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

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Chris, advise is at

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=13574.msg149332#msg149332

[ChrisB]

But I don't get one to tell me the 07:30 from Paddington to Penzance only goes as far as Bristol.

I'm getting concerned about this too. I need to go from DID^» (Didcot Parkway - next trains) to TAU^» (Taunton - next trains) on Saturday & would generally caqtch this train. It's still being shown in the planning system as running booked route through to PNZ, both today, tomorrow & Saturday!

They need to run an additional via Berks & Hants at least as far as EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) for those needing to be at stations TAU and southwards by 1000....

Looks as though the updates are only in online systems until 28th.
The 0730 seems to be running to BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) with a coach connection to TAU arr 1010.

[thetrout]

Somerset Levels Flooding - 3 Weeks on from my last trip: http://youtu.be/BmXiEljqveU

It's abundantly clear why the line had to be closed for flooding. In areas the water is still rather close to the track for my liking.

[TaplowGreen]

Looking out of the window this morning on the 0721 Taplow - Reading, still seems to be an awful lot of water on the UR, in the cess and around the signal cabinets between Maidenhead and Twyford, is this likely to have an effect taking into account the fix that has been put in place?

[BBM]

Looking out of the window this morning on the 0721 Taplow - Reading, still seems to be an awful lot of water on the UR, in the cess and around the signal cabinets between Maidenhead and Twyford, is this likely to have an effect taking into account the fix that has been put in place?

Looks like it might well be having an effect as FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have just tweeted "Safety checks are being made at Maidenhead delaying some trains by up to 30 mins between Reading and Paddington. Engineers on site" and looking at Realtime Trains it would appear that this delay is only affecting trains on the UR.

[stebbo]

The FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website is confusing. It says services to Worcester/Hereford are "green" ie normal whereas the fast services between London and Reading are "red". Since all services to the Cotswold Line, and indeed South Wales, Bristol and Cheltenham, need to run fast between Paddington and Reading, seems there's inconsistency.

My daughter is planning to come back from London at the weekend and she'd normally travel to Kingham; on the other hand I have to go to Coventry on business on Friday so I could arrange my schedule so as to meet her off a Chiltern service at Banbury (admittedly quicker train journey but not as convenient for me).

So have Network Rail fixed the signalling around Maidenhead or have they not? Clarity of information would be good.

[insider]

The FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website is confusing. It says services to Worcester/Hereford are "green" ie normal whereas the fast services between London and Reading are "red". Since all services to the Cotswold Line, and indeed South Wales, Bristol and Cheltenham, need to run fast between Paddington and Reading, seems there's inconsistency.

My daughter is planning to come back from London at the weekend and she'd normally travel to Kingham; on the other hand I have to go to Coventry on business on Friday so I could arrange my schedule so as to meet her off a Chiltern service at Banbury (admittedly quicker train journey but not as convenient for me).

So have Network Rail fixed the signalling around Maidenhead or have they not? Clarity of information would be good.

From a passengers point of view normal working has been resumed between Reading & Paddington. From a operational point of view....the main lines are normal working, the relief lines have two signals disconnected in both directions, and the signals either side form one extended section and are controlled by axel counters, which have been installed to get around the broken track circuit equipment and flooding issues.

On a side note (as of yesterday 18:00) Turbos are restricted to 80mph and HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s & 180's to 20 MPH due to the flood water standing in the four foot (between the running rails).

The problem reported earlier on the FGW website was a brief failure of the UP Relief Lines axle counters, which meant trains reverted to being talked by signals...this has now been reset and the axle counter is working correctly again.

[stebbo]

Thanks for this - now understand what's going on. Any timetable for resumption of normal services between Paddington and Reading?

Still find it slightly odd though that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) can say there's a major issue between Paddington and Reading without acknowledging there could be a knock on effect to other services.

[Chris from Nailsea]

In areas the water is still rather close to the track for my liking.

And you being a trout ... ! 

[BBM]

This morning's 0654 from Twyford sailed through the affected area on the UR at normal speed. However FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and NR^» (Network Rail - home page) have each just tweeted about "signalling problems between Twyford and Maidenhead". Looking at Realtime Trains it looks like there are currently delays in the area of up to 20 minutes on the UR and 10 minutes on the UM but none on the two Down lines.

[DidcotPunter]

This morning's 0654 from Twyford sailed through the affected area on the UR at normal speed. However FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and NR^» (Network Rail - home page) have each just tweeted about "signalling problems between Twyford and Maidenhead". Looking at Realtime Trains it looks like there are currently delays in the area of up to 20 minutes on the UR and 10 minutes on the UM but none on the two Down lines.

Traversed the Down Main at pretty much line speed on a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) this morning.  Went up to London yesterday on a 180 on the Up Main and didn't notice any significant slowing between Twyford and Maidenhead.

[ChrisB]

Yellow warning of Snow in the South East 0005 - 1200 Friday.....:-o

[stuving]

There was report in the 6 p.m. BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) news on the reconstruction at Dawlish, and they have some more pictures on their website here.

[johoare]

This morning at Maidenhead was not good.. platform swapping, mis-information.. delayed trains..people getting on and off on again trains as the information was wrong... It really isn't totally better yet

[BBM]

This morning at Maidenhead was not good.. platform swapping, mis-information.. delayed trains..people getting on and off on again trains as the information was wrong... It really isn't totally better yet

Plus tonight's events didn't help - signal failures at Acton and Twyford and a person taken ill on a train at Iver. I had yet another near two-hour journey home.