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

[whole diary]

[Kempis]

Thanks, grahame. When they got on, we had high hopes that the merry band were going to do the diversionary jaunt too, but when they left the station at Swindon I wondered whether it might have been for the football.

[W5tRailfinder]

Isn't it a bit of misinformation to blame the current blockade on the Reading Project?

Surely the blockade is due to the closure of Slough Signal Panel and the transfer of the signalling between West Drayton and Twyford (Ruscombe) to TVSC^» (Thames Valley Signalling Centre - about).

[Kempis]

You remember correctly. On the first occasion of Waterloo diversions the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) power cars were not route cleared on the main lines east of Byfleet Junction, but this part of the route was cleared by the time of the second of the diversions.

When I did a Westbury - Waterloo 'excursion' at Christmas 2010 we went up via Hounslow and down via Richmond - discussions at the time suggested it varied over the day depending on how the signallers wanted to deal with the train on the four track section between Barnes and Clapham Jn.

Seems ages ago now, but after that Christmas period, (when Caversham Rd bridge was replaced) at least one of the rail magazines was predicting many years of chaos with regular diversions, but unless I'm mistaken this weekend is only the third total blockade of the a Reading area over the whole project.

Thanks, paul7755. It must have been Christmas 2010 when we did a diversionary trip before. Then, we went up from Westbury to Waterloo in the morning, via Hounslow, as you've confirmed, returning via Paddington and Banbury. Thought we'd do it the opposite way round this time. My parents-in-law thought we were a bit mad -- but, as you say, these opportunities are rare!

[Louis94]

Isn't it a bit of misinformation to blame the current blockade on the Reading Project?

Surely the blockade is due to the closure of Slough Signal Panel and the transfer of the signalling between West Drayton and Twyford (Ruscombe) to TVSC^» (Thames Valley Signalling Centre - about).

There is still a blockade at Reading and it does require the vast majority of the area to be closed. Of course this therefore gives a good opportunity for some re-signalling, West Drayton - Twyford is being resignalled and moved into TVSC, and Reading Outer East (To Ruscombe) and West (To Didcot) is having a range of signalling work done too.

[Chris from Nailsea]

My parents-in-law thought we were a bit mad -- but, as you say, these opportunities are rare!

With all due respect to the opinions of the parents-in-law, Kempis (and Mrs Kempis ), I'd say 'well done!' for taking that particular opportunity. 

[IndustryInsider]

No engineering work overruns on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) network or elsewhere.  NR^» (Network Rail - home page)/FGW no doubt breathing a big sigh of relief, and journalists everywhere disappointed!

[Electric train]

No engineering work overruns on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) network or elsewhere.  NR^» (Network Rail - home page)/FGW no doubt breathing a big sigh of relief, and journalists everywhere disappointed!

I look forward to seeing the banner headlines in the news papers ........... Network Rail again complete engineering works without any delays"


I am naturally an optimist 

[TaplowGreen]

No engineering work overruns on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) network or elsewhere.  NR^» (Network Rail - home page)/FGW no doubt breathing a big sigh of relief, and journalists everywhere disappointed!

I am breathing a sigh of relief too! Only 5 minutes late into Reading and apart from the usual collection of short formations/train faults everything seems to be pretty much as it should be! Phew! 

[IndustryInsider]

Work in the Reading area continues until after next weekend though of course, so there's still potential for an Easter related overrun, though the main worry was the Crossrail work and closure of Slough Panel.

[bobm]

Not a major one in the great scheme of things, but wasn't there a short overrun between Plymouth and Totnes at Hemerdon?

[TaplowGreen]

I thought of that when I saw that the 0553 PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains)-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) was heavily delayed however that would appear to be due to a train fault.

[ChrisB]

Yes there was - London Bridge....

[johoare]

No engineering work overruns on the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) network or elsewhere.  NR^» (Network Rail - home page)/FGW no doubt breathing a big sigh of relief, and journalists everywhere disappointed!

I look forward to seeing the banner headlines in the news papers ........... Network Rail again complete engineering works without any delays"


I am naturally an optimist 

It made it onto the local news on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) breakfast this morning that there were no issues as a result of the engineering works over the weekend

[IndustryInsider]

Work in the Reading area continues until after next weekend though of course, so there's still potential for an Easter related overrun, though the main worry was the Crossrail work and closure of Slough Panel.

Workers still busy finishing off at Moreton Cutting near Didcot where the entire junction was replaced over Easter - another big job in surely the most extensive works on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) in a generation?

[JayMac]

another big job in surely the most extensive works on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) in a generation?

And all done by First Great Western.

Well, that's if you believe their advertising.