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

[whole diary]

[ellendune]

The current Government are rather stuck with HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) unless they are prepared to eat humble pie (and Cameron's eating enough of that in the wake of the floods and I suspect he and his mate George don't do humble very well).

Apart from Dawlish, I'd use the money on more widespread electrification including Cross-Country routes. On Dawlish itself, I'm persuaded, having looked at other people's posts that the best solution is to go inland from Starcross to Teignmouth following the old GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) solution and leave a single line through Dawlish itself. I can see the heritage attraction in summer - perhaps the steam mob at Kingswear might be interested since they're used to running a "heritage" railway with colour light signals!

As has been said before.  George Osbourne does not have a piggy bank with ^32bn in it marked rail projects.  The government will borrow the money if there is a business case for it (I admit some disagree whether that is true - but it is not relevant here).  So if HS2 goes ahead (whether it is because of a political decision or because there is no longer a business case) there is no ^32bn waiting there to be spent on something else.

If there is a business case for the Dawlish Avoiding Line or for more rail electrification then then money will be borrowed for that.  

Edit. Can we now have a moratorium on mentioning HS2 on any thread that does not have it in the title.

[stebbo]

Note to Editor - I thought we were principally debating the issue of money to fund works at Dawlish - clearly flood related - or even Somerset or Oxford and to make other lines more flood resilient/efficient. In that context overall spending on the rail budget, which includes certain other white elephants (sorry, projects) becomes rather relevant.

[ellendune]

Note to Editor - I thought we were principally debating the issue of money to fund works at Dawlish - clearly flood related - or even Somerset or Oxford and to make other lines more flood resilient/efficient. In that context overall spending on the rail budget, which includes certain other white elephants (sorry, projects) becomes rather relevant.

Happy to debate it on a separate thread. I don't want to get in the way of those dealing with travel problems today. Having whole debate in one place would be even better.

[thetrout]

Despatch at Paddington tonight was a car crash of epic proportions.

<snip>
The flow of information was to say the least .... abysmal now wonder FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are in to top league of most disliked train operators

It gets much worse... 20:45 departed London Paddington (Sat in Coach F if anyone wants to 'catch' me...! ) The train was announced as departing from Platform 2 at 20:41... 4 MINUTES before the train was due to leave!

Had I not have left the First Class Lounge when I did I would have missed it... Even then I left after the host found out which platform the train was departing from

[johoare]

Well.. I had a bad journey home but caught up with bobm and bigenosemac in advance of that.. thetrout.. wish we had know you were there?

After that FGW^▸ (First Great Western)/Network rail failed big time.. I would have liked to have got the 7.48 to Maidenhead.. I'm pretty sure that was cancelled.. I got the 7.22 to slough from platform 1.. sat there for quite a while then moved to another platform (9 I think).. Got to Slough as expected finally to be told it would be half hour till a train to Maidenhead from there....Ha Ha Ha....

[johoare]

Oh and the sting in the tail when I checked realtime trains.. A lot of Maidenhead people got to Slough about 8.30pm.. We were all told next train was in half hour.. so lots of sharing of taxis, happy taxi drivers etc etc. I finally got home at 9.30..when I checked online tho the next train to Maidenhead left Slough at 8.45.. we were probably stood waiting for a taxi still at that point.. 

[JayMac]

Well, it was nice to meet up with fellow moderator johoare, but I feel somewhat guilty that I suggested it. Had you not been waylaid by bobm and I you may have got home a little sooner. I hope the two glasses of wine were of some compensation!

This evening I got a real appreciation of the problems Thames Valley commuters have faced in recent days. Things started to fall apart again mid afternoon, and by the time johoare had met up with bobm and I, what was departing from Paddington bore little resemblance to what was being advised through the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System), Live Departures, Realtime Trains, internal sources and FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s website. I now have more of understanding about the regular comments here and elsewhere of the lack of accurate information at times of disruption.

As an example, the 1922 to Hereford (originally on platform 1 at Paddington) was initially delayed awaiting incoming train crew. That's fair enough and understandable. Having spoken to staff on the platform, we were told at around 1940 that those staff had arrived and the service would be departing shortly. It didn't. Sat there for another 15 minutes or so and was then cancelled, with all passengers asked to alight and make their way to alternative services. After a few minutes of being cancelled the service went back to 'Delayed' but was now showing as departing from platform 9. It finally left at 2012. Still none the wiser as to why there was this 'cancellation' and then reinstatement with set swap.

Maidenhead commuters appeared to get a really bum deal this evening. Their fast services between 1818 and 1948 were all cancelled. The Special Stop Order for Maidenhead added to the 1830 appeared to have been withdrawn as quickly as it was agreed. The stopping services were all subject to delay and I imagine they were a little cosy.  Although it has to be said that Paddington was relatively quiet for an evening peak. A combination of half-term and jaded Thames Valley commuters making alternative arrangement perhaps.

I was out merely on a jolly so have no real complaints about my journeys today. Minor 20 minute delay towards Paddington from Exeter mid afternoon as we were talked past red signals between Twyford and Maidenhead.

