Great Western Coffee Shop

I commute daily on the 07:03 from Maidenhead which is due into Paddington at 07:26. So far this year I don't think we've arrived at Paddington on time at all.  Made all the worse by seeing the, now shortened, old 07:02 whistle through Maidenhead with what looks like plenty of empty seats whilst the 07:03 usually ends up with people standing in the aisles.  Grrr!

I travel on the 07:03 or is it 04, 05 ...........08, 09  ??? FGW really get 10 out 10 for marketing in Dec 2007 they introduce two fast trains from Maidenhead at 7 am which generated a demand and now they cull on of them.  The only target FGW get for this is a marksman's badge for shooting themselves in the foot

For the first time, that I can recall, two HST's stopped at Maidenhead at 07:08 ish the late running 07:03 on platform 4 and the even latter running 06:43 on platform 2 now that would be a good service to run every day.

It seems that my grumbling worked....this morning's 07:03 arrived at Padding at 07:26.  Ok, it involved us all scurrying across to platform 2 but well done for operating on time at last.

It actually arrived 3 minutes early at 0723.

Indeed....I look to see what time the station clock says as I walk through.  In fairness it probably was a couple of minutes after the train pulled in to the station.  Hats off to all involved for being early.

This morning I was hoping for another repeat as there was a late notice platform change to platform 2 again.  Not so swift this time though  as I the walked past the clock at 07:36 - so I guess we arrived at 07:33.

I arrived at about 07:10 for the 07:18 fast Turbo and I saw two non-stopping HSTs crawl past platform 2 in close succession so presumably they were delayed by the 07:03. The 07:18 departed 1 minute late and was brought to a brief stand just short of West Drayton - presumably the preceding HSTs were in a queue at Airport Junction while a HEX was allowed to proceed ahead of them? >:( The 07:18 eventually arrived at Paddington at about 07:48 some 5 minutes late, but yesterday a clear run had resulted in a 3 minute early arrival.

Close, 0734  :D

Just wandering what type of stock operates this service?

07:03 ex Maidenhead is an HST

But rich / foreign airport travellers are a lot more important than commuters!

Apart from the fact that the HEX would likely have been pretty much empty, whereas the HST and numerous behind would be packed.

Ah but then there penalties NR have to pay BAA

So do BAA/NR pay FGW when 3/4 HSTs are delayed?

All I know is that the 07:03 was on time this morning and arrived by 07:26 at Paddington.  Great stuff.  Now if only the doors to the last carriage were unlocked and available to be used....

I received an FGW SMS alert for Maidenhead-Paddington this morning to say that the 06:46, 06:53, 07:01 (?) and 07:03 may be cancelled.  So I was expecting the worst. 

Arrived at Maidenhead and everything seemed to be running pretty much to time.  Only oddity was the 07:03 operating in reverse formation. Arrived at Padd by 07:30.  Hurrah!