Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2023

[whole diary]

[Mark A]

Bit time-sensitive this morning, so, currently on a 70% seats-free train at Warminster, heading for Bristol, returning from London via Salisbury.

Mark

[grahame]

Bit time-sensitive this morning, so, currently on a 70% seats-free train at Warminster, heading for Bristol, returning from London via Salisbury.

Mark

Looks like you arrived as Salisbury from London at 10:48 and so missed the 10:44 major-stops-only to Bristol.  Instead, you caught the 11:12 to Bristol - a new train in May that actually started from Salisbury (2V92) - 158752 - and 30% loading as early as Warminster feels not unreasonable. The 11:12, after all, sets off from Salisbury just BEFORE the arrival of the SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) trains from Basingstoke and from Romsey.

[GBM]

Cancellations to services between Taunton and Reading via Westbury
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Taunton and Castle Cary trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards Westbury. Disruption is expected until 16:00 27/07.
Train services between Taunton and Reading via Westbury may be cancelled, delayed or revised.

So the fault has transferred West!

That's the problem with a centralised system unfortunately.
Our Maritime Radio services went down a remote control route, it worked OK'ish after a fashion. Was heavily reliant on engineering services to kick something back into life; or BT line engineers to poke bits of wire somewhere.
The Coastguard thought this was a wonderful idea, so went down that route.  It works after a fashion, but I don't know their attrition rate.
Then the Fire service started remote working, as did the Police and Ambulance.
Remoting was to be the saviour of mankind. Would cut costs and reduce the need for 'people'.
Just about every industry now has remote/central control.
Not really impressed by it.

[Mark A]

That's the one. The journey went as follows: anecdote not data: the barriers at Waterloo didn't fight my ticket. The exeter train left on time, dropped three busy ~60% occupied carriages at Salisbury, which left empty for the depot while the passengers for the most part left the station, and left Salisbury station pretty quiet.

There's now a Costa on the island platform, which is welcome competition from the usual concession on the other that once sold me a suspicious cake. The Bristol train was quiet from Salisbury, a little busier from Warminster, was checked slightly at Dilton Marsh perhaps because Westbury was feeling the heat of the disruption east of Reading  in the form of out-of-path arrivals at its generous three platform provision. Lots of people aboard at Trowbridge, so cheerfully busy thereafter.

End to end impressions of the journey - busy peak hour through trains from my origin point to Waterloo East meant no need to change at London Bridge, which helps. Out of Waterloo, takes twice as long now but less of a fairground ride, and, given the current  disruption on the Paddington route, a lot of confidence of an on-time arrival.

Mark

[Worcester_Passenger]

Delays to services between London Paddington and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards London Paddington.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed. Disruption is expected until 18:15 27/07.
Last Updated:27/07/2023 17:25

[TaplowGreen]

Delays to services between London Paddington and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards London Paddington.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed. Disruption is expected until 18:15 27/07.
Last Updated:27/07/2023 17:25

Someone's been waving that feather around again.

[Mark A]

Reports on Twitter that this service set off for Exeter from Reading but some passengers aboard didn't get the message that its schedule had been changed to run non-stop to Exeter St Davids.

Mark

https://twitter.com/BinTwoPadstow/status/1684643596085899266

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P75395/2023-07-27

[Mark A]

*Re-reads Realtime Trains* Ah, I was wrong, no stop at Reading, so Paddington to Exeter non-stop, despite which it stayed around an hour down throughout.

Mark

[stuving]

*Re-reads Realtime Trains* Ah, I was wrong, no stop at Reading, so Paddington to Exeter non-stop, despite which it stayed around an hour down throughout.

Mark

That stop (or non-) at Reading makes a huge difference. Once you have your passengers aboard you can tell them all what's what, in a way that's never 100% reliable at the originating station. Then the ones who need to can be tipped off at e.g. Reading, where they and the local staff know they need to be sorted out with alternative trains. 

[GBM]

*Re-reads Realtime Trains* Ah, I was wrong, no stop at Reading, so Paddington to Exeter non-stop, despite which it stayed around an hour down throughout.

Mark

Don't understand how it didn't make up time for that length of journey.
Something amiss?

[IndustryInsider]

Don't understand how it didn't make up time for that length of journey.
Something amiss?

Only three stations were ommitted, so a signal check or two en-route due to losing its path would more than swollow up the potential six or so minutes gained from removal of those stops.

[stuving]

Don't understand how it didn't make up time for that length of journey.
Something amiss?

Only three stations were ommitted, so a signal check or two en-route due to losing its path would more than swollow up the potential six or so minutes gained from removal of those stops.

Makes you wonder why they bother, doesn't it?

[grahame]

I have split this off to a separate thread - it merits its own discussion rather than being buried here!

This is a bit of a highjack post and may not be the right place to ask it, but it is relevant to the large number of cancellations currently experienced in the Thames Valley…

(How) Does Delay Repay work if I arrive at my departure station and find so many cancellations that I just turn around and go home? I wont have swiped in and so there is no record of my attempt to travel, but the cancellations will have changed my plans and I have been unable to travel.

Thanks

New thread at http://www.passenger.chat/27733

[TaplowGreen]

Delays to services between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington

Following damage to the overhead electric wires between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington some lines are now open.

Train services running to and from these stations will be delayed. Disruption is expected until 13:30 01/08.

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to a points failure at West Ealing some lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until 08:15 02/08.

Train services between London Paddington and Reading may be cancelled or delayed.