Easter Diversions - 2013

[whole diary]

[inspector_blakey]

43137 waits at Waterloo, ready to head the 1459 (GBTT^▸ (Great British Time Table))/1507 (WTT^▸ (Working Time-Table)) service to Penzance earlier on today.

[Timmer]

Apologies that I think this has been raised before but what is the role of the pilots on the diverted services? Do they drive the train or are they there in an advisory but essential role to the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) driver along the diverted part of the route? And they are provided by freight operating companies? Thanks

[inspector_blakey]

You can either have a pilot (conductor) driver for route or traction knowledge; my understanding (and I'm open to correction) is that the driver who knows the traction will drive, and take guidance on speed restrictions, signalling etc from the driver who knows the route.

The arrangement for Waterloo is that Freightliner HeavyHaul drivers are acting as conductor drivers: I believe that they are providing route knowledge for the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) drivers who are actually at the controls. As far as I am aware the FL drivers haven't been trained up on HST^▸ (High Speed Train) traction but I could be mistaken.

[The SprinterMeister]

The arrangement for Waterloo is that Freightliner HeavyHaul drivers are acting as conductor drivers: I believe that they are providing route knowledge for the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) drivers who are actually at the controls. As far as I am aware the FL drivers haven't been trained up on HST^▸ (High Speed Train) traction but I could be mistaken.

You are quite correct. The FLHH drivers are not trained to drive HST's so the FGW driver drives the train in accordance with the FLHH drivers instructions. Additionally the FGW drivers have had a 'familiarisation' run, usually in the cab of a SWT^▸ (South West Trains) service train.

I've managed to get two weeks off so I miss all this third rail galavanting...

[The Tall Controller]

My report from dispatching today was the early afternoon trains were absolutely rammed but the evening arrivals were dead. I guess being a bank holiday would explain why. However timing wise, all ran smoothly apart from the Riviera down our end.

[thetrout]

Interesting about the ticketing on some of the WoE services. In the end I had a last minute change of plan and am now catching the 05:40 BTH^» (Bath Spa - next trains) - PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) in just over an hour (Sat in McDonalds near the station).

I booked my ticket on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) iPhone App at around 01:00 on Friday Morning and managed to get a First Class Advance from Bath Spa through to Southend Stations (Choice then of Victoria on GA^▸ (Greater Anglia) or Central and East on c2c) for ^21.80 (Railcard'd naturally ) During times when there is no blockade, I normally end up paying ^27.40 for the 20:43. So I am entirely happy with the price, and as I was already going to be up, it seemed a good use of time and sensible suggestion. Much Coffee will be consumed however

[bobm]

Seeing has inspector_blakey has posted the picture I was going to post  , I will resort to something a little more esoteric.

Nice to see FGW^▸ (First Great Western) has printed some special window labels for the diverted services for Waterloo.



However the same does not seem to have happened for the services into Paddington.  This was from Good Friday's 03:29 from Swansea (it was daylight by the time I got on!)



This one did not call at Didcot Parkway or Reading, but did stop at Bristol Temple Meads, Bath Spa, Chippenham and Oxford.

[Electric train]

Marlow branch had a bus replacement service this morning

Line problem: between Maidenhead and Marlow. 
Owing to an earlier broken down train between Maidenhead and Marlow all lines are affected.
Impact: 
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 25 mins at short notice. Disruption is expected until 12:30 30/03

[Southern Stag]

Had a nice trip on the sleeper replacement last night. I found it much easier to sleep than I had been anticipating, the extra room compared to the normal seated sleeper was much appreciated. One of the other passengers did seem a little unhappy when they asked me to ask the traincrew to turn down the lights, only for me to reply than unfortunately they were already on the dim setting.

[bobm]

Marlow branch had a bus replacement service this morning

Line problem: between Maidenhead and Marlow. 
Owing to an earlier broken down train between Maidenhead and Marlow all lines are affected.
Impact: 
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 25 mins at short notice. Disruption is expected until 12:30 30/03

I notice there are still ongoing problems on the Marlow branch and there have been cancellations and alterations on the North Downs line even before last night's fatality at Guildford. I assume it is not easy to get replacement units because of the closure at Reading.