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

[whole diary]

[Dispatch Box]

Interestingly, tonight it's an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) with 9 coaches.

Not an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)?

Funny thing I,ve just noticed that as you were posting.

Also just noticed its going towards Swindon and not through Oxford like they usually do, If 9 coaches it wont fit in Gloucester station. Now finding out it was an IET Will fit just about in plat 2.

[JayMac]

Interestingly, tonight it's an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) with 9 coaches.

Not an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)?

Complete brain fade. Of course 9 coaches is an IET.

And going via Kemble is its usual journey.

[TonyK]

Interestingly, tonight it's an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) with 9 coaches.

Not an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)?

Complete brain fade. Of course 9 coaches is an IET.

And going via Kemble is its usual journey.

Wot I thought. I've also got used to seeing them as 10 cars with first class in 1,2 6 and 7, or A,B,I and J, or one from the top two from the middle please Carol.

[Dispatch Box]

Interestingly, tonight it's an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) with 9 coaches.

Not an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)?

Complete brain fade. Of course 9 coaches is an IET.

And going via Kemble is its usual journey.

ODD: I looked on opentraintimes, was listed as a HST.

[Dispatch Box]

And stopped at Maidenhead, must of been a converted one.

[tomL]

ODD: I looked on opentraintimes, was listed as a HST^▸ (High Speed Train).

That would be the timing. All high speed services are currently timed as HSTs.

There was a 9 coach HST going around at some point, though.

[grahame]

ODD: I looked on opentraintimes, was listed as a HST^▸ (High Speed Train).

That would be the timing. All high speed services are currently timed as HSTs.

There was a 9 coach HST going around at some point, though.

Adding to that picture ... many current timings for

Timed for 90mph max
Pathed as Class 158 (Express Sprinter) DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)

turn out to be class 165 or 166

and timings for

Timed for 75mph max
Pathed as Class 150/153/155/156 (Sprinter) DMU

Are oft run by 158, 165 or 166 units.

I can't recall when a 155 or 156 last appeared at Westbury - from which I have taken those latest quotes

[Sixty3Closure]

It's been a good run but only 3 coaches today which made it all a bit unpleasant. It's also been 5 coaches a lot more frequently. Hopefully this isn't related to the Turbos cascade and challenges around maintenance or spares.

It did manage to be its regular 4-5 mins late though.

[NickB]

I wondered why the 7.06 was a little busier today.
I’m surprised that the 7.01 is still a turbo. Any idea when it is due to be upgraded?

[didcotdean]

As it starts from Oxford and calls at all stations to Maidenhead (yes even all three between Oxford and Didcot, being their only through morning service to London) it isn't clear what could be a suitable direct replacement.

[IndustryInsider]

It could possibly be a candidate for an 8-car Class 769 when they arrive, along with the 17:18 equivalent Turbo return working from Paddington.

[grahame]

It could possibly be a candidate for an 8-car Class 769 when they arrive, along with the 17:18 equivalent Turbo return working from Paddington.

I followed today's diagram and it headed out for Great Malvern once arrived in Paddington.  I had wondered if it headed for Bedwyn, but apparently not!   I would expect diagrams to change in December ... but will the 769s be as wide ranging as Paddington and Great Malvern, or is this slated as one of the diagrams for 80x units once they're all in service?

[IndustryInsider]

They won’t go beyond Oxford, and might not even go beyond Didcot or even Reading regularly.  As you say, the diagrams, and times of trains, will alter significantly come the end of the year.

I don’t believe there will be any Cotswold Line services formed by Turbos from then, except the morning ‘Halts’ train.  That was the original plan anyway.

[Sixty3Closure]

Does the 'halt' service include the 06.53/07.01 we're discussing? I think its going to struggle in its current format. Based on the totally unscientific basis of a couple of people I work with more people on the Oxford to Reading part of the journey are using it rather than change at Reading. For them its a much more comfortable journey and they get a seat. It also seems to be getting much busier at Twyford since I've been using it.

You could move the Henley connection back a few minutes so they get the next fast train although I can see that being unpopular as its slightly slower and 10 minutes later.

[grahame]

Does the 'halt' service include the 06.53/07.01 we're discussing?

The "halts" train is later ... (e.g.) 07:53 at Finstock, 08:10 Oxford, 08:28 Didcot from where you can catch the stopper at 08:35 to London at 10:02, or the express at 08:55 into London at 09:36

On return, it's the 16:22 from London, 17:25 at Oxford, 17:46 into Finstock.