Google Play at weekends.

From GWR Live Updates at 13:35 today:

Oh, I'd heard that the signalling had been forcibly upgraded to Windows 10 without the signallers' consent...

..........looks like summer has belatedly arrived and will continue throughout the week........no doubt with the perennial annual delays/cancellations due to "poor rail conditions"  :(

Yes, I'm sure it will be a test for the infrastructure.  As soon as I saw the forecast I thought of you ready to pounce at the keyboard, TG.  ;)

...........Bless you for thinking of me, but I'm a bit old to pounce these days! ............would be interested in any initiatives that have been undertaken/are underway to address this apparently intractable although entirely predictable issue though which causes problems every year?

.....well don't forget that they have had the forthought to paint the key turnouts rails white in a vain attempt to keep them from expanding from heat and then suffering from 'switch creep' and subsequently failing... ::) :P

Could you expand on the word "vain" for a non-technical audience?

Its not technical at all.......

Vain
producing no result; useless.
"a vain attempt to tidy up the room"
synonyms: futile, useless, pointless, worthless, nugatory, to no purpose

Delays to everything heading out of Paddington at the moment due to 'signalling problems'. 😀

Perhaps they should paint the signals white as well  :)

I believe it was a points failure at Slough...... ::) :o

Ok, let me re-phrase my question. What was their logic in painting the rails white?

White reflects the sun and reduces the temperature of the rail in the sun. I believe this has been explained previously on this forum.

There is sound science behind it. It may however not reduce the risk of points failure enough to prevent failure.

...........maybe GWR could paint all their trains white to compensate for the broken aircon/non opening windows? 😉

There is a lot to be said for painting trains white in order to reflect radiant heat and thereby render conditions a LITTLE more tolerable when the air conditioning breaks. Also slightly reduces the energy consumed by cooling.

There was at least one dark green train out there yesterday on which the AC wasn't doing very well ... "34 degrees in each carriage" was comment to me; I was much relieved to be on a 153 which when moving with drop lights open at least had circulating air.

In my experience the chance of a local LTV service having working aircon is 50/50 at best - to be fair that isn't always helped by people who insist on opening windows....although it's by no means not unknown to get on board on a warm day to find warm air pumping out........

I'd agree with the 50/50 ratio.  Not particularly impressive but better than the 100% failure rate of the old system.

I'll repeat my annual post to say that the Class 166 air-con is individual to each carriage, so if one carriage is hot, try another - look for the ones with the windows closed if possible.  There's usually at least one carriage per train that's ok.  Set 218 was perfect throughout when I had the pleasure the other day.

Its High Speed Train's (HST)'s only for me in this weather.  I'd rather spend extra time in the office or on Paddington concourse and get a later train that has a fighting chance of being decent.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

Due to a speed restriction because of high track temperatures between London Paddington and Reading trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.
Impact: Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 30 minutes. Disruption is expected until 22:00 19/07.
Customer Advice: <lots>

Due to a fault with the signalling system at Basingstoke the platform 5 line is disrupted.
Impact: Train services running through this station may be delayed by up to 15 minutes. Disruption is expected until 16:00 19/07.

Due to a speed restriction because of high track temperatures between London Paddington and Greenford fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Impact: Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 22:00 19/07.
Customer Advice: Due to heat related speed restrictions a limited GWR service is operating between West Ealing and Greenford.

GWR Press Release


More links -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36836417

http://m.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/14628070.Direct_London_to_Oxford_trains_cancelled_due_to_hot_weather/

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailPAD/status/755357552033095680?s=17

...........I've just nipped out to the shed, there's a pot of white paint going spare if it'd help?  :)

The flippancy of your remarks suggests to me that you really do not understand the technical aspects of continuous welded rail. 

To stop the rails buckling the rails are put in tension most of the time.  The technical term is that they are de-stressed at a certain temperature. This means that for most of the time they are in tension and for part of the time they are in compression, but not high enough to cause a problem. If you try and touch an object that has been exposed to the hour sun for a long time it is usually considerably hotter than the air around it.  Thus the rail is considerably hotter than even to 30 odd degrees air temperature.

Temperatures of 50 to 55 degrees Celsius are not uncommon (that is too hot to touch for very long without injury).  Painting the rails white has been found to reduce the temperature by between 5 and 10 degrees, so that could be the difference between a speed restriction and no speed restriction!

Apart from the risk of derailment, once a track has buckled you are stuffed until you can get the temperature down sufficiently so that it can be properly de-stressed (in a hot summer period this could be days) after the repair.  So NR takes a cautious approach to avoid buckling.

If the rails were to be stressed any more then the tension that would build up in the winter could lead to other problems so there has to be a compromise.  The only other ways  would be

1) to re-tension the rails every spring and autumn which I would imaging would be prohibitively expensive and would require possessions to do it;
2) Install slab track everywhere (hugely expensive and disruptive to install);
3) Go back to short lengths with fishplate joints with expansion joints - (massive increase in maintenance costs and rail failure and probably speed reductions, also much more noise). 

For further information see this (http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2016/jul/Network-Rail-keeps-railway-running-temperatures-soar/) from Network Rail's Website. 

Sorry Sir.


Er. yes. I think so.

Continuous welded rail isn't even painted, so understanding the technicalities of continuous welded rail is completely irrelevant. It's only the point work and crossovers that are painted and mostly only in the GWR area - I've not seen this elsewhere. IIRC one of our friendly insiders mentioned the reason why the white paint is splashed about earlier in the thread.

The nearer bits of mainland Europe have a climate broadly similar to ours, and the regions distant from the sea tend to be colder in the winter and hotter in the summer. Yet continental railways seem able to cope with normal summer weather without the frequent and widespread disruption that occurs in the UK.

Hot weather DOES sometimes cause disruption in mainland Europe, but only in extreme or exceptional conditions. whereas here we get significant disruption virtually every summer.

It seems a bit like the annual "leaves on the line" fiasco. I am not being flippant and I do have at least a basic understanding of the problem, but it does seem to be largely a UK problem.
In say France or Germany, leaf fall has caused delays but only rarely and in exceptional conditions, here we seem to have significant problems every autumn.

And that difference is what the majority don't understand, and hasn't, as far as I can see, bern explained yet in this thread?

Anyone care to elucidate?

any reason CWR can't be painted white on the sides.   I suspect it would be expensive to paint it in situ.  But my can't Tata steel supply it pre-painted?

Its fairly commonplace in Australia to paint the rails white, especially between Sydney and Melbourne.  At the hottest times of the day air temperatures can reach into the 40's with high 30's for most of the year.  The same happens in Italy.  Typically a white painted rail is 5 to 10 degrees cooler.

You tend to find point work that is exposed to direct sunlight will be painted white.  Pointwork and point blades are more susceptible to solar gain to the point where point detection can be lost.  This is why they'll tend not to change points where they can so you'll get Greenfords terminating in the West Ealing bay platform and no through trains run between Paddington and Bourne End and Twyford.  This maintains the use of the relief lines. 
Long sections of continuous welded rail has expansion joints to allow for expansion.

High speed lines abroad as well as heavily used freight lines may be constructed using slab track, around four times more expensive than what we use here.  I believe, HS1 is constructed using slab track.

HS1 is balasted sleepers.  However HS1 does not have as many switches and crossings, its alignment is streighter. Also the density of traffic is less than most mainlies in the UK

I believe that it is better / more heavily ballasted. 

Not sure I can answer the question but I can certainly offer some opinions.

Firstly, is continental Europe not so prone to such delays caused by hot/cold weather and leaf-fall?  I certainly wouldn't say I travel frequently by train in Europe, but I have been on the rail networks of twenty or so European countries over the years.  I've certainly experienced my fair share of delays and the odd cancellation on them. 

We are much more exposed to stories about British rail delays as we are in Britain, but you don't have to delve too deeply on the internet to find some horrendous stories of individual delays in Europe, and those that hold the railways of Germany in high regard might like to reconsider that opinion when they find out that only 77% of long distance trains hit their punctuality target in the January just gone.  The following recent story makes interesting reading in that regard:  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/11/why-german-trains-dont-run-on-time-any-more

A lot is often made about it being quicker to travel in steam days between Liverpool and Manchester than it does today - you could easily say that sums up the state of Britain's railways with high speed services whizzing around Europe, but there are similar comparisons there too where Berlin to Dresden takes longer today than it did in 1939.

It should be no surprise that colder countries such as Norway deal with cold weather better than we do, and warmer countries such as Spain and Greece deal with hotter conditions better.  The Swiss network in undeniably very reliable indeed - but to say its trains always run on time is quite wrong and its average speeds are comparably slow (partly due to the terrain). 

Turning to the infrastructure - we still only have the one short section of dedicated high speed line compared with the many thousands of kilometres in Spain, Germany, France, and Italy and others.  Those railways are purpose built and have equipment such as cab signalling which is far less prone to failure.  Our railways are receiving a huge amount of investment currently, but that in itself raises challenges when incredible growth in usage clashes with upgrading of existing lines, and no extra capacity as the new trains to run on them are still being built.

Regarding the internet, I remember Graham (I think) making a very valid point regarding delays when you compare the pre-internet days.  Then you would not necessarily realise that signalling problems at Southall were delaying trains by 20 minutes one lunchtime as you weren't travelling then so wouldn't have known.  Now with the websites keeping people informed of delays it's very easy to form the impression that there are constant delays, when in actual fact there aren't.

Don't get me wrong, I find it very frustrating when the service often collapses at the first sign of hot weather, and the national punctuality levels are on a slow downward trend which is disappointing and worrying, but perhaps it's not correct to cite the rest of Europe as running a much better system, because things are not always as they seem.

I've been researching since my post quoted above, and I finding that European countries tense the rail for higher temperatures, thus they only have problems at seriously high temps - while not experiencing the low temps we often see here.

So the extreme temperatures are wider apart here in the UK. Thus we ought to be doing this twice a year really, for autumn/winter temps & then again for summer temps. But that's money probably better spent elsewhere & putting up with disruption on the few days each year we get temps cloer to 30c

Last year I had a holiday in Switzerland when I travelled on 18 different trainsmost within Switzerland.
I kept a careful record of the timings and found that 100% departed and arrived on time. However what I found different from British trains was that the timetables made very generous allowance s for possible delays with platform dwell times being usually several minutes instead of the 1-2 minutes allowed on most CL timetables. In addition the times allowed between stops were so generous that trains always arrived at the station several minutes before published arrival time so that total platform dwell times often exceeded 5 minutes and longer. It seemed to me that it was mjuch easier for trains to keep to time as a result of this than in Britain.

Yes but the platform re-occupation times and headways go to pot in the meantime...... ::) :P

Not necessarily.  I travel Zurich – Chur several times a year and they run a pretty intensive timetable on this line: a mixture of fasts, slows and freights, including over the single line section by the Walensee.  As Andrew says, the slightly leisurely timetable ensures that trains depart stations on time which is good for pathing etc.   

Longer dwell times should be better for wheelchairists, heavy baggagers and so on, too, therefore meaning less variation from train to train according to there happening to be such passengers on each service.

Pity the same logic can't be used with bus times in Cornwall

We're in the "infrastructures delay" thread ... and I fear that more generous allowances would do little for the delays we've suffered in the last 10 days; looking at Swindon (just in the Thames Valley) to Chippenham, we've had signal failures (2 incidents), axle counter failure, points failure, overrunning engineering works, as well as services cancelled because of train failures.   Frustrating ... but the TransWilts community was asked in 2012 if we would prefer to wait for the electrification / upgrades to be complete before starting our trial service, with a warning that there would be some disruption early on if we (TOC, council, community) decided not to wait, and I stand by my personal view at the time - which turned out to be the majority one - that sooner was better than later and we can live with a few problems.   I have to say I feel the correct choice was made; the crowds on the trains (at least on our more local trains that I use) are accepting - a sort of 'honeymoon' period still as they realise just how much better the service now is, and an appreciation of the effort and skill put in by operational staff at these times to get them to destination.

