Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2017

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

It would get rescued either by a spare or by a 165 on another branch.

[IndustryInsider]

That's rather less elegant and probably far more time consuming though.

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between Bourne End and Marlow
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Bourne End and Marlow the line is blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Rail replacement coaches have been requested for Bourne End and Marlow.
GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) departures from Bourne End to Maidenhead will resume with the slightly delayed 18:03 service.

Passengers for Marlow should change at Bourne End for a rail replacement coach to Marlow.
Passengers from Marlow should catch the rail replacement coach service from the station car park to Bourne End and change there for GWR rail services to Maidenhead.

1818 cancelled from Maidenhead having just been announced as approaching the platform .......grand total of 1replacement  bus provided.

Ironically the 1742 electric from Paddington which connects with it was on time!

[Adelante_CCT]

Bound to happen with all those signals between Marlow and Bourne End 

[eightf48544]

No signals only crossing and point indicators. Although the point indicators at Bourne End look like signals.

Plus 2 tokens Maidenhead to Bourne End and Bourne End  Marlow. Used to operate panel at Bourne End and lock train on Marlow line.

[ChrisB]

I think you possibly missed the emoji in that post?

[TaplowGreen]

Delays to services between Twyford and Slough
Due to engineering works not being finished on time between Twyford and Slough:
Train services running through these stations may be delayed. Disruption is expected until 08:15 11/06.

[bobm]

Just been checking back through my emails and over running engineering work seems to be a regular occurrence on a Sunday morning.

Is it just a run of bad luck with on site equipment failures each week or are they trying to cram too much in overnight and no one is learning the lessons?

[TaplowGreen]

Just been checking back through my emails and over running engineering work seems to be a regular occurrence on a Sunday morning.

Is it just a run of bad luck with on site equipment failures each week or are they trying to cram too much in overnight and no one is learning the lessons?

Indeed, a glance at this mornings service indicates that it's catching up with "shortage of train crew" as a reason for cancellations on a Sunday, although this doesn't seem to be restricted to weekends at the moment.

[IndustryInsider]

Just been checking back through my emails and over running engineering work seems to be a regular occurrence on a Sunday morning.

Been the same every Sunday morning since I joined the railway in the 80s.   

On a more serious note though, the number of possessions and individual worksites is immense on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) as electrification and Crossrail works continue.  The main difference since the 80s is the time allowed to do the work.  Safety measures mean it takes longer to set up and give back a possession reducing the amount of time the work can be done in, and pressure from the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s to get early morning trains running as the travelling public now demand a comprehensive service on most routes on a Sunday morning also mean any slight delay can have large ramifications.

This morning wasn't too bad as things were back to normal before most people's alarm clocks had gone off.  Apart from the cancellation of the first round trip to Windsor from Slough, a 45 minute delay on the first train from Twyford to London and stops removed between Paddington and Reading of that trains return trip to get it back on time from Reading, nothing else was delayed by more than 15 minutes. But it must be frustrating for those who do regularly make early morning Sunday journeys.

Sadly I can't see much changing until most of the work is finished in a couple of years time.

[Electric train]

Just been checking back through my emails and over running engineering work seems to be a regular occurrence on a Sunday morning.

Been the same every Sunday morning since I joined the railway in the 80s.   

On a more serious note though, the number of possessions and individual worksites is immense on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) as electrification and Crossrail works continue.  The main difference since the 80s is the time allowed to do the work.  Safety measures mean it takes longer to set up and give back a possession reducing the amount of time the work can be done in, and pressure from the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s to get early morning trains running as the travelling public now demand a comprehensive service on most routes on a Sunday morning also mean any slight delay can have large ramifications.

This morning wasn't too bad as things were back to normal before most people's alarm clocks had gone off.  Apart from the cancellation of the first round trip to Windsor from Slough, a 45 minute delay on the first train from Twyford to London and stops removed between Paddington and Reading of that trains return trip to get it back on time from Reading, nothing else was delayed by more than 15 minutes. But it must be frustrating for those who do regularly make early morning Sunday journeys.

Sadly I can't see much changing until most of the work is finished in a couple of years time.

A change between now and the 1980's for instance when the platforms at Taplow, West Drayton etc were re-aliened most of the block work laying was done between trains ie a Lookout gave the brickies a warning they stopped work the train went past and they resumed work a lot of this done during the working day.  Now this type of work can only be done under full possession and needs RRV^▸ (Road Rail Vehicle (for example, JCB-type diggers adapted for use also on rails))'s to move materials therefore can only be done at weekend or nights

[NickB]

Morning all

Due to engineering works not being finished on time between Maidenhead and Hayes & Harlington fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes. Disruption is expected until 10:00 14/06.
Customer Advice
This is primarily affecting the electric services betweem Maidenhead and Hayes & Harlington as the main line is not available to electric services.
Last Updated:14/06/2017 06:26

[TaplowGreen]

Delays to services at London Paddington
Due to a fault with the signalling system at London Paddington:
Train services running to and from this station may be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until 13:30 14/06.

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between Twyford and Didcot Parkway

Due to engineering works not being finished on time between Twyford and Didcot Parkway all lines are blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 09:30 18/06.

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between Twyford and Didcot Parkway

Due to engineering works not being finished on time between Twyford and Didcot Parkway all lines are blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 09:30 18/06.

................now pushed out till 1100, to add to the joy, none of the ticket machines are working at Paddington......imagine the queues at the ticket offices.