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

[whole diary]

[Oxonhutch]

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?

Relief lines under possession from Cholsey through to Didcot East with locals interspersed with the expresses on the Mains.  Timetable same all week so it looks like the Relief line work, including that below the Reading Viaduct will continue to the weekend.

Nice smooth run this morning left two minutes later than usual and arrived some minutes earlier than usual.  Would have been even earlier had 1K23 not been late at Reading again - like it is nearly every day.  FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Timetablers, please, please look at this service.

[tomL]

It was all going so well... 

[ChrisB]

It is.....all that was planned to happen. Another total block this Sunday with HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) via Banbury/Salisbury before all complete next Monday

[Red Squirrel]

Couple of YouTube vids: Reading:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS6gE1OH6wk

...and London Bridge:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFcyx_Wor04

All a bit quick for me!

[ChrisB]

Signalling Problems on Journeycheck....oh dear.

[JayMac]

Axle counter failure at Dolphin Junction near Slough. All lines open but delays of up to 60 minutes due to congestion.

[TaplowGreen]

Axle counter failure at Dolphin Junction near Slough. All lines open but delays of up to 60 minutes due to congestion.

Ahhhh what a shame, it was all looking so promising! I was "lucky" and just managed to jump on a (very) delayed service heading home so didn't affect me too much, in fact I was earlier than usual as a result but the display board was a big row of "Delayed" when I got back to Taplow Central!

Good luck to all trying to get home tonight!

[Oxonhutch]

Ahhhh what a shame, it was all looking so promising!

Indeed!

Arrived at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) for the 1649 OXF^» (Oxford - next trains) to be confronted by a large crowd milling around.  Good announcements at PAD - well done FGW^▸ (First Great Western).  I like the fact that the departure board displayed those services that were to run though delayed.  Announcement that services cancelled would not appear on the board.  I liked that. I gave me confidence that those still on the board would eventually depart.

Got on the BTM^▸ (Bristol Temple Meads (strictly, it should be BRI)) service but will be claiming for a 1st class stand.  Still better than a standard class wait - or even a third class walk! 45 mins delay over advertised.

[W5tRailfinder]

Couple of YouTube vids: Reading:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS6gE1OH6wk

...and London Bridge:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFcyx_Wor04

All a bit quick for me!

I think the Network Rail Media person is a bit clueless of what has been done or has been badly advised.

Comment from video:

"Over Easter 2015 new freight lines were installed at Reading to completely separate passenger and freight services for the first time. This will enable all those travelling on this route to benefit from faster, smoother journeys into and through Reading station."

The time-lapse video clearly shows the relaying of the Up and Down Relief Lines at Reading West junction they are not freight lines. All they have done is tidy up and re-model the junction, the freight trains will be doing what they've always done at Reading West.

Perhaps he /she should be asked 'What were the freight trains doing last week?'

[paul7575]

I think the Network Rail Media person is a bit clueless of what has been done or has been badly advised.

Comment from video:

"Over Easter 2015 new freight lines were installed at Reading to completely separate passenger and freight services for the first time. This will enable all those travelling on this route to benefit from faster, smoother journeys into and through Reading station."

The time-lapse video clearly shows the relaying of the Up and Down Relief Lines at Reading West junction they are not freight lines. All they have done is tidy up and re-model the junction, the freight trains will be doing what they've always done at Reading West.

Perhaps he /she should be asked 'What were the freight trains doing last week?'

Indeed, they could be asked what are they doing this week?  Those freights that are coming up from Basingstoke are heading through P8 and off via the reliefs towards Acton and the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line), because the west curve freight lines at Reading are not coming back into use until next Monday...

The PR^▸ (Public Relations) department has clearly been briefed that this job is purely freight related, and have been sticking to that all weekend, e.g.  on the captions to some of their tweeted pics..

Paul

[wabbit]

Re delays, they're still working themselves out! 1945 Pad to Plymouth was just a tad late, arriving at Reading 2055 ish. Pity the poor folks having to get out at Newbury for onwards road transport to intermediate stations......

[TaplowGreen]

It wasn't great last night - apology on FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s website but no void day it appears;

https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/travel-updates/apology-landing-page

Timing couldn't have been much worse I guess.............after the huge sigh of relief in the morning it really was disappointing for this to happen......have been hearing about some truly awful journeys last night.

Lets hope for better today!!! 

[ChrisB]

Doubt it - still ongoing?

[ChrisB]

It wasn't great last night - apology on FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s website but no void day it appears;

Wouldn't expect one - not sufficient disruption to warrant it - that & NR^» (Network Rail - home page) will be paying!

[NickB]

It wasn't great last night - apology on FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s website but no void day it appears;

https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/travel-updates/apology-landing-page

Timing couldn't have been much worse I guess.............after the huge sigh of relief in the morning it really was disappointing for this to happen......have been hearing about some truly awful journeys last night.

Lets hope for better today!!! 

Thats a real shame.  I do feel FGW need to dish out a lot more void days - 28th December 2014 being a prime example.  I know that a lot was achieved yesterday but to spoil it with a miserable evening commute was a big shame.  It took me 1.5hrs to do Padd-->Maidenhead which is unforgiveable in my view.

I'm working from home for the rest of the week because I don't trust FGW/Network Rail to provide a service I can rely upon.  I hope that creates slightly more standing room for someone else who has less options than I do.