Where timings are being traded off between overall speed and reliability to timetable is in those little local delays which grow from slow station calls - more passengers leaving / joining than usual, passengers who are unable to hop on and off as quickly as most and perhaps need ramps to be deployed, last minute platform changes, trains that are so heaving that people are queueing on the platforms while they move up, single door operation with a crowd, short platforms, and slam doors that people who weren't regular travellers 30 years ago fail to appreciate the need to close.  As well as station calls, you may have these little delays caused by under performing traction, engineering slacks, too may carriages for the locomotives (2+9 anyone?).

Travel time has become far more "useful time" than it used to be.  Books and papers have always been available to read (and at one time you could smoke on the train), but these days with modern electronics and communication people can listen to music, play games, work on their laptops, argue with or order (!) a lift  from  their partner who's at home via their phone too.

So my view is that - within sensible limits - schedules shouldn't be the fastest that can be achieved, but practical ones where connections WILL make.  Train to bus as well as train to train, and if you need to buy an extra ticket at your interchange station and the timetable looks like there should be time,  it should be possible.   Better still - more frequent and regular interval trains even if a little slower rather than the occasional express eating up paths, with a long wait to the next train.  I was on the "Capitals Ltd" the other morning - none-stop Swindon to Paddington. And, yes, it wasn't full.   

I have a vague recollection of reading about Swiss timetable padding.  I think it was added nationwide on the advice of psychologists who did some research and concluded that Swiss people minded relatively little about their trains being slow but what really stresses them out was when they were slower than expected.   

Not just the Swiss, I feel exactly the same. When the trains are running slightly ahead and sit at a station for 5 minutes, it drives me nuts. I'd rather we'd carried on slower, and arrived on time  :P

Likewise when a train is timetabled to arrive at 16:35 and is ALWAYS late due to freight. If they changed it to simply arrive at 16:40 like it does anyway, it wouldn't bother me one iota!

Cancellations to services at Pangbourne
Due to engineering works not being finished on time at Pangbourne all lines are disrupted.

Train services running through this station will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 14:00 14/08.

Customer Advice
A rail replacement service will operate between Pangbourne and Tilehurst where passengers can alight for services towards Reading and London Paddington and also for services towards Didcot Parkway.


...........ongoing for several hours already. that's going to cost whoever the Contractor is a few £, smacked bottoms all round.

Points have been damaged at Scours Lane, both relief lines closed.

That sounds like them being run through under a possession.

Just noticed that the 1121 Didcot – Padd stopper was allowed to precede the 1125 Didcot – Bournemouth XC from Didcot on the UM.  The outcome was the stopper was waiting time at Tilehurst and the XC was 11 late arriving at Reading.

I’m sure there was a good reason for this regulation – I can’t think what it could be but maybe someone has some suggestions….

The XC was only 3 late leaving Reading, however, as it had a stop scheduled there that's longer than operationally needed.   Had the 11:21 been held back to (say) 11:28 at Didcot, the knock-on beyond Reading would have potentially been greater that the delay beyond Reading on the Cross Country service.

I suggest there was no "right" decision to be made on the regulation of these two trains. 

Spot on

Well… the stopper also has a long scheduled stop at Reading, from 1147 to 1154.  It didn’t do the Pangbourne stop, which probably saved 2 minutes (hence arriving early at Tilehurst). 

If it had left Didcot at 1128 (ie 7 late) following the XC it should have got to Reading by 1152.  It could have departed on time at 1154, as could have the XC at 1151.

Edit later:  Maybe being flippant, but if there had been a southbound Freightliner coming round Didcot East Curve at 1125 that would OF COURSE have been allowed to precede the stopper, notwithstanding any delays beyond Reading!

Side issue really, for my education. "UM" is obviously Up Main (at least I think it is!), and I can work out many of the line and path abbreviations used in RTT and elsewhere. But not all - is there a glossary? They are not all in the Acronyms/Abbreviations part of the form.

I haven't seen any reference to this on other threads so I'll pop it here for the meantime.

Can I just say what a wonderful commuting experience I've had over the past two weeks whilst the Oxford engineering works have been taking place. Trains have run on time, but most importantly they've been proper High Speed Train's (HST)'s serving the Thames Valley. Most notably the 18.18 6 carriage sweat-fest to Maidenhead was an High Speed Train (HST). Interestingly the 18.18 was still standing in the aisles, giving an idea of demand. Today we're back to the stinky sauna and my summer treat is over.

Three days of temperatures expected to be at, or above, 30 degrees.  That always seems to be the point at which the UK railways struggle, so I'm expecting delays the later into the day(s) we get.  Let's hope I'm wrong this time!

Turning out to be a very pleasant August...  8)

For once not the infrastructure.. delays out of Paddington, particularly on the relief lines, after a turbo was hit by stone throwers between Southall and Hayes & Harlington and suffered a broken side window.  At one point five trains were stationary because of it.

16:45 London Paddington to Reading due 17:47 
This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a points failure.


-Points failure not yet flagged on a Line Update however it's affecting loads of service with stops being missed out etc.........could be a fun rush hour in the heat (which may be responsible I guess?)

Points failure is at Acton on the Up Relief.  Trains having to run on the Main and miss stops so they don't delay HST services and bring the whole show to a halt.

EDIT: Now fixed

Signalling problems just south of Oxford this lunchtime. No northbound services for about an hour with residual issues affecting the Cotswold Line through out the afternoon. And as a cherry on top, the 1552 PAD:MIM broke down and didn't (as far as I understood) get beyond Reading.

Here's a report:

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/unbelievably-dangerous-stupid-thing-do-11793031

Not been too bad the last couple of days, notwithstanding the incident above, there's been a few points failures and the odd train giving up in the heat leading to some delays and cancellations, but not the total service meltdown we've seen in previous years.

Sorry, couldn't really unpick all the quotes in the above, but the reasoning behind giving a theoretical Freightliner in front of the stopper is because the stoppers can accelerate better than the freight - so allowing the freight to have all greens (and thus not having to slow down for yellows and reds) will let the freight keep to time. A following stopper may be able to either make up the time, or at least maintain the same delay.

Can't explain the stopper/xc decision though.

Well this is a new one - how many staff are affected? I wonder what's happened? Not too serious I hope?

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington


Due to signalling staff being taken ill between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington all lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 09:30 03/09.

I would hope that it's more than one....very surprising, this. A first?

Luckily there hasn't been an epidemic in TVSC. 

The Acton workstation signaler's relief didn't turn up, the outgoing bobby worked over his time as there was no one else available to run the station, so it had to be shut down.

One guy fails to show up for work - and this is the result? Dozens of trains cancelled and severely disrupted as far afield as Cornwall and Wales.

Is there no contingency plan?  ::)

Closed for just over an hour in the end, though the ramifications will be felt for hours.  Certainly not a first, but the first time I can remember it happening at the TVSC at Didcot.  Very surprised adequate 'spare' staff weren't available as I thought that was one of the great advantages of these new signalling centres over traditional boxes scattered far and wide?

Noting just how long it takes for the repercussions to finish; astonished that there wasn't robustness to cover what was apparently one person not being available in a major signalling centre.

This is purely supposition on my part, but how about this - the person that they would normally have used to cover this sort of occurrence was on leave, or covering another position? Don't forget, it is still "holiday season", and signallers are allowed to go on holiday.

Of course, you could ramp up the staffing levels to ensure that there will always be cover under every circumstance, but ensuring that the competence levels were kept up to standard would be a nightmare, and there would be an outcry over signallers being paid to sit around "just in case".

If you are responsible for a business critical function, and you are any sort of manager, then you ensure that this function is covered, for all contingencies, and you factor annual leave, "holiday seasons" sickness etc into that calculation. To even attempt to use this as an excuse is frankly pathetic.

I am sure that the amount of compensation which will have to be paid out today far outweighs any additional callout allowance, to say nothing of the inconvenience caused to thousands of customers. To have a situation where the failure of one person to arrive at work paralyses an entire area for hours due to a lack of a robust contingency plan is simple incompetence.

Agree with TG.  I'm sure there will be some serious questions asked of NR by the train operators as a result of this - even if it was 'only' for just over an hour.

Yes, they really should have better plans than this.
Simply unacceptable for single employee falling sick to have such consequences.
 Spare staff suitably trained should be available for critical roles like this. I see no problem in maintaining competency since it would seem a simple matter to rotate the "working" and the "spare" signaller at frequent intervals.

The cost should be less than the cost of all the delays, especially if some other productive but not time critical work could be found for the spare signaller.

It's a pedantic point but 'being taken ill' sounds much more alarming and, crucially in my view, sounds like the illness developed 'on the job'. It sounds like a more accurate description would be 'absent due to illness'??

In fact it could be a whole variety of reasons. Signaller's car could have broken down, he could have been involved in an accident or even, due to a rostering error, not actually exist.

I remember a case when a West Country signaller was phoned on his mobile to be asked why he hadn't shown up and his reply was "I'm on leave, it's 3am and I'm in Texas!"

It sounds to me in this incident the signaller going off shift reached his legal permitted hours, in addition if he / she runs substantially over the end of their shift there is also the minimum hours break between shifts which can have knock effect to the following day because they need to 12 hours between shifts.  This is made even more complex if the signaller was moved to Didcot under transfer and redundancy terms as they will have travelling time built into the conditions of transfer. Like all business there is a balance of cost against risk, would be great to have a 125% manning levels with standby staff sitting in the mess room ready for action, the travelling public just cannot afford this level of staff.


However there is a critical shortage of skilled staff in many rolls on the railways especially within NR because of the imposed pay restraint by HMG, which makes recruitment and retention difficult especially as these rolls are shift work and in an area of the UK where there is not a high level of unemployment.

Spare staff are available, but they have meal relief duties during their twelve hour shift and it could well be they were involved with one of those and could not step over quickly.

Each desk in TVSC is of a different grade, the busier it is the higher the grade, the longer the training, and a higher salary to boot. Padd is of the top grade which reflects the busy position it is. Not everybody is passed out to work it.

I can't say what happened, but I endorse Electric trains comment that Signallers are in short supply. In fact there is one man still at TVSC who has a job elsewhere who has been waiting to be released for several months now but he cannot be done without so can't go.

Very much the same all over the country. In the recent closures at Banbury the staff there were being asked to go elsewhere to fill in the holes that exist at other boxes, but seven took the money and left the company.

However that doesn't forgive the situation that occurred.

 

Talking last weekend to one who did take the money & retire, he's heard from some who did transfer from a Banbury box to a West Mids screen & they hate it - just not the same job at all, which I can fully understand.

Apparently, there's not a window to be seen in the West Mids signalling centre, while you couldn't have more windows in the Banbury boxes if you'd wanted them!

No indeed, it's a completely different type of job.  Some might well get used to it after a time, but I expect most would take up the chance to swap back in a heartbeat.

West Midlands Signalling Centre is known as the Bunker as it was built to withstand a nuclear attack if you believe the rumours, TVSC is known as the Stalag, horrible places to go and so far away from the traditional role where, even in an NX panel, the Signaller actually had some input into what was going on.

ARS was described to me as being like a very small child, it had to be watched all the time to try and stop it doing something stupid. The only ones who don't seem to mind are new entrants and they know no different. It certainly takes the initiative away from the operator.

At least one Signaller has quit TVSC to go back to more traditional style of operation, and another is waiting to go.

Off the subject I know but it does have a bearing on the manpower available.

Talking of this, I do wish more manual control was taken in certain situations. eg: During lunchtime the two northbound XC services at Reading use P12 instead of P3/P7 for some reason (not sure why, there isn't really any need, but it does, and when running smoothly it's fine) except a couple of weeks ago there was (yet another) signalling failure at Basingstoke delaying services by a few minutes, meaning both the 12:15 and 12:45 were arriving approximately 5 minutes after departure time, both could have been routed into P3/P7 like any other given hour but no, they were still routed into P12 therefore delaying the 12:23/12:53 Oxford stoppers by up to 10 minutes. Another example a few weeks ago of a class 800 training run to Reading and back suppose to be reversing in P10, but due to delays to Paddington bound services this platform was full but they just held the 800 outside the station blocking P7/P8/P9 forcing fast Bristol/Oxford trains onto the down relief and P12, which of course blocked the up main even more. After about 15 minutes they decided to finally route the 800 into P9, which they should have just done from the beginning.

I would love to be a (traditional) signaller, but by the sounds of it its not as fun as it used to be.

