Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2021

[whole diary]

[grahame]

There is now a block in place on the Down Main past the failed train so hopefully plans are afoot to move it.  Down Relief remains open.

Due to a broken down train between Reading and Slough some lines towards Slough are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 04:15 23/11.

[MVR S&T]

 Alterations to services between Didcot Parkway and Reading
Due to a broken down train between Didcot Parkway and Reading some lines towards Reading are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or revised. Pangbourne will not be served. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Passengers for Pangbourne at Didcot Parkway are advised to cycle back via Reading. Please speak to station staff for any further assistance. At unmanned stations passengers for Pangbourne should use the help point provided.
Further Information

If you hold a valid single, return, or weekly ticket, you will be able to claim compensation for delays of 15 minutes or more. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).com/DelayRepay

Replacement rail Bicycle service then?

[CyclingSid]

advised to cycle back via Reading

That could be read that you cycle to Reading and then on to Pangbourne. There are obviously passengers that are a lot fitter than I am. Not to mention that the roads concerned aren't exactly cycle-friendly.

[nickswift99]

The Thames Path can be cycled from Pangbourne to Goring.

However, contrary to the expectation that it might be somewhat genteel given it's adjacent to the river, there are some serious climbs and descents (including one which is effectively a long series of steps).

[broadgage]

I presume that "cycle" is a typo for "circulate" which is the new railway term for "find your own way, we are not making any special arrangements"

[stuving]

I presume that "cycle" is a typo for "circulate" which is the new railway term for "find your own way, we are not making any special arrangements"

"Circulate" in this recent (I think) sense, for coping with trains that can't stop somewhere, means go the wrong way and catch a train back through this station (or counterwise). "Cycle" looks like an attempt to find another word for this, perhaps due to complaints that "circulate" wasn't clear enough. Oh well, back to the word cupboard.

[grahame]

I presume that "cycle" is a typo for "circulate" which is the new railway term for "find your own way, we are not making any special arrangements"

I would be pretty sure it does mean "circulate" - my understanding of that being an instruction to take a route with an intermediate change, usually doubling back, as in "Passengers for Pilning should circulate via Newport (South Wales)" 

It does not preclude special arrangements, such as a train being held at the intermediate change point to allow a connection, or even a special stop made an that intermediate change point.  It typically happens at a two platform station where the platform in one direction is not available.

[plymothian]

There seems to be a stark increase in infrastructure problems across the whole network with daily points and signaling failures.

[GBM]

I do wonder if we still had 'local' (manned/staffed) signal boxes, would there be less delay minutes with infrastructure problems?

[TaplowGreen]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Journeycheck yet to catch up but;

Train operator affected




A fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway means some lines are blocked.

Services between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington may be cancelled, delayed by up to 10 minutes or revised.

This is expected until 08:00.

[TaplowGreen]

Yet another signal failure - seems to be becoming endemic

Cancellations to services between Southall and London Paddington

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Southall and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on the line towards London Paddington.

Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or delayed by up to 30 minutes. Disruption is expected until 09:00 10/12.

[TaplowGreen]

.......and another one......


Delays to services between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington

Due to a points failure between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until 08:15 14/12.

[ChrisB]

Network Rail Western have just tweeted that the fault, near Southall, has been fixed

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to a fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run on all lines.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or delayed by up to 30 minutes. Disruption is expected until 22:15 27/12.

[Chris from Nailsea]

An even smaller number of posts for this calendar year.

However, that is by no means an accurate measure of these clearly ongoing issues.

I'm simply breaking down what was a huge topic into hopefully bite-sized bits.