Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2024

[whole diary]

[nickswift99]

Which, after nearly 60 years has finally been replaced by the non-stopping X34 bus. Obviously, no ticket acceptance in place.

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between Bourne End and Marlow

Due to a points failure between Bourne End and Marlow all lines are blocked.

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

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident between London Paddington and Reading the line is blocked.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 90 minutes. Disruption is expected until 11:45 08/02.

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident between London Paddington and Reading the line is blocked.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 90 minutes. Disruption is expected until 11:45 08/02.

Updated:

Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or delayed by up to 100 minutes. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

[IndustryInsider]

Not an infrastructure problem.  Perhaps the thread title needs changing?  Removal of 'infrastructure'?

Thoughts to all those involved in the incident and friends/family of the deceased.

[Witham Bobby]

Which is why I started a new thread on the London-Reading page, before noticing that the same sad news had been posted here

[jamestheredengine]

Not an infrastructure problem.  Perhaps the thread title needs changing?  Removal of 'infrastructure'?

Thoughts to all those involved in the incident and friends/family of the deceased.

The frequency of these events on the line through Berkshire makes me think this is an infrastructure problem: there ought to be better physical obstacles to prevent these people from a clearly troubled part of the world from accessing the line. Do we need better fences? Maybe electrified? Maybe topped with razor wire?

[TaplowGreen]

Not an infrastructure problem.  Perhaps the thread title needs changing?  Removal of 'infrastructure'?

Thoughts to all those involved in the incident and friends/family of the deceased.

The frequency of these events on the line through Berkshire makes me think this is an infrastructure problem: there ought to be better physical obstacles to prevent these people from a clearly troubled part of the world from accessing the line. Do we need better fences? Maybe electrified? Maybe topped with razor wire?

I believe it's recognised to be a suicide "hotspot" and is recommended as such by the dismal suicide websites on some of the darker parts of the internet, however I am not sure electrified fences with or without razor wire would be the answer.

Sadly I think if someone is in such an awful place that they have decided to take their own life in such an awful way, such measures would only shift the problem elsewhere on the line.

[NickB]

Maidenhead station Platform 2 has recently undergone significant works to install fences and gates (which make it nigh on impossible to access a train quickly and which exacerbate crowding on the platform).  Have these been installed as a suicide prevention measure?

Followup question: what is the logic on these measures as it is still possible to access the platform and, to my knowledge, no one has successfully attempted suicide from the platform in the past decade. All the while other ‘hotspots’ exist throughout the network.

[IndustryInsider]

Maidenhead station Platform 2 has recently undergone significant works to install fences and gates (which make it nigh on impossible to access a train quickly and which exacerbate crowding on the platform).  Have these been installed as a suicide prevention measure?

Followup question: what is the logic on these measures as it is still possible to access the platform and, to my knowledge, no one has successfully attempted suicide from the platform in the past decade. All the while other ‘hotspots’ exist throughout the network.

It's all part of lessening the risk at the PTI (Platform Train Interface) which is 48% of the total passenger fatality risk on the mainline railway network according to the RSSB^▸ (Rail Safety and Standards Board): https://www.rssb.co.uk/about-rssb/key-industry-topics/platform-train-interface

At Maidenhead, when a busy train emptied out on platform 3, the swirling masses would often get uncomfortably close to the edge of platform 2 - where of course trains would flash by at 125mph.  I remember getting an uncomfortable feeling looking in the cab several times in one of those fast trains as people jostled for position to get down the stairs as quickly as possible.

Similar modifications have been made at other places the same thing happened.  Slough's platforms 1/2 and the island platforms at Hayes and Southall being examples.

It does also help stop people waiting for a train absent-mindedly chatting on their phones and wandering close to the platform edge - another thing that is guaranteed to get a drivers heart racing - so at station platforms where few trains call it makes very good sense to me.

You're right in that it doesn't stop people accessing those platform, but it does become a deterrent from doing so.  AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) little obstacles like that can sometimes break the 'thought chain' of a suicide event, and they definitely allow station staff to better monitor the movement of passengers and reduce the likelihood of a fatality - whether deliberate of accidental.

In the case of Maidenhead, as you probably know, there's construction work currently underway to replace the lift and create a second stairway down to the subway.  So that should help with any crowding on platform 3, which is usually only during that surge for short periods when trains arrive and empty rather than when passengers are waiting to board.  https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/new-lift-and-staircase-to-improve-access-and-safety-at-maidenhead-station

[Electric train]

Maidenhead station Platform 2 has recently undergone significant works to install fences and gates (which make it nigh on impossible to access a train quickly and which exacerbate crowding on the platform).  Have these been installed as a suicide prevention measure?

As II has said "Fast Line Safety Fencing" has been a safety measures on the RSSB^▸ (Rail Safety and Standards Board) and ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) list of improvements for a decade or so.  As for accessing a train quickly the RSSB and ORR would put the point you should allow yourself sufficient time to safely board the train.

Followup question: what is the logic on these measures as it is still possible to access the platform and, to my knowledge, no one has successfully attempted suicide from the platform in the past decade. All the while other ‘hotspots’ exist throughout the network.

Suicides then not to happen when platforms are busy, its when its quite that these sad events happen, Maidenhead having such a low level of incidents and the planned works posible placed it lower on the list.  There will come a time when the gates will be closed except for the norming peak services and when required when the Main Lines are used for stopping services.

[ChrisB]

The would still need an emergency release for when trains are stopped on the Up fast & require evacuation

[TaplowGreen]

Delays to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between London Paddington and Reading some lines are blocked.

Train services running to and from these stations will be delayed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day

[TaplowGreen]

......getting back to daily events?

Cancellations 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 on some lines.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 16:00 19/02.

Customer Advice
Due to a fault with the signalling system near Ealing Broadway, fewer trains are able to run between Reading and London Paddington, affecting both semi-fast and longer distance services.

[NickB]

And I was thinking last week what a quiet Feb it has been….

Disruption now until 19.00 with Maidenhead, Slough and Twyford not being served by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway). Lovely.