The workload rate is high at some locations and actually requires ARS to help out, the idea being that it frees up the Signaller to deal with other matters.

Get involved with something else and the ARS will route the train as per the programme and a more obvious move gets overlooked.

For some of the reasons mentioned by  Electric train staff are difficult to come by, the natural progression from smaller boxes is quickly disappearing, and in some cases existing Signallers don't want to work in these places so won't apply for any vacancies and would rather sit down the ladder a bit but in more agreeable surroundings.

Staff are now recruited from 'off the street' into quite busy positions lacking the skills and railway knowledge to make the job go well. They may well be proficient and rules trained, and deemed competent but the Signallers art comes in when it starts going wrong and I am afraid that lack of knowledge shows sometimes.

There is a well known 'overlap trap' at the West end of Newbury Station where, if you let a train down one signal too far the safety features stop the job for two minutes by locking up the routes and signals. All perfectly safe, and doing what it is supposed to, but the inexperience shows when it happens, normally at about 1700 hrs in the evening as I used to see day after day. It was there when I worked Reading Panel years ago, it hasn't changed, and you can tell when the less experienced are on duty because all of a sudden everything stops. The B and H was a bore to work as an NX panel where everything had to be route set, just because it wasn't that busy. Now it is an operator looking at a screen with the ARS running the show. It must be mind destroying. The Crossing Keepers at Colthrop and Kintbury are far, far busier overall, but don't get paid for it!

What is an NX panel? Presumably not National Express! And no, it's not in the acronyms list.

Entrance-Exit.  On the signaller's illuminated diagram of the railway, there's a button next to each signal.  He presses the button at one signal, then the button at the next signal, and the route between them sets if it's safe to do so.  The points in the route then swing to the direction required; once they've all moved to the correct position, and all the track sections between the two signals are clear of trains, (and a bit more besides - called the overlap), and lots of other checks-n-tests, then the signal at the entrance of the route can change from red to a "proceed" aspect - yellow, double-yellow, or green.

Other kinds of signaller's panel exist - e.g. Turn-push, OCS (One Control Switch).  But they all tend to get called "NX", just like all vacuum cleaners get called Hoovers.

Thanks. Very clear explanation!

Agree about the clarity of that - can we have the explanation in the list of acronyms as well?

Sorry for the jargon, it comes naturally after a while, even if it doesn't apply anymore.

Three weeks into retirement, and never given it a thought. My replacement who was due to start today bailed out yesterday morning, so the few that remain will be working extra hours to provide the cover required to keep the job going.

If you might be looking for a little job that pays reasonable well, lovely location, decent public to deal with then keep an eye on the vacancy list for NR. Downside 24/7 cover on rotating eight hour shifts including a week of nights every five weeks, and two Sundays in five.

From Journeycheck:

Cancellations to services between Southall and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Southall and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until 10:30 08/09.
Last Updated:08/09/2016 09:04

There were pretty bad delays leaving Paddington yesterday evening due to signalling problems.
Not a good 'back to school' time.

It seemed to be a combination of things, starting with the fatality at Tilehurst earlier in the day and then being compounded by points issues. I was on 1C23 (17:00 to Bristol Temple Meads) which left P9 on time, stopped at Westbourne Grove, the driver changed ends, brought it back into the bay, changed ends again and then eventually left on a different path. Mind you, I had to smile at the legion of people who leapt off to seek other services when we returned to PAD: we were definitely first back out and there were then seats to spare!

Causing delays of around 20 minutes. Some fast trains being sent on the relief lines as far as Dolphin Junction or Slough West to try to avoid being talked past a signal on the down main. Therefore delaying a few London bound services as they cross back and forth.

??? Would that be Westbourne Park or Ladbroke Grove?

Or how about Ladbroke Park  ;)

Perhaps it was occupying two track circuits...  ;D

See what the commuting is doing to my brain?  ;D

...........and as if this afternoon's suicide (assumption) at Southall wasn't enough...........

Cancellations to services between Southall and Slough

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Southall and Slough fewer trains are able to run on some lines towards Reading.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 19:30 09/09.

...........all in all not a great day, thoughts with all concerned/involved/delayed.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/paddington-delays-commuters-face-mayhem-at-busy-london-station-after-fatality-at-southall-a3340501.html (http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/paddington-delays-commuters-face-mayhem-at-busy-london-station-after-fatality-at-southall-a3340501.html)

What there were people hanging on the outside of the train and on the roof? 

Obviously I'm sad that someone felt the need to kill themselves this afternoon. I'm going to go back to an age old problem on this forum which is that people try hard but the response from gwr from a passenger perspective is lacking.

So here I am at Paddington waiting for a train that was apparently on time but ended up being 35 mins late. My gripe is that there were no/none/zero/nada/not one staff on the platform. 35mins I sat there and there was no one. Not least in the 'help points'

n.
 

()

()

Ps. The 'use position opposite' when you know that it is closed isn't a great move.

Whilst the majority of "person ht by train" are indeed suicides, can I please remind members that there are a number of other possibilities we have come across over the years, and sadly we may see others in the future.

My thoughts with the friends, family and colleagues of the deceased and also with the rail and other professional staff who have to deal with the situation, including the operational staff who have to look after / inform the public.  Yes - my thoughts are also with the members of the public effected by the resultant disruption.

Just because I / we are busy thinking of those deeply involved doesn't mean that serious consideration shouldn't be being given (not isn't given) to lessening the impact.   

First and foremost, the effect of such incidents should be reduced as much as practical by reducing the number of such incidents.  There's a huge amount of work been and being done on that - not always in the public domain as placing it there, regrettably, means it gives people ideas.

In terms of informing customers, there are limited number of customer facing staff on duty when incidents happen, and they can be considered in the same 'pool' of Network Rail / GWR employees who's job it is to 'sit upstairs' and feed information through to the people on the ground, and also to arrange alternative routes / make suggestions / arrange ticket acceptances.  The nature of it is that more people are needed on the concourse (dramatically more) if a personal staff presence is to be maintained, just at the same time that dramatically more staff are needed to make all the arrangements and get a modified show running, and the regular show back on the road as soon as possible.

Whether it's "person hit by train" or something else (and, goodness, there are also far too many 'something else's),  there will be blimps in information feed. They shouldn't happen, they're high profile - but there will be such blips and it's very wasteful to have extra resources sitting around, like vultures, waiting for such an incident.  Best learn from the incidents (and they do, but perhaps could learn more?) but best by far in parallel to reduce the incidents as well.

Blimps indeed!.
The 18.18 was shewn as delayed, then cancelled and then it was back on again, leaving 20 mins late. ???

Meanwhile, the signal problem looks like it's going into its third day (delays expected until 09.00 10/09, per gwr.com !
W.E

That looks authentically like what happens when a group of people are trying to sort out the best solution in a difficult situation and are exploring different options.  They think of one idea then they find a better one.  OK for one train it looks like confusion, but in the overall pattern of provision it looks like they were trying to do the best they could in very difficult circumstances.   

Thanks to the Guard on the 1243 BTH to PAD which I was on yesterday.

We stopped (very quickly, but without emergency braking) just outside Hayes and Harlsden and then 10 minutes later pulled into the platform and waited more than an hour before passing though the next station, Southhall where the fatality had occurred.  We were on the Up Main line and from the hi-vis on the platform and the Turbo abandoned outside Southall (I avoided looking too closely) it looked as if the incident was on the Up Reflief, so I guess we got off lightly in terms of delays.

The Guard was very good and kept us informed well even when he didn't know much himself.  He got the balance between apologies, information and explanation just right and handled the issue of it being "a fatality" (which are the words he used) very well.

NickB - I hope you got home OK in the end, and it's a shame to note that despite the new branding and all the improved pride in serving customers etc that (allegedly) goes with it, it's the same old story when it comes to severe disruption - the one thing that customers really need, ie face to face help, advice and information, is sadly lacking.

Excuses can of course always be found/made, but this is sadly one lesson that has never been learned in my experience, for as long as I have been using the railway on the LTV route especially.

Taking a leaf out of BA's book when it comes to customer communications would do First/GWR no harm at all.

One question - where do you find all these extra staff you suddenly need/want? In like 10 minutes notice?

Answer that realistically, and you may answer your own gripe.

I was with you until that bit, but have to say BA are MUCH superior to BA in that respect.  BA hold their customers and their staff in contempt (unless you have a gold card).  FGW may at times be disorganised and incompetent, but they do not some close to BA in truly terrible customer service.

.............the traditional response/rhetoric "what would you do about it then"........not overly helpful.

The fact that a customer's observation is considered a "gripe" speaks volumes.

It's rather futile having "Help points", customer ambassadors etc if when they are really needed, they simply aren't there, as per Nick B's observation. Surely they should be kept separate from those who "sit upstairs" - is there no distinction in GWR world between Operational and Customer Service staff?  It's not a case of flooding an area with hundreds of people, just ensuring that there are a level of people around who are capable of giving accurate advice and information on alternative forms of transport etc. If GWR are so keen on learning lessons, they have had enough practice by now in dealing with severe disruption to have a handle on the level of staffing required in these circumstances and resource it accordingly, not leave people with no help whatsoever.

Some joined up thinking wouldn't hurt either - why not get TfL on board and get them to make announcements on the Tube about severe disruption at mainline stations? For example if this was done on the Bakerloo Line people could use services from Waterloo or Marylebone, rather than emerging into Paddington to find the usual chaos whenever there are problems and having to hang around for ages and/or turn around and go back again?

Time after time the railways are found wanting when it comes to contingency planning, whether it's one, solitary signaller failing to turn up for work last weekend which caused dozens of cancellations/alterations across the network, Bank Holidays/Christmas/Easter when we have the regular spectacle of chaotic and dangerous overcrowding, failure to plan for major sporting events, failure to ensure that enough staff are available on a Sunday to run the advertised service................it's just an endless charade.

The railway industry just collectively shrugs it shoulders and hopes for the best (and takes the money!)

That's the point really, if you want lots of extra staff then some one has to pay for it. People can rant about large profits of train operating companies but they are very small percentage margins. So in truth if there are to be more staff its either going to be paid by the Government (through reduced premiums paid to DfT) or higher fares. 

Who of course are far LESS superior than BA  ;)

I'll ask again - Paddington being a Network Rail station - where are these people going to be employed when there's no disruption such that they are ready, at a drop of the hat (next fatality for example) to come bounding out on to the concourse with immediate answers?

Give it some thought, and you'll understand their problem.

Yes, it would be possible for TfL to make announcements, but wouldn't they exprect the same of NR Paddington for them to do the same when the Bakerloo (plus the other lines there) is borked? So several more personnel required.

Anything's possible if you'll pay a high enough fare to produce the cash to pay for these staff!

...or better efficiencies.  How much money is wasted on constant rebranding, putting together franchise bids, inefficient procurement, delay attribution, internal compensation, trying to do engineering jobs with unrealistic timescales and not a clue about the baseline state of the assets, ordering electric trains before the wires needed for them to run are up, booking possessions and not using them, going for grandiose and overambitious resignalling schemes ("digital railway") that will never work as well as promised, gold plating every job so that erecting a bus shelter on a railway platform costs many times one on a pavement, ordering DMUs that are much more heavy (and therefore use more fuel and cause more track wear than their predecessors),  ordering trains that are too short and therefore have to run more frequently with increased staffing and pathing costs... etc etc.

You have to be running an industry spectacularly badly to fail to gain any efficiencies in productivity during a two decade period of customer growth and technological advances during which an unprecedented level of private sector investment and public money has been available.  But that is precisely what the UK passenger railway has managed to achieve.  Moving a single passenger a single mile is still more or less the same cost as it was under (supposedly inefficient) BR whilst at the same time the rail freight industry has managed to halve the costs of moving a tonne of goods a mile, and great advances in cost efficiencies have been achieved in the airline industry and in the costs of motoring.

It would be unreasonable to have staff on standby at an out of a way halt, but Paddington is FGW's busiest station and it sees Millions of people (spending Billions of pounds) pass through it every year.  Having someone able to deal with better passenger information at Paddington is not an unreasonable or unaffordable ask. And when there is no disruption they can be dealing with delay attribution, customer compensation claims and a million of other jobs that the modern railway demands but which can be put on hold for an few hours. 

