Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2017

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

Trains appear to be running on clear signals again (Wednesday 01 November) but all HEATHROW CONNECT services still cancelled.  Perhaps it was too late to reinstate them.....

[TonyK]

With luggage?....

Yeah, why not? I've bussed to Heathrow on many occasions with luggage. 12 mins on a 140 after 15 mins on a train is preferable to more than an hour by tube...imo that is!

Been there, done that, no problem.

[charles_uk]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Slough

Due to a fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Slough some lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 25 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 13:00 07/11.

Additional Information
Due to signalling problems at Ealing Broadway, Great Western Railway are currently operating a reduced service between London Paddington and Reading. This is affecting local services. Heathrow Connects are currently suspended.

An update will follow within the next 1 hour.
Last Updated:07/11/2017 10:47

[TaplowGreen]

Intriguing

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway
Due to an operational incident between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

[grahame]

Intriguing

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway
Due to an operational incident between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Indeed - I'm quoting myself from another thread as really this is the board for discussing this.

06:17 Heathrow Terminal 5 to Acton Main Line due 06:44
06:17 Heathrow Terminal 5 to Acton Main Line due 06:44 will be terminated at Ealing Broadway.
It will no longer call at Acton Main Line.
This is due to an operational incident.

What IS the operational incident.   I wasn't even aware that passenger trains could terminate at Acton Main Line in the first place!

[JayMac]

It's something to do with engineering works in the Acton area.

"T3 Possession Item 8 planning issues - Acton ML"

That's all I can find, which doesn't really say much to the layman, so 'operational incident' it is.

[stuving]

It's something to do with engineering works in the Acton area.

"T3 Possession Item 8 planning issues - Acton ML"

That's all I can find, which doesn't really say much to the layman, so 'operational incident' it is.

"Planning issues" does sound like they had an operating plan for during a possession, but they found out when they tried it that it wasn't possible. So maybe Graham's reaction ("I wasn't even aware that passenger trains could terminate at Acton Main Line in the first place!") showed a better understanding of the network than NR^» (Network Rail - home page)'s and the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company)'.

The possessions in the EAS for today (there's loads more overnight) apply to lines 4-6 and the Reliefs, and all platforms at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains). No doubt the work on the lines is to do with the rejigging for Crossrail IndustryInsider referred to recently. Closing all platforms at PAD makes no sense at all if lines 1-3 are open; I guess the plan was always to release some for operational use closer to the date.

It was only Heathrow Connect (plus the odd Greenford) that were meant to use Acton Main Line as a terminus - their web site now says they are using Ealing Broadway but as an engineering alteration not a disruption.

[SandTEngineer]

This type of message sometimes means that a train has incorrectly moved into or out of the possession limits or those have been placed in the incorrect position relative to the actual possession limits.  Looks from OTT^▸ (Open Train Times website) maps (http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/d3_1) that trains were scheduled to terminate from the West at Acton Main Line, move forward empty to the Old Oak Common Carriage Line, reverse and then travel back to Acton Main Line to start the service West again.  Possible a set of points was damaged during the incident.

As I type this trains are currently being reversed at Ealing Broadway instead.

[stuving]

Heathrow Connect (HC) are now saying that next weekend they will also be using Ealing Broadway as a terminus, while RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) still has them using Acton Mail Line. So it does look like a revision of the operational plan. It may be a bit cosy at Ealing, since the Greenfords are also reversing there all day - West Ealing P5 is not being used, for some reason.

Mind you, the following two weekends there will be no HC trains at all. Usual alternative of 140 bus from Hayes offered instead.

PS: the amendment and removal of Heathrow Connect HC trains after tomorrow is on Saturdays only, not the Sundays of those weekends. Which is a little odd, as half the possessions are still here on the Sundays.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[SandTEngineer]

HC are now saying that next weekend they will also be using Ealing Broadway as a terminus, while RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) still has them using Acton Mail Line. So it does look like a revision of the operational plan. It may be a bit cosy at Ealing, since the Greenfords are also reversing there all day - West Ealing P5 is not being used, for some reason.

Mind you, the following two weekends there will be no HC trains at all. Usual alternative of 140 bus from Hayes offered instead.

Ok then.  Possible that the worksite required fell outside the planned possession limits and that the work cannot be cancelled as its required to be completed before the xmas blockades.  But looking at the OTT^▸ (Open Train Times website) map again the possession limit markers *08* are still in the locations I would have expected for trains to terminate at Acton Main Line.

[CJB666]

HC are now saying that next weekend they will also be using Ealing Broadway as a terminus, while RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) still has them using Acton Mail Line. So it does look like a revision of the operational plan. It may be a bit cosy at Ealing, since the Greenfords are also reversing there all day - West Ealing P5 is not being used, for some reason.

Mind you, the following two weekends there will be no Heathrow Connect (HC) trains at all. Usual alternative of 140 bus from Hayes offered instead.

PS: the amendment and removal of Heathrow Connect (HC) trains after tomorrow is on Saturdays only, not the Sundays of those weekends. Which is a little odd, as half the possessions are still here on the Sundays.

Ever since it started the Heathrow Connect (HC) has always been the poor relation - services cancelled as often as run. So what about the hapless tourist going to LHR with Heathrow Connect (HC) advance tickets? Do they have to purchase HEX tickets too? And if they end up at Hayes, does the 140 always accept HC tickets? The common factor is that whenever there are disruptions to HC &/or HEX services Heathrow staff are never ever visible at Paddington. And Heathrow HEX / Heathrow Connect (HC) Customer Services NEVER ever reply to emails.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronyms

[Louis94]

HC are now saying that next weekend they will also be using Ealing Broadway as a terminus, while RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) still has them using Acton Mail Line. So it does look like a revision of the operational plan. It may be a bit cosy at Ealing, since the Greenfords are also reversing there all day - West Ealing P5 is not being used, for some reason.

Note that RTT does not show a time in the GBTT^▸ (Great British Time Table) arrival/departure column, this means that technically those stops are operational and therefore are not advertised on Journey Planners.

If you look on journey planners for services from Ealing Broadway to Acton Main Line the only train to appear is the first Heathrow Connect service from Heathrow (which has a GBTT arrival time). For the other direction it is also just one service, the return working of the service previously mentioned! The same applied for the weekend just gone, not quite sure whether this was intentional or not.

[Jason]

Following a fault with the signalling system between Slough and London Paddington all lines are now open.
Impact: Train services running to and from these stations are returning to normal but some services may still be delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 10:30 15/11.

[SandTEngineer]

This seems very appropriate then.......
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-41970331/signal-failure-the-train-traveller-s-nightmare-explained

Blame it all on vandalism......

[TaplowGreen]

Delays to services at London Paddington


Due to an obstruction on the track at London Paddington some lines are closed.
Train services running to and from this station may be delayed. Disruption is expected until 06:45 27/11.