Great Western Coffee Shop

We seem to be in the engineering works season which doesn't make working in the Thames Valley with family in Cornwall easy to facilitate. I am just so so glad I am not traveling back on Sunday.

It sounds like some major work going on in and around Reading. Just wondered what is going on ??? Anyone know.

Bit of a strange weekend to do it being end of half term

From the FGW website
These sorts of possession's are booked into the system over a year ahead, if all the school holidays, special events, public holidays etc were avoided nothing would ever get done, NR are working on processes to avoid possessions but there are still some tasks that need these blockades

Just planning my travel for January (Newbury - Plymouth each weekend) - Looks like every weekend during January we will be on rail relief buses.

I know "the work needs to be done" - but surely it could be organized better. Maybe thinking about the inconvenience regular travelers are being put to and not just providing a bus link to Theale and a train to Reading (as it seems to be shaping up for January) or an all stations bus to Reading (as in the past). Maybe thinking about a fast bus from Newbury and Thatcham to Reading as well (or to Didcot).

During January my Journey time will go from about three hours to five hours each way every weekend. That will means 4 weekends x a return journey (2 hours extra each way) = 16 Hours extra train travel.

Maybe it is time to give up on FGW and start driving home. I am not impressed - Rant over.

This work is in conjunction with the signaling move from Reading to the new center at Didcot.

The Newbury panel is the first to move down there over the easter period.

Expect a fair bit of weekend disruption and a longer closure over the easter break.

Your choice. Enjoy your seven hours driving on the A303 or M5/M4. And that's seven hours if the roads are clear......oh and you can't nod off, read a book/paper, make a call (unless hands-free), do some work, have a beer......

I'd rather have the 30-50mins on the bus then 4 hours on the train each way.

Think i'd rather drive.

As far as i'm concerned coach journeys are the devil. I cannot stand them!

Wait until next year and  Reading is shut  and HSTs will be going via High Wycombe.

You'll all need to buy your Baker's to work out how to get around.

Likely as not will not drive although having driven regularly for  periods over the last 5 years - by travelling at the right times journey times have always been fairly consistently under 4 hours (yes there are the occasional occasions where something goes really wrong and you can spend 8 hours but these are fairly rare and with modern technology one can find a way around). As suggested after a long week at the office its better to snooze and read the way home.

Andover is looking a good bet only an additional 50 mins or so and a return of ^48 (plus  car parking for the weekend) vs the normal ^63  or may be park at Didcot.


I accept that there needs to be occasional engineering works but where there is an extended period of engineering consideration needs to be really given to trying to reduce the impact on travelers.

I had a period of traveling from Cornwall to Northampton last winter and what impressed my about Virgin and London Midland is they had a system over the relatively long term engineering work of both stopping buses and fast buses with god connections to get travellers to the destination more quickly. Have seen Southern do the same from Haywards Heath to Brighton. Reading to Newbury is only 20 mins or so add 20 mins for a connection and you should add under an hour  to a journey - 2 hours extra is crazy.

There potentially needs to be some easing in the ticketing arrangements last time I did this I was charged a Newbury - Plymouth via Reading which is more expensive than a Newbury/Plymouth direct.

I guess the argument that we are talking about relatively low numbers of passengers with diverse needs holds some water vs cost of providing alternative transport but muck regulars about to much and they will find new ways of travelling.

Wasn't the consensus last time something like this was discussed that they shouldn't be charging you 'via Reading' just because of engineering work, and the journey planners were wrongly displaying those fares.

IMX all you ever do is buy whatever ticket you use normally, and the diversion just happens?

Paul

So what route will they be taking?  and how long for and how big is the impact?

Just trying to work out how on earth I can get to Crowthorne if Reading is shut.

With that and the cotswolds blockades....

It's not as bad as the post makes out, Reading will probably have a complete block on trains around Christmas 2010.

The trouble is its all good in theory but haven't worked out a way to actually buy at not via Reading rate - ticket office doesn't want to sell and website wont let you buy.

