0740 Reading to Oxford - timekeeping since 15/12 change

[whole diary]

[ray951]

I think GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are going to have to look at the timetabling of this service as since the timetable change I have caught this service 8 times (from Didcot) and only once has it arrived in Oxford on time.

On the 8 journeys I have taken it has been 8, 8, 5, 5, 0, 4, 10 and 7 minutes late. and this on a scheduled journey time of 19 minutes.

It appears to be a combination of late arrival of the previous service, from Banbury, into Reading where it has a 7 minute turnaround and/or it gets delayed at Didcot East Junction as the fast Oxfords (and freights) always get priority over this service. It also only has a 9 minute turnaround at Oxford where bizarrely it is timetabled to go to the Carriage Sidings and back before forming the 0835 to Reading. although in reality it has more often than not it just left from the same platform it arrived on. More typically Thames Valley trains have a 20 - 30 minute turnaround time at Oxford.
So with only a 7 minute and a 9 minute turnaround at the beginning and end of the service there appears to be little slack that could be used to make the service more reliable,

Although I am pleased to note that this service has been more typically 3-cars rather than the 2-cars prior to the 15/12, which is essential given the reduction in services in the morning peak between Didcot and Oxford since 15/12.

And we should also give a thought for those customers coming from the West who wish to travel to Oxford who now have a minimum 23 minute wait at Didcot rather than the previous 7 minute wait. Not really a good way to encourage people to use the railways, even if the service ran on time.

[ray951]

This could get a little tedious but it was 6 minutes late today.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

As I’ve said previously, I think GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) should abandon the Oxford – Reading peak hour Turbo service, which is unreliable and not well timed.

Better to concentrate on a good Oxford - Didcot shuttle service that connects with up and down 387 stoppers and ML services.

[eightf48544]

Or get the wires to Oxford asap.

[Timmer]

Or get the wires to Oxford asap.

Really needs to be the next priority.

Would I be correct in saying the team working on the GW^▸ (Great Western) electrification have now moved over to the MML^» (Midland Main Line. - about) electrification project?

[onthecushions]

I understood that the wires from Didcot to Oxford were delayed because of the need for a decision on 4-tracking, - just like Leeds - Micklefield (for York), although there HS3 adds complication.

OTC

[CyclingSid]

HS3. I am losing track was that the line from the former SoS constituency to central London, or was that CrossRail2

[TaplowGreen]

HS3. I am losing track was that the line from the former SoS constituency to central London, or was that CrossRail2

I thought HS3 was Leeds to Huddersfield? (Forecast for completion 2150)

[mjones]

0740 "delayed" this morning... no other information at the moment.


Edit-  now saying departed 7 mins late. 

I agree with the others who have said it would be better to stick to a standard Didcot to Oxford shuttle as the peak extensions to Reading seem to be hard to work reliably.

[onthecushions]

HS3. I am losing track was that the line from the former SoS constituency to central London, or was that CrossRail2

I thought HS3 was Leeds to Huddersfield? (Forecast for completion 2150)

The HS^▸ (High Speed (short for HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) High Speed Services)) line East of Leeds (it's a good fifty miles on to the coast) has been variously ascribed to both HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) and 3, depending on geographic loyalties. The existing broadly parallel line hosts local, TP, XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) and freight so is busy.

This is another example of HS line long term planning blight.

On the main topic, I've used the 0912 XC to Oxford for six years and only ever been late by 10 minutes.

OTC

[ray951]

Much better today as according to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) rules the train was on time, in reality it was 2 minutes late. Which is the 2nd best performance I have seen since 15/12.

[ray951]

Back to normal today as 6L in Oxford.

I have taken a look at some of the other Reading - Oxford services and I notice that the

0632 Reading to Oxford (0648 from Didcot), since 15/12 has only arrived on time once , although 0-5 minutes to 85%.
0619 Paddington to Banbury (0702 from Didcot), since 15/12 has never arrived on time, 0-5 minutes is 71%. This is an IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.).

So seems to be a systematic problem.

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, a little tinkering required here and there.  Though the fact remains that Didcot is  an acute pinch point that needs serious money spent on it!

[ellendune]

Yes, a little tinkering required here and there.  Though the fact remains that Didcot is  an acute pinch point that needs serious money spent on it!

Do you mean grade separation or something less?

[stuving]

Yes, a little tinkering required here and there.  Though the fact remains that Didcot is  an acute pinch point that needs serious money spent on it!

Do you mean grade separation or something less?

In the context of ray951's journey to work, I doubt very much if that has any relevance.