Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2023

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

........yet again.

Alterations to services between Reading and London Paddington

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations will be terminated at and started back from Reading. Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough will not be served. Disruption is expected until 13:00 05/08.

Please be advised that due to an issue with the signalling system in the Southall area just West of London Paddington, Network Rail have asked GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to reduce their service between Reading and London Paddington.

[TaplowGreen]

Delays to services between Reading and Slough

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Reading and Slough 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 08:30 08/08.

[TaplowGreen]

Delays to services between Reading and Slough

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Reading and Slough 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 08:30 08/08.

Disruption now expected till 1030

[TaplowGreen]

Delays to services between Reading and Slough

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Reading and Slough 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 08:30 08/08.

Disruption now expected till 1030

1230

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to a safety inspection of the track between London Paddington and Reading trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards Reading bound high speed.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 45 minutes or terminated at and started back from Reading. Disruption is expected until 21:30 10/08.

[TaplowGreen]

Welcome to the new week! 


Cancellations to services between Newbury and Reading

Due to a fault with the signalling system at Reading West all lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until 09:30 14/08.
Train services between Newbury and Reading may be cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes.
Additional Information
Due to a fault with the signalling system in the Reading West area, we are unable to operate our Reading to Basingstoke & Reading to Newbury services at the moment.
Network Rail are on site investigating the fault.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

The UM appears to be shut between Moreton Cutting and Reading, which means that all Up trains are currently using the UR.  This exposes a weakness in the layout at Reading, in that you can’t access P10 and P11 (the UM platforms) from the UR, so all Up trains have to use P12 -P15, which are getting a bit congested.  This is exacerbated by the fact that Crossrail trains normally take up 2 platforms, which wasn’t envisaged when the station layout was designed.     

A solution would be a trailing crossover between the UM and DR just west of the station, but I suppose the chances of that happening are about zero.

[IndustryInsider]

Little chance of any additional crossovers, I've often thought crossovers between Goring and Pangbourne would be useful.  Though they can also use P7 or P8 at Reading as well as P12-15 if needed, though that will often conflict with down main movements.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

A Crossrail has been put in P10 which I've seen before to help free up P12-P15.   

[Electric train]

The UM appears to be shut between Moreton Cutting and Reading, which means that all Up trains are currently using the UR.  This exposes a weakness in the layout at Reading, in that you can’t access P10 and P11 (the UM platforms) from the UR, so all Up trains have to use P12 -P15, which are getting a bit congested.  This is exacerbated by the fact that Crossrail trains normally take up 2 platforms, which wasn’t envisaged when the station layout was designed.     

Reading was designed with Crossrail in mind and there was always Paddington - Reading locals that occupied platforms at Reading.

I suspect there is an Operations plan for the eventuality of lines leading into Reading being blocked

[GBM]

Cancellations to services between Reading and Newbury
Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between Reading and Newbury fewer trains are able to run on all lines.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
-

What's happening between Newbury and Reading?

At around midday on 14/08/2023, a part of a trains overhead electrical system collided with a bridge just West of Newbury. This collision resulted in damage to both the train and the overhead line equipment. Network Rail are still assessing the damage to their infrastructure and as a consequence, we're unable to operate any electric-only traction (trains) between Newbury and Reading until further notice.

-

What's the impact on service for Wednesday 16/08/2023?

Services between Bedwyn - Newbury and Reading are going to be disrupted as we're still unable to operate electric traction (trains) between Newbury and Reading. GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) & Network Rail Western Control have been working overnight to formulate a plan to utilise diesel units from other areas of the network to try and maintain a good level of service between Newbury and Reading. The specifics of this plan will be announced later this morning but will of course be advertised as soon as they're confirmed. For the most part we will be able to maintain an hourly service as a minimum between Newbury and Reading. A basic summary of impact is as follows:

- There will be a reduced service between Newbury and Reading today.
- The Bedwyn - Newbury shuttles will operate as normal.
- Newbury to Reading shuttles will be subject to cancellations though some may operate using diesel trains.
- Fast London Paddington-bound trains that start at Bedwyn / Frome / Bristol during the AM peak period will run as booked.
- London Paddington bound trains booked to start at Newbury will start at Reading and terminate at Reading on their return journey.

Please consult online journey planners for specific journey enquiries where you will see an updated list of what is and isn't cancelled today.

[charles_uk]

Cancellations to services at Didcot Parkway

Due to a fault with the signalling system at Didcot Parkway trains have to run at reduced speed.
Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed by up to 45 minutes or diverted. Disruption is expected until 13:30 16/08.

Additional Information
Owing to a fault with the signalling system in the Didcot Parkway, trains are being delayed whilst they travel through the affected area, this is building congestion as a result.
Network Rail Engineers are on site attempting to fix the fault.
Some trains will be altered or diverted to ease congestion in the Didcot Parkway area.
Last Updated:16/08/2023 12:48

13:45 - disruption now expected until 16:00 with delays of up to 60 minutes.

[TaplowGreen]

Yet again.....

Cancellations to services at Didcot Parkway
Due to a fault with the signalling system at Didcot Parkway trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.

Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 20:45 21/08.

[TaplowGreen]

Well, would you believe it. Some sort of infrastructure failure is virtually a daily event now in the Thames Valley.

Alterations to services at Slough
Due to a points failure at Slough some lines are blocked.

Train services running through this station may be delayed by up to 30 minutes or terminated at and started back from Reading. Disruption is expected until 16:00 22/08.

[Electric train]

Well, would you believe it. Some sort of infrastructure failure is virtually a daily event now in the Thames Valley.

Alterations to services at Slough
Due to a points failure at Slough some lines are blocked.

Train services running through this station may be delayed by up to 30 minutes or terminated at and started back from Reading. Disruption is expected until 16:00 22/08.

This all may be the combination of "Modernising Maintenance" and staff holidays.  Quite a number of staff have been released under voluntary severance compounded by a very tightly controlled recruitment and promotion processes over the last year or so some of the teams that respond to faults have been depleted or have a much large area to cover.

The added restriction is the "Track Worker Safety Scheme" basically staff are not allowed on the track without a "Line Block" ie trains cannot run on the lines staff require to carryout repairs or lines required to access equipment.  The days of a "Lookout" ie someone with a flag and horn to warn of an approaching train have been consigned to the history books.

Modernising maintenance has been driven by the Treasury and DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) to reduce the cost to tax payer, track worker safety has been pushed by the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about), NR^» (Network Rail - home page) had to implement both these in very quick order.