Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2018

[whole diary]

[Thatcham Crossing]

Great fun getting the younger family members (students) back to Exeter from Newbury this evening.

1648 from Newbury cancelled (not enough drivers)
1848 delayed, then cancelled (due signalling problems "between London and Slough"), then revised again to delayed and turned up 50 mins down
(actually surprised that they did manage to find a couple of seats as it was expectedly busy).

When they said, "why don't we just go in the morning", I said "could do", then after a few secs realised there are no trains west (or in any other direction) from Newbury tomorrow.

Just arrived in EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) 60 down. Long evening for those going all the way to PNZ.

[Jason]

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Reading and Didcot Parkway trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines.
Impact: Train services running through these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 17:45 12/03.

[ChrisB]

Lasted all of 10mins, according to emails I received

[PhilWakely]

A slight deviation from the main topic, ...........

I took a trip on HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel) yesterday, taking a circular trip to Dover Priory - out via HS1 and back meandering around coast on third-rail. I was surprised how simple the HS1 metalwork is compared to the stuff on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) main line. I know we hear plenty about the wires coming down on the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) and ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line), but I cannot recollect hearing anything about HS1.

Can somebody with the knowledge explain why the metalwork in GWR land could not be as simple as HS1?

[stuving]

Can somebody with the knowledge explain why the metalwork in GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) land could not be as simple as HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel)?

Before considering the OverHead-Line Equipment (OHLE) design per se, there is a big difference in what the wires have to do. HS1 is pretty much one track pair, once it gets out of the yard at Dollands Moor. It does have a few junctions and loops, and the stations at the London end are a bit fancier, but at Ashford the trackwork is simpler than a typical GWR station. So most of what you see should only be compared with a bit of plain twin-track GWR main line.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[charles_uk]

Recently breaking news so no idea what actual impact will be but:

Alterations to services between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington

Due to a fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington some lines are closed.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 10:45 16/03.

Last Updated:16/03/2018 09:53

and

Cancellations to services between Didcot Parkway and Oxford

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Didcot Parkway and Oxford some lines are disrupted.

Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 30 minutes. Disruption is expected until 11:00 16/03.

Last Updated:16/03/2018 09:59

[charles_uk]

Delays to services between Reading and Didcot Parkway

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Reading and Didcot Parkway trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed. Disruption is expected until 16:15 21/03.

Last Updated:21/03/2018 15:26

Not sure how serious it is or likely to be but the 14:21 Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street lost 24 minutes between Pangbourne and Moreton Cutting.

[Jason]

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Slough and London Paddington some lines are blocked.
Impact: Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed. Disruption is expected until 11:00 22/03

[charles_uk]

Alterations to services between Southall and West Drayton

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Southall and West Drayton trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards Slough.

Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes or running non stop between Ealing Broadway and Slough. Disruption is expected until 16:00 22/03.

Last Updated:22/03/2018 14:49

As always, can't tell at this stage what the impact might be but there are a number of services 14-20 minutes late into Reading at the moment.

[Jason]

Due to an object being caught on the overhead electric wires between Slough and Maidenhead the line towards Maidenhead is blocked.
Impact:
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 10 minutes. Disruption is expected until 08:00 23/03.
Customer Advice:
Services travelling towards Maidenhead unable to call at Burnham and Taplow stations. Services travelling towards Slough are running as normal.

[bobm]

Carrier bag(s) caught on the overhead at Taplow.

[TaplowGreen]

Carrier bag(s) caught on the overhead at Taplow.

Not guilty, I recycle mine!

[trainer]

Carrier bag(s) caught on the overhead at Taplow.

Not guilty, I recycle mine!

Hence the 'Green' appellation.

[charles_uk]

From National Rail Enquiries. Nothing on JourneyCheck but a number of delays at Reading as I type:

An earlier fault with the signalling system at Reading is causing delays of up to 25 minutes and cancellations to journeys at this station. We anticipate a good service will be operating by 18:15.

[bobm]

Axle counter failures at Reading West junction affecting access to and from platforms 3 to 7.  Most now resolved.