Maidenhead station - services, facilities, car parking and incidents (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[sanfrandragon]

Now an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train), and definitely not an upgrade!

Assuming 5 carriages is the normal length for this service, seating capacity is down significantly from the previous old-fashioned diesel, when most people getting on at Maidenhead could get a seat, now most of them can't.

In addition the single door entry makes it much slower to get on and off.

[didcotdean]

On Monday it passed Radley, Culham and Appleford because of a SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) issue - up to a 50 minute wait for the next one. On capacity it needs to be a 9 car ... although more door issues then

[lordgoata]

Is this the same train that runs in the evening to Oxford, arriving at Maidenhead at 1740?

I happened to be at Maidenhead earlier last night, and the 1740 was delayed and I noticed it was an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) instead of the old turbo. I did check RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) but it still had it down as a 165/166, so I wasn't sure - but seeing this today made me wonder if the turbo had been swapped for the IET permanently (or at least for this time table change).

[IndustryInsider]

That Oxford bound one is now booked for a 9-car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train).  It ran about 8 minutes late from Maidenhead onwards yesterday evening, because of problems not related to the train.

[lordgoata]

Thank you II (as always!) - might try it out tonight 

[IndustryInsider]

Thank you II (as always!) - might try it out tonight 

Did you?  It arrived Maidenhead 4 minutes early tonight, start to stop in 18 minutes.

[lordgoata]

Did you?  It arrived Maidenhead 4 minutes early tonight, start to stop in 18 minutes.

I did indeed - my first time on an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) - and I see what everyone says about the seats - I thought the 387's were bad! Was not to badly loaded when it left Maidenhead (which surprised me given the earlier delays and cancellations), I was in coach H, but it was rammed solid at Reading. Might try further along the train next time I catch it. Given me a nice option for summers though - I couldn't stand the Turbo heat anymore!

[Sixty3Closure]

Been away so a bit of a surprise to see a 5 car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) pull in at Twyford.

I use to take the view that billions of pounds of investment had made no difference to my commute. Now I think its safe to say billions of pounds later it is far, far worse.

Absolutely packed and from some of the shouting I could hear not even sure everyone got on a Maidenhead. Talking to some of my fellow travellers many had already written to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to complain and been told it represented an increase in seats compared to the Turbo. And the train companies wonder why nobody likes them.

Seriously how can they think this is a sensible idea? As sanfrandragon says the layout makes it far worse with long delays on boarding/disembarking. I also noticed that many of the people standing had nothing to hold onto other than the tops of seats as presumably the IET weren't designed with the aim of everyone standing.

And this is only the Tuesday after a bank holiday with some schools away...

[TaplowGreen]

Quite a few cancellations between Reading - Paddington this morning due to overhead wire problems, perhaps that made the 0701 busier than usual?

[IndustryInsider]

I think it’ll be a more consistent 12-car 387 service for fasts from Twyford/Maidenhead from December, (along with the TfL^» (Transport for London - about) Rail stoppers) but until then a 5-car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) seems to be the best they can provide.  Some 387s are in for Heathrow mods and less Turbos are about.

[Sixty3Closure]

Most of the fast trains still seemed to be running but could be a factor although I'd probably see that off set by more people than usual being away.

Talking to a few people though they said it had been the same all last week.

If you lost or declassified the 1 and half carriages of first class then the IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) would probably be fine.

[IndustryInsider]

If you lost or declassified the 1 and half carriages of first class then the IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) would probably be fine.

That’s only another 30 something seats, even if none of them are occupied by first class passengers.

[Sixty3Closure]

If you lost or declassified the 1 and half carriages of first class then the IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) would probably be fine.

That’s only another 30 something seats, even if none of them are occupied by first class passengers.

Is that all? I assumed it would be more but I think then there's going to be a lot of unhappy passengers at Maidenhead/Twyford.

Be interesting to see if people start reserving seats (which I'm guessing you can do now as its an IET?) as I think that will only make things worse.

[Timmer]

Is that all? I assumed it would be more but I think then there's going to be a lot of unhappy passengers at Maidenhead/Twyford.

The '1' coach of first class you are referring to also contains the kitchen, Train Manager's office, space for 2 wheelchairs and a accessible toilet so there actually only a few First class seats in this coach.

[NickB]

The new 7.01 formation has pushed even more passengers on to the 7.08 which was spacious for a while following its conversion from HST^▸ (High Speed Train) to 9 car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train).

I am in full agreement that the 7.01 is grossly overcrowded and that the situation has worsened since the retirement of the Turbo.  It needs to be a 9 car urgently.