Maidenhead to Paddington slight train time changes?

[whole diary]

[johoare]

I am posting this as, this morning (not sure about earlier this week as I don't know for sure):

The 7.45 stopper to Paddington had become the 7.46
The 7.49 stopper to Paddington had become the 7.50

Whilst that obviously won't cause problems due to a minutes difference.. It totally intrigued me...

According to the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) Journey planner that is the same tomorrow..

I didn't see any notices about this, or any timetable alterations..

It's back to normal the week after next.. (Mind you.. looking at next week's train peak times, after being slightly scared.. I was glad when I remembered I'd already got the week off work :-)

[bobm]

Those sort of things intrigue me too...but it is more complicated than it looks.

The 7.49 stopper (which starts at Reading) is now the 7.46 and the 7.45 (which starts at Banbury) becomes the 7.50!  The two trains now leave Reading in a different order.

I am not sure why - my first guess was that it might be in preparation for the closure of Platform 16 - which is where the new 7.46 currently departs from.   However after Easter, as you say, they revert back to their previous times with the Banbury booked to leave platform 15 and the Reading starter from platform 14A.

[Ollie]

There is a section on the planned changes PDF on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website which says local services to/from London may be retimed by a few minutes this week. (Mon-Thurs - Friday, well, massive changes anyway)

[johoare]

Thanks Bobm. That is the other thing I would have mentioned (and you did first).. Is that the number of carriages for the two trains have swapped around so I guessed they had to

Thanks Ollie too. Any idea why this is helping the Reading works/Crossrail works/any other reason for the change in times?

[johoare]

There is a section on the planned changes PDF on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website which says local services to/from London may be retimed by a few minutes this week. (Mon-Thurs - Friday, well, massive changes anyway)

I can't easily find this after clicking on the "easter changes" link... Any help would be good (probably just me being stupid)

[Ollie]

Jo, on this PDF: http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/PDF/Planned%20Changes/March%202013/Week%2052%20Saturday%2023%20March%202013%20until%20Friday%2029%20March%202013_Layout%201.ashx

Planned Changes page: http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Train-times-and-tickets/Train-times/Planned-changes

[johoare]

Aah yes.. Not one of the best laid of documents I've seen if you're trying to find relevant information.. I had seen that before but that particular bit of information was quite easy to miss.. (again - could be just me  )