Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2024

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

This question does NOT apply to this forum line, but it's not worth a new thread all of its own.

Do electric loco's fail as often as diesel ones?
I'm guessing there's far less mileage with overhead lines compared to non electrified lines, so diesel mileage will far exceed electric mileage.

Electric traction is generally more reliable than diesel traction, electric traction does have the extra risk of infrastructure failures.  All trains can fail irrespective of the type of traction, freight rolling stock is not maintained to the same level as passenger rolling stock

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to urgent repairs to the track between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice
Some urgent repair work has to be carried out on a short section of track in the Southall area. As a result of this one line in the area has had to be closed.

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to urgent repairs to the track between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice
Some urgent repair work has to be carried out on a short section of track in the Southall area. As a result of this one line in the area has had to be closed.

The latest failure of the decrepit infrastructure between Paddington-Reading has led to some pretty significant alterations for anyone planning to travel today, but at least GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have provided more detailed information;

Train services which would normally operate between London Paddington, Reading and Swindon to Bristol Parkway, Newport and Cardiff Central will operate to a reduced frequency in both directions; note that certain trains may start from / terminate at Reading with customers being required to travel on alternative train services between London Paddington and Reading (and vice versa).
-
Train services which would normally operate between London Paddington, Reading and Swindon to Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa will be revised to operate from / to Reading only (i.e. these services will not operate between London Paddington and Reading in either direction. Customers will be required to travel between those points on alternative services).
-
Train services which would normally operate between London Paddington, Reading and Oxford will operate to a reduced frequency in both directions. Customers travelling from London Paddington to Oxford and Oxford to London Paddington may travel on Chiltern Railways services between London Marylebone and Oxford where GWR tickets will be valid. London Underground will convey GWR ticket holders between London Marylebone and London Paddington in order for customers to connect into / out of those services. Any customers travelling between Reading and Oxford, in either direction, may utilise CrossCountry services between those points on which GWR tickets will be accepted.
-
The local stopping services which normally operate between Didcot Parkway and London Paddington (calling at Cholsey, Goring & Streatley, Pangbourne, Tilehurst, Reading, Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough) will not operate between Reading and London Paddington. Where no GWR service is shown as calling at Twyford, Maidenhead or Slough GWR tickets will be accepted on Elizabeth Line services between Reading and London Paddington but do note that at London Paddington these services call at platforms A & B, which may be accessed via the entrances alongside platform 1 at Paddington, and these services do not appear on the main departure boards at Paddington.
-
The local services between Newbury and London Paddington which would normally call at Thatcham, Theale and Reading will not operate between Reading and London Paddington. Customers will be required to travel on alternative services over that section.

[grahame]

The latest failure of the decrepit infrastructure between Paddington-Reading has led to some pretty significant alterations for anyone planning to travel today, but at least GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have provided more detailed information

And that extra information is really good to see.

It highlights a few things

... all this business of "ticket acceptance" shows what an over complex and fragmented ticketing system we have.  Yes, alternative routes and services are correctly offered, but shouldn't that be enough, perhaps with a global "tickets accepted via alternative routes"?

... how (over) crowded will the trains actually be?   Horrid question but is the normal timetable a bit over the top these days?

[TaplowGreen]

The latest failure of the decrepit infrastructure between Paddington-Reading has led to some pretty significant alterations for anyone planning to travel today, but at least GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have provided more detailed information

And that extra information is really good to see.

It highlights a few things

... all this business of "ticket acceptance" shows what an over complex and fragmented ticketing system we have.  Yes, alternative routes and services are correctly offered, but shouldn't that be enough, perhaps with a global "tickets accepted via alternative routes"?

... how (over) crowded will the trains actually be?   Horrid question but is the normal timetable a bit over the top these days?

I think comprehensive information of this nature is the very minimum which customers should expect.

I would imagine that travel between the destinations involved will be a fraught and unpleasant experience today given the circumstances, probably exacerbated by overcrowding.

It strikes me that a year or two ago, an event like this lasting all day and having such a comprehensive impact on services would have attracted considerable comment on the Forum, however now it doesn't get much of a mention.

Perhaps given the shambolic nature of the infrastructure between London & the Thames Valley we're too used to it - it's now just another regular failure, no longer of note?

Added to that I note that the signalling system has now fallen over from Taunton/Penzance due to a power cut in Exeter, and all lines are blocked throughout.

A lot of work for GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) to do, isn't there?

[Electric train]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to urgent repairs to the track between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice
Some urgent repair work has to be carried out on a short section of track in the Southall area. As a result of this one line in the area has had to be closed.

