Weather disruption caused in 2014, and how to prevent it happening again - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[johoare]

Thanks Ollie and any idea why? (on facebook FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are blaming it on the flooding in reply to some quite irate people who now are struggling to get to work from Henley e.g. without the longest journey).. It makes it sound like it's flooding on the branch lines which I imagine it's not..

[johoare]

And also (Ollie - sorry I know you are very busy) .. I know it's part of "the plan" but I really am struggling to find out what "the plan" is other than on here.. Any pointers would be useful thank you?

[Pb_devon]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have posted some youtube videos to explain the current problems. Linked from the FGW disruptions page.

[bobm]

Just to note FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have officially extended the suspension of the sleeper service to the 28th March according to JourneyCheck. 

[johoare]

And I've had  a good look around and can find no amended timetable which shows the missing through train branch line services from Henley or Marlow for Maidenhead e.g.... I'm sure it's the same for Twyford/slough etc. Since it must be me and they must be out there.. can anyone point us in the right direction for the current amended timetable please?

[Ollie]

And also (Ollie - sorry I know you are very busy) .. I know it's part of "the plan" but I really am struggling to find out what "the plan" is other than on here.. Any pointers would be useful thank you?

It's on this page: http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/contents/travel-advice/london-paddington-to-reading-travel-advice

The key part to note, and perhaps we haven't given enough info on it, is that the flooding at Maidenhead is still very much an issue. I believe it was mentioned earlier that on the relief (slow) lines between Twyford and Maidenhead, it is one long signal section, which is causing delay in that area. Still more for Network Rail to do until we can go back to a normal service, however I've not seen anything that suggests when that will be.

[JayMac]

Progress continues apace at Dawlish:


https://twitter.com/FgwLee/status/435879490150203392/photo/1

It looks like spoil from the damaged section has been placed atop the shipping containers to further strengthen the temporary sea wall.

[stuving]

It looks like spoil from the damaged section has been placed atop the shipping containers to further strengthen the temporary sea wall.

Not exactly ... as soon as the sea gets a little bit rough it just washes that stuff back off. Lobstervision have put their Dawlish camera feed on their home page - have a look at Monday just after noon, and you can see a digger shovelling it all back out again, along with a lot of sea. I think they were just parking the embankment so they could pump a new concrete foundation in yesterday - which is under the plastic sheeting in the photo. I can't see why that's needed for the embankment itself, so presumably it is something to attach the bottom of a new sea wall to.

[johoare]

Thanks Ollie.. I did see that but it doesn't give details.. E.g. the 7.06pm departure could be running as far as Twyford (but it's not) even though it won't go through to Henley.. An amended timetable would be useful if it's going to be ongoing for a while.

[NickB]

I think I'm correct in saying that direct/slough only services from Padd-->Maidenhead in the evening are currently only:

18:12 (cancelled)
18.18 (running, but delayed yesterday by 30mins and cancelled Monday)
18:42 (cancelled)
19:05 (cancelled)
19.18 (cancelled monday)
19:48 (fingers crossed)

[bobm]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) is to provide direct road replacement from Cornwall to Tiverton Parkway.

First Great Western has listened to customer requests for a direct, high quality coach to help customers quickly connect with services to and from London while the railway is blocked by the Dawlish sea-wall collapse.
 
Two coaches a day will leave from Truro Station, Bodmin Parkway Station and from Victoria Square car park in Bodmin Town Centre connecting with services to London at Tiverton Parkway, with two return services.
 
The services provide an alternative for customers travelling to and from Cornwall, who may prefer not to take a train to Plymouth, followed by a coach to Tiverton Parkway.
 
First Great Western Managing Director, Mark Hopwood said: "Network Rail's work at Dawlish will continue for some weeks, and we appreciate the patience and understanding our customers have shown us over the past ten days.
 
"We are absolutely focused on keeping customers moving. These non-stop coach services offer an alternative for business travel in particular and we are happy to support Cornwalls economy in this way. We work in partnership with the communities we serve and I am delighted that Cornwall Council has agreed to waive car park charges for customers connecting with the buses at Victoria Square in Bodmin.
 
"The new bus services are part of an unprecedented number of coach services operated by First Great Western to support customers through the closure of the line at Dawlish.
 
We have had great support from our colleagues at First Rail Support. They recognise our goal of making sure we are delivering for our customers at all times - particularly during disruption - and were quick to mobilise their support. We now have over 350 bus services running alongside our rail services in the South West."
 
Managing Director of First Bus, Giles Fearnley said: "This is a key benefit of the local knowledge, and global expertise that being part of FirstGroup brings. Hundreds of our buses have been making thousands of journeys a week to keep FGWs customers moving over the past 10 days. Very few train operators could have organised such a complex solution for its customers so quickly and efficiently."
 
The timetable for new services can be downloaded from the First Great Western travel advice page as set out below
 For customers who prefer to drive to connect with London services First Great Western is providing additional parking at Exeter St Davids, and work has started on a new temporary car park at Tiverton Parkway.

[johoare]

I think I'm correct in saying that direct/slough only services from Padd-->Maidenhead in the evening are currently only:

18:12 (cancelled)
18.18 (running, but delayed yesterday by 30mins and cancelled Monday)
18:42 (cancelled)
19:05 (cancelled)
19.18 (cancelled monday)
19:48 (fingers crossed)

There is also the 17.18, 17.35 (I'm sure that's a new one?) and 17.49 plus also the new and un-promoted 20.18  

The National Rail site is currently showing them all as running today though obviously that could/will change

[a-driver]

I think I'm correct in saying that direct/slough only services from Padd-->Maidenhead in the evening are currently only:

18:12 (cancelled)
18.18 (running, but delayed yesterday by 30mins and cancelled Monday)
18:42 (cancelled)
19:05 (cancelled)
19.18 (cancelled monday)
19:48 (fingers crossed)

The 1818 did actually run on Monday, I worked it!!  It was reinstated shortly after 1800 and left Paddington about 15 minutes late.  Due to it being reinstated at the last minute it wasn't displayed on the departure boards but was announced.  It left packed.

Having worked late last night, the signalling system between Maidenhead and Twyford had all been switched off.  Plenty of Network Rail staff working along the stretch of line relocating all the electrical equipment out of the flood water.  Worth noting that there are severe delays to late evening services out of Paddington of around 45 minutes because only one line is open and obviously, with limited signalling working trains are having to proceed through at a much slower speed. 
I would imagine the delays will decrease as the week goes on as the work progresses to relocate and repair the damaged electrical signalling equipment.

[NickB]

The 1818 did actually run on Monday, I worked it!!  It was reinstated shortly after 1800 and left Paddington about 15 minutes late.  Due to it being reinstated at the last minute it wasn't displayed on the departure boards but was announced.  It left packed.

Thinking about it, you are completely right - because I caught it!  Platform 9?  I'd forgotten what train it actually was as I'd just fled the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) on Platform 3 at 18:30 which had removed Maidenhead as a destination at the last minute.
Thanks for your on train announcements.  You pacified a very grumbly crowd in my carriage.

[johoare]

NickB - I just edited your post to correct the quotes