Reading Half marathon

[whole diary]

[johoare]

Hello, I am running the Reading half marathon this year (assuming I don't get injured between now and then).. So I was just working out how to get there..

The offical half marathon site says that the shuttle buses from the station to the Madjeski stadium (where the race starts) run from 7am till 9am.. The race starts at 10..

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) offer two trains from Maidenhead.. One arriving at 7.41 which is quite early considering that would mean a 2 hour wait at the Madjeski stadium before the start of the race (and with the clocks going forward the night before).. Or the next arriving at 8.40, which would be worrying if it got delayed, and would result in missing the last shuttle bus to the stadium, and hence potentially missing the start of the race.

About 16000 people run the Half marathon.. Does this not qualify for considering extra trains running on that day.. Or at least a half hourly service at the appropriate time of day?

No worries if not, I shall just have to drive... Which kind of defeats the point of having public transport...

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

best thing you can do is use the contact us link on the fgw website they may already have plans

[Ollie]

Worth noting something it says on the website for Reading Half Marathon.

"There are several car parks in the Town Centre within a 5 - 10 minute walk of Reading Station. Reading Station will have free shuttle buses running to the stadium between 7.00am and 9.00am and then back from the stadium until 2.30pm. Please be at the station no later than 8.00am. There is no guarantee that buses leaving the station after 9.00am will leave you enough time to be ready to start at 10.00am."

[johoare]

Thank you.. I will do that, and I'd like to hope so, but having just also checked the Paddington to Reading times for the day.. And found no arrivals between 7.40 and 8.40 (apart from one which suggests travelling on the 7.10am from Paddington to Heathrow terminal 5 (expensive) and then getting the bus(!!?!!) to Reading arriving at 8.33)... Engineering works start to spring to mind..

Also, if timetable changes were already planned, wouldn't they be on NR^» (Network Rail - home page) website by now?

[johoare]

Worth noting something it says on the website for Reading Half Marathon.

"There are several car parks in the Town Centre within a 5 - 10 minute walk of Reading Station. Reading Station will have free shuttle buses running to the stadium between 7.00am and 9.00am and then back from the stadium until 2.30pm. Please be at the station no later than 8.00am. There is no guarantee that buses leaving the station after 9.00am will leave you enough time to be ready to start at 10.00am."

Thank you too Ollie, I have e-mailed the Reading half marathon web site to ask about the disparity in times (between saying arrive at 8am at latest but buses run till 9am).. Maybe it is because they already know about the lack of trains that day?

[Ollie]

Thank you.. I will do that, and I'd like to hope so, but having just also checked the Paddington to Reading times for the day.. And found no arrivals between 7.40 and 8.40 (apart from one which suggests travelling on the 7.10am from Paddington to Heathrow terminal 5 (expensive) and then getting the bus(!!?!!) to Reading arriving at 8.33)... Engineering works start to spring to mind..

Also, if timetable changes were already planned, wouldn't they be on NR^» (Network Rail - home page) website by now?

It is correct on the website, the train in question arriving Reading at 07:41 is the 06:44 from Paddington

[Ollie]

Worth noting something it says on the website for Reading Half Marathon.

"There are several car parks in the Town Centre within a 5 - 10 minute walk of Reading Station. Reading Station will have free shuttle buses running to the stadium between 7.00am and 9.00am and then back from the stadium until 2.30pm. Please be at the station no later than 8.00am. There is no guarantee that buses leaving the station after 9.00am will leave you enough time to be ready to start at 10.00am."

Thank you too Ollie, I have e-mailed the Reading half marathon web site to ask about the disparity in times (between saying arrive at 8am at latest but buses run till 9am).. Maybe it is because they already know about the lack of trains that day?

I would say potentially partly down to that, but also due to how busy it will be around the general area of the Madjeski Stadium.

[johoare]

Worth noting something it says on the website for Reading Half Marathon.

"There are several car parks in the Town Centre within a 5 - 10 minute walk of Reading Station. Reading Station will have free shuttle buses running to the stadium between 7.00am and 9.00am and then back from the stadium until 2.30pm. Please be at the station no later than 8.00am. There is no guarantee that buses leaving the station after 9.00am will leave you enough time to be ready to start at 10.00am."

Thank you too Ollie, I have e-mailed the Reading half marathon web site to ask about the disparity in times (between saying arrive at 8am at latest but buses run till 9am).. Maybe it is because they already know about the lack of trains that day?

I would say potentially partly down to that, but also due to how busy it will be around the general area of the Madjeski Stadium.