The latest failure of the decrepit infrastructure between Paddington-Reading has led to some pretty significant alterations for anyone planning to travel today, but at least GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have provided more detailed information;

Train services which would normally operate between London Paddington, Reading and Swindon to Bristol Parkway, Newport and Cardiff Central will operate to a reduced frequency in both directions; note that certain trains may start from / terminate at Reading with customers being required to travel on alternative train services between London Paddington and Reading (and vice versa).
-
Train services which would normally operate between London Paddington, Reading and Swindon to Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa will be revised to operate from / to Reading only (i.e. these services will not operate between London Paddington and Reading in either direction. Customers will be required to travel between those points on alternative services).
-
Train services which would normally operate between London Paddington, Reading and Oxford will operate to a reduced frequency in both directions. Customers travelling from London Paddington to Oxford and Oxford to London Paddington may travel on Chiltern Railways services between London Marylebone and Oxford where GWR tickets will be valid. London Underground will convey GWR ticket holders between London Marylebone and London Paddington in order for customers to connect into / out of those services. Any customers travelling between Reading and Oxford, in either direction, may utilise CrossCountry services between those points on which GWR tickets will be accepted.
-
The local stopping services which normally operate between Didcot Parkway and London Paddington (calling at Cholsey, Goring & Streatley, Pangbourne, Tilehurst, Reading, Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough) will not operate between Reading and London Paddington. Where no GWR service is shown as calling at Twyford, Maidenhead or Slough GWR tickets will be accepted on Elizabeth Line services between Reading and London Paddington but do note that at London Paddington these services call at platforms A & B, which may be accessed via the entrances alongside platform 1 at Paddington, and these services do not appear on the main departure boards at Paddington.
-
The local services between Newbury and London Paddington which would normally call at Thatcham, Theale and Reading will not operate between Reading and London Paddington. Customers will be required to travel on alternative services over that section.

It was announced at Reading this afternoon the cause is a broken rail in the Southall area, I can only think its part of switch and crossing (points) such as one of the castings.  My guess is trains can run over the effected track but at reduced speed.

At least the service did not go into total melt down which shows that GW^▸ (Great Western) and NR^» (Network Rail - home page) working together to at least have a workable service

[IndustryInsider]

Yes that’s spot on ET.

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to urgent repairs to the track between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice
Some urgent repair work has to be carried out on a short section of track in the Southall area. As a result of this one line in the area has had to be closed.

The latest failure of the decrepit infrastructure between Paddington-Reading has led to some pretty significant alterations for anyone planning to travel today, but at least GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have provided more detailed information;

Train services which would normally operate between London Paddington, Reading and Swindon to Bristol Parkway, Newport and Cardiff Central will operate to a reduced frequency in both directions; note that certain trains may start from / terminate at Reading with customers being required to travel on alternative train services between London Paddington and Reading (and vice versa).
-
Train services which would normally operate between London Paddington, Reading and Swindon to Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa will be revised to operate from / to Reading only (i.e. these services will not operate between London Paddington and Reading in either direction. Customers will be required to travel between those points on alternative services).
-
Train services which would normally operate between London Paddington, Reading and Oxford will operate to a reduced frequency in both directions. Customers travelling from London Paddington to Oxford and Oxford to London Paddington may travel on Chiltern Railways services between London Marylebone and Oxford where GWR tickets will be valid. London Underground will convey GWR ticket holders between London Marylebone and London Paddington in order for customers to connect into / out of those services. Any customers travelling between Reading and Oxford, in either direction, may utilise CrossCountry services between those points on which GWR tickets will be accepted.
-
The local stopping services which normally operate between Didcot Parkway and London Paddington (calling at Cholsey, Goring & Streatley, Pangbourne, Tilehurst, Reading, Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough) will not operate between Reading and London Paddington. Where no GWR service is shown as calling at Twyford, Maidenhead or Slough GWR tickets will be accepted on Elizabeth Line services between Reading and London Paddington but do note that at London Paddington these services call at platforms A & B, which may be accessed via the entrances alongside platform 1 at Paddington, and these services do not appear on the main departure boards at Paddington.
-
The local services between Newbury and London Paddington which would normally call at Thatcham, Theale and Reading will not operate between Reading and London Paddington. Customers will be required to travel on alternative services over that section.

It was announced at Reading this afternoon the cause is a broken rail in the Southall area, I can only think its part of switch and crossing (points) such as one of the castings.  My guess is trains can run over the effected track but at reduced speed.

At least the service did not go into total melt down which shows that GW^▸ (Great Western) and NR^» (Network Rail - home page) working together to at least have a workable service

You can only polish a turd for so long.

It shouldn't come to this.....for a whole day. It simply shouldn't.

And you know that almost certainly within 48 hours if not less something else will break or fail on this stretch of line......a rail, a signal, a set of points, OHL^▸ (Over-Head Line) and the system simply should not be so fragile.

It's hard to avoid the thought that it's become so degraded that sooner or later there could be a serious incident which could cost lives.

[Electric train]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to urgent repairs to the track between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice
Some urgent repair work has to be carried out on a short section of track in the Southall area. As a result of this one line in the area has had to be closed.

