Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2024

[whole diary]

[NickB]

Where are The Railway Children and a white flag made from a petticoat when you need them?!?

[TaplowGreen]

Where are The Railway Children and a white flag made from a petticoat when you need them?!?

Probably on strike 

[IndustryInsider]

Where are The Railway Children and a white flag made from a petticoat when you need them?!?

Probably on strike 

More likely sat indoors glued to their phones watching YouTube or TikTok videos.

All joking aside though, that does indeed look like the same incident.  So now you all know what an emergency stop looks like...not quite in time on this occasion - though probably the best the driver could have done!

And to think the future is in driverless trains... 

[Mark A]

That reminds me, in another era, a friend, at an ungodly hour, witnessing a lorry driver getting something wrong and managing to drop a London suburban rail bridge parapet onto the track. Friend was straight off his bike, grabbed the rear light and was down onto the track and hot footing it* to caution any approaching train, red bike light in hand. His round's newspapers were delivered a little late that day.

Mark

*750 volt DC^▸ (Direct Current) electrified track, so, cautiously hot-footed.

[1st fan]

I once after a night out spotted a suspicious looking suitcase on a railway bridge over the West London Line. It was a case with what looked like a few wires sticking out of it and in the centre of the bridge. I’d had some training on what to look for and this definitely fitted the bill. i called the police who said they’d send someone to take a look and to stay put. I was called back to ask for a better fix on my location and they eventually arrived. They parked to block the bridge and then one went and took a look which he did so very carefully. After looking at the outside he tried opening it and it was empty save for the wires sticking out of it. They said it was fine and probably designed as a hoax and thanked me for reporting it.

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between Reading and London Paddington

Due to a derailed train between Reading and London Paddington some lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 12:00 05/04.

.
Customer Advice
Apologies to customers, a freight train has derailed between London Paddington and Slough closing some of the lines

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between Reading and London Paddington

Due to a derailed train between Reading and London Paddington some lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 12:00 05/04.

.
Customer Advice
Apologies to customers, a freight train has derailed between London Paddington and Slough closing some of the lines

National Rail said it happened at West Ealing at about 06:10 BST.

A spokesperson said a freight train travelling on to the West Ealing goods loop "passed a red signal, and three wheels of the locomotive came off the tracks".

Great Western Railway (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)), Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express passengers' journeys have been affected.

"There were no injuries, and we closed the adjacent lines to assess that it was safe for trains to pass," the spokesperson added.

"One of the lines has now reopened to passenger trains and a team is on site to assess the situation with the freight train and whether the second adjacent line can be safely reopened."

[GBM]

Just wondering if freight loco's have an auto stop when passing signals at red if the driver takes no action.

[TaplowGreen]

Here's a picture (from Paul Clifton on Twitter)

[a-driver]

Just wondering if freight loco's have an auto stop when passing signals at red if the driver takes no action.

They’ll just have TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System) equipment like every mainline registered unit or loco. 

[a-driver]

Here's a picture (from Paul Clifton on Twitter)

Trap points done their job!

[GBM]

RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch) have been busy the last month or so!

[Electric train]

Here's a picture (from Paul Clifton on Twitter)

Seems the traction motors have an Earth fault 

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to earlier engineering works not being finished on time between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway all lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until 09:30 07/04.
Train services between London Paddington and Reading may be cancelled, delayed or revised.

[TaplowGreen]

Delays to services between Newbury and Bedwyn

Due to a fault with barriers at a level crossing between Newbury and Bedwyn trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines.

Train services running through these stations may be delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day