Its the time lost that annoys me rather than the cost.

In theory, if you ask for it, they should sell it!

in practice they won't - though have only tried Newbury - Maybe will try Reading

Some HST's/Turbos will probably be going via High Wycombe over the coming years whilst Reading is being re-developed. As Ollie says though it will probably be largely confined to weekends and Bank Holidays. I know that discussions are taking place as to how to get HST's round that route - a time consuming reversal will be required at either Aynho Junction or Banbury, and there might also be issues concerning the ATP as the GWML and Chiltern's system differ. If they're coming from the Cotswolds they'll also need to reverse at Oxford, so I suspect that on affected days the Cotswold Line will run as a shuttle as far as Oxford and diverted Swansea/Bristol trains will come via Didcot West Curve up to Oxford so they only have to reverse once. There's not that much capacity on the Chiltern Line though, so it won't be a case of all trains going that way.

I very much doubt weekday services will be affected much, and I doubt there'll be much happening next year - but when the rebuilt really gets going in 2011 and beyond. Sadly, all these wonderful enhancement projects will cause much disruption at weekends and holiday periods for many years to come!

You can blame FGW for many problems over the years, but engineering possessions last time I checked were not their responsibility!

I don't blame anyone - Network Rail or First Great Western or anyone else. FGW is the supplier of my services and I look to them to negate the impact of engineering work.

I can not be anything other than disappointed in the alternative arrangements for January (whether by Network Rail or FGW - I don't know) - I lose 4 hours each weekend during January unless I find some alternative.

A typical passenger can't be expected to know who is responsible for engineering works, all they see is the service they was expecting isn't being provided.

I fear that the only way you are going to get your 4 hours back is to drive.

Not sure about other engineering work elsewhere because I haven't checked, but would travelling via Reading and Bristol be a possibility? It will undoubtedly take longer than usual but may avoid the rail replacement buses.

Or, come to think of it, SWT via Basingstoke and Exeter?

How about Whitchurch? I looked on an interweb mappy thing and it's only an inch or two away from Newbury...
;D

Paul

I think this definitely has to be the plan. Either Whitchurch (I was thinking Andover but this makes better sense) and SWT to Exeter or pick up a train from Didcot then via Bristol. Looks like 30 mins in the car will save a big chunk of the 2 hours lost.

Sorry, only just saw this thread.

What's happening around Reading this Sunday:


Glitz and Glamour Christmas Party at Trunkwell House, Reading
Sunday 13th December
Glitz and Glamour shared Christmas parties come to Trunkwell House. 3 course meal, theming, dodgems, casinos, disco plus much more! www.trunkwell.com

Santa Special - A Fun Day Out for all the Family! at Reading Society Of Model Engineers Club, Reading
Sunday 13th December
Free miniature train rides, hot drinks and squash available for all the family throughout the afternoon.

Pete and the Pirates Christmas Shindig at Sub89, Friar Street, Reading   
Sunday 13th December
Pete and the Pirates, one of Reading's most succesful and much loved bands, play a one-off Christmas hometown gig at the new SUB89 venue in Friar St

Faced with some icy roads to Didcot/Andover/Whitchurch this weekend and a rail relief bus if I choose to go via Newbury to Plymouth (with engineering works), I just wondering about abandoning my trip.

Anyone know what tends to happen in adverse weather to engineering works do they go ahead ?? Do rail relief bus services get canceled in bad weather ?? whats the best place to get info ???

any thoughts  ???

The engineering work this weekend on the B&H has been called off because of the weather (along with the work between Dorchester and Weymouth). FGW busily replanning a full service for the Saturday. On Sunday, long distance services will still be diverted via Swindon, but local services will run from Reading through to Bedwyn. Not sure why the diversions continue, but I guess revising all the Sunday plans as well as those for Saturday is too much in the time available.

Great news, cheers. That makes my life so much easier this weekend.