Great Western Coffee Shop

1. Infrastructure issues - particularly in the Thames Valley, where it affects many other areas

Could Daryn please give us details of representations made to Network Rail in respect of the frequent infrastructure failures in the Thames Valley - particularly between Reading and Paddington - Signal/points failures, defective rails, OHL▸ issues - what has been the content of these representations, what has been the response from NR, when can we expect to see improvement?

You may be aware that last November, the ORR opened an investigation into Network Rail and Thames Valley performance. The scope of this investigation has now been expanded to cover the entire Western route.  NR will be reporting back to the ORR on their plans for improvement across the network, and they have put the first part of their plan into action.  This is Project Brunel with a focus on the Thames Valley and services into Paddington.

Forum members will know just how significant this bit of railway is, with all of our high-speed services using it. This means delays are felt not just locally but as far away as Cornwall and Carmarthenshire.

Performance has been improving on this vital section of line since the plan began implementation but we are still seeing too many disruptive issues, particularly with axle counters.

We have granted additional access and NR are working hard to make the most of all the opportunities for renewal and replacement.

Our business, and particularly my team in Train Service Delivery and Performance, will continue to do what we can to drive the improvements we all – customers, industry and Government – want to see.

We have also seen delays and cancellations, esp at weekends through crew shortages.  ASLEF have accepted the DfT pay offer, but this does not include any T&C changes and Sunday commitments are therefore still new drivers only.

Is the plan in the public domain - if so, can you pass on a link as to where we can see it/read it?

Detail here in Network Rail's Wales & Western CP7 Delivery Plan (pg 10) https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Wales-and-Western-CP7-Delivery-Plan.pdf

Thank you!
How soon do you expect improvements to be seen - stations on the North Cotswolds are still in the bottom 100 of stations with late trains

Text I have typed from the recording of the Zoom session - please forgive typos.
DM - Daryn McCombe, GWR
TL - Thomas Lydon, GWR
GE - Graham Ellis
BC - Bryony Chetwode
CB - ChrisB

Question 1

DM: This week ORR have decide not to impose £3m fine as plan is ok a making some progress.  To add some colour - last people 39k minutes delay under forecast - been over for several years but sill some challenges / axle counters and signal failures.  Also see trespass ans sadly loss of life. NR have also been cleaning out drainage - 5 tones silt out of  5 sites; good to have done but should have it been like that.  Weekly review with NR, draining and track work planned over next weeks.

GE: 95 guests and 14 users on coffee shop, 16 on zoom. Realistically 10 - 15 guests genuine. And a backup question added.

DM: Project Brunel is in there on the public domeian

GE: add Qn. Note comment not delay minuted better than forecast. Is forecasting more peroimistic?

DM: No - it is improving 12k mins to 9k mins weekly; target 8k but taken easy wins. Still seeing far too many cancellations - not just about delays

GE: Note the recording is there to be used just for logging as I am here.