Great Western Coffee Shop

 :-\  I remember the days of the wonderful diesel service from Reading through to Tonbridge and it made me think - why don't FGW look into linking up with Eurostar at Ashford International without the hassle of a Paddington - St. Pancras tube journey?

I'm thinking of an "express" type service with the following calling pattern:

Oxford - Didcot Parkway - Reading - Wokingham - Blackwater - North Camp - Guildford - Dorking Deepdene - Reigate - Redhill - Tonbridge - Ashford.

I am no expert on the clearance gauges for different size trains but could this be a new use for the Adelantes?

That would be an ORCATS raid and a half! ;D ;D

No market for the service.

I think there are issues with Adelantes and 3rd rail.

Capacity issues between Reading and Wokingham.

Slower than OXF-PAD and tube to STP

Ashford International currently gets 3 services a day to/from Paris and 1 to/from Brussels, two of those Ashford departures are before 0730 leaving only two continent bound trains for this fantasy service of yours to realistically connect with.

Sorry, but a total non-starter.  ::)

It has merits, but not sure what stock would be used?

My geography of that area isn't great, but would an extension of the Gatwick services be possible?

An extension of the Gatwick Service is almost what I was promoting - but to get to Gatwick or Tonbridge not only requires a reversal at Redhill, but potentially the crossing of two up and two downlines.  If this were on the cards, there would need to be reversal at Redhill and a crossover to the down line to Gatwick (where capacity is so tight, that FGW trains have proceed down the line to sidings in between  current return journeys) then reversal back up to Redhill, where another reversal would be required, and a crossing of 4 lines!  Hence, in my original proposal, I decided this would be practically impossible!

Also:
This is a bit chicken and egg scenario - with more services connecting at Ashford International, there may be more possibilities of Eurostar services.  I agree that Oxf - Padd+ Tube may be quicker, but lugging suitcases across the underground isn't much fun.

Finally, .  I fully understand this. But surely when more Crosscountry services used to terminate at Redhill / Three Bridges / Brighton (via Redhill not West London line) there were enough paths?

Still, perhaps this what happens when an enthusiast gets an idea but does fully understand the industry restrictions which sometimes suppress creative thinking.

And finally - please can someone explain to an ignoramous like me what the reference means?  Thank you.

And if the Adelantes are no go, perhaps a 6 coach 158 could be used or even a HST set

Platform capacity at Ashford may be a problem it does not have that many domestic platforms, also the number of international services from Ashford is limited.

ORCATS - Operational Research Computerised Allocation of Tickets to Services.

An ORCATS raid is when a TOC operates a limited service on a line that is outside it's normal area of operation. An example would be the recent extension of one Bristol CrossCountry service starting back at Bath Spa. By running a service over a line predominately operated by another TOC the 'raiding' TOC gets a share of all ticket revenue from that line.

Thank you Bignosemac!  Fully understood.  Does this mean FGW and SWT share the revenue between Winnersh / Early stns to Reading? even though only SWT stop?

There are complicated algorithms at work with ORCATS. I'd guess that revenue is divvied up based on calling pattern. I'd doubt that CrossCountry get any revenue from Oldfield Park and Keynsham with their Bath Spa starter.

I'm no expert on ORCATS, others here on the forum may know more.

P.S. FGW do call at Winnersh once a day in each direction - possibly an example of ORCATS raiding.

Doubt that ORCATS is a simple as one start / stop per day equals 50% of the revenue, I would expect it to involve footfall at the time of day likely number of passengers continuing joineries past were a change would have otherwise need to be made, also any restricted tickets would need to be allowed for etc

If through surveys a demand was shown for a Oxford to Ashford direct service then there would be a service, there is the Reading Redhill service change at Redhill for the Tonbridge service which will require a chaine of train at Tonbridge to get to Ashford Int, Personally I would go via London for Eurostar

Calling points being one part of ORCATS. I'm led to believe that seating capacity is another deciding factor in working out percentages of revenue.

Oxford to Gatwick was a regional government aspiration, I understand, extended to Milton Keynes if East West Rail is built, so much more likely than Ashford.

Of course the original Crossrail services could have delivered you with no problems from GW via Ealing Broadway, North Pole or Paddington to St Pancras.  Or you could run in on the MML via Cricklewood

Rather unfortunately the 21st Century version of Crossrail is digging its hole rather a long way South of 3 significant interchanges for points North (EUS/SPI/KGX).  To misquote Lady Bracknell "Missing out one station is unfortunate to miss out three appears to be rather careless"

Of course we have the joined up thinking of the new Paddington to look forward to so that a direct transfer to the H&C platforms with reinstated lifts should give you a full step-free run - currently the lift from the Lawn only works well Eastbound and if the lottery puts your not the Circle Line service with a cross-platform interchange at Edgware Road.  Westbound you are perhaps best served by going clockwise on the not the Circle Line all the way from SPI to PAD

Crossrail's primary purpose is to relieve the Central Line. It can't do that unless it runs the way it is designed. This is all explained in the depths of the Crossrail enabling Act somewhere.
Paul

It does seem mad, but the current route allows Xrail to serve both the West End and The City, and keep a fairly straight path through the capital.

Full of kids going to and from the Forest School. So not really a raid as such, just a way of providing links to the school from Crowthorne/Sandhurst without needing to change at Wokingham.