And yes, FGW staff should make announcements about tube line disruption (as a few of the better Guards do at the moment)   

With the number of year's that have passed, for the costs not to have risen (at least in line with inflation) can only be efficiencies, surely? What else keeps the cost down to 20+} years ago?

NR run Paddington, Tim, not GWR (or even FGW that died over a year ago). So what do NR staff do in the meantime that can be dropped at a hat drop? NR don't have an admin office there as far as I know

Indeed Graham.  Very sad and traumatic for the driver who has now had three such incidents in less than two years.

Delay attribution requires a presence in the Control Offices at Swindon, passenger compensation is dealt with somewhere in Scotland, I think it might be Aberdeen, so neither are a lot of use in the situation you describe.

The Delay Clerks are one or two to cover the whole of the Western Zone so not a lot of resources available as you describe, but also when they get back later they have to pick up their work load. Believe it or not is requires relatively real time to keep on top of the delay attribution system. I have seen them at work and when you look at their screens and there are over a hundred delays waiting attribution you realize what a hiding to nothing they are on. Standing on a platform being shouted at by irate passengers must be quite relaxing by comparison.

Perhaps try writing in and asking for a visit to the Control at Swindon and go and see those who actually make the decisions on what runs or not in these circumstances. Years ago I borrowed the idea from the Ops Manager at Waterloo and invited the biggest complainer in the Thames Valley in to work a late turn with us. He did, and never complained again.

It is very easy to say "get some people in", but where from if they can't get to Padd because the line is closed.

I've worked in Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery for some years. Not for a train company but I have learnt is that there's always a few core features that apply to most companies and detail and commitment varies wildly even within the same sector.

Top of the list is always staff (and customer) safety. Beyond that it often comes down to identifying your core business and the impact of any loss of service. For most companies this is lost revenue in one form or another for others reputational loss. I have no concerns about safety but beyond that I don't get a sense of a company trying very hard. I'm guessing (and feel free to chip in) that lost revenue generally isn't an issue due the way railways are funded and the whole Network Rail/TOC thing. Reputational loss? Can it get much worse or would it improve with a change of approach?

I don't know the details of staffing etc but small things like the website often not being updated outside office hours are frustrating. In other companies that's been addressed by on call rotas and remote access. Agreed communication channels such as someone mentioned earlier with London Transport. If you really want to make the effort then lists of staff who don't mind being called, their locations and some taxi firms. I've had a few incidents travelling on Virgin and they've taken a very different approach (or maybe I was lucky).

I think most people accept incidents happen and would settle for regular and reliable flow of information. Several incidents ago staff were being sent to Ealing Broadway even though there were no trains. This shouldn't happen and I'd be curious to know if there's a separate communication process that kicks in for major incidents? Don't issue comms without an Operations Manager reviewing it who has the right hooks into Network Rail? Is the a Gold/Silver commander that takes control during an incident or do they rely on Business As Usual process?

At all (Gatwick I think is the exception) major stations NR manage the station, NR act as the facilities manager.  NR have very little to do with customer (ie passenger) fronting although they do have a presence on the station most of their role is to do with security and safety but will assist passangers.

When an incident happens information can and often is very limited from the incident sharp end, because the guys and girls dealing with it are doing just that trying to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and plan ways to recover from it.   Where a person is struck by a train it becomes a crime scene and for the safety of the blue light services and possibly to allow for evidence gathering all trains are stopped in the area.  It is not until the Police release the site can NR and the TOCs begin to run trains.   

The RIO (Rail Incident Officer) will be liaising with the Police Incident Commander and or Fire , Ambulance incident command.  There is a structured command to incidents ranging from Bronze, Silver to Gold.  The RIO sits in this command team and communicates to the wider Railway Ops their updates can be limited due to the constant changing environment of and incident. 

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronyms

Of course the outsourcing of customer services to India does not help !
Apart from the language barrier, it seems that the staff concerned have no real knowledge of UK railway practice. I suspect that they have an electronic version of the timetable, a list of standard excuses and not much else.
I recall a classic confusion between THORNTON HEATH a district in London, and TAUNTON HEATH , no such place AFAIK. The customer requiring the district in London had been advised to get a train to Taunton and then a bus !

Any enquiry about a particular train is generally met with either "you have just missed it, it was on time" or "it will be there soon"

Members may recall the case of the young family stranded at Berney arms, who eventually had to be rescued by boat, as an example of the uselessness of the overseas call center.

If my experiences calling GWR in recent weeks is anything to go by the calls are being answered in this country again.  Certainly when I have phoned up to make a sleeper berth booking they have been.  Admittedly on the first occasion the lady on the other end had a bit of a battle with the technology because it was "all a bit new" but we got there in the end.   ;D

NR at Paddington manage CIS and announcements. For CIS and announcements at Reading and Bristol Temple Meads (the other NR managed stations on the route) it is managed by GWR.

I fear that I have set the cat amongst the pigeons here somewhat with my original 'gripe'.
Whilst I take on board the comments about 'extra' staff having to be paid for and logistics arranged my comments were related to my expectations of staffing levels at the GWR help points during a night of protracted disruption that had started 6hrs before I was at Paddington. It is still my expectation that GWR should be providing at least one staff member at its major terminus whilst delays are still occurring. If those delays last until midnight then there should be a staff member there, assisting passengers, until those delays have ceased. That is my expectation as a customer and I struggle to think of another company that would view that as unreasonable.

GWR call centre is now a UK based company as you've recently found out. No more calls to India, no language or understanding barriers e.t.c  :)

That's good news.

It's interesting to note how many UK based companies are now waking up to the fact that it's better for their customers to have UK based call centres once again.

Signalling failure on North Downs Line (no trains Reading to Guildford today?) split off from this thread - see

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=17456.msg200909#msg200909

Call me cynical but isn't it that the internet has made call centres smaller and less expensive to run.  For example, I don't imagine it matters very much to the bottom line if the NRE call centre is based in the UK or India because the number of calls must now be tiny.   

Good point and probably true in many cases now. Won't stop some companies trumpeting the fact that they are bringing call centres back to the UK to improve customer service.

I answer calls on behalf of six different organisations and each one has their own number - local to their part of the country.   Costs me £2 a month each as internet lines (Voip) - would have been far too expensive going back a few years to have exchange lines like that.  The phone even tells me the name of the organisation they are calling.

Now done.  CfN.  ;)

Well, that's three days of hot weather and the infrastructure has held up pretty well with no major disruption- this year certainly hasn't seen the service completely collapsing as the thermometer breaks 30 like it has in previous years.

With the return to more seasonal temperatures tomorrow, at least we can get back to what we do well this time of the year - blaming leaves for delays.   ;)

Ah, but help is at hand. Maybe...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37356162 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37356162)

You tempted fate there... flooding at Didcot and Newbury this morning and storm damage near Slough!

Looks like we may have flooding at Melksham again ...


... I would expect to see diversions because of the Newbury floods causing our service to be replaced by diverted trains, but it appears that the Berks and Hants is open, with trains calling at Newbury Racecourse rather than Newbury itself.

...............on the upside, it may wash all the leaves off the line (but hopefully the white paint will remain in place?)  :)

Here's the best picture I've found on twitter for Didcot Parkway earlier today:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Csc8p1wXgAA8v5Z.jpg)
The bus parking outside was also flooded, and was Station Road / Hitchcock Way intermittently.

Water has already receded somewhat.

Some reports misleadingly refer to the 'underpass' at the station which might be one as far as the tracks are concerned but is of course at ground level.

..............I love the touching faith of the guy halfway up to his knees in water looking at the information boards!!!

We've got to have a caption competition for that one!!!

Outside Didcot station:
https://twitter.com/LilleyMitchell/status/776675549657915392

There's clearly a lot of water where it's not meant to be. But some of GWR's attempts to explain its effects is a bit baffling.

The one for Didcot's quite clear about the local effects, but not for how to bypass it:


But as for this - is it really saying the track is usable, but the platform is flooded?


Even if it says "now" where it means "not" - a serious error in this case - it's a bit of a mess.

But maybe it's a holding message until things are a bit clearer and a better set of words is produced.

LOL!!!!

Agree.

Newbury....
https://twitter.com/smart_leona/status/776687798992637952/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw (https://twitter.com/smart_leona/status/776687798992637952/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Only Platform 1 (Swindon-bound) is (was) accessible without using the subway.  Tracks above ok but platforms 2-5 cut-off by flooded subway.

Direction to go to Cholsey not so good as Station Road closed there due to flooding under the railway bridge. Interesting trip to work today!

Yes I rather did, didn't I.  :-[  Not much you can do when mother nature roars like that.

Still, at least our network didn't suffer with any major landslips, this one affecting the WCML near Watford today is causing a great deal of disruption and can possibly be described as a 'lucky escape' as it appears a train coming the other way actually made contact with the derailed one: http://www.itv.com/news/2016-09-16/train-derailed-at-watford-junction/

Two reported injured on the BBC website - "A man was treated for a neck injury and a woman treated for chest pains"

Caption on one of those photos
"The southbound train derailed by a tunnel near Watford"

Naughty tunnel! :-)

Twitter reporting that the Didcot station flood water contains sewage and so station will need a deep clean / disinfection before reopening.

I'm I right in thinking that the route through Hinksey which recently was raised as part of flood prevention work has been tested by this rainfall and passed?

No problems at Hinksey, though that was never really susceptible to this sort of flash flooding event, more the slower build up of persistent rain from the Cotswolds swelling the River Thames and Cherwell and trying to come down through the various channels through Oxford.

No because flooding at Hinksey is usually caused by the rainwater as it accumulates in the Thames and flows towards Oxford, it therefore tends to be several days after the rain has fallen.
I also believe that this morning's rain was very localised  to Didcot and area and the rainfall in Oxford was much less and therefore won't impact on Hinksey.

Another photo has surfaced - an uncropped one showing the creation of a new road above the tunnel/slippage - I wonder whether the rain actually to blame here? Only time will tell

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CsdkImbWIAAMRHp.jpg:small)

Cancellations to services at London Paddington

Following a fault with the signalling system at London Paddington all lines have now reopened.
Train services running to and from this station may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 17:00 16/09.

Further Information

Owing to a power failure at London Paddington affecting sigmalling there we are unable to operate any long distance services to or from London Paddington,
Custromers travelling to stations Reading and west thereof are strongly advised to utilise alternative routes from London.
Last Updated:16/09/2016 14:20

Reports suggest that platform access will be prioritised but the ticket office may need more time.

The railway station is in one of the lowest-lying parts of Didcot. I have noticed recently that some drainage channels around Didcot still had pools of stagnant water in them despite two months of very little rain. This suggests a blockage somewhere or ground saturation.
Didcot was about the most northerly extent of the heavy rain.

.............they really, really, really need to get that sorted out, or there are going to be a lot of very unhappy people trying to get to home to Wales and the Westcountry for the weekend who find themselves stranded (Again) by GWR.....(and before the ranting starts I know it's probably a bit of NR's kit)

Already sorted & Lines are open.

............from NRE;

Having previously been resolved, the signalling problem at London Paddington has reoccurred. There will be delays of up to 60 minutes can be expected while services fully return to normal. Disruption is expected to continue until 17:00.
Great Western Railway customers may use South West Trains services between London Waterloo and Windsor / Reading to connect with Great Western Railway services. Alternatively you can use your ticket on South West Trains services via Basingstoke and Guildford.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/147525.aspx

19 signals blank and multiple track circuit failures leading to platform 1-7 currently not available.

Ouch!

Didcot platforms being reported as open by BBC.

Road to Didcot Parkway (Hitchcock Way) to the east though is still closed. The Fire Service has moved down there to pump it out.

Does anyone know if the Great Western Railway Staff Association (GWRSA) premises were effected? I'm hoping to see a band there tonight!

https://www.facebook.com/didcotredhotblues/

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

If you check the link you provided, being Facebook, someone has asked that very Q and got a reply

On GWR Twitter........."Unless necessary, please do not travel out of Paddington this evening. Tickets will be accepted tomorrow instead"............I guess that's called managing expectations, although "necessary" is pretty subjective in the circumstances. Good luck to all those trying to get home.

yep - all these and others cancelled -

1718, 1736, 1800, 1818, 1845, 1847, 1900, 1912.....

