Great Western Coffee Shop

Hello..I'm going to be travelling back from London about 10pm Thursday.. I've gone into the national rail journey planner and there is a journey there which involves getting the 22.21 from Paddington which arrives at Slough at 22.42.. The second leg of the journey is a 22.45 departure from Slough to Maidenhead.. I'm pretty sure the first train will come in on the main line platform (sorry don't know platform numbers).. and the second train will be on the relief line platform.. I'm not convinced 3 minutes is enough time to make it up the stairs, over the bridge, and back down the stairs?

If it's advertised on national rail journey planner though, does that make it a proper connection? And therefore would they hold the second train if the first was a little delayed?

And yes, I do know that sensibly I should catch the second train all the way from Paddington itself (it leaves at 22.10) but if I miss it I was wondering if it's worth getting the 22.21 and risking a long wait at slough should the connection not work out, or whether it's better to wait at Paddington for the next Maidenhead train.

I know I've changed at Slough many times in the past, I just don't remember the connection ever being as little as 3 minutes...

I hope that made sense.. I tend to write things down more complicated than they really are!  ;D :) ;)

How well do you know the staff?

If there is no further connection they have to put you in a taxi but if there is a later connection they can make you wait.

However - there was a friday night my 1830 odd departure from Padd got to hereford 2 minutes after the connection to ludlow left (advertised).  Next train was over an hour later - it was pissing down, the station is deserted at that time at night except for hoards of revellers and there has been known to be trouble.

TM arranged a cab to get me to ludlow.

Well, if it's in the journey planner, then it's an official connection, and a 21-minute timing from PAD to SLO looks generous for a non-stop (eg the 21.48 is booked for 15 minutes). I recall catching the 22.21 after a trip to Paris last June and sitting at Slough a good few minutes waiting for the booked departure time, so the chances are you will have more than three minutes' leeway.

Plus that train is a Turbo and a connection for Windsor too, so will run well up the platform, putting you pretty near the footbridge at Slough.

Better dust off those running shoes, Jo!  ;)

Hi Jo,

Personally I wouldn't risk it!

Is there no chance of getting the earlier one from Paddington?

Jane

The 22:42 arrival time is an FX arrival on FO it is 22:37 so there is some slack a willc says.

Platform 2 to 4 should be possible in around  a minute plus. If it's a Turbo from Padd get in the back as willc says they draw well up, if it's an HST towards the buffet, this puts you by the stairs at Slough. Plus a Turbo should do it in 16 minutes.

What you must check is if there's any engineering work around that's why FX and FO are different to allow for this. If there is any between Padd and Slough be cautiuous on the later trains like the 22:21. I have been caught behind the stopper on the relief lines and, therefore, missed the it at Slough.

If it's between Slough and Midenhead on the Relief line ie buses to Taplow and Burnham should be OK as stopper will cross to main at Slough West and follow the fast. If it's on the main lines then it's chancy. If Slough box presses the wrong buttons and puts you over onto the Relief at Dolphin instead of Slough West then you'll be behind the stopper.

If I'm up in town I do the change at Slough for Taplow off the fast Oxfords when possible, however, because of engineering work I'm a bit cautious with later trains like the 22:21 as I have been caught and had to wait at Slough. I tend to be an the look out for stopper so when we pass it I breathe a sigh of relief and know if  l have to run at  Slough.

You could of course have a some refreshamnt at Padd and get the 22:48 with a 5 minute connection.


Off earlier trains I'd always go for it, sorry not to be positive one way or the other for the 22:21. With the overall improvements in FGW punctuality you'd make it 9 times out of 10, but as I say watch out for engineering work at that time of night.

Thank you for all  the replies..


Thanks Jane, I will definitely be trying for the earlier one, but have to come from Vauxhall so I'm at the mercy of the tube/bus.. If I get one of those really useful 10 minute gaps between tubes, or if I'm running a bit late and then they decide to run my train from platform 13 or 14 regardless of the fact a lot of other platforms are empty,  then I might miss the first one..


Thanks MookieMoo, I don't really know the Slough staff at all unfortunately..There are other trains afterwards so no chance of a taxi (unless I pay for it myself which I've had to do before when I've had the choice between half hour sitting on a platform at Slough or 15 minutes in a taxi (even if it was expensive!)).. :)


Thanks willc too. knowing it should be a turbo helps as they do stop further up the platform at Slough.. so I will definitely risk it if I have to..


and thank you eightf48544.. (I am being very thankful today  :)).. I've looked on FGW site and see no obvious indication of engineering works.. I will check again later though, unless anyone here knows for sure if there will be any? As for refreshments at Paddington, I'll be on my own, so like to get home really.. There are usually quite a few drunken people around at Paddington even at 10pm!

