Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2020

[whole diary]

[nickswift99]

Stopping services look to be hourly instead of half-hourly. The morning peak was more then decimated with no services at Pangbourne in the Up direction until 0655 and the 0705 not arriving until 0724.

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) do not seem to be thinking about mitigating passenger impact either. There's no acceptance of tickets at alternative stations (e.g. Theale for Pangbourne) and neither is there any relief to permit passengers to circulate via Didcot. Both would reduce the impact on passenger delays and even reduce Delay Repay liability.

[IndustryInsider]

According to information posted elsewhere, the OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") has been repaired but the signal hasn't.  Don't quite understand why one signal being out of use should result in so much disruption (unless the damage was more extensive than originally reported).

According to the log, with T832 showing no aspect, all trains would have to be stopped twice, firstly at the signal before to warn of it showing no aspect, then stopped again  to be authorised to pass it,  and then 3.5 working (whatever that is?) to Reading West Junction.

[Marlburian]

Yesterday I had planned to take the train to Goring, walk up into the edge of the Chilterns and down into Pangbourne. I was musing to a friend that if there were no trains at Pangbourne I could walk back home (a good further 75 minutes) - probably along the permissive path that runs at the bottom of the railway embankment. The main road into Pangbourne (from the Purley side) was flooded and so was the footpath alongside it.

Instead I decided to take the car and drive to Compton and then up to the Ridgeway. As I neared the DNS^▸ (Domain name service) trackbed I recalled the YouTube clip about

Churn Station

I'd visited the remains decades ago and as I approached the site was minded to do so again, but couldn't remember the exact location. It was muddy and windy (even windier up on the Ridgeway), so I left it for another day.

[Reading General]

I'd visited the remains decades ago and as I approached the site was minded to do so again, but couldn't remember the exact location. It was muddy and windy (even windier up on the Ridgeway), so I left it for another day.[/color]

There is still a platform noticeable, and a curious buzzing sound.

[Marlburian]

Perhaps when it was open it was one of the least-used stations in Southern England - except when soldiers were camped nearby.

[lbraine]

Paddington tonight at 17:41 - devoid of trains Platforms 1-8

[eightonedee]

Re Churn Station (or Halt)

(Moderators- new thread please- not sure where? )

In recent years its remains have largely disappeared into the vegetation. Easiest way to find it is to go along the Ridgeway. It's just north of the bridge that takes the Ridgeway over the track bed of the DN&S north of Compton.

There's no public access to the site of the station itself, and whereas in the 1980s you could walk down the track bed all the way from Compton it's long been too overgrown to do so.

Hope that helps!

[Marlburian]

When I got back home, I checked the station site on an old OS^▸ (Ordnance Survey) map and marked the position on mn modern one.

Since I've already taken this thread off track (apologies) I'll mention that the stretch of the DNS^▸ (Domain name service) between Hampstead Norris village hall and Furze Hill, Hermitage has just been cleared and turned into a recreational route (one has to walk under the M4 bridge).

In a weak attempt to get back on topic, I'll observe that some think that if the DNS had remained open, it would have taken freight off the Thames Valley line and perhaps reduced the need for the extensive recent works east of Reading Station. (And if that prompts further discussion the mods WILL have to consider moving these last few posts.)

[eightonedee]

Back on topic- all seems well this morning between Reading and Didcot.

No delays or cancellations and fast trains back running on the up main.

[nickswift99]

Not quite. The 0621 Didcot-Paddington started from Didcot late and ran fast to Reading. The next service, 0634 Didcot-Paddington also started late but didn't skip so ended up 13 down at Paddington.

Still an improvement on previous days.

[charles_uk]

Delays to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to a speed restriction over defective track between London Paddington and Reading trains have to run at reduced speed on the Reading bound high speed line.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed. Disruption is expected until 15:30 21/02.

A few 15-20 minute delays showing at Reading earlier. Estimated end of disruption has been extended from 14:30 to 15:30 so far... and lo:

Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Last Updated:21/02/2020 15:32

[Jason]

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Reading and Newbury trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines towards Newbury.
Impact:
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 30 minutes. Disruption is expected until 18:00 21/02.

[TaplowGreen]

Delays to services between Reading and London Paddington


Due to a safety inspection of the track between Reading and London Paddington the line towards London Paddington is blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until 10:45 22/02.

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between Slough and Southall
Due to engineering works not being finished on time between Slough and Southall some lines are blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 30 minutes. Disruption is expected until 07:30 28/02.
Customer Advice
TFL^▸ (Transport for London) Rail are conveying passengers between Reading and London Paddington in both directions until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.

[grahame]

Customer Advice
TFL^▸ (Transport for London) Rail are conveying passengers between Reading and London Paddington in both directions until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.

For those of us who don't often travel within (not just through) that corridor ... amazing that such arrangements have to be made and are not just standard.  I know it's not unique to this journey - seen it with open access operators on the East Coast - but between two government specified operations?