Now advising disruption until 2359, apparently NR have identified the problem & are fixing it.

Two replacement fuses have both blown shortly after installation, so sections of the signalling being isolated one at a time to trace where the fault is.

A lot of disruption today, obviously, but good to see the new layout at Reading once again easing the situation slightly with the additional through platforms and Kennet Bridge Loop being used to turn round those trains which were not able to make it to/from Paddington.

I wonder how much yesterday's fun and games would cost GWR under the Consumer Rights Act in terms of compensation once it applies, as opposed to their own current arrangements?  More/less/about the same?

(Notwithstanding that at the moment they get back far more in compensation from NR than they ever pay out to customers of course)

Given that Network Rail will be footing the bill for this one, I'm guessing it wont cost GWR that much at all.

Yeah thanks I get that, but was more interested in the overall amount that GWR will be paying out to customers initially before they get the cheque from NR?

Depends how many people claim the compensation they are entitled to for yesterday's delays against the number of people who claim compensation under any new system that applies and how the parameters in which you can claim under any new system are more beneficial to the customer.

The problem is it becomes a vicious circle, trains are delayed because of old and worn out infrastructure, TOC customer aka passenger claims compensation, said TOC as a customer of NR claims compensations, NR then does not have the money to replace old and worn out infrastructure so this causes delays ............ TOC customer aka ....................

You get the picture.

Compound on top of this that when the infrastructure maintainer requests possessions in what are supposedly white periods ie no trains (white because the paper timetable used to be printed on had no black ink on them at these times) Ops say no or you can only have x amount of time because a TOC or FOC has a train booked to run; and its getting worse because people are now expecting a 24 hour railway, in the mean time some of the infrastructure is patched up to work (safely I will add)   

Still using fuses?

OTC

What is wrong with fuses?
 
Fuses BS88 (HRC) fuses are very reliable, can handle high fault levels, work as well with dc and ac and are not susceptible to nuisance tripping due to mechanical vibration like MCBs also easy to grade in terms of discrimination.

MCB are used in places and the new signalling power supplies (650V) uses VCBs and a auto reconfigurable system, however for the lower voltage parts of the system fuse are the most reliable.

The incoming supply from the DNO or internal railway high voltage transformers will be a BS88 (type) fuse.

Due to engineering works not being finished on time between London Paddington and Slough:

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 09:30 18/09.

Fuses have a lot to be said for them, especially in adverse conditions such as lineside equipment cabinets. MCBs are somewhat temperature sensitive and may trip prematurely in very hot conditions, or allow an over current to persist for longer than it should in very cold conditions.
Most types of MCB are not sealed and the internal parts are vulnerable to rust etc.

Fuses are often preferable to MCBs in complex circuits were a number of fuses or MCBs are required in series.
If a 16 amp MCB and a 32 amp MCB are in series then a fault may well trip both.
A 16 amp fuse and a 32 amp fuse OF THE SAME TYPE in series will normally blow the smaller one before the larger one.

The main drawback of fuses is the absolute requirement for an ample stock of spares, an intermittent fault can blow a surprising number of fuses before it is located.
IMO, a prudent minimum stock of spare fuses is 2 for each circuit AND a dozen extra regardless of how many or how few circuits use that type. So if a control panel contains 8 fuses of the same type, the spare stock should be 2 for each circuit =16 AND another 12 or 28 in total.
For equipment that is of great importance, or that has a history of blowing fuses for unknown reasons, twice as many should be provided.

As demonstrated on Friday afternoon.

Would you be referring to the electrical equipment or the commuters?  ;)

I suggest we ask ourselves how we would prefer critical electrical circuits to be protected in civil airliners.

There's about three minutes to rectify a problem.....

OTC


Edit to correct format only

What is wrong with fuses?
 
Fuses BS88 (HRC) fuses are very reliable, can handle high fault levels, work as well with dc and ac and are not susceptible to nuisance tripping due to mechanical vibration like MCBs also easy to grade in terms of discrimination.

MCB are used in places and the new signalling power supplies (650V) uses VCBs and a auto reconfigurable system, however for the lower voltage parts of the system fuse are the most reliable.

The incoming supply from the DNO or internal railway high voltage transformers will be a BS88 (type) fuse.
[/quote]

I suggest we ask ourselves how we would prefer critical electrical circuits to be protected in civil airliners.

There's about three minutes to rectify a problem.....

OTC
[/quote]

The biggest problem I have come across in my 40 years as an electrical engineer is you can only reset a MCB a number of times after it has cleared a fault (typically after 5 faults) this is because the contacts get pitted and burnt and then there is the risk of contacts welding, also MCB are expensive compared to the humble "red spot" BS88.

The railway signalling system and many other critical system has hundreds of thousands if not millions of fuse 99.9% of them sit there passively for their working life for 30, 40 even 50 years doing their job and retire without a rupture, the ones that do rupture do so because there has been a fault.

A fault is just that something has gone wrong and its not the fuse that ruptured because it felt like it its because a cable or component has failed, to get a system up and running new fuse are put in if they rupture again then the fault has to have detailed investigation because if you just keep putting fuses in more and more damage is done and can even lead to loss of life or fire

Is this the first time we've heard this as a reason for delays - damage to overhead line equipment in the Burnham area causing delays into and out of Paddington this morning. On the relief lines, according to TM.

Looks as the lady in her mobility buggy isn't going quietly (see thread elsewhere!)

..............the shape of things to come!!!  :o

So ironic, and they're not even in use yet, but damage causing slow running trains anyway.

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires at Burnham the line towards Reading is blocked.
Impact:
Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised. Burnham and Taplow will not be served. Disruption is expected until 11:00 27/09.

I took a 15 minute hit on an High Speed Train (HST) from Reading to Paddington.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

From my casual observation (i.e. looking out of passing HST windows), I don't believe the wires are even installed there yet. So presumably the damage is to a gantry or some other piece of support infrastructure?

It isn't the first report of this nature, there were reports of 'damage to OHLE' causing delays west of Tilehurst some time ago, which turned out to be something used temporarily during installation hanging into the path of traffic on the main lines. 

Possibly something similar this time - IIRC the reasons for delay automatic announcements are chosen from a menu, so there probably won't be one that covers 'installer error'...   ;D

Paul

Will be interesting to see the final report on this one, but it's confirmed by the RAIB that the train which struck the derailed one received a GSM-R emergency stop message sent by the driver of the derailed train and had reduced the speed from 80mph to 32mph before the collision.  It is quite possible that before the advent of GSM-R whatever radio system had previously been in operation would not have been able to alert the driver of the oncoming train in time for him/her to start braking - particularly as a tunnel was involved.  I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that GSM-R may well have prevented serious loss of life here!

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/derailment-and-collision-watford-tunnel

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/watford-junction-derailment-crashed-train-travelling-at-80mph-before-braking-investigators-find-a3354401.html

I had a look yesterday morning and there are wires installed for a short length of the line around and through Burnham station...

I believe it was another earthing bond that had come loose, so not a permanent part of the electrification equipment.  Three out of the four lines through Burnham have now been wired for a short section towards Slough.

  Not really very encouraging is it? One tiny length wired and already causing problems before its even in use!

It would be far less encouraging if it was part of the permanent equipment.  AIUI these are only earthing bonds attached as a safety measure during the installation of the equipment.  'Electric Train' may be able to elaborate.

No, it is not very encouraging, though as others have pointed out it appears that a temporary earth connection was the problem and not part of the permanent install.

I remain a bit doubtful as to the reliability of the new electric railway, having suffered badly from the failed east coast scheme.
Hopefully lessons have been learnt ! The structures being erected on the GWR certainly appear to be much more substantial than those on the East coast job. Portal frames should be inherently more reliable than span wires.

My main concern regarding GWR electrification is not in fact the wires coming down, well not that  often anyway. I fear the increasing sophistication and computerisation of the electrical infrastructure, some of which I fear to be new and untested technology.
I suspect that the power will be turned off or trip out fairly regularly due to computer or software issues. Or to over sensitive protective devices. "all services through Slough are subject to delay and cancellation because a pigeon has flown into the overhead at Bristol"
Yet another growing risk to the reliability and performance of an electric railway is the increasing concern for the welfare of trespassers "all services from Paddington are suspended at present as the traction current has been isolated due to a person climbing the OHLE near Reading"

On The Other Hand (OTOH), the new trains can proceed on diesel power when the wires come down or the current is turned off, perhaps refreshment could be taken in the buffet during any such delays ::)


Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

Both general scenarios are possible - though I doubt a pigeon at Bristol would affect all services at Slough?.  I guess it depends on whether they happen more or less often than current situations that won't happen, such as 'services delayed due to an engine failure/train running out of fuel/engine fire' etc.  What tends to be the case is that it will happen less often, but when it does there will be more of an impact.  Though apart from the Turbo derailment hitting a gantry outside of Paddington a few months back I can't recall many occasions where the current has had to be isolated due to a fault/emergency on that admittedly short but very busy and highly populated section.


Depending on whether there's physical damage to the cables in front, or a stranded Class 387 in front, they will be able to proceed.  No doubt emergency supplies of water will be kept in the kitchen.  At the very minimum, at least the air-con and lights will continue to work!  Regarding the 387s, one small reason I'm glad we've got Bombadier electric trains rather than the Siemens equivalent is that there are at least a small number of windows that can be opened should the air-con fail on a very warm day.

How many times have we heard of a pigeon hitting the West/East Coast lines? A swan, I think, once, but not sure any pigeon....

In all my years of working underneath overhead wires I have witnessed many fried pigeons but cannot recall train services ever being delayed by them  ::) :P.  The breakers will automatically reset anyway.

How about balloons... ? :)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=13560.msg147774#msg147774 (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=13560.msg147774#msg147774)

But if they came down now, it would bring trains to a halt....

AFAIK pigeons regularly strike the existing Over-Head Line Equipment (OHLE) but without any serious consequences except for the pigeon.
My concern is that more sensitive equipment might trip out be damaged by an event that was previously of little consequence.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

Problems between Paddington and West Ealing tonight due, according to Great Western Railway (GWR) Journey Check, a signalling problem.    However, BBC Travel state the cable thieves have changed tactics to nicking Over-Head Line Equipment (OHLE).   Difficult to believe unless not live and the thieves knew it.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronyms

I suspect that the Over-Head Line Equipment (OHLE) is not live and that the thieves know it.

Edit: VickiS - Clariying Acronym

And unlike signalling cables, where zero-scrap-value fibre-optic cables can often be used, OHLE needs to be low resistance, and that means copper.  Gold is quite low in resistance too...

Was due to a damaged faraday cage on a signal (which protects those attending to a signal from the overhead wires).  It had come loose and was a danger to passing trains.

.........what a difference a day makes!

I recall an incident when there was no power whatsoever in the Over-Head Line Equipment (OHLE) on Poland's Central Main Line, from Warsaw to Krakow and Katowice, because... the (then state-owned) railways were virtually bankrupt and owed the (also state-owned) national grid several gazillions! Hopefully that won't happen here.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

That I actually find to be more concerning. These cages are very low-tech constructions of steel frames and steel mesh. It should not be that hard to devise suitable fixings and to install them correctly so as to prevent them coming loose.

Imagine the consequences of a train hitting one :( Apart from the potential danger at the time, imagine the disruption whilst the line is closed to examine each one.

Due to urgent repairs to the track between Ealing Broadway and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 10:30 30/09. ................what on Earth has happened?

Engineering train ran through a set of points during an possession of the line. Seemingly, this is becoming a regular occurrence

Also:
Due to a fault with the signalling system at Swindon trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines.
Impact: Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 11:00 30/09.

(Amongst other things this lead to the cancellation of 1L08 which left a bit of a gap in departures from Reading to Paddington during the morning peak)

I've lost track of the what work has been completed where but has all the signalling work been completed? There still seem to be signal failures but is this due to work to upgrade them or problems with the new system?

