Major delays/cancellations, Paddington to Reading, 20 December 2012 and ongoing ...

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Oh dear - touch and go for a taxi to Melksham....

[BBM]

On 1718 Oxford left Pad on time just passing Slough 1813

[Electric train]

I am on the 16:00 departed 16:10 special  padd to rdg calling at slough maidenhead 16:45 trundeling through ealing Broadway

Have you got to Reading yet?  I am on the 17:15 to Carmarthen, left 17:27, trundling through Ealing Broadway at 17:55  and we are warned that trains ahead are up to an hour and 40 minutes late at Reading

Got to Maidenhead at 17:30 .......... (just in time to catch the 17:30 departure non-stop Padd if I had wanted too) but went for the Marlow branch instead 

[grahame]

Oh dear - touch and go for a taxi to Melksham....

Arrived Reading 18:47 ... by which time the TransWilts service had left Swindon according to the web.

Train Manager has announced that he's finding out about Cheltenham connections at Swindon, and "various" connections from Newport.  No mention of Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury or Warminster

[grahame]

Arrived Reading 18:47 ... by which time the TransWilts service had left Swindon according to the web.

However, you can't believe everything you read on the web ... I got to Swindon at 19:18 and the delayed TransWilts service left at 19:25 - now bowling along on the way to Chippenham, wondering if the single line's going to be given to us or the 19:35 Westbury to Swindon.

[ray951]

Delays now expected until Friday midday - oh joy

[ellendune]

This is the Slough New Panel again.  I thought this was relatively modern equipment (1990's?).  Why does it keep failing so catastrophically?

[paul7575]

'Contingency Plan Three' from Network Rail and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is in place.

See attachment.

Initial paragraph seems odd:  "...and assumes two pairs of lines (ML or RL) available for traffic."

Isn't two pairs of lines the normal situation, and as per the title this plan is for only one pair of lines, ie a two track railway?

Paul

[thetrout]

Delays now expected until Friday midday - oh joy

Please... No.

Im off 2 Souffend 4 xmas tomoz innit bruv!

Sorry. Couldn't resist! I'm going to Southend tomorrow. Booked an evening train though. Hopefully they'll be no dramas. NRE^‡(resolve) has told me I should be able to get the 23:15 from London Liverpool Street. Considering I feel like death warmed up right now, the cynic in me is telling me that is very optimistic. The last train from London Liverpool Street is 00:50 so assuming the Paddington train is on time. It won't all go wrong*. Assuming the Paddington is an hour late. That could then be disaster. Whilst I don't mind that, I hope that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) don't do what has happened previously and send me onto Liverpool Street so as to put it bluntly "Become someone elses problem"

The worst that GreaterAnglia could do assuming I just miss the last service for SOV is send me as far as Shenfield and a taxi from there... But Class 315's**? No. Just. No.

* - Subject to GreaterAnglia or a Third Party not breaking the train set
** - Bonus points if anyone can say why that would be a very bad idea for thetrout...

[JayMac]

Estimate of disruption, from internal sources, has now slipped to 1500. This has not yet filtered down to the public information sources.

[grahame]

This has not yet filtered down to the public information sources.

Has now ...

Owing to signalling problems between Slough and Southall some lines are blocked.
Impact:
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 mins or revised at short notice. Disruption is expected until 15:00 21/12.
Message Received :21/12/2012 04:12


I can't be using the train today.  In my job, I have to be on my customer site, and teaching a class, at the pre-agreed time; no good being late - if a delegate's delayed, it only effects him but if the teacher is late, it effects everyone.  And I have to present myself on site fit to do an excellent day's work, not tired / stressed from an elongated and not-fully-preplanned journey.  Can I get a fifth of my weekly season ticket price back to offset against alternative travel costs, or am I left paying for the consequences of rail industry's failure to provide the advertised services, as well as for a ticket I won't be using as fully as I otherwise would have? 

[JayMac]

Can I get a fifth of my weekly season ticket price back to offset against alternative travel costs, or am I left paying for the consequences of rail industry's failure to provide the advertised services, as well as for a ticket I won't be using as fully as I otherwise would have? 

Submit a claim.

Whilst the Passenger Charter doesn't say what compensation arrangements there are for Weekly Season holders who, because of severe disruption, decide not to travel, I'm fairly sure a claim will be looked at sympathetically. I would expect a pro-rata rate of compensation based on the daily rate. Similar to that offered when a service is delayed or cancelled.


FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have lifted ticket time restrictions on their services this morning. Which is good news for me. I can set out to London somewhat earlier this morning, only paying for Off Peak fares. Every cloud.....

Hope that's not rubbing it in too much, grahame.   

[JayMac]

From the Oxford Mail:

Rail passengers between Oxfordshire and London face further disruption due to signal fault

DISRUPTION to train services between Oxfordshire and London Paddington is expected to continue for much of today.

First Great Western is warning passengers that problems could last until at least mid-afternoon while Network Rail engineers try to repair a major signalling fault at Airport Junction in West London affecting track circuits which detect the position of trains.

The number of trains able to use the line between Slough and Paddington has been severely limited since late yesterday morning.

Services were at a standstill for a period around midday and although two of the four tracks through the area soon reopened, many trains between London and Oxfordshire suffered delays of more than 90 minutes during the afternoon and evening rush-hour due to limited capacity on the lines that were in use.

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) tickets will be accepted on Chiltern Railways services between Banbury, Bicester North, Haddenham & Thame Parkway and London Marylebone and on South West Trains' route between Reading and London Waterloo until further notice.

[bobm]

The Travel Disruptions page on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website is now saying services to Heathrow have been suspended because of a separate signalling problem.  Although not good news for those trying to get to the airport it will at least help the mainline with yet fewer trains running.

[Timmer]

** - Bonus points if anyone can say why that would be a very bad idea for thetrout...

no toilets.