Sunday service on a Saturday?

[whole diary]

[johoare]

I've just checked my train times for later and Maidenhead appears to only have a hour hourly service today (it's usually four trains an hour or a Saturday). I am guessing that it's down to engineering works somewhere but to save me hunting around for information.. does anyone know?  I know the trains will be 3 carriage trains in general so will be like the Sunday Service (which is always horrible and over full) but even worse...

[bobm]

I can't see anything anywhere on the public sources but I do know only two of the four lines are open between Slough and just beyond West Drayton.

The FGW^▸ (First Great Western) posters are normally quite accurate but I did spot earlier this week that works in South Devon next month are not mentioned on the relevant poster for that weekend either.

I did mention it to the powers that be.

[stuving]

The change is in the printed timetable -  4 Jan to 8 Feb, 2 per hour instead of 4 per hour.

The "planned changes" bit of the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site does say it does not include changes already in the timetables. But really there ought to be a list of them there, since a lot of us don't get a new timetable every time. And have you seen any printed ones to pick up? I've not seen any London-Reading ones at Reading.

And, talking about finding printed timetables, why isn't there any help in stations with finding the right one in the new numbering scheme?

[Timmer]

And, talking about finding printed timetables, why isn't there any help in stations with finding the right one in the new numbering scheme?

At Bath Spa a leaflet outlining the changes to timetables is available. Would have been good to have posted it on the website too like they did the last time FGW^▸ (First Great Western) revamped their timetables under the heading 'Which Timetable?'

[BBM]

I've just checked my train times for later and Maidenhead appears to only have a hour hourly service today (it's usually four trains an hour or a Saturday). I am guessing that it's down to engineering works somewhere but to save me hunting around for information.. does anyone know?  I know the trains will be 3 carriage trains in general so will be like the Sunday Service (which is always horrible and over full) but even worse...

Fortunately I checked Live Departure Boards before leaving for Twyford station to catch a train into Reading otherwise I wouldn't have known it was only a half-hourly service today. There's nothing very obvious on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website and I don't recall seeing any posters but I did then find mention in the printed timetable as stuving says.

Less fortunately though is that today there's been a signalling failure to the east of Didcot which is delaying services. That meant a long wait on Platform 15A at RDG^‡(resolve) as the 1259 departure back to TWY^▸ (Twyford station) was 22 minutes late. It's on occasions like this when a reduced service causes additional although unintended problems. At least all stopping services appeared to have 6 carriages.

[Network SouthEast]

As has been said above, these changes to train times have been published in printed time tables well in advance, plus of course in the online journey planners.

The main lines are closed from Slough West Junction to Stockley Bridge Junction.

By the way, all the stoppers I saw today were either 5 or 6 cars long.

[johoare]

I had a good look at both Maidenhead and Slough stations today and could see no mention of the amended timetable anywhere (although the bus replacement service for Slough to Windsor did have it's own poster). I don't tend to go for printed timetables as the Maidenhead one is hard to find (disguised as a branch line one I think)..

However I was pleasantly surprised to see 5 carriages on the 2 or 3 stoppers I saw as Network SouthEast says.. Maybe that could also happen on a Sunday going forward 

[insider]

Not an amended timetable, just a dated one, so there won't be posters up.

Having said that the A-Z posters will have the correct information on them, as would branch line connection posters, but they will probably have notes next to the times such as a,b,c etc and then at bottom it will say runs on x date...

I know its annoying but it is industry practice.

All FGW^▸ (First Great Western) timetables can be found at http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Train-times-and-tickets/Train-times/Current-Timetable

This particular line all in the one at the top of the list EAST 1

[didcotdean]

Spotted A-Z posters exactly of that type at Didcot this morning. Of course the a, b, c notes usually mean completely different things for each destination - for example for the first 'b' might be the under discussion  'except 4 Jan to 8 Feb', but for the next one underneath 'b' means 'change at Bristol Temple Meads'.

[johoare]

Hhm ok so tomorrow's train service according to NR^» (Network Rail - home page) site and realtime trains doesn't appear to be the same as the "printed" timetable.. No adverts at Maidenhead that I could see to suggest why that would be..

One example is the 11.17 Maidenhead to Paddington. It's on the timetable.. The timetable says "from 15th Feb".. so what am I missing here?

[insider]

Planned Engineering Works Poster should be on display at station. Link on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Website is

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/PDF/TicketsAndTrainTimes/TrainTimes/PlannedChanges/Week%2052%20Saturday%2022%20March%202014%20until%20Friday%2028%20March%202014_Layout%201.ashx

Also as timetable clearly states (and A-Z posters on stations) weekend train times are subject to changes due to engineering works.

Due to the so called technology age passengers are now expected to use online planners to check journey times.

National Rails timetable creator is quite handy.

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/pockettimetable/search

[johoare]

Thanks insider.. Will look more carefully for the poster on Monday 

And yes I always check on-line these days, but because for so many years we've had a service every 15 minutes on a Saturday I didn't feel the need to. I imagine a few people will still get caught out but at least half hour isn't the longest wait in the world if they do..

[Network SouthEast]

At Maidenhead station there is often a poster by the door on the ticket hall entrance detailing forthcoming engineer works. Unsure about the Shoppenhangers Road entrance though.

[insider]

Thanks insider.. Will look more carefully for the poster on Monday 

And yes I always check on-line these days, but because for so many years we've had a service every 15 minutes on a Saturday I didn't feel the need to. I imagine a few people will still get caught out but at least half hour isn't the longest wait in the world if they do..

In addition to 2 stoppers per hour service (vice normal 4) there is one fast train stopping at Maidenhead today as well in each direction (around XX38) each hour until late evening. Also ALL services that call at Maidenhead are diagrammed to be formed of at least 5 coaches....even an odd HST^▸ (High Speed Train) will stop as well!!!

[johoare]

Thanks insider.. Will look more carefully for the poster on Monday 

And yes I always check on-line these days, but because for so many years we've had a service every 15 minutes on a Saturday I didn't feel the need to. I imagine a few people will still get caught out but at least half hour isn't the longest wait in the world if they do..

In addition to 2 stoppers per hour service (vice normal 4) there is one fast train stopping at Maidenhead today as well in each direction (around XX380 each hour until late evening. Also ALL services that call at Maidenhead are diagrammed to be formed of at least 5 coaches....even an odd HST^▸ (High Speed Train) will stop as well!!!

Yep.. My son has headed off for the 11.40 which is just stopping at Slough.. Which was the reason I was checking trains for today.