Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2014

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Journey Check:

Following a signalling problem near Theale, trains are now able to run between Newbury and Reading, delays of up to 30 minutes are expected while services return to normal. There is no firm estimate yet of how long disruption will last but it is likely to continue until at least 09:30.

Signalling problems near Acton Main Line are disrupting services on Tuesday 9 December.  Heathrow Connect services are suspended.  First Great Western are running an hourly shuttle between London Paddington and  Hayes & Harlington calling at Ealing Broadway, West Ealing, Hanwell and Southall, departing: London Paddington at 33 minutes past the hour, Hayes & Harlington at 03 minutes past the hour 

Heathrow Express are running an amended service.  Departing London Paddington at 25 and 55 minutes past the hourDeparting Heathrow Airport T5 at 12 and 42 minutes past the hour

Alternative travel options: First Great Western passengers may use London Buses on all reasonable including the 140 bus between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow (Central Bus Station).

Heathrow Connect passengers with pre booked tickets may use Heathrow Express services between London

[TaplowGreen]

So... now we can all begin to wonder how tomorrow will be (I'm not hopeful)..

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) reporting signal failure this morning at Theale with nothing running between NBY^» (Newbury - next trains) and RDG^▸ (Rail Delivery Group, or Reading station, depending on context), but also seeing Twitter reports that the 0609 NBY-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) is stuck at Midgham due to a level crossing failure?

Due to signalling problems between Reading and Newbury all lines are closed.

...............another day, another SNAFU^▸ (Situation Normal: All Fouled Up (I have toned down the F word)).

[lordgoata]

There was a stationary, and empty, train sitting at Tilehurst in platform 3 this morning, with its lights configured to be heading to Reading, rather from Reading as usual on platform 3. No idea what that was all about (broken down maybe ?).

[NickB]

Considered writing this in the Rights and Redress section but given this is where all the dealys are occurring....

So Thames Valley is operating below the standard for a 5% (woo!) discount to ticket renewals.  No news there, but are there any further compensation thresholds?  if it dips further does that increase to 10%? 

As a follow up, if there are no additional conpensation thresholds then what is the motivation for NR^» (Network Rail - home page)/FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to improve services once the 5% is already triggered?

[bobm]

I understand the reason Heathrow Connect services have been withdrawn is because it seems electric trains on the relief lines are affecting the signalling system.

I think the problem on the Berks & Hants was mainly solved shortly before 8am. There were plans to divert the 07:06 to Paignton via Bristol but these were cancelled. A service from the west was diverted and passed through Swindon non stop around 08:30.

[Jason]

Signalling problems near Acton Main Line are disrupting services on Tuesday 9 December.

Is/was that restricted to the relief lines ? I had a cleanish run through apart from a minor slowdown through Hayes.

Lots of disgruntled people on P1 at Reading this morning with the Newbury services all cancelled.

[lordgoata]

So Thames Valley is operating below the standard for a 5% (woo!) discount to ticket renewals.  No news there, but are there any further compensation thresholds?  if it dips further does that increase to 10%?

When I first started to commute regularly in 2008 the first couple of renewals I had were 10% discounts - so I assume there is a 10% threshold somewhere, unless that was extra discount for something else!

[ChrisB]

There's a 5% discount for reliability too - the number of timetabled trains that don't run. Currently heading that way with the cancellation of Connect trains (I believe Connect features within FGW^▸ (First Great Western) stats?)

So a max of 10% available if both stats fail the charter mark.

But no, there's no 10% for either available if it goes on getting worse - but obviously likely to stay below the trigger for longer the lower it gets.

[Jason]

How do the triggers work historically for annual renewals ? If the service were to be exemplary from Jan-May and I renew in June, would I see any discount pending for the last few months, which have been particularly awful ?

[IndustryInsider]

It's done on a Moving Annual Average basis for both punctuality and reliability to ensure fairness for annual ticket holders.

https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/About-Us/Our-business/Performance

Currently the reliability is still a reasonable level above the trigger on most routes.

[TaplowGreen]

Due to emergency engineering works between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway some lines are closed.

Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. An estimate for the resumption of normal services will be provided as soon as the problem has been fully assessed.

[NickB]

I'm so happy.

[rower40]

There was a stationary, and empty, train sitting at Tilehurst in platform 3 this morning, with its lights configured to be heading to Reading, rather from Reading as usual on platform 3. No idea what that was all about (broken down maybe ?).

A new signal was put up at the London End of Tilehurst platform 3 at one of the previous stages of the Reading remodelling to allow reversal there.  If, for example, the direct line from Reading to Reading West (station) is shut, then trains can be sent to Tilehurst to reverse, and then use the Reading West curve.

[hostage to fortune...]It'll all be wonderful come Easter 2015.  There's a mahoosive chunk of work going live then - effectively the final part of the resignalling the whole way from Paddington to Didcot.  Watch this space...

[ChrisB]

Yep, last of the High Speed Train (HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units))) dioversions via Banbury & into Waterloo....

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[thetrout]

Due to emergency engineering works between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway some lines are closed.

Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. An estimate for the resumption of normal services will be provided as soon as the problem has been fully assessed.