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BBM
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« Reply #675 on: October 28, 2018, 16:46:22 » |
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Looking at RTT» , it would appear that 1A22 1453 BRI» -PAD» has just left RDG‡ running 12 late so presumably the line's been reopened?
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eightonedee
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« Reply #676 on: October 28, 2018, 16:52:30 » |
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No surprises there! Mind you, at least they now have 10 carriages in the main and wide platforms at Reading for passengers to circulate as best as possible.
{like}
The trains may have 10 coaches, but platforms 4 to 6 from which they depart are not wide. Platform 4 in particular is narrow, and doesn't cope well when a Gatwick service arrives to disgorge its luggage laden passengers into another crowd of luggage laden passengers waiting on it for the next outward bound service - these trains really ought to run from Platform 7 which is nice and spacious. |
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Timmer
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« Reply #677 on: October 28, 2018, 16:54:42 » |
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Looking at RTT» , it would appear that 1A22 1453 BRI» -PAD» has just left RDG‡ running 12 late so presumably the line's been reopened?
Yes I think a first train is running again between Reading and Paddington. How gutted would you be if you had just managed to squeeze onto a rammed Waterloo train only to watch a train leave for Paddington. |
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Wilf19
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« Reply #678 on: October 28, 2018, 16:59:23 » |
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I got to Reading from Taunton, no announcements made on the train at all, unless of course the system was broken in my carriage. Decided to get off the train along with everyone else and head to the Waterloo platforms. That turned to be a mistake it was a zoo, no GWR▸ staff in-sight and only the occasional - muffled - announcement as to what was going on.
In the end I legged it to the Heathrow bus, thinking that if I could at least get to Heathrow I could ask the work travel agent to rebook me on a Heathrow flight rather than my original one from London City. Fortunately for me this is a work trip so I won’t lose out of it all goes wrong, apart from the waisted time of course.
In the end got to Heathrow at 4pm, my flight from City is at 8pm am on the Underground into London.
Not a good advert for the railways today. What really gets my goat is how the platform staff at Reading had all disappeared and basically left passengers to it. I realise that there’s Not much they they can do and they don’t want to get yelled at by angry passengers, but somebody (management?) should have been down there with a loud hailer explaining that no-one was going anywhere.
Feel sorry for folks that had leisure plans trashed by this.
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Timmer
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« Reply #679 on: October 28, 2018, 17:00:30 » |
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It's probably only going to get worse too - anyone whose travelled from the Westcountry on a GWR▸ cattle truck on a Sunday will know how hopelessly overcrowded they are and with everyone else added into the mix (+ luggage) and the end of the half term holidays it'll be dreadful.
At least they seem to be running some local trains as far as Maidenhead - I'd suggest anyone going to Heathrow goes there and gets a cab (if they can't get on the railair bus - if that still runs?)
Another dreadful day/advert for the railways
For sure it’s been another shockingly poor day for the railways. As you say Sundays heading back to London are a challenge when things are running normally due to overcrowding. The scenes this afternoon at Reading as all these trains emptied themselves leaving passengers to try and board a train to Waterloo just adds to the misery. |
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #680 on: October 28, 2018, 17:02:30 » |
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The trains may have 10 coaches, but platforms 4 to 6 from which they depart are not wide. Platform 4 in particular is narrow, and doesn't cope well when a Gatwick service arrives to disgorge its luggage laden passengers into another crowd of luggage laden passengers waiting on it for the next outward bound service - these trains really ought to run from Platform 7 which is nice and spacious.
They are wide in comparison to the old Platforms 4a and 4b (especially at the far ends), with a reduction of clutter on the platform, such as vending machinges, which is what I was getting at. They also have a much larger waiting area at the concourse end - the Twitter photo shows that being used to good effect. Much better. |
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #681 on: October 28, 2018, 17:08:27 » |
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Not a good advert for the railways today. What really gets my goat is how the platform staff at Reading had all disappeared and basically left passengers to it. I realise that there’s Not much they they can do and they don’t want to get yelled at by angry passengers, but somebody (management?) should have been down there with a loud hailer explaining that no-one was going anywhere.
