Easter engineering works and subsequent ongoing disruption - April / May 2015

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

Evening Standard tonight carries an article warning of rail chaos over Easter, not just FGW^▸ (First Great Western) but states that NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are not planning to re-open the tracks giving access to Paddington until 0330 on Tuesday 7th, only 90 mins before trains are due to start running.......odds on an overrun/chaos?

[bobm]

From RAIL magazine

Network Rail will be tweeting images and updates live from Reading over Easter, as it carries out a series of major improvement works on the Great Western Main Line.

The work involves installing new freight lines under the station viaduct to completely separate passenger and freight services.

There will be timetable changes and in some cases replacement bus services running on parts of the Thames Valley network over the Easter period because of the scale of the work being done.

Western Route Managing Director Patrick Hallgate said: ^We are acutely aware that some of our work could inconvenience those who want to travel over the Easter period, which is why we want to be open and provide the public with live information about how we are using this time to make improvements to this part of the network.

The progress of the improvement work can be followed through the Twitter account @networkrailgwrm and the hashtag #greaterwest. Tweets about the work will start on the morning of April 3.

- See more at: http://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/2015/03/31/nr-to-live-tweet-easter-engineering-work?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#sthash.0EhpuzJH.dpuf

[paul7575]

... only 90 mins before trains are due to start running.......odds on an overrun/chaos?

So just like the vast majority of possessions, that take place without problems every weekend then?  

Situation normal, Standard exaggerating.

Paul  

[Adelante_CCT]

re-open the tracks giving access to Paddington until 0330 on Tuesday 7th, only 90 mins before trains are due to start running

First train is actually at 03:10 from Padd (Sleeper) followed by the 03:41 to Reading, both long before 05:00.

I agree with Paul, I expect everything will be fine.

[grahame]

... only 90 mins before trains are due to start running.......odds on an overrun/chaos?

So just like the vast majority of possessions, that take place without problems every weekend then?  

Situation normal, Standard exaggerating.

Paul  

I'm sure there are "stats" for it ... but from what I've seen only a small proportion of possessions overrun (think it was 4 out of about many at Christmas?).  But when it happens, it can be devastating on those caught in the chaos.

[Electric train]

Since Christmas the whole engineering possession planning assessment has been tightened up; the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) work will have had to been presented to NR^» (Network Rail - home page) Board Director level it will have to include stop points and contingency plans.

I a guessing there will be regular reporting probably every 2 hours day and night from the worksites to a central control which will involve emailed progress reports and teleconference which will have a senior route project executive involved who will in turn be in contact with NR Board level.


The amount of work planned over Easter on the GWML is monumental, it is on the scale of you knocking your house down and rebuilding it and having fully furnished in 4 days

[Adelante_CCT]

My mistake, I was thinking of the following Monday, however first train to Reading from Paddington is 03:34 next Tuesday

[Timmer]

Does anyone know if Network Rail are doing over and above the work originally planned this weekend at Watford to catch up following the cancelled works in February or are they planning a further possession later this year?

[grahame]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Several of the busiest train lines in England will be closed over the Easter weekend, as Network Rail carries out what it says is a "huge programme" of engineering work.

But the company has vowed there will be no repeat of the serious disruption which caused travel chaos for many commuters at Christmas.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32157548

the video report ends "and in case it should overrun Network Rail says it has hundreds of buses standing by"

[TaplowGreen]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Several of the busiest train lines in England will be closed over the Easter weekend, as Network Rail carries out what it says is a "huge programme" of engineering work.

But the company has vowed there will be no repeat of the serious disruption which caused travel chaos for many commuters at Christmas.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32157548

the video report ends "and in case it should overrun Network Rail says it has hundreds of buses standing by"

A brave and/or foolish vow to make at this stage and in view of what happened at Christmas and on other recent occasions I^d say?

I wonder where these hundreds of buses and drivers are standing by?

I^ve already ensured that I^m able to work from home on Tuesday based on previous experiences but let^s hope for the best^..I really hope we don^t end up on Tuesday evening seeing NR^» (Network Rail - home page)/FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff being interviewed on TV after another day of chaos talking earnestly about ^lessons being learned^ (again).

[The Tall Controller]

Network Rail will inform FGW^▸ (First Great Western) by Monday afternoon as to whether or not they will overrun. If they do, FGW have put together a good contingency plan. From ensuring buses are available to putting staff on standby in case posters e.c.t. need to be displayed at stations.

[BerkshireBugsy]

On the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) South Today local news today there was a segment featuring a BBC report on Reading station talking about the engineering works.

He said something like "....Network Rail will NOT promised there will be any overruns..they are 90% sure everything will go to plan"

The reporter stressed the word "NOT"...but in my opinion any organisation who promises no overruns is extremely foolhardy!

[Western Enterprise]

The amount of work planned over Easter on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) is monumental, it is on the scale of you knocking your house down and rebuilding it and having fully furnished in 4 days

Doesn't Nick Knowles do that all the time, with his 100 helpers ?

I'll get my coat....
 

[TaplowGreen]

The amount of work planned over Easter on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) is monumental, it is on the scale of you knocking your house down and rebuilding it and having fully furnished in 4 days

Doesn't Nick Knowles do that all the time, with his 100 helpers ?

I'll get my coat....
 

taylorwimpey could put up an entire estate in that time!

[BerkshireBugsy]

The amount of work planned over Easter on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) is monumental, it is on the scale of you knocking your house down and rebuilding it and having fully furnished in 4 days

Doesn't Nick Knowles do that all the time, with his 100 helpers ?

I'll get my coat....
 

taylorwimpey could put up an entire estate in that time!

..and Barratt homes could provide the user of a helicopter if needed (showing my age now)