Great Western Coffee Shop

Draft version published today.  Large pdf, about 10 Mb

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browseDirectory.aspx?dir=\RUS%20Documents&pageid=2895&root

Follow Route Utilisation Strategies >  RUS Generation 2

The main area of interest here is that there is discussion of how to make better use of Crossrail, all the usual areas for debate such as Reading extensions, incorporating HEx as well as Connect, heading up to Tring or Milton Keynes on the WCML etc etc.

Also stuff about increasing Reading to Paddington capacity generally.

Hope this of interest...

Paul

Just browsed through that.  Lots of interesting, well-presented information.  One interesting point is that even with Crossrail extended to Reading, there will still be fast services to Maidenhead (4 tph) and Twyford (2 tph).  And that the growth in demand Rdg-Padd could be provided (ie favoured Option A6) by a new 4 tph Rdg -Padd shuttle rather than by long distance services.  Presumably some or all of these shuttles will run to/from Oxford or Newbury, with or without stops west of Reading.

Thanks for posting that Paul.

I had a quick read through and it looks like the call to extend Crossrail to Reading is greater than ever.  Interesting how a lot of the schemes proposed involve incorporating HEX into Crossrail.

One other conclusion that it reaches is that even if all these schemes go ahead there is simply no more capacity around the Ladbroke Grove & Paddington area at peak hours to cater for the increase demand on HST services up to the 2031 prediction.  With it mentioning that IEP would have little benefit due to this line capacity limit in the area.  The conclusion being that around 2031 during the peak hours there would be a shortfall in the region of 5000-7000 seats on such services!

Boppy.

The terminating most intercity trains at Reading is not new BR had a similar idea 25 years ago, with the larger Reading station this could be a more practical

Thanks for putting the link up, Paul.

Crossrail to Reading is an absolute no-brainer.  Always has been - surely it's just a matter of time.

As for the HEX service, I've said before:


I really can't see that HEX can or should survive in its current form.  Given the huge numbers of trains that will go no further west than Paddington after Crossrail starts, I'd have thought that getting rid of the HEX service and having Crossrail go to Heathrow twice as often would be a better service - even if the actual journey time is lengthened a little.  It'll be tricky to timetable the service, but the paths released on the main lines would be such a boost to capacity as Reading would by then be able to handle another 4 HSS trains per hour.

Then the Class 332's currently used on HEX could get a refurb and go up north to join their cousins, the Class 333's, giving the Leeds area a boost capacity wise.

As for extending Crossrail onto the WCML.  Good idea.  Not a great deal removed from my old suggestion here: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=4207.0
 (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=4207.0)
My original suggestion of Crossrail going onto the Chiltern Line has been somewhat ruined by the HS2 plans (although it does get a brief mention in the document), but there's no reason why the alignment from Paddington I suggested couldn't be similar until it dives off north to join the WCML.  Much better than having 14tph (still at least 10tph even if HEX is replaced with Crossrail) arriving at Paddington from the East and going no further!

Lots of hurdles in the way, but I'm glad the thoughts are there!