There's lots more signalling work to be done between Paddington and Hayes (Stockley Bridge) and at Maidenhead, for Crossrail.  The last stage is at Easter 2018 (or thereabouts ::) :P )

See this thread for details of the work at Christmas/New Year 2016: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=17494.0

Modern electronic signalling is not quite as robust as the 'old hat' relay technology that existed before, and its design life is much shorter.  There is also the 'Bath Tub Effect' which most electronic systems suffer from whereby if its going to fail it has a higher chance when its new and then towards the end of its life.  Electronic systems also don't like being disturbed, which of course is occuring almost daily at present.

Another morning of joy on LTV.........................Due to a fault with the signalling system between Slough and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on some lines towards London Paddington.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised. Langley, Iver and West Drayton will not be served.

Apparently a fault at West Drayton. Up Main traffic diverted onto Up Relief.

Delays to services between Didcot Parkway and Oxford
Due to a speed restriction earlier today between Didcot Parkway and Oxford trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards Oxford.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 40 minutes. Disruption is expected until 19:00 12/10.

Emergency track repairs just south of Oxford caused disruption for most of this afternoon, culminating in no northbound services - through or terminating at Oxford - for an hour between 1620 & 1720.

[Thursday am] - just realised 1545 Reading - Newcastle started from Oxford on platform 3. Realtime Trains suggests nothing coming from south of Oxford from 1545 to 1722

Emergency repairs took longer than expected.  Fortunately the High Speed Train (HST) to Moreton ran all the way as control wanted to terminate it at Charlbury.  After the cancellation of the previous train, sheer weight of passenger numbers forced a change of mind.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

Not sure if a broken down train counts as infrastructure but anyway...

"Cancellations to services between Didcot Parkway and Oxford
Due to a broken down train between Didcot Parkway and Oxford the line towards Oxford is blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes. Disruption is expected until 19:45 13/10."

Seems several Oxford bound trains currently being held at Reading.

Wouldn't have thought so. ;)

Was a failed Class 70 on a Freightliner at Radley.  After a bit of coaxing from the driver it managed to limp into Hinksey Yard and out of harms way.

More work for the delay attribution "Bean Counters"

.....new week, same old story  >:(


Cancellations to services between Maidenhead and Slough


Due to a fault with the signalling system between Maidenhead and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards London Paddington.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 09:00 17/10.

At seven o'clock this morning there was an S+T bloke scrabbling around in the four foot on the Up Main at Slough West.  Didn't fancy his job with trains continuing to run on the other three lines

Latest;

Cancellations to services between Maidenhead and Slough


Due to a fault with the signalling system between Maidenhead and Slough the line towards London Paddington will be blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 45 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 10:30 17/10.
Customer Advice
London bound passengers at Burnham and Taplow are advised to circulate via Maidenhead.
Passengers for Taplow and Burnham are advised to circulate via Slough.
Further Information
This is due to an ongoing axle counter failure in the Slough area. Technicians need a blockage of one of the lines towards London Paddington to allow them to rectify issue. While this takes place there will be only 1 line able to accommodate trains into London and therefore alterations will take place to alleviate congestion through affected stations.

Thought something was wrong High Speed Train's (HST)s going slow past house. Glad I'm not commuting any more!

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

I was on 1L10 which ran at a glacial pace on the relief line from ~ Twyford to Slough.
35 minutes late into Paddington.

Do you qualify for a refund or are you not TV on 1L10?

And again:

Delays to services between Maidenhead and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Maidenhead and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines towards London Paddington.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Last Updated:17/10/2016 18:50

1L10 is a high speed service originating from Swansea. Because GWR are dragging in their heels over Delay Repay introduction there is currently no compensation for delays less than an hour for HSS.

Day is ending as it started...........Delays to services between Maidenhead and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Maidenhead and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

I don't think GWR should introduce Delay Repay until such times the DfT and Network Rail can provide a reliable infrastructure.  If they can't provide a reliable infrastructure then GWR should be compensated accordingly. 

Are the defective axle counters and related equipment part of the "new and improved signalling that will bring about a faster and more reliable railway"

Unfortunately the computer way of observing the 'tail lamp' [a vital piece of railway safety equipment] and giving 'Train Out of Section' to the system.  I assume in the case today it was considered most expedient to close the line and repair immediately rather than continue to send every express down the Up Main under caution.  I got the feeling that the S+T man I saw this morning on his hands and knees in the four foot was looking for a damaged wire or connection.

I'm pretty sure I said that an hour before you  ::) ::) ;D

Yes, I was aware that observation of the tail lamp was the traditional way of proving that the WHOLE train has passed a given point, and that axle counters are one of the newer ways of achieving this.

It does however seem regrettable that the new technology has proved so unreliable.
Presumably failures several times a week are the "new normal", together with major failures a few times a year.

And it is not even the rainy season yet, no one would expect modern signalling to work in prolonged heavy rain.

Can someone explain why axle counters have found favour instead of track circuits over the last few years. They don't seem to be as reliable as they were made out to be when first introduced.

               

Whoops! (Don't you know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?)  ;D

Simple: Whole life cost.  Axle counter sections can be of any length whereas track cicuits in AC electrified areas are limited to 600m length.  As the average signal spacing is around 1300m you would need 3 track circuits per section instead of a single axle counter section.  Then there is the add on cost of keeping the running rails insulated etc. for track circuits. Lots of other (technical) reasons as well.

Looks like the same, or similar fault, has struck this morning's rush hour too. Temperature issues or things moving incompletely under possession upsetting the counters?

Many thanks for the clear explanation.

Day 2 (checked first johoare!  :) )

The much vaunted "new and improved signalling that will bring about a faster and more reliable railway" seems to have some way to go............


Due to a fault with the signalling system earlier today between Maidenhead and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines towards London Paddington.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 40 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 12:00 18/10.
Further Information
An update will follow within the next 1 hour.
This is due to ongoing axle counter failures in the Slough area. Technicians have been on site rectifying the issue throughout the night.
Trains are required to run at a reduced speed on the two lines towards London Paddington and therefore delays are to be expected transversing through to Slough from Reading/Maidenhead.
Alterations and cancellatons will be used to ease congestion and preserve a timetabled service.

Very poor show again.  According to the NR logs the technicians are having real problems resolving the axle counter fault(s) in this particular area.  Most if not all trains getting through but with a typical delay of between 15-25 minutes, so would have be an ideal Delay Repay 15 claiming scenario for the passengers.  Mark Hopwood's patience must be getting very thin!

I raised this in
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=17143.0 (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=17143.0)
but my route is not TV enough to quality it seems.

It appears from OpenTimeTrains (http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/slough) that some up expresses are being talked past signal 534 (Slough Up Main Home equivalent?) rather than being diverted onto the Up Relief - though I notice that those that are diverted do a lot better time wise.

1L10 again delayed 35 minutes into Paddington.
The train manager (who himself was on this service yesterday) stated that he has raised a complaint (or whatever the correct term is) with signalling control regarding the diversion of this service onto the relief line as early as Twyford both today and yesterday.
It's doubly irritating to have the already peak service delay further increased as you watch later trains get given line priority. Two days running.
If there was a 'Rants and Raves' section I'd go and post there. I am in a state of high annoyance right now.

His passenger's patience too.

That's exactly what's happening.  Better to do that than swamp the relief lines with all the trains as that would soon back up and delay everything more.


Twyford West is the nearest point to the location of the problem (Slough West) where trains can be diverted onto the relief lines, otherwise you'd be committed to the main lines and having to be talked by the signal at danger.


Yes of course.  The posts on here confirm that.  Very frustrating for the staff on the front line as well.

Certainly for that part of the morning peak being committed to the main line meant a more timely arrival into Paddington.
1A72 and 1A04 both went ahead and my service only just nudged ahead of 1A05 because that one was stationary on the main near Maidenhead.

Presumably this will get worse as more of the new signalling is installed ?

An industry expert has stated a couple of pages back that the new signalling equipment is "less robust and has a shorter life" than the old stuff.
We also learn that axle counters were chosen over track circuits on the grounds of lower cost, because fewer are needed.

It seems to me that either the new equipment IS working as intended, with the failure rate being normal and that this is "the new normal" in which case better get used to it.

Or perhaps the equipment is not working correctly. And might improve at least in theory. Who supplied and installed it ?

I'm still getting my head around all this delay repay stuff, so sorry if this is a daft question but:

Currently: Due to the ongoing delays of however many minutes, over however many days, the punctuality score is below the threshold, so when I renew my season ticket I automatically get my 5% off, is that correct (in basic terms) ? I presume that is all automated by computer when they put my customer number in, it knows I am renewing on a service affected by the LTV trigger etc.

Delay Repay 15: If the train I am on arrives at its destination 15 minutes or more later, I have to put in a claim, every day, to get a refund. This is then manually processed by the TOC and something (cheque ? vouchers ?) are issued back to me.

I know everyone keeps saying Delay Repay is the better option, which it may well be for some customers, but to me it just seems a whole load of extra grief for the customer!

Again, I do not fully understand the process, hence the questions, before someone comes along and tells me it's obvious, again...

It's an imprecise art when deciding what the quickest course of action would be for a given train.  Some trains had to go relief line otherwise there would have been huge delays on all of the HSS arrivals, but I can appreciate that must be frustrating when your train is adversely affected two days in a row.


Axle counters seem to be working well in other areas of the network where they are increasingly being used (i.e. Reading, Banbury), so I'm not sure why the Maidenhead to Paddington is causing so many regular problems.


It is a clumsier system to claim rather than the automatic charter renewal system, but it is much fairer and has a number of advantages.  Jason on here with his Mortimer to Paddington season, gets no discount whereas you from Goring (or is it Pangbourne?) do.  That's not fair on him as he suffers the same delays as you do.

Also, if you stop commuting for any reason, then the delays you've suffered in the last year count for nothing as there's no renewed ticket for you to get a discount on.

I would imagine in the longer term, technology will mean the claim system will become easier and easier over time and eventually automatic.

I have just checked my records (sad, I know  :-[ ) and 19 of my up trains were at least 15 minutes late (most recent being today) since this date last year, only one of which was more than 30 minutes late.  I've done the sums and 5% off my annual season ticket is still working out the better deal for me. I completely understand that this may not be the case for others similarly affected.

...........estimate for continuing delays now pushed out to 1400;


Cancellations to services between Maidenhead and Slough


Due to a fault with the signalling system earlier today between Maidenhead and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines towards London Paddington.
Train services running through these stations will be cancelled, delayed by up to 25 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 14:00 18/10.
Further Information
An update will follow within the next 1 hour.
Update 10:00hrs: At approximately 11:00hrs one of the two lines towards London Paddington will be taken out of use for 60 minutes to allow specialist technicians access. While this is in place further alterations to the train service will come into affect.
From 11:00hrs:
Customers travelling TO Taplow and Burnham are advised to remain on the train through to SLOUGH, and change at Slough for services back to Burnham and Taplow.
Customers due to travel FROM Taplow or Burnham are advised to take the first service to MAIDENHEAD and change at Maidenhead for Slough and stations towards London Paddington.
Initial Incident: This is due to ongoing axle counter failures in the Slough area. Technicians have been on site rectifying the issue throughout the night.
Trains are required to run at a reduced speed on the two lines towards London Paddington and therefore delays are to be expected traversing through to Slough from Reading/Maidenhead.
Alterations and cancellations will be used to ease congestion and preserve a timetabled service.

It's also the case that, under the current system,  you may face several 15+ minute delays over the life of a Season Ticket, but the punctuality target for your area is just met. You then get nothing on renewal. With Delay Repay 15, at least you'd be compensated in this scenario.

Trains now running normally between Maidenhead and Slough
Following a fault with the signalling system earlier today between Maidenhead and Slough all lines towards London Paddington are now open.
Impact: Train services running through these stations are running normally.


Cancellations to services between West Ealing and Greenford
Due to a fault with the signalling system between West Ealing and Greenford all lines are blocked.
Impact: Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 14:30 18/10.

 :)

Thanks, as always II, for your reply - and yes, its Goring! I guess I am just a bit miffed as 5% is something, where as I just know I will never claim if I have to do it myself (too lazy and I'll just forget about it after I get home/to work and life takes over), so I know ultimately I will end up losing out (and yes, I know I only have myself to blame...).

