There were about 20 - 30 orange jackets, mostly on the embankment, and 2 engineering trains by Acton Main Line when I went past at about 6:30 this morning. At least that's more than I've seen in the past 2 days.

Hoping they get it resolved today. I really don't need 3 consecutive days of cramped and sweaty journey home.

I didn't even bother trying to use the main line going home yesterday (to West Drayton about 19:00) instead taking the Piccadilly line to Heathrow T5 and then a bus. Have to say that the Piccadilly line didn't seem overly busy, people standing but no where near crush conditions in the carriage I was in.

Anyway, the problem is sorted now according the NRE^‡(resolve) and trains look to be running near normal (though FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website hasn't caught up yet).

Thanks to all those FGW and NR^» (Network Rail - home page) employees, who I imagine have been doing some very long hours over the past few days.

3rd evening in a row I've been delayed, though Monday and yesterday were relatively minor 15 minutes.

This evening was extra 'interesting'. I caught the 19:27 local from PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) going to West Drayton. Left about 5 late and all was ok, apart from a short pause after Ealing. At Southall though the driver announced, to audiable sighs, that we were staying here for the foreseeable future due to signalling problems at Slough. Then about 5 minutes, he announced the Heathrow Connect was arriving on Platform 1, going to Hayes, so I and about half the train, legged it over.

Thankfully the Heathrow Connect driver waited and the air conditioning was a joy  . We left quite slowly then waited before changing tracks so that we ended up in platform 4 at Hayes, with an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) on Platform 1 and Turbo on 3. Whereupon I got off and got a bus to West Drayton, arriving there at about 20:30.

Glad I did get off at Southall; the live departure boards has the 19:27 on the move finally and having departed from West Drayton at 21:20 (instead of 19:48).

Wow, your journey was much more eventful than mine turned out to be. After posting above, I checked the LDB and realised the 7:05 from West Drayton had got to Slough (running 10 minutes late). So I got my things together and left pronto.

Jogged to the station in 6 minutes for a walk that normally takes 10 (need the exercise anyway  ) and made the train, which then continued as normal to Paddington.

Had hoped they would have extended the trains to 5 or 6 carriages as they are running 2 an hour (normally 4) but no such luck. Wasn't a problem this early but I expect it will be cosy later.

CP

Trains still in mess this morning (Saturday). On the stoppers, it looks like they are only currently running the London - Oxford trains, all the Reading ones are cancelled. And the trains that are running are picking up large delays (30+ mins)

Live departure boards and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website saying it is due to vandalism (speculation: cable theft?)

From FGW:

Have to go to work today, so will have to brave it 

I was half considering getting the piccadilly line out to Hounslow then a bus to complete my journey from Victoria to West Drayton having been warned by a  text from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) warning of the delays, but in the end went to Paddington anyway as the national rail enquires looked ok (ish) when I checked, aiming to get the 18:57.

Of course that train was cancelled so I got the 19:03 Heathrow Connect to Hayes and then straight onto a bus to West Drayton, which only added about 20 mins door to door in the end. The Heathrow Connect\Bus combination is proving to be a very good plan B when there are train delays. 

This morning was more annoying. Train was late getting to West Drayton (should be 7:06, was about 7:15ish) as the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) were on the relief lines, presumably because of the signalling issues.

The annoying part was after Ealing when we crawled out of Ealing Broadway, then stopped for 10 minutes to be informed by the driver that a freight train had been routed onto the wrong line at Acton Sidings and would have to be shunted onto the correct line before we could continue. He'd been told this would take about 15 mins. Anyway, someone must have changed their mind, as a minute later, and just after I'd texted work to say I'd be even later than planned, off we went.

I guess it makes things more interesting, than just everything running to time. How boring. 

Walk to the station (West Drayton), train to Paddington, then bus or tube onwards to Victoria. Which depends on the weather (bus more pleasant when hot), time I get to Paddington (normally only get the tube if I get to Paddington Before 8:00) or day of the week (I collect a Shortlist from outside the station on a Thursday, so get the bus).

Then reverse in the evening.

Thanks for the info

Agree about Crossrail, but I'd be amazed if, in the next 4 years or so, there isn't an announcement about Crossrail being extended to Reading.

Cp

Hi,

I'm wondering if any of the members on here can shed any light on the 17:45 Paddington to Reading stopping service today. The train is normally 6 carriages but today was just 3. As a result of this, according the tannoy announcements and the electronic displays at Paddington, the train would run fast to West Drayton (missing Ealing, Southall and Hayes) and the driver repeated the change before leaving Paddington, causing some people to swear and get off.

So we left Paddington, with the train with about 90% of the seats occupied and with a few standing. However the train then stopped as usual at Ealing (where it filled right up), Southall and Hayes.

So the question is, was that part of the plan all long, to reduce the numbers on the train prior to arriving at Ealing and avoid people being left behind there (and I have seen some ugly scenes at Ealing when there have been short services before and passengers were left behind, so I wouldn't blame them if this is the case) or did someone have a change of heart and order the train to resume it's normal stopping pattern?

Incidently, would FGW^▸ (First Great Western) been fined if they had missed station stops?

CP

Easiest way I've found to tell the 166 apart from 165's is the windows. 166's only have opening windows on every other one, so if you see a full window, with no opening part, it's a 166.

If I see a 166 come in and I'm near the middle carriage, I will try and sit in the 2+2 section with tables (standard class). Although the seats are the same width, it just feels a little more spacious. Almost luxury. I have low standards...

I tend to avoid the 166's (if possible) as the air con just seems to pull in the exhaust fumes without cooling it at all.

166 201 was definately better though last year, but I've not discovered if it's still cool now.

Re, the point about they will still allow access to Cafe nero, the cash machines and the lost luggage place, I was assuming that they would be behind the barriers, judging by the tape on the floor which they seem to have used to mark out where the barriers go. But if I'm right, that would also stop access through the metal door (what is behind there?) by the cash machines.

You can also see the tape on the overbridge indicating how it will be divided.

This indicates there will be semi fast services similar to the present day. Of course, whether things will be the same in 8 years is another matter 

(Department for Transport - about)-Apx4-E5.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/s18-xrail-DfT-Apx4-E5.pdf (see page 5)