Well yes, but I have the choice of arriving at Reading station at 7.40 (which means I have to leave home at 7.00am), or I can leave home at 7.40 and drive there (I've done it before, I know it's not that busy).. Not a good advert for public transport that's all.. Luckily I have a choice..

[johoare]

Thank you.. I will do that, and I'd like to hope so, but having just also checked the Paddington to Reading times for the day.. And found no arrivals between 7.40 and 8.40 (apart from one which suggests travelling on the 7.10am from Paddington to Heathrow terminal 5 (expensive) and then getting the bus(!!?!!) to Reading arriving at 8.33)... Engineering works start to spring to mind..

Also, if timetable changes were already planned, wouldn't they be on NR^» (Network Rail - home page) website by now?

It is correct on the website, the train in question arriving Reading at 07:41 is the 06:44 from Paddington

Thanks Ollie, I do find the 7.10 via Heathrow T5 and then the bus a rather strange option. One I've never seen as a choice on the NR journey planner before?

[Ollie]

Well yes, but I have the choice of arriving at Reading station at 7.40 (which means I have to leave home at 7.00am), or I can leave home at 7.40 and drive there (I've done it before, I know it's not that busy).. Not a good advert for public transport that's all.. Luckily I have a choice..

Might have to disagree on that, arriving 07:40 depending on the frequency of buses you could have a decent connection at Reading with it, and also baring in mind how many other people may use these shuttle buses it's better to be there early for it.

[johoare]

Well yes, but I have the choice of arriving at Reading station at 7.40 (which means I have to leave home at 7.00am), or I can leave home at 7.40 and drive there (I've done it before, I know it's not that busy).. Not a good advert for public transport that's all.. Luckily I have a choice..

Might have to disagree on that, arriving 07:40 depending on the frequency of buses you could have a decent connection at Reading with it, and also baring in mind how many other people may use these shuttle buses it's better to be there early for it.

But driving is still going to be a lot easier? 

[Ollie]

Thank you.. I will do that, and I'd like to hope so, but having just also checked the Paddington to Reading times for the day.. And found no arrivals between 7.40 and 8.40 (apart from one which suggests travelling on the 7.10am from Paddington to Heathrow terminal 5 (expensive) and then getting the bus(!!?!!) to Reading arriving at 8.33)... Engineering works start to spring to mind..

Also, if timetable changes were already planned, wouldn't they be on NR^» (Network Rail - home page) website by now?

It is correct on the website, the train in question arriving Reading at 07:41 is the 06:44 from Paddington

Thanks Ollie, I do find the 7.10 via Heathrow T5 and then the bus a rather strange option. One I've never seen as a choice on the NR journey planner before?

NR does sometimes come up with some strange options, especially that as it would require different tickets. (Heathrow Express Ticket and then a RailAir ticket)
But it does it as sometimes it may be a quicker option than waiting for a direct train or something.

And yeah Jo if it was me I will be honest and say I would just drive.

[johoare]

Thank you.. I will do that, and I'd like to hope so, but having just also checked the Paddington to Reading times for the day.. And found no arrivals between 7.40 and 8.40 (apart from one which suggests travelling on the 7.10am from Paddington to Heathrow terminal 5 (expensive) and then getting the bus(!!?!!) to Reading arriving at 8.33)... Engineering works start to spring to mind..

Also, if timetable changes were already planned, wouldn't they be on NR^» (Network Rail - home page) website by now?

It is correct on the website, the train in question arriving Reading at 07:41 is the 06:44 from Paddington

Thanks Ollie, I do find the 7.10 via Heathrow T5 and then the bus a rather strange option. One I've never seen as a choice on the NR journey planner before?

NR does sometimes come up with some strange options, especially that as it would require different tickets. (Heathrow Express Ticket and then a RailAir ticket)
But it does it as sometimes it may be a quicker option than waiting for a direct train or something.

And yeah Jo if it was me I will be honest and say I would just drive.

Cool, I was gonna be good and go for the public transport option. Looks like FGW^▸ (First Great Western) has put paid to that... 

[Ollie]

Cool, I was gonna be good and go for the public transport option. Looks like FGW^▸ (First Great Western) has put paid to that... 

I wouldn't completely blame FGW.

[johoare]

Cool, I was gonna be good and go for the public transport option. Looks like FGW^▸ (First Great Western) has put paid to that... 

I wouldn't completely blame FGW.

OK, I won't... Who else put paid to it though?