Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2016

[whole diary]

[Oxonhutch]

At seven o'clock this morning there was an S+T bloke scrabbling around in the four foot on the Up Main at Slough West.  Didn't fancy his job with trains continuing to run on the other three lines

[TaplowGreen]

Latest;

Cancellations to services between Maidenhead and Slough


Due to a fault with the signalling system between Maidenhead and Slough the line towards London Paddington will be blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 45 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 10:30 17/10.
Customer Advice
London bound passengers at Burnham and Taplow are advised to circulate via Maidenhead.
Passengers for Taplow and Burnham are advised to circulate via Slough.
Further Information
This is due to an ongoing axle counter failure in the Slough area. Technicians need a blockage of one of the lines towards London Paddington to allow them to rectify issue. While this takes place there will be only 1 line able to accommodate trains into London and therefore alterations will take place to alleviate congestion through affected stations.

[eightf48544]

Thought something was wrong High Speed Train's (HST^▸ (High Speed Train))s going slow past house. Glad I'm not commuting any more!

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[Jason]

I was on 1L10 which ran at a glacial pace on the relief line from ~ Twyford to Slough.
35 minutes late into Paddington.

[eightf48544]

Do you qualify for a refund or are you not TV on 1L10?

[johoare]

And again:

Delays to services between Maidenhead and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Maidenhead and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines towards London Paddington.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Last Updated:17/10/2016 18:50

[JayMac]

Do you qualify for a refund or are you not TV on 1L10?

1L10 is a high speed service originating from Swansea. Because GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are dragging in their heels over Delay Repay introduction there is currently no compensation for delays less than an hour for HSS^▸ (High Speed Services).

[TaplowGreen]

Day is ending as it started...........Delays to services between Maidenhead and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Maidenhead and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

[a-driver]

Do you qualify for a refund or are you not TV on 1L10?

1L10 is a high speed service originating from Swansea. Because GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are dragging in their heels over Delay Repay introduction there is currently no compensation for delays less than an hour for HSS^▸ (High Speed Services).

I don't think GWR should introduce Delay Repay until such times the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) and Network Rail can provide a reliable infrastructure.  If they can't provide a reliable infrastructure then GWR should be compensated accordingly. 

[broadgage]

Are the defective axle counters and related equipment part of the "new and improved signalling that will bring about a faster and more reliable railway"

[Oxonhutch]

Unfortunately the computer way of observing the 'tail lamp' [a vital piece of railway safety equipment] and giving 'Train Out of Section' to the system.  I assume in the case today it was considered most expedient to close the line and repair immediately rather than continue to send every express down the Up Main under caution.  I got the feeling that the S+T man I saw this morning on his hands and knees in the four foot was looking for a damaged wire or connection.

[johoare]

Day is ending as it started...........Delays to services between Maidenhead and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Maidenhead and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

I'm pretty sure I said that an hour before you 

[broadgage]

Unfortunately the computer way of observing the 'tail lamp' [a vital piece of railway safety equipment] and giving 'Train Out of Section' to the system.  I assume in the case today it was considered most expedient to close the line and repair immediately rather than continue to send every express down the Up Main under caution.  I got the feeling that the S+T man I saw this morning on his hands and knees in the four foot was looking for a damaged wire or connection.

Yes, I was aware that observation of the tail lamp was the traditional way of proving that the WHOLE train has passed a given point, and that axle counters are one of the newer ways of achieving this.

It does however seem regrettable that the new technology has proved so unreliable.
Presumably failures several times a week are the "new normal", together with major failures a few times a year.

And it is not even the rainy season yet, no one would expect modern signalling to work in prolonged heavy rain.

[John R]

Can someone explain why axle counters have found favour instead of track circuits over the last few years. They don't seem to be as reliable as they were made out to be when first introduced.

[TaplowGreen]

Day is ending as it started...........Delays to services between Maidenhead and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Maidenhead and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

I'm pretty sure I said that an hour before you 

               

Whoops! (Don't you know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?)