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

[whole diary]

[BBM]

I made one of my now very irregular TWY^▸ (Twyford station)-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) journeys this morning and all seemed well from my point of view, I caught the 0654 from TWY, and coach 11 where I sat was only half-full after MAI^▸ (Maidenhead station). One thing I did notice was that the 0648 (a 5-car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) from BDW which is non-stop from TWY) was full and standing on departure and if more people were prepared to wait for the 0654 (like me!) then that later train would be rather busier.

[IndustryInsider]

I made one of my now very irregular TWY^▸ (Twyford station)-PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) journeys this morning and all seemed well from my point of view, I caught the 0654 from TWY, and coach 11 where I sat was only half-full after MAI^▸ (Maidenhead station). One thing I did notice was that the 0648 (a 5-car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) from BDW which is non-stop from TWY) was full and standing on departure and if more people were prepared to wait for the 0654 (like me!) then that later train would be rather busier.

All was well with the 07:02/07:07 off of Maidenhead again this morning, though it looks like the previous Class 387 semi-fast from Didcot ran fast from Reading (that's the 06:26 off of Twyford, and 06:33 off of Maidenhead) and might explain why the 06:48 off of Twyford was busy this morning?  The decision to run the 06:26/06:33 fast from Reading was due to it being delayed at Reading for 21 minutes due to unit problems.

MODS: Perhaps we should rename this thread as it now discusses other trains from Maidenhead and the commuter services into London from Twyford as well?

[Sixty3Closure]

07.01 didn't stop at Maidenhead this morning. It was only 2-3 minutes late leaving Twyford (freight train again) so not sure what the problem was.

[NickB]

07.01 didn't stop at Maidenhead this morning. It was only 2-3 minutes late leaving Twyford (freight train again) so not sure what the problem was.

As was reported to rather cold customers at Maidenhead this morning:
MAI^▸ (Maidenhead station) to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) on your route: 07:02 - cancelled - a problem currently under investigation.

The 06.37(?) and 06.45 ran with delays today. The 06.37 was held back to allow other HS^▸ (High Speed (short for HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) High Speed Services)) services to pass it.

[TaplowGreen]

I hear the 0707 was cancelled at 0701 this morning.

[IndustryInsider]

I hear the 0707 was cancelled at 0701 this morning.

Nonsense.  The messages was sent out at 06:55, so [sarcasm mode on] plenty of notice!   

It looks as though a delay of five or more minutes will trigger this alteration as per contingency plans to try and protect other trains from delay.  Of no consolation to those at Maidenhead.

[TaplowGreen]

0831 at Maidenhead......could be cosy!

07:52 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington due 08:52
Facilities on the 07:52 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington due 08:52.
This is due to a fault on this train.
Will be formed of 4 coaches instead of 12.

[Sixty3Closure]

I've been working remotely so don't know what the service was like last week. This morning though there were no seats left in Coach 4 after it left Twyford so bit cosy from Maidenhead but on time.

Not sure any amount of hand washing is going to help contain anything when people are packed in so tightly though.

[TaplowGreen]

0633 & 0645 non stopping at Maidenhead today.....should make things cosy around 0700! 😫

[Sixty3Closure]

Plenty of seats this morning. I think I've found an upside to the end of the world.

[TaplowGreen]

0633 & 0702 cancelled this morning.

[Sixty3Closure]

On time and very pleasant this morning.

Only downside was this was my first trip back into the office for several months and the shock of getting up at 5.30am was almost enough to make me think about putting it off. The whole routine just felt strange.

I'd forgotten just how expensive buying tickets on the day was. Just under £30 for a Twyford to Paddington return. Despite all the hectoring from the government to get back to the office its not covid that puts me off but the cost. Going in the odd day is quite expensive and i've really got use to having a couple of extra hundred pounds a month from not paying my season ticket loan.

The train was quiet although for a Friday in mid-August it didn't seem excessively so. Out of the 8 or 9 people I could see on the platform I was the only one wearing a mask which surprised me. The London Transport staff (and their private security companions) weren't challenging people.

The stopping service coming back (it was a quick trip to the office!) was fairly busy and felt about right for a mid morning train, Friday in August. Seemed to be a better percentage of people wearing masks or going through the motions anyway. Some British Transport Police got on at Southall but ignored people not wearing masks.

[Marlburian]

Victim headbutted and punched in face in row over mask.

The incident took place on August 12 between Slough and Langley but the photo was only published yesterday.

[NickB]

Well it’s now been over a year since I had the pleasure of using any form of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) service and my blood pressure is much the better for it

[IndustryInsider]

Well it’s now been over a year since I had the pleasure of using any form of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) service and my blood pressure is much the better for it

Good to see you back online, Nick.  I think it's fair to say that those who have continued to commute have also seen their blood pressure levels drop considerably!   

It would be interesting to hear your future plans over on the thread I created last month at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=24728.0 - even though the associated poll has now closed.