Feel sorry for folks that had leisure plans trashed by this.
Disappearing staff always seems to be a major failing at times of major disruption, be it at Paddington, Reading or wherever - as you say there should be managers setting an example and taking responsibility, but I'm sure there are others who, in the absence of trains running, could lend a hand. |
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SandTEngineer
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« Reply #682 on: October 28, 2018, 17:17:47 » |
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I was just watching the recovery of the 'service' on Open Train Times maps after todays problems and guess what advert popped up on the TV in the background......  |
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Timmer
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« Reply #683 on: October 28, 2018, 17:18:49 » |
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Looks like trains are now getting through yet GWhelp are still advising people use Waterloo services.
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broadgage
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« Reply #684 on: October 28, 2018, 17:26:27 » |
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Yes, another very poor performance.
With this sort of thing likely to be a regular feature, there really needs to be some better contingency plans for when the wires come down.
1) require that ALL new AC electric trains have a standby energy source, either batteries or a small diesel engine.
2) provide a better walkway in the cess on busier routes to facilitate walking with luggage when this happens.
3) When GWR▸ services are SNAFU▸ , run extra trains from Reading to Waterloo.
Look at ways to speed up giving the authority to pass signals at danger.
For example wires down or other c0ck up, train stuck in platform.
Let passengers off, then get authority to pass signal at danger at WALKING SPEED so as to just clear the platform.
The following train that would otherwise be held at the preceding signal, can then be given permission to pull forward, unload passengers in the platform.
This would only be readily applicable on plain line, but could allow up to 3 trains to be unloaded at each platform instead of just one.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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SandTEngineer
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« Reply #685 on: October 28, 2018, 18:02:35 » |
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It doesn't help on a Sunday having a two track railway due to engineering work (for both maintenance and renewals). Don't know how you could easily solve that one.
Lets hope that the work to upgrade the existing headspan areas gets more priority (and funding).
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bradshaw
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« Reply #686 on: October 28, 2018, 18:24:00 » |
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Copied from GWR▸ Journey Check just now
Due to damage to the overhead electric wires earlier today between Cheltenham Spa and Swindon fewer trains are able to run.
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PhilWakely
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« Reply #687 on: October 28, 2018, 18:27:03 » |
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Copied from GWR▸ Journey Check just now
Due to damage to the overhead electric wires earlier today between Cheltenham Spa and Swindon fewer trains are able to run.
Didn't realise that there were overhead electric wires between Cheltenham Spa and Swindon  |
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Puffing Billy
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« Reply #688 on: October 28, 2018, 19:15:54 » |
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The information desk at Reading was conspicuously empty around 1300 today. In addition, the display boards are quite unhelpful when it comes to anything other than a specific delay or cancellation. Could not the "Delayed" indication be followed by an optional line to say e.g. "Delayed between XXXX and XXXX"? Seeing the 1335 to Taunton "delayed", I assumed it had been stuck in the affected location and therefore might not arrive for hours, so I made the snap decision to make a beeline for the 1309 Swansea service and got reasonable connections at Swindon and Bristol TM‡. But they must have known sometime in advance that the train was not coming from London in the first place and instead would be started from Reading, so it would be helpful if they could say so.
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YouKnowNothing
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« Reply #689 on: October 28, 2018, 19:24:19 » |
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Is the head span system due to be replaced? The 2 track issue goes back to my previous post about when will PAX be expecting to see a weekend without renewal or maintenance work going on? It doesn't help on a Sunday having a two track railway due to engineering work (for both maintenance and renewals). Don't know how you could easily solve that one.
Lets hope that the work to upgrade the existing headspan areas gets more priority (and funding).
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