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

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

A warning that the 07:08 is also a 5-car this morning.

[IndustryInsider]

Update:  it’s terminated at Oxford anyway due to problems at Hayes.

[BBM]

I took this service from TWY^▸ (Twyford station) this morning for the first time since it was converted to IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) and it was a 9-car set so hopefully this is regular now. FC^‡(resolve) was at the front so I went towards the rear. Cars A & B and the rear door of C were off the end of platform 4 so I boarded through the front of C and walked down to A where there was plenty of empty seats, even after calling at MAI^▸ (Maidenhead station).

[TaplowGreen]

That's good news. I was at Ealing Broadway for the 1707 last night (cancelled, train fault)) and the 1720 was shortformed as a 3 car Turbo (another train fault). Managed to wedge myself on but it was packed beyond description and left many behind on the platform.

[IndustryInsider]

Interestingly it’s booked a 9-car for today only this week.  Rest of the week it’s a 5-car.  Perhaps a special event, or VIP, is being catered for later in the diagram?  Either way, don’t expect a 9-car next time sadly!

[Sixty3Closure]

Ah well that answers my question about where to stand next week...

[NickB]

Ah well that answers my question about where to stand next week...

On the roof?

[Sixty3Closure]

Beginning to feel like that isn't it?

[NickB]

Out of interest what is the relative seated capacity for Standard Class only of a 6 car turbo vs a 5 car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) ?

[Sixty3Closure]

According to Wikipedia a 5 Car Set IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) had 45 First Class, 270 Standard.

The Turbos don't appear to have seating capacity listed but according to Angel Trains (so there may be regional variations) a 165 has 264 std, 24 1st class seats per 3-car unit and 170 Std, 16 1st class seats per 2-car unit.

So quite a big reduction although chatting to some  passengers at Maidenhead who complained to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) they were told the IET was an improvement.

Twyford is starting to resemble Maidenhead now with a lot more jockeying for position and bad behaviour.

[broadgage]

I think that the figure for first class IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) seating is out of date.
45 First class seats was the original plan, but the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) units were downgraded to 36 first class seats.

[stuving]

I think that the figure for first class IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) seating is out of date.
45 First class seats was the original plan, but the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) units were downgraded to 36 first class seats.

I'm not sure how that's a "downgrade". Squeezing three more first-class eats into the DPTF1 might be, though. If your unmet need is for a seat, especially a standard class one, both would be upgrades.

The current seating diagrams show 290+36.

[IndustryInsider]

I'm not sure how that's a "downgrade". Squeezing three more first-class eats into the DPTF1 might be, though. If your unmet need is for a seat, especially a standard class one, both would be upgrades.

The current seating diagrams show 290+36.

Broadgage always tries to shoehorn the words 'downgrade', 'DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)' and 'half-length' into every post.   Much like ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) usually manage to include 'bulldoze' at least once in their press releases. 

Totals I believe are:

5-Car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) 290+36, total 324
9-Car IET 576+71, total 647

6-Car Turbo has a total of 477-528 depending on which layout it is formed of.

4-car 387 is 224
8-car 387 is 448
12-car 387 is 672

In the case of IETs and 387s all seats are spacious whereas the three abreast Turbo ones aren't, even if you're slim.

[didcotdean]

There certainly are 'less than the best' classes of train covering some specific services in the Thames Valley at the moment: 5-carriage IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) on commuter stopping services from Oxford as here; 3-carriage turbos on Oxford fasts and the same running entirely under the wires to Reading etc. I don't doubt this is the best fit to the diagrams and what is available and capable of running, but is no consolation to those who have to bear the consequences. Maybe the jam will come tomorrow.

[Celestial]

Broadgage always tries to shoehorn the words 'downgrade', 'DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)' and 'half-length' into every post.   Much like ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) usually manage to include 'bulldoze' at least once in their press releases. 

Broadgage bingo, a game everyone can play. Who can be first to shout "IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)" after getting all the above, plus short-form and buffet.  A bottle of port is first prize, and runner up gets a £5 voucher to spend on the IET trolley, assuming it ever gets to you of course.  Playing at least once daily, for the next 37 years.