Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2018

[whole diary]

[rower40]

And opentraintimes maps appear frozen nationwide, so ...
1) us laypeople can't see what's happening
and
b) conspiracy theory - have NR^» (Network Rail - home page) cut the real-time information feed because of the disruptions (this one and the power outage at Victoria) tonight?

[ellendune]

So is this the old wiring that includes headspans?  Has this bit been upgraded or is it still the 1990's wiring?

[TaplowGreen]

After a day when dozens of them were short formed, what a great way to round off the 1st anniversary of the introduction of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) fleet.

[Worcester_Passenger]

And opentraintimes maps appear frozen nationwide, so ...
1) us laypeople can't see what's happening
and
b) conspiracy theory - have NR^» (Network Rail - home page) cut the real-time information feed because of the disruptions (this one and the power outage at Victoria) tonight?

Still appears to be frozen as of 01:15 Wednesday.

[martyjon]

And opentraintimes maps appear frozen nationwide, so ...
1) us laypeople can't see what's happening
and
b) conspiracy theory - have NR^» (Network Rail - home page) cut the real-time information feed because of the disruptions (this one and the power outage at Victoria) tonight?

Still appears to be frozen as of 01:15 Wednesday.

Still appears to be frozen as of 04:55 too with over 100 cancellations on JourneyCheck already, shuttle service between Didcot - Reading and Slough.

Wonder if they'll declare today a void day before its even got going ?

Everybody take the day off.

I think that's what they mean when they say 'NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL BY TRAIN'.

[TaplowGreen]

I had (clearly foolishly) decided to take a chance on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) getting me to Plymouth this morning as I'm recovering from a broken ankle & am not able to drive for a couple more weeks. I should have known better. Now trying to find out if my 1st class Advance ticket will be valid tomorrow instead.

[ChrisB]

Electric units blocking all lines between Slough & Paddington. Nothing moving east of Slough/Reading until at least lunchtime.

[martyjon]

Electric units blocking all lines between Slough & Paddington. Nothing moving east of Slough/Reading until at least lunchtime.

Have pax been evacuated or are train managers taking orders for breakfast now ?

[martyjon]

Electric units blocking all lines between Slough & Paddington. Nothing moving east of Slough/Reading until at least lunchtime.

Have pax been evacuated or are train managers taking orders for breakfast now ?

Sorry, don't want to offend RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) so I'll add drivers to that quote where DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) applies.

[martyjon]

Electric units blocking all lines between Slough & Paddington. Nothing moving east of Slough/Reading until at least lunchtime.

Have pax been evacuated or are train managers taking orders for breakfast now ?

Sorry, don't want to offend RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) so I'll add drivers to that quote where DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) applies.

.... and ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about).

[TaplowGreen]

Electric units blocking all lines between Slough & Paddington. Nothing moving east of Slough/Reading until at least lunchtime.

Have pax been evacuated or are train managers taking orders for breakfast now ?

Sorry, don't want to offend RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) so I'll add drivers to that quote where DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) applies.

.... and ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about).

Don't give them ideas, you'll have them all out on strike.

Their social media teams all seem to have given up already  (just when they are most needed)

[Timmer]

I had (clearly foolishly) decided to take a chance on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) getting me to Plymouth this morning as I'm recovering from a broken ankle & am not able to drive for a couple more weeks. I should have known better. Now trying to find out if my 1st class Advance ticket will be valid tomorrow instead.

It should be TG.

Feel for everyone trying to travel to/from London on GWR. What a mess.

[CMRail]

Feeling “sick” today as I cannot be arsed to travel with this disruption.

144 Train Cancellations this morning.
108 Amendments

Cheltenham’s terminating at Swindon
All others terminating at Reading.

[grahame]

Feeling “sick” today as I cannot be arsed to travel with this disruption.

144 Train Cancellations this morning.
108 Amendments

Cheltenham’s terminating at Swindon
All others terminating at Reading.

Full quote from Journey Check concerning today:

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading
Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between London Paddington and Reading some lines are closed.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Since around 19:30 Tuesday evening virtually no train service has been able to operate between London Paddington and Reading in either direction owing to the damage to the overhead wires. This has led to widespread disruption with trains initially stranded in various locations owing to loss of overhead power and diesel powered services unable to bypass the disabled electric trains.

The position this morning is that all lines remain closed between London Paddington and Slough with the possibility that two of these four lines will be available during the afternoon.

#######################################################################
Customers intending to travel to or from intermediate stations between London Paddington and Slough are advised NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL BY TRAIN until such time that confirmation has been published that the route has been reopened.

There will be a very significant reduction in train service frequency on most routes as a result of this incident and those services which do operate will be extremely busy.

Note that between Slough and London Paddington no alternative road transport other than scheduled bus / Underground / train operators services on parallel routes will operate. In other areas neighbouring train operators covering parallel routes and certain local bus routes are conveying holders of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) tickets by any reasonable route.
#######################################################################

A limited train shuttle service will operate Slough - Reading - Didcot Parkway.

Those customers from London seeking to travel to Reading or west thereof are advised to travel to London Waterloo and travel on South Western Railway services to Reading (either direct or via Guildford or Basingstoke) from where main line services will restart.

Customers travelling to / from the Oxford area are advised to use Chiltern Railways services to / from London Marylebone.

Customers travelling to destinations in Devon and Cornwall are advised to travel via London Waterloo either to Reading or via Salisbury to interchange with West Country services at Exeter St Davids.

Customers travelling to destinations in the Worcester area may travel from London Euston to Birmingham New Street on Virgin West Coast services and then from Birmingham New Street to Worcester on West Midlands Railway services.

Note that with the reduced frequency of services many trains are expected to be very busy.
Further Information
An update will follow within the next 2 hours.
Last Updated:17/10/2018 06:23

[sanfrandragon]

Damage to overhead lines apparently.  Just what is the point of switching to overhead electricity?  It just adds another thing to go wrong .