Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2018

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

I find the speed restrictions due to high temperatures to be rather worrying. Whilst temperatures are exceptional for April, they are very normal for June and July.
So are speed restrictions going to become the norm during the summer ?

I can see the need for such restrictions in truly exceptional heatwaves, but surely infrastructure should work correctly during normal June and July weather ? even if such weather arrives in April.

[TaplowGreen]

I find the speed restrictions due to high temperatures to be rather worrying. Whilst temperatures are exceptional for April, they are very normal for June and July.
So are speed restrictions going to become the norm during the summer ?

I can see the need for such restrictions in truly exceptional heatwaves, but surely infrastructure should work correctly during normal June and July weather ? even if such weather arrives in April.

Same every year isn't it? (albeit a bit earlier this year)

There seems to be so little resilience within any aspect of the railway, it's incredibly fragile, be it infrastructure, trains or personnel.

[ellendune]

I find the speed restrictions due to high temperatures to be rather worrying. Whilst temperatures are exceptional for April, they are very normal for June and July.
So are speed restrictions going to become the norm during the summer ?

I can see the need for such restrictions in truly exceptional heatwaves, but surely infrastructure should work correctly during normal June and July weather ? even if such weather arrives in April.

Has there been a lot of track work there?  If so have they not destressed* the rail yet thinking they were ok for a few more weeks?

*This is the process by which the rail is tensioned so that it has not stress in it at a certain temperature (I have forgotten what temperature) and is in tension when it is cold, so that the compressive stress when it gets really hot is not too much to buckle the track.
 

[TonyK]

This is the process by which the rail is tensioned so that it has not stress in it at a certain temperature (I have forgotten what temperature) and is in tension when it is cold, so that the compressive stress when it gets really hot is not too much to buckle the track.

27°C

[ChrisB]

Has there been a lot of track work there?  If so have they not destressed* the rail yet thinking they were ok for a few more weeks?

*This is the process by which the rail is tensioned so that it has not stress in it at a certain temperature (I have forgotten what temperature) and is in tension when it is cold, so that the compressive stress when it gets really hot is not too much to buckle the track.

This I reckon is exactly it. Probably programmed to take place before the 'summer' starts. They were almost record temperatures for April.

[TaplowGreen]

Alterations 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 15 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 10:00 25/04.

Customer Advice

Trains from the Reading direction, travelling towards London Paddington, are unable to call at Taplow or Burnham. Customers travelling from these stations towards Slough & London are advised to catch a train service to Maidenhead and change there, where train services towards Slough (and beyond) are available. Customers travelling to Taplow or Burnham from Maidenhead, or stations West thereof will need to travel through to Slough and then back by a Reading bound train service from there.

[hassaanhc]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington
Due to a speed restriction over defective track between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines towards Slough.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 11:00 26/04.
Customer Advice
London Underground are conveying passengers between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5 in both directions until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
London Buses route 140: Hayes & Harlington - Heathrow (Central Bus Station) are conveying passengers between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Terminal 5 in both directions until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
London Buses are conveying passengers between London Paddington and Slough in both directions until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
Last Updated:26/04/2018 10:16

[Thatcham Crossing]

Crawled through Southall on an up IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) at around 1045, looked like down trains were crawling also.

Still arrived on-time at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains), 30 mins from Reading including a scheduled Slough stop.

[Jason]

Looks like an intra-day fix is in progress:

Due to urgent repairs to the track between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington some lines towards Slough are blocked.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled, delayed or revised. Acton Main Line will not be served. Disruption is expected until 15:00 26/04.
Customer Advice:
Selected GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services will serve Hanwell and West Ealing.
London Underground are conveying passengers between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5 in both directions until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
London Buses route 140: Hayes & Harlington - Heathrow (Central Bus Station) are conveying passengers between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Terminal 5 in both directions until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
London Buses are conveying passengers between London Paddington and Slough in both directions until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.

[ChrisB]

Some now reopened already

[johoare]

Not sure what happened exactly but by the time I was at Paddington at 4.30pm there were delays and a total lack of information (no surprise there then!)... They announced that the 4.49 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) to MAI^▸ (Maidenhead station) was delayed as it was late from the depot on it's inward journey.. This was in fact made up as it left Reading traincare depot early... sigh... 

[ChrisB]

Many twitter complaints that a Henley connection was missed off that train

[johoare]

It arrived at Maidenhead 25 minutes late (not bad for a 20 minute journey) so I'm not surprised!

[Adelante_CCT]

Many twitter complaints that a Henley connection was missed off that train

Considering it arrived Twyford 28 late, with the next shuttle scheduled for just 8 minutes later*, I really don't see why the connection off the 16:49 would be held or the need to complain about it.

* Departed 6 minutes later than planned to maintain connection off the 17:18 off Pad

[grahame]

Many twitter complaints that a Henley connection was missed off that train

Considering it arrived Twyford 28 late, with the next shuttle scheduled for just 8 minutes later*, I really don't see why the connection off the 16:49 would be held or the need to complain about it.

* Departed 6 minutes later than planned to maintain connection off the 17:18 off Pad

It does illustrate, though, how a railway industry measured "maximum 28 minutes late" can result in a passenger delay of (considerably) more - in this case a 36 minute late arrival for passengers at their destination.

I can find you examples that are much worse - such as 10 minutes delay turning into 2 hours late, though not in the Thames Valley where train frequency leads to less of a knock-on, but for people who are (perhaps) more noticed by the powers that be.