To be honest, there are not THAT many delays over 15 minutes anyway, the vast majority are 5 or so, but over the course of a month they all add up, so I always felt the 5% I got back at least went someway to making it up. If I am delayed by an hour and totally ruin my evening plans, then no amount of monetary compensation makes up for it anyway.

I did my calculations on our stretch of the LTV and the threshold for delay repay comes to 50 delayed journeys annually - considerably more than I experienced in the last year (19).  Not forgetting that when it goes completely up the wall, I get a void day - I remember having eight one year!

Nice bit of selective quoting there.

And again:

Due to a speed restriction over defective track between Ealing Broadway and London Paddington trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines towards London Paddington.
Impact: Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 15 minutes or terminated at and started back from West Ealing. Some stations between Southall and London Paddington will not be served. Disruption is expected until 10:00 19/10.

"Up to 15 minutes" seems conservative from what I saw as I came through Paddington.

Cancellations to services between Ealing Broadway and London Paddington
Due to a speed restriction over defective track between Ealing Broadway and London Paddington trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines towards London Paddington.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 25 minutes or terminated at and started back from West Ealing. Some stations between Southall and London Paddington will not be served. Disruption is expected to continue until 2200 19/10.............3 days out of 3 this week....

Well that explains us being swung over to the Up Relief just before Hanwell.
Not much time wasted luckily and not stuck behind a stopper.
What is defective track anyway; loose pandrols perhaps?
W.E

Can be a multitude of things, in this case it looks like overnight track tamping (ballast work) the caused the track to go slightly out of alignment and a driver reported 'rough riding'.  As a result trains had to be cautioned, and a 20mph speed limit enforced.  That limit will shortly rise to 50mph when EROS (Emergency Restriction Of Speed) warning boards have been erected trackside.  Obviously the tolerances for a 125mph line are very strict, so a slight error can lead to this sort of thing.  Wouldn't have been so bad had there not already been two days of morning disruption already this week

i thought modern Tamping machines were supposed to be laser controlled to perfectly align the track.

Nearly overslept this morning without my regular 'delays are occurring...' text message from GWR.  ;)

Your comment reminded me of that old, but famous Fiat advertisement: "Designed by computers, built by robots, driven by Italians"!  ;D

............the day is as yet young!  :D

Not signals or points for once:
   
"Due to congestion between Reading and London Paddington trains have to run at reduced speed on the high speed line.

Impact:

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 10 minutes. Disruption is expected until 09:00 20/10.

There is congestion on the Up Main between Reading and Paddington caused by the following incidents:

1A02 05.29 Bristol TM to Paddington ATP problems earlier at Maidenhead East

1A03 06.00 Bristol TM to Paddington late presenation at Reading causing out of booked order running due to freight train overweight causing delays in the Swindon area."

Ah thanks for that, I was wondering why I trundled into Paddington 10 minutes late.

"Due to congestion between Reading and London Paddington trains have to run at reduced speed on the high speed line"
 
How does the Thames Valley affect Ashford - St Pancras  ?

Forgive the ignorance, but I thought all freight was automatically weighed as it left any yard?

Just relaying the industry feed. No idea on the freight weight that made things late before eight, mate.  ;D

Not normally, apart from any other reason most freight yards are not equipped with weighbridges.
The empty weight of all common types of freight wagons  are known, as are the maximum gross weights including contents.

Wagons for loose loads like ballast are either marked with a maximum load line, or are designed to be of such cubic capacity that they are full up before the weight becomes excessive.

I suspect that an overloaded freight train either contained more wagons than was planned for, or was perhaps of the normal weight but that an engine of inadequate capacity was sent, perhaps in error.
It sometimes happens that a freight is diverted via a different route that has either a higher line speed or steeper gradients than the usual route.  The train is then overweight/underpowered for the diversionary route and delay thereby caused.
A long and heavy freight that can only achieve say 40MPH on level track and 15 up a gradient, might be fine in Outer Worzelshire at 4AM but not near Paddington in the morning rush hour.

Thank you broadguage, that clears up my muddled brain-cell; and apologies to BNM as I wasn't challenging your post in any way.  Just thought all freight weights were known before they left any yard, so was puzzled as to why the weight of a train wasn't known.  This error now cleared up.

The 0437 Whatley Quarry to Appleford Sidings does seem to adversely affect 1A02 and 1A03 when it runs late luckily it only runs on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'm surprised at the specific cause given today, the practice seems to be to run the freight early to Westbury but it leaves late upsetting 1A03.

Shame 1A02 also had the ATP problems between Maidenhead and Heathrow Airport Junction.

1A03 running late meant 1K71 ended up gaining its passengers at Reading prompting a 60 second late departure which in turn meant it missed its slot at Heathrow Airport Junction and therefore had to wait for 1Y31 from Terminal 5 which whilst on time leaving Heathrow was itself delayed en-route to the junction.
1K71 then also couldn't go in to its booked platform because the empty stock from 1A02 had been routed in to platform 9.

  .........
amazing, that's exactly what I thought, took the words right out of my mouth!  ;D

Just goes to show how every second can count otherwise a chain reaction can lead to significant delays.

........here we go again!  >:(


Cancellations to services at Maidenhead


Due to a fault with the signalling system at Maidenhead all lines are blocked.
Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed by up to 90 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 11:30 23/10.
Customer Advice
Virgin Trains are conveying passengers between London Euston and Birmingham New Street in both directions until further notice.
South West Trains are conveying passengers between Reading and London Waterloo in both directions until further notice.
London Underground are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.
Cross Country are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.
London Midland are conveying passengers between Birmingham New Street and Worcester Shrub Hill in both directions until further notice.
Chiltern Railways are conveying passengers between London Marylebone and Banbury in both directions until further notice.

Axle Counter failure again.   :-\

Wouldn't have been too bad, but there's an all day possession on the main lines so literally nowhere for anything to go until techs can sort the problem.  Points currently being secured so that trains can start moving (by being talked by one signal at danger in each direction).  NFL game at Twickenham means the Waterloo option is also complicated., but fortunate at least that it's happened early in the day rather than later on when many more are travelling.

Down trains (heading away from London) now on the move as of 10:00.  As are up services as well at 10:10.

Sounds like the recovery will be long and painful...........

Due to a fault with the signalling system at Maidenhead trains have to run at reduced speed on all London Paddington lines.
Train services running through this station will be cancelled, delayed by up to 75 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 12:30 23/10.
This is due to an axle counter failure at Maidenhead. Lines have reopened at Maidenhead however trains are having to be talked past signals on both lines due to the failure. Delays are to be expected.


This won't help either;

Delays to services at Oxford

Due to engineering works not being finished on time at Oxford:
Train services running through this station may be delayed by up to 40 minutes. Disruption is expected until 10:45 23/10.

Services to London need to be 'talked by' two red signals so that will take twice as long as those heading away from London that just need the one talking by.  Trains are at least getting though now and will be less and less delayed as the backlog is worked through and the odd train cancelled to thin things out a little.  The 08:10 from Weston Super Mare to Paddington only lost 5 minutes through the section thanks to the generous Sunday timing allowances.

You may have better things to do with your Sunday morning, but watching how the signallers are dealing with the issues on the map http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/slough can be quite fascinating...  ;)

More important things, maybe, but they can wait.

Sadly I am being "talked by" the sofa through the back door to mow the lawn. Delays and cancellations are not an option.

I would be interested in what is being done to sort out the axle counter issue though, I remember not so long ago it was being flagged as a panacea to all the signal failures that were occurring, now it seems to be pretty much a daily event.

 ;D

At least I have a morning with a chain saw to amuse myself. After another cuppa, maybe. It's in the planning...

As I suspected in this instance it was due to the large amount of engineering work in preparation for electrification and the layout changes at Maidenhead this Christmas - we've discussed those on the Crossrail thread.  Piling had caused damage to the sensitive axle counter equipment.  Another reminder of how difficult it is to do complex work on an operational railway.  Expect more instances of similar disruption until all the work is completed during next year.  Hopefully after that it'll settle down and be reliable, but I'm having my doubts.

Who'd be a prophet, eh? Anyone know a chainsaw mender?

.... and to BT Openreach cables. Still no broadband for many in West Drayton & Uxbridge.

Day after day after day....... Delays to services between Newbury and Reading
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Newbury and Reading trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards Reading.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 10 minutes. Disruption is expected until 16:00 27/10.
Last Updated:26/10/2016 13:15

Disruption expected for >24hrs?!?!?  Not good.

And this morning at Worcester, trains cancelled along the Cotswold line due to signal failures.

Getting far beyond a joke now.....I'm at Slough and there are far chunkier delays than 10 minutes. I wonder if there's any chance of an incident free day anytime soon?                       Delays & Cancellations between Ealing Broadway and Hayes & Harlington
Due to a speed restriction over defective track between Ealing Broadway and Hayes & Harlington trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines towards Reading.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 10 minutes or revised. Hanwell will not be served. Disruption is expected until 18:00 27/10.

Good thing I can claim this on delay repay.  Oh, wait...

Something is knackered outside Paddington. It's taken 15 minutes to get almost nowhere.

Agreed.  17.49 to Worcester was 6mins late moving from the platform 'due to signal problems' and isn't moving very fast yet.
At first I attributed this to the 'Intercity' unit being used - I haven't seen a blue white and red unit for quite some time. 😳

Blue, white and red? Is Network South East still going? ;)

.....now stretched out to over 24 hours;

Cancellations to services between Newbury and Bedwyn

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Newbury and Bedwyn fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 11:00 30/10.

Customer Advice
Replacement road transport services are conveying passengers between Newbury and Bedwyn via Kintbury and Hungerford in both directions until further notice.

It was last night. The unit was 'Great Western' if I recall correctly, and was labelled Intercity.

That'd be this one. Heritage 'Swallow' livery celebrating 40 years of the High Speed Train (InterCity 125):

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/185_zpsgpogsoid.jpg)

Blue?....

That's the one

.......here we go again............

Cancellations to services between Twyford and Slough


Due to a fault with the signalling system between Twyford and Slough some lines towards London Paddington are blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until 18:00 10/11.
Further Information
An update will follow within the next 1 hour.
Customers for Maidenhead from Reading and Twyford are advised to circulate via Slough.

Looking at the Open Train Times website maps the signallers have put the words 'Evaluator Fail' in the Up Relief train describer berths.....so multiple axle counter section failures are the result ::) :P

..and as ever, the signallers find a resourceful way to show it.

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/twyaxle.jpg)

Latest update now saying disruption  will continue until end of service.

I should have added that the Evaluator unit basically processes the axle counting for several sections to ensure the correct number of axles is counted out at the exit end of an individual section as were counted into it at the entrance end before the signalling system can treat the section as clear.

And this evaluator was smoking like a good 'un apparently!

Heard about this last night from GW staff. Suggested tha Evaluator caught fire!

20:22 ex Padd on time connected with Taplow train at Slough.

By reputation they* are very reliable in the native territory (Germany) - much more so than track circuits. So what are NR's S&T guys doing to ours to make them catch fire?

* Thales Az LM - Az for  Achszahler, with an umlaut that I've left off as the forum's bad fairies will only steal it.

Nothing on Journeycheck but a fair number of westbound services from Reading showing late on National Rail Enquires Live Departures as "this train has been delayed by a fault with the signalling system" at the moment...

Failed freight train apparently.

Due to a points failure at Hanwell some lines towards Reading are blocked.
Impact: Train services running through this station may be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until 18:00 11/11.



Now miraculously fixed.

Not entirely Thames Valley but:

Cancellations to services at Hayes & Harlington
Due to a broken down train earlier today at Hayes & Harlington the line towards London Paddington is blocked.
Impact: Train services running through this station may be cancelled or delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until 17:00 15/11.


Following urgent repairs to the track between Westbury and Trowbridge the line towards Westbury is now open.
Impact:Train services running through these stations are returning to normal but some services may still be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 19:00 15/11.

And this evening....

Alterations to services between Slough and London Paddington

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Slough and London Paddington trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 25 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 21:00 15/11.

Apparently this morning's engineering blockade between Reading and Paddington which was due to finish at 1230 has overrun with no current estimate as to when it will be lifted. Presumably the rail replacement buses have already stopped as planned?

EDIT: Tweet just now from GWRHelp: "Alternative transport cannot be arranged for all services so current advice is to hold off on travel".

