Class 387 coming to Thames Valley - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Thatcham Crossing]

Passing Maidenhead at about 0940 this morning there was Turbo in the sidings with all the 387's, not seen that before.

[Oxonhutch]

Just to clarify, it wasn't the 387 that failed

What was it please then Ollie, as it looked like a 387 as I passed it on the Down Main in a diverted local. The Up Relief was blocked adjacent to it too.

[Ollie]

Don't have the technical detail, but it was something wrong with the loco that was dragging the 387.

[Adelante_CCT]

Passing Maidenhead at about 0940 this morning there was Turbo in the sidings with all the 387's, not seen that before.

Correct, the 08:15 arrival from Bedwyn is stored in the sidings until it forms the 09:42 to Reading

[Thatcham Crossing]

Correct, the 08:15 arrival from Bedwyn is stored in the sidings until it forms the 09:42 to Reading

Ah, ok thanks for that. Must admit it has been unusual recently to be stood at Thatcham and to see Maidenhead as a final destination for a few up services.

However, this provides a routing to Paddington from there using the 387's (and the platform announcements for these trains do mention the connection opportunity)

Presumably this will change again with the January timetable change. I guess the Bedwyn semi-fast Turbos will be one of the few running all the way into Paddington following that change?

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

The new Paddington – Didcot stopping service timetable T10 from 1st January is now on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) website.  As far as Pangbourne is concerned, a better service with more trains, more semi-fasts to/from London, and of course better trains.  So all good (unless you travel Pangbourne - Oxford of course).

[Adelante_CCT]

Or if travelling to/from Ealing as discussed up thread

[IndustryInsider]

The new Paddington – Didcot stopping service timetable T10 from 1st January is now on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) website.  As far as Pangbourne is concerned, a better service with more trains, more semi-fasts to/from London, and of course better trains.  So all good (unless you travel Pangbourne - Oxford of course).

A handful of peak through services to/from Oxford still run, which should keep many commuters happy and nullify a lot of local press negativity, though whether they will slowly disappear over time remains to been seen.  I can’t see platform extensions being completed on time so expect 387s to run with SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) initially.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

On Saturdays only there will be a new, 0400 turbo Oxford - Gatwick Airport direct. Not off topic I hope, as it's a consequence of Class 387's coming to Thames Valley.

Not calling at Pangbourne unfortunately, but then it's a long time since I did early morning flights for Gatwick.

[FremlinsMan]

Hmm. When did we last have an OXF^» (Oxford - next trains) - GTW service? Must have been around 20 years ago. I used it at least once - but it was at the more sensible time of 06:30 or so.

[Ollie]

Hmm. When did we last have an OXF^» (Oxford - next trains) - GTW service? Must have been around 20 years ago. I used it at least once - but it was at the more sensible time of 06:30 or so.

Think it's less than that (about 10 years), I recall CrossCountry used to have a service which went via Kensington Olympia towards Gatwick/Brighton.

Edited to add: http://www.1s76.com/1S76%202008.htm December 2008 timetable saw the end of trains through to the South (Sussex) Coast.

[JayMac]

The withdrawal in 2008 of those CrossCountry services via Kenny O led to the farce of the once a week bus service from Ealing Broadway to Wandsworth Road via Kenny O. Maintaining the fiction that three short sections of railway in West London were still open to passenger services.

Until the formal closure went ahead in 2013 the bus service was costing the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) £450 a week. Passenger numbers were between 0-3 weekly.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/withdrawal-of-scheduled-passenger-services-between-wandsworth-road-kensington-olympia-and-ealing-broadway

[FremlinsMan]

Hmm. When did we last have an OXF^» (Oxford - next trains) - GTW service? Must have been around 20 years ago. I used it at least once - but it was at the more sensible time of 06:30 or so.

Think it's less than that (about 10 years), I recall CrossCountry used to have a service which went via Kensington Olympia towards Gatwick/Brighton.

Edited to add: http://www.1s76.com/1S76%202008.htm December 2008 timetable saw the end of trains through to the South (Sussex) Coast.

I should have explained - I was thinking of the Thames Train service a while back, which (perhaps on Saturdays only), started from Oxford, instead of from Reading, then ran the normal service to Gatwick. Might have only been during the summer timetable, to cater for holiday passengers. It was just a turbo, IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly).

[didcotdean]

As I recall there were at one time two such services weekdays, 04:XX and 06:YY. One ran a bit later on a Saturday. Also think there was at least one in the opposite direction at the other end of the day.

[FremlinsMan]

As I recall there were at one time two such services weekdays, 04:XX and 06:YY. One ran a bit later on a Saturday. Also think there was at least one in the opposite direction at the other end of the day.

I guess the services didn't get enough custom to justify running from Oxford to Gatwick. IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) they were usually 'airport passenger' spec. with extra luggage racks. Oh well.