Broken down train between Reading and Basingstoke causing problems (24/4/2012)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western) JourneyCheck:

Line problem: between Reading and Basingstoke. Owing to a broken down train between Reading and Basingstoke all lines are blocked.

Train services running through these stations may be cancelled at short notice. Disruption is expected until 18:00 24/04.

Road transport is operating between Reading and Basingstoke in both directions calling at Mortimer and Bramley. Coaches at Reading will arrive & depart from the Old Bus station.
Customers at Reading West are to circulate via Reading on alternative train services.
South West Trains, London Underground and Cross Country are accepting First Great Western tickets via any reasonable route. Cross Country services are diverting via an alternative route.

Message Received: 24/04/2012 15:27

[Jason]

What is it with broken down freight trains on this stretch? It's been less than a week since the last peak time failure (18th, morning). There was another failure at Bramley and a fourth at Reading West all in the past few months.

[anthony215]

There were reports of 70007 being on fire not sure if this is is  causing some of the disruption

[Commuting Bookworm]

This is becoming a weekly occurence at the moment. is it the line, or is it the old stock that just can't keep up with requirements? My day starts at 0500 and who knows what time it will finish tonight! 

[Worcester_Passenger]

CrossCountry must be going a long way round...

[paul7575]

... or is it the old stock that just can't keep up with requirements?

The Class 70s, which are a major part of the problem, are possibly the youngest rolling stock around.  70018, which caught fire at Wallers Ash loops a couple of weeks ago, had only been in service a few weeks.

Paul

[LiskeardRich]

This is becoming a weekly occurence at the moment. is it the line, or is it the old stock that just can't keep up with requirements? My day starts at 0500 and who knows what time it will finish tonight! 

nothing to do with the old 150's, was a freight train that failed

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

the xc service will have ran via romsey salisbury east and andover.... adds about 45 mins

[rogerw]

the xc service will have ran via romsey salisbury east and andover.... adds about 45 mins

That would still take them through Basingstoke.  More likely Fareham, Havant, Guildford

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

that was the last class 70 related diversion sorry

[readytostart]

the xc service will have ran via romsey salisbury east and andover.... adds about 45 mins

That would still take them through Basingstoke.  More likely Fareham, Havant, Guildford

Correct, around that time 1M54 and 1S52 both diverted via Guildford, both terminated at BHM. 1M54 restarted at BHM as 1T54 1657 BHM - MAN and1S52 restarted right time BHM as 1Z52 1630 BHM-EDB.
Plenty of other alterations through the afternoon too.

[anthony215]

Slightly off topic but 70001 decided to fail earlier today although it has now been rescued by 70019.

I must admit when I heard it I was expecting it to say that it had decided to  erupt in flames like some of its classmates although thankfully that hasnt happened this time.

[bobm]

There were reports of 70007 being on fire not sure if this is is  causing some of the disruption

The latest Railway Magazine, which arrived on my doormat this morning, says this was the case.  Following the serious fire which engulfed another Class 70 near Micheldever (70018) a few weeks earlier a number of the class were stopped for checks.  Not been a good start for the locos - especially after one was dropped by a crane unloading it at the dockside and it had to be written off.