My wife was at Paddington (going to Worcester) and has suffered the problems.  As the first train out of Paddington to Reading was the 1202 (I think)Cardiff I hope the works were due to finish before 1230.

If anyone connected with this issue at GWR or NR is reading this please help me understand and let me know the following

a) When was it known there would be an overrun and how long was it expected to be.
b) Why were contingency plans not arranged immediately (on knowing of a delay) and their outcome transmitted to the staff at Paddington in time. (at 1240 my wife was told that no arrangements had been confirmed with Virgin (despite her asking to travel via Marylebone to Birmingham Moor St and on to Worcester). She has now been told to travel via Oxford Parkway with no guarantee a train will be in place at Oxford for onward travel. I suspect (hope) one of the up Worcesters may be terminated short to provide a service but, again, no one had a clue

It would be only fair to point out that I have had close connections with issues such as these in the past and I find it hard to understand that Paddington information staff had nothing to offer at 1230 other than "trains are delayed please wait for further information"

Also can we do something about the information that is put on GWR website when things such as this occur. Today the first information was loaded after the first train was due to have left and the HEADLINE said trains were delayed between Slough and Southall. To the average uninformed passenger this does not mean the railway between London and Reading is closed.

I still am heavily pro rail but this continuing inability to provide timely and reasonably accurate information in such situations tests my faith (and I do know how complicated the problems are)

We took our neighbours to Slough for the 12:40 (10:23 ex Worcester Foregate Street) AXED at Reading!

Just heard from them they are a bus from Slough to Padd.

So quite quick reaction from GWR. 

Chiltern came up trumps and got my wife to Oxford for 14.30 only to find the 14.52 to Worcester is cancelled and the following 15.52 is "delayed". As she is now 2hrs+ late I am hoping a taxi will be provided.

Just been phoned to tell me that a cab has been arranged and that Oxford staff have treated her well, both with information and civility. Thank you Oxford

My last post on this subject!
At 1508 the first page of the GWR website still says there are no trains between Paddington and Reading (there are) whilst another, further in the site, says trains are returning to normal. Unfortunately the last paragraph of this page completely  contradicts it be re-asserting that the line is closed. Who is responsible for this information and does it not get checked!

I'm guessing this is the contradictory message you are referring to (italicised)

Following earlier engineering works not being finished on time between Reading and London Paddington all lines have now reopened.
Train services running to and from these stations are returning to normal but some services may still be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 16:30 27/11.
Customer Advice
Chiltern Railways, Cross Country and South West Trains are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.
Underground services are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.
London Buses  are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
Additional Information
Services are resuming operation on routes between London Paddington and Reading but for the next couple of hours these are expected to be very busy owing to the extent of disruption and we thank you for your patience and understanding of the situation.
Further Information
An update will follow within the next 1 hour.
Owing to engineering work in the Maidenhead area not being completed on time we are currently unable to operate any train service between London Paddington and Reading until further notice, including the local branch lines.

Doesn't bode well for Xmas/New Year when there's 10 times more work going on.

Except that there's only one ending to ten times the work.   Question is - are over-runs naturally serial (cumulative) or parallel (concurrent)?

No, you're doing my head in now!  ;) :D ;D

So I woke up to quite a mixed bag this morning, now mostly cleared

No service between Bourne End and Marlow

Signalling fault with the between Reading and Slough

Track closures at Didcot

You can add in a broken down train at Twyford this morning, which caused yet further delays. It got going eventually.

By the way, does anyone know why the 0625 from Banbury is constantly being delayed/held at Didcot ? It forms the 0738 from Goring and I can't remember the last time it was actually on time, its been anything from 3-10 minutes late almost constantly for months ?

I know why this morning (multiple HST services came down the relief lines), but the other days it seems to be on time at Didcot, but then leaves late.

The same thing often seems to happen about an hour earlier with the 0550 from Oxford which I get from Twyford at 0653 (it calls Goring at 0630). It too is quite frequently held at Didcot and most annoyingly if it arrives there a few minutes late it often also leaves a few minutes late even though it's scheduled to wait there for 11 minutes.

Flicking back through it appears to be the XC service 06:04 from Birmingham which the turbo waits at Didcot for that causes the problem, which is caused in itself by the occasional late running of the 05:53 Birmingham to Euston which runs semi-fast to Coventry and holds up the XC.

Until the XC has gone round the curve at Didcot, assuming it's only a small delay then the turbo gets held at Didcot.

So blame services that are 100 miles away for your train being delayed  ::)

The congestion at Didcot is slowly getting worse as more and more trains are squeezed through.  Although there's less freight trains overall due to the drastic reduction in coal trains, the number of freight movements through Didcot seems to increase year on year.  I've mentioned it before, but now Reading has been largely sorted, Didcot is the new pinch-point and a grade separated junction east of the station is looking likely to be the best solution, and would be more beneficial IMHO than 4-tracking Didcot to Oxford which has been getting some mentions recently.  Both would be nice of course!

You only have to watch the opentraintimes map to see how the London bound stoppers are often delayed by a few minutes (at least half of them I would say) waiting for either delayed XC trains in either direction or for freights to pass by, or (worst of the lot) for a freight to crawl into Didcot Yard.  The performance implications don't get highlighted as much as they might - most of the stoppers have five or so minutes layover at Reading - but that's not much consolation to users of the Thames Valley stations.

I was later this morning and heading to Reading but I understand that there was nothing London bound from Taplow till around 0730?

One poor chap on Twitter had been there since 0530 and was asking for hot drinks and blankets by 0700!!!

Understand several trains from Taplow to Reading cancelled during the morning.

I got the 0822 to Reading which (as always) was about 5 mins late and I noticed a few other 10-15 minute delays heading West but no cancellations (unless it was the earliest services), think it was London bound that suffered more?

Bit of a mystery that one, as realtimetrains and my internal system reports plenty of departures - though mostly delayed:

There was nothing until 06:26 when the 06:00 departed, and was followed by the 06:24 departing at 06:28, the 06:32 departed at 06:38, the 06:57 departed at 07:00, and additional stop on one that departed at 07:26, and the 07:27 departed at 07:37.

time flies when you're having 'fun' (telling your mates)

Looking at RTT, every Up stopper scheduled to call at Taplow before 0730 this morning is shown as having called at platform 2 (the Up Main) with the exception of the 0600 which called at platform 4 at 0626. Maybe a lack of information at the station for the chap on Twitter? Or perhaps these trains didn't actually stop in order to keep the UM moving?

.....Nothing for the first hour, GWR Twitter apologised for the 0624 being cancelled, and the 0657 was announced as cancelled at the last minute & then roared through without stopping (again apologies given for poor comms), guess the additional stop was to make up for it? Hypothermia seems to be affecting everything!!!

Nothing stops at Platform 2 at Taplow so I think the answer to your last question is "yes".......

… a problem which, as a Thames Valley station user, I’ve moaned about here many times before.  The benefits of electrification will be lost unless NR can produce a more resilient timetable which is more able to recover from delays and which doesn’t condemn stopping trains in the Thames Valley to being delayed, for example, by late running stopping trains 100 miles away in the West Midlands.

Just because a line is busy doesn't mean you can't build in some timetable resilience.

Yes, platforms 1 and 2 are out of use.  Too low and in a poor state of repair so deemed uneconomical to bring back up to scratch.  Could well be that a few of those I quoted missed Taplow, though that wasn't registered on Tyrellcheck/Genius so a bit of a puzzle, but if they were running ML they won't have called at Taplow - or Burnham which is FAR busier!

There's a massive difference for a commuter station like Taplow having no trains until 06:30 or 07:30 mind you, so hopefully it was the former.

Hehe, nice. Thanks for that though! I have noticed the XC come through on the relief line a few times, but never put two and two together (I don't function properly until after 9am ;) ).

I did have a poke around on recenttraintimes.co.uk I think it was, and (if I read it right), for the past 12 weeks the punctuality was just 74% for this service  :o

I didn't get the 0653 from TWY today (0550 from OXF) but I see from RTT that it arrived at DID 5 minutes late, was still 2 minutes late leaving in spite of the scheduled 11-minute stop there, then lost a further 6 minutes between there and Cholsey. I can't see any obvious reason for that but the preceding service from OXF (the 0543 from there) was held at DID for 8 minutes instead of its scheduled 2 so something must have got in the way.

There appears to have been a problem on the relief lines between Tilehurst and Didcot between around 05:30 and 06:30 which resulted in trains using the mains including all freights and a stopper each way (missing Pangbourne obviously). The 05:50 from Oxford was the first one to be routed 'correctly'

The lack of capacity at Didcot has a major impact on the growth of rail use in Oxfordshire. There are many West Oxon residents that work in the Didcot area but only a minor proportion use rail from the Cotswold Line to Didcot to commute. This is because almost no CL trains serve Didcot and require users to change at Oxford with very poor unguaranteed connections. My daughter is one of these and she now uses her car (as do most other people) on the ever increasingly congested A34. It is however usuall quicker from Hanborough than using the rail service.increasing the Oxford/Didcot line capacity with the suggested additional platforms on the Didcot loop could be a major improvement increasing the viability of rail use.

Didcot is a growing travel-to-work destination as well as a travel-from. Maybe the service patterns need to keep up with this.

Travelled on 11:08 Taplow Padd and 15:42 Padd Taplow both prety much on time!

Saw Duchess of Sutherland and 46100 (Scot) both in steam at Southall.

And the new week starts with:

Alterations to services between Didcot Parkway and Oxford
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Didcot Parkway and Oxford trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards Oxford.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 10 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 12:00 06/12.

edit - it's got worse... now delayed by up to 45 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 18:00 06/12

and

Alterations to services between Hayes & Harlington and Slough
Following a fault with the signalling system between Hayes & Harlington and Slough some lines are now open.
Train services running through these stations are returning to normal but some services may still be delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 18:00 05/12.

Alterations to services at Slough


Due to a fault with the signalling system at Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines towards London Paddington.
Train services running through this station may be delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 09:00 07/12.

-loads of cancellations London bound between Reading and Slough. This will not be a good morning..........again.

Another awful commute. Actual delays are in the order of 35 minutes.

Due to a fault with the signalling system at Hayes & Harlington some lines are blocked.
Impact: Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 17:30 14/12.

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Slough

Following a person being hit by a train between London Paddington and Slough all lines have now reopened.
Train services running to and from these stations are returning to normal but some services may still be cancelled or delayed by up to 45 minutes. Disruption is expected until 08:30 17/12.

Must have been very early this morning, awful at any time of year but even worse at Christmas, thoughts with all affected.

Prior to 0600 I think...trains from Oxford around that time were cancelled.

Journeycheck saying lines open, service slowly recovering @ 0845

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Ealing Broadway and London Paddington trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards London Paddington.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes. Disruption is expected until 10:00 19/12.
Additional Information:
There is a fault on the approach to Paddington station with the system that reports the position of trains to the signalman. This means that trains need to be stopped, and then proceed forward at caution through the affected section before resuming normal speed.
The fault is affecting the London-bound slow line, but congestion may occur on the fast line also with trains diverted from the slow line around the failure.
Network Rail Engineers are currently on site assessing the problem.

Is this a quotation from an official announcement? Is 'signalman' the official job description of the signallers on NR? Just wondering.  :)

Perhaps there are no women staffing the workstations at that end of the route at TVSC in Didcot this morning.  ;D

:) That was lifted from gwr.com and it's still there, delays until 10:00 now

'Signalman' and 'slow lines'.  Must be a Midland or North Western chap!  ;D

I doubt the general commuter knows what Relief lines are - so no problem using 'slow' in this context! But Signaller, surely?

Another wonderful day of multiple signal failures. Maybe I was just unlucky but my train in was cancelled 10 mins after it was due and my train home ran non-stop skipping the scheduled stops.

Is there more work than usual happening in the Christmas run up or has this week just been worse than normal?

Sounds about normal. today's 11:18 ex Reading stopper to Padd left Reading 6 late

Just hope that all the work that affects running trains gets done over Christmas

I'm sorry if I seem to be labouring the point, but I do need to post something at the end of each of my split 'annual' topics, just to keep them in chronological sequence.

CfN.  ::)