Journey home on the 2000 to Bristol TM^‡(resolve) for connection to Severn Beach Line was a little more eventful. Left Paddington 20 minutes late. Arrived Bristol 2221, 37 minutes late, missing the last SVB Line train by 5 minutes. I found the Duty Station Manager who swiftly arranged a taxi docket. When I asked whether it was okay to have the meter on from Shirehampton station to my front door the DSM agreed to write a docket to home address. That was greatly appreciated and saved any debate with the cabbie. Words of praise for the DSM are winging their way to FGW Towers.

Apologies again to johoare. Next time a fellow moderator suggests a drink before you head home, think twice.  And don't rely on that 1948 to Maidenhead. I feel another glass of wine is owed.

Oh, and bobm gets an apology too. Sorry for the dozing off and snoring. Next time just dig me in the ribs. 

[insider]

With regards to missing trains from LDB and CIS^▸ (Customer Information System)....

Someone made the decision in Network Rail to upload the amended trainplan that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were running last week, for yesterday 17/02, so many trains just didn't exist in the virtual world.....that is why you may have seen some very strange things on journeycheck, as the staff in control had to manually recreate the timetable the best they could. Unfortunately that task is not as easy as it sounds.... All this technology only works when things go to plan.


On a separate note trains between Twyford and Maidenhead that are using the Relief Lines will also get confused due to the signalling system being, disconnected for two signals in both directions, so the train describers will not work.

Maybe today will bring a better day???

[johoare]

No need to apologies bignosemac.. the wine made the journey more bearable, including the totally unnecessary (it now appears) hour in a taxi with 6 strangers..

This morning the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) site shows my train as running so more positive than yesterday.. Realtime trains disagrees however and shows it as only running from Didcot Parkway to Reading and not through to Paddington.. Journey check makes no mention of it...so..... off to the station in a while to see what fun is going to be sent our way today..

[BBM]

Real Time Trains claimed that the 0643 from Twyford (the 0609 from Newbury) wouldn't run today but I'm on it now and enjoying free Adelante wifi!

[TaplowGreen]

Bang on time into Reading this morning on the 0654 from Taplow and most of the other local trains seemed to be OK............lets hope the tape and bits of string hold it all together today!!! 

[wabbit]

Think the depot staff at the Marsh were having a bad morning. 0630 from BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) was very late. Didn't appear on platform until 0655, 0700 to PAD left before us, currently 45+ mins late leaving Reading. So my plans of making a 0830 meeting have been a bit scuppered.

[bobm]

Shadow minister expresses rail concerns at Reading station
Mary Creagh arrived in the town to see how commuters are being affected by the recent flooding and subsequent delays to services

From GetReading

Shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh at Reading Station with John Howarth, Matt Rodda, Vicky Groulef and Annalise Dodds

The shadow minister for transport visited Reading station on Friday as part of a tour of the flood-hit train line from London.

Labour MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Mary Creagh arrived in the town after visiting Slough to see how commuters are being affected by the recent flooding and subsequent delays to services.

Ms Creagh said: ^It^s clear that there is going to be significant disruption for weeks to come, and what we want is much better information for passengers.

^People have been telling me that they have been looking on National Rail Enquiries^ website and everything looks fine and then they arrive at the station and everything is topsy turvy so the passengers need better information.

^The second thing is the companies who are running these affected services need to have better compensation, people are paying a lot of money for very disrupted journeys so we want clarity from the train companies about that.

^People will put up with things if they know when the end is going to be, what they don^t want is the Government saying one thing one day and doing something else the next day.

^Finally we want to see the first class carriages taken out of service for those commuter services, we^ve got to just get people home and into work so it shouldn^t be about first class tickets it should be about getting as many people onto those trains as possible.^

Labour^s parliamentary candidate for Reading East and Katesgrove councillor Matt Rodda said: ^It is very important that senior politicians get a feel for what it is like for people in Reading at the moment and it is good that Mary has come today.

^We are going to be passing on concerns from local people and businesses about the delay, as some people have had half an hour added on to each journey which is a big delay and we want to know how long it is going to last.^

Vicky Groulef, Labour candidate for Reading West, said: ^These really are exceptional circumstances, and we are doing all we can to support people who are working from home and those still trying to get into London, and it is clear there is going to be a major mopping up exercise in the next few weeks.^

Mike Katz, head of policy and public affairs at First Group, the company which looks after First Great Western, said: ^It was all hands to the pumps this morning, and we have had some great volunteers helping to get passengers going in the right direction. The customers are being really understanding and sensible by only travelling when they need to.

^We are trying our best and giving people plenty of regular updates which I think is key.^

[didcotdean]

I see first class gets a bash again in the above. Who would refund everyone with a first class ticket if everything was declassified?

[TaplowGreen]

.....nice bit of political opportunism, bit like their glorious leader donning his wellies and paddling around in Surrey  - did they arrive by train or car I wonder?