The latest failure of the decrepit infrastructure between Paddington-Reading has led to some pretty significant alterations for anyone planning to travel today, but at least GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have provided more detailed information;

Train services which would normally operate between London Paddington, Reading and Swindon to Bristol Parkway, Newport and Cardiff Central will operate to a reduced frequency in both directions; note that certain trains may start from / terminate at Reading with customers being required to travel on alternative train services between London Paddington and Reading (and vice versa).
-
Train services which would normally operate between London Paddington, Reading and Swindon to Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa will be revised to operate from / to Reading only (i.e. these services will not operate between London Paddington and Reading in either direction. Customers will be required to travel between those points on alternative services).
-
Train services which would normally operate between London Paddington, Reading and Oxford will operate to a reduced frequency in both directions. Customers travelling from London Paddington to Oxford and Oxford to London Paddington may travel on Chiltern Railways services between London Marylebone and Oxford where GWR tickets will be valid. London Underground will convey GWR ticket holders between London Marylebone and London Paddington in order for customers to connect into / out of those services. Any customers travelling between Reading and Oxford, in either direction, may utilise CrossCountry services between those points on which GWR tickets will be accepted.
-
The local stopping services which normally operate between Didcot Parkway and London Paddington (calling at Cholsey, Goring & Streatley, Pangbourne, Tilehurst, Reading, Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough) will not operate between Reading and London Paddington. Where no GWR service is shown as calling at Twyford, Maidenhead or Slough GWR tickets will be accepted on Elizabeth Line services between Reading and London Paddington but do note that at London Paddington these services call at platforms A & B, which may be accessed via the entrances alongside platform 1 at Paddington, and these services do not appear on the main departure boards at Paddington.
-
The local services between Newbury and London Paddington which would normally call at Thatcham, Theale and Reading will not operate between Reading and London Paddington. Customers will be required to travel on alternative services over that section.

It was announced at Reading this afternoon the cause is a broken rail in the Southall area, I can only think its part of switch and crossing (points) such as one of the castings.  My guess is trains can run over the effected track but at reduced speed.

At least the service did not go into total melt down which shows that GW^▸ (Great Western) and NR^» (Network Rail - home page) working together to at least have a workable service

You can only polish a turd for so long.

It shouldn't come to this.....for a whole day. It simply shouldn't.

And you know that almost certainly within 48 hours if not less something else will break or fail on this stretch of line......a rail, a signal, a set of points, OHL^▸ (Over-Head Line) and the system simply should not be so fragile.

It's hard to avoid the thought that it's become so degraded that sooner or later there could be a serious incident which could cost lives.

The reason for the whole day is the total cancellation of services during the day while Network Rail work on the damaged track, the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) (the HSE^▸ (Health and Safety Executive) of the railways) have imposed very strict guidance regarding trackworkers working on a railway when trains are operating

The previous Government drastically cut Network Rail operational funding in 2022 to the tune of £100m per annum, this was and still in place a cut on operational expenditure; Network Rail went through a series of strikes, at the end of it there were some drastic cuts in frontline maintenance staff with many of the longer serving and experienced taking voluntary severance.

The GW mainline between Reading and Paddington especially the las 12 miles (Airport Jcn to Paddington) gaining access to do maintenance work is challenging, the operating times of HEX and the passenger demand for late night and early morning train services.  Its a 4 track railway with no practical alternative diversion

The above are not excuses but are some of the reasons.

[TaplowGreen]

Thankyou for those reasons.

The ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) report for 2022-23 states that;

"Network Rail received £10.9 billion of income for the operation, maintenance and
renewal of the railway infrastructure in April 2022 to March 2023. This is a 1% year
on year increase (£156 million) and a 5.7% (£577 million) increase compared to the
start of CP6^▸ (Control Period 6 - The five year period between 2019 and 2024)".

From where do you get your £100 million figure for operational funding cuts for the same period?

Entirely possible I have missed something.

[TaplowGreen]

Delays to services between Reading and London Paddington

Due to a points failure between Reading and London Paddington some lines are closed.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until 13:00 08/08.

[Electric train]

Thankyou for those reasons.

The ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) report for 2022-23 states that;

"Network Rail received £10.9 billion of income for the operation, maintenance and
renewal of the railway infrastructure in April 2022 to March 2023. This is a 1% year
on year increase (£156 million) and a 5.7% (£577 million) increase compared to the
start of CP6^▸ (Control Period 6 - The five year period between 2019 and 2024)".

From where do you get your £100 million figure for operational funding cuts for the same period?

Entirely possible I have missed something.

The £100m is the real cut in funding year on year the £156m you stated should have been higher, the cut is the Government funding ie Tax payer, if the railways generates more income then the Government funding is not so bad, NR^» (Network Rail - home page) increases its funding by improving its performance thereby reducing the she dual 8 payments to TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between Westbury and Reading

Due to a points failure between Westbury and Reading the line is blocked.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or diverted. Disruption is expected until 14:00 12/08.

Customer Advice
Due to a points failure at Hungerford train services between Westbury and Reading are being diverted where possible.

[ChrisB]

Not sure that's the 'Thames Valley' though?

[TaplowGreen]

Delays 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 the Reading bound high speed line.

Train services running to and from these stations will be delayed. Disruption is expected until 18:00 12/08.