Isn't is a shame though, knowing Paddington to Slough can be done in 15 minutes compared to how few trains a day actually do that as a lot of them are stoppers...


 :D :)

Sorry to add to the list of potential things going awry, Jo, but I've just spotted this example of something else that could 'trip you up', so to speak:


 ::)

Thank you Chris, if that happens I will just have to wait half hour for the next train I guess. At least there is a next train..

I was a bit concerned as I just checked the national rail web site arrival/departure boards and the 22.21 departure today from Paddington actually left Slough at 22.44, two minutes late.. So I am guessing it probably arrived there two minutes late too. .Which seriously cuts into the allotted three minutes..

However, the connecting train also left Slough 2 minutes late at 22.47..

I'll just wait and see what happens and hope the tube doesn't make me miss both trains!  :)
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There was a bit of an issue at Slough where someone tried to let themselves of the train whilst it was being held at a signal. Train in question was 22:15 Paddington - Bristol, so it unfortunately delayed a few things whilst door was secured.

am on 22.10 now. Just leaving West D. You'll be at Slough before me. And you didn't leave from the far end of platform 14 at Paddington!

Well I got to Paddington at 22.10 exactly, so no idea where that train went from as it had gone from the board.. but... the 22.21 departure arrived at Slough at 22.38 (on the mainline platform).. I crossed over to relief line platform as the stopping train pulled in.. And then I had a five minute wait till it left.. I think the national rail journey planner must work on departure times rather than arrival times.. :)

22:10 went from the furthest away possible place - it was at the far end of Platform 14, past another train - the furthest I've even known them put a train.  Maybe the staff knew you were hoping to catch it? :)

Anyway we pulled in to Slough at 22:39 and I saw your train was sitting at Platform 2 already.  If you'd worn a 'FGW Coffee Shop' badge I'd have waved to you!

I tried to send another message via my phone before departing at 22:45 but I lost the signal when clicking on 'Post'......Grrrrr!

Glad you made it johoare.

As I said provided there aren't engineering works you should make it 9 times out of 10, it's the 10th time that's really annoying.

I still completely fail to understand the excessive use of platforms 13 and 14... Ho hum....

hhmm, coffee shop badges.. it could catch on?  ;D
I think the 5 minutes that the train usually sits at Slough may be something to do with engineering works too... Builds a bit of slack in if it's needed I guess.. I'm glad it wasn't the "10th time" last night.. I'd have not wanted to spend ages sitting at Slough... :)

Some Mon-Thurs evening trains are timed for 2 line running, this allows Network Rail to take lines under possession at shorter notice without having a noticeable impact on customers (as trains already timetabled to take longer)

To be honest IF I was making such a Journey I'd NOT relay on a 3 minute connection, of course it's possible if all goes well.

I've succesfully made a Minus 2 minute connection at Birmingham New Street before, but at other times have failed to make a 50 minute connection due to late running.

Took a Steam Hauled Narrow Gauge train from Porthmadog Harbour to Blaenau Ffestiniog once hoping to make the connection at Blaenau for the Conway Valley line service.
But got held up by late trains heading to Porthmadog. All I'll say is that the Guard told the Festiniog Driver at Tan-y-Bwlch that there were passengers hoping to make the main line connection at Blaenau, I never knew that the Engines of the Ffestiniog Railway could make SO much noise or move that fast.
Got to Llandudno Junction on time! SUCH MEMORIES ;D ;D

Whilst they are timed for 2 line working the, where and on what line the enginering works are taking place  in relation to the crossovers between Main are Reliefs determines whther the connection can be made. If the work is stuated such that the  fast  cannot overtake the stopper before crossing over to the Reliefs it has to follow the stopper to Dolphin Junction before switching  back to the main. This means that the fast is late into Slough and you arrive in time to see the stoppers tail lights disappearing under Horlicks bridge.

The most annoying thing is when the fast has to cross to the Relief at Slough West and they let the stopper out of 4 on a single yellow so it waits at Horlicks bridge, instead of holding it until the fast has left 2 and is on the way to crossing over thus making a connection. The stopper can then leave on a green and accelerate away.