Signalling problems Reading depot - 17 Oct 13

[whole diary]

[bobm]

From Journeycheck

Due to a loss of signalling at Reading depot, trains are unable to depart. This is causing significant disruption on all London Thames Valley routes between London Paddington to Oxford / Bedwyn and Greenford, Reading to Basingstoke / Gatwick Airport and Slough to Windsor Central. Multiple cancellations can be expected.

So far all the cancellations, eight of them, are on Reading to Basingstoke services.

[bobm]

Services now suspended on the Greenford branch too.

In addition an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) service from Swindon to Cheltenham and its return to Paddington have been cancelled.  The reason given is the problems at Reading so it may be to provide an extra HST to replace a Turbo.

[bobm]

Some trains now able to leave the depot and the Swindon-Cheltenham-Paddington HST^▸ (High Speed Train) reinstated.

[BerkshireBugsy]

According to the train manger  on the adelante service that I caught at Thatcham today there was a "total power outage" at the depot this morning but I don't know how accurate that was. It must be one of the few times I have been pleased to see ( and hear) a class 180

[Network SouthEast]

The new Reading depot is different from the one it replaced and the likes of Old Oak Common.

Train movements at Reading TCD are overseen through a controller setting points electrically and allowing movements using ground position lights. So no power supply makes it difficult for anything to get in or out.

Older depots, like Old Oak Common have movements controlled by a shunter giving hand signals and setting points manually by hand. Although this system of work is unaffected by power cuts, it does means train movements are slower, and there are also greater risks of operational incidents such as derailments.