Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption elsewhere - ongoing, since Oct 2014

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

Last night it was the track, this morning..................


Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between London Paddington and Reading some lines will be blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 09:00 23/11.
Customer Advice

We are sorry for the delay to your journey.

We will update this message with more information when we have it.
Additional Information
TFL^▸ (Transport for London) Rail are conveying passengers via any reasonable route between London and Reading until further notice.

[eightonedee]

...and if you thought you might get to London via Waterloo,  think again.

Line closed at Wokingham due to signalling problems

[stuving]

...and if you thought you might get to London via Waterloo,  think again.

Line closed at Wokingham due to signalling problems

They must be getting better at fixing those points (lots of practice) - incident created 08:14, updated 09:56 to say it's been fixed. And the first SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) train has already come through, which is just as well as I plan to go into Reading in an hour or two. Mind you, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) don't agree it was the points - their trains were cancelled due to a track circuit failure.

I see that someone's been having a bit of fun with those delay attribution codes - some earler trains were shown as "This service was cancelled due to it being Autumn (TT)." The full explanation of code TT  is long an complicated, so I can see why it got shortened, but ...

[Worcester_Passenger]

JourneyCheck has a curious entry this morning:

08:13 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington due 10:24
08:13 Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington due 10:24 was 12 minutes late and will be further delayed at London Paddington.
This is due to damage to the overhead electric wires.

[bobm]

Last night it was the track, this morning..................


Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between London Paddington and Reading some lines will be blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 09:00 23/11.
Customer Advice

We are sorry for the delay to your journey.

We will update this message with more information when we have it.
Additional Information
TFL^▸ (Transport for London) Rail are conveying passengers via any reasonable route between London and Reading until further notice.

Wires down on the main lines at Dolphin Junction near Slough which could take a couple of days to repair.

Now plastic wrapped round the overhead (and the pantograph of an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train)) at Hayes & Harlington.

[TaplowGreen]

We had days of this only a couple of months ago.....why is this system so fragile & vulnerable to meltdown?

I thought electrification was the way forward?

[1st fan]

We had days of this only a couple of months ago.....why is this system so fragile & vulnerable to meltdown?

I thought electrification was the way forward?

Oh it is this is just teething trouble and they’ll get it right eventually.

As someone commented on my last trip from MIM where there was an extended delay at one station….

“It wouldn’t be quite so bad to be delayed if the seats weren’t quite so uncomfortable!”

That had a few people smiling.

[grahame]

Into this evening ...

to echo another thread, the text / description information is a class above what we're familiar with.

Customer Advice

The overhead wires near Slough have been damaged after a train reported striking an object caught in them early this morning.
-
This has resulted in the high speed main lines being closed, with all trains needing to use the slower relief lines as an alternative.
-
This has caused congestion between Reading & London, requiring us to implement a Contingency Train Plan.
-
Network Rail will perform repairs overnight (from 23:00), and train services will continue to be amended until the early hours of November 24. From 23:00, we will have 1 open line instead of the usual 4 - and some trains will need to be cancelled to avoid congestion.

[TaplowGreen]

Into this evening ...

to echo another thread, the text / description information is a class above what we're familiar with.

Customer Advice

The overhead wires near Slough have been damaged after a train reported striking an object caught in them early this morning.
-
This has resulted in the high speed main lines being closed, with all trains needing to use the slower relief lines as an alternative.
-
This has caused congestion between Reading & London, requiring us to implement a Contingency Train Plan.
-
Network Rail will perform repairs overnight (from 23:00), and train services will continue to be amended until the early hours of November 24. From 23:00, we will have 1 open line instead of the usual 4 - and some trains will need to be cancelled to avoid congestion.

Magnificent and ethereal prose notwithstanding, I'm not sure that it will be of great use or comfort to those stranded at Paddington - looking at the list of cancellations and "updates" I am certainly glad to be at home already.

Good luck to all those trying to get home tonight.

[grahame]

Magnificent and ethereal prose notwithstanding, I'm not sure that it will be of great use or comfort to those stranded at Paddington - looking at the list of cancellations and "updates" I am certainly glad to be at home already.

Good luck to all those trying to get home tonight.

Words are not a solution to the problems, I agree. It needs actions to move us from a "not AGAIN - what THIS time" response to a "goodness - that's a surprise" reponse.

I will be joining the throng and will let you know how I get on

[grahame]

We awake this morning and it looks like yesterday's overhead problem is fixed and there's a new one below the train today

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading
Due to a points failure between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Reading. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Cancellations to services between West Ealing and Greenford
Due to a points failure between West Ealing and Greenford the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

28 cancellations, 32 part-routes on Journey Check

[grahame]

I will be joining the throng and will let you know how I get on

See (separate post) looking at my whole journey yesterday

[bobm]

We awake this morning and it looks like yesterday's overhead problem is fixed and there's a new one below the train today

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Reading
Due to a points failure between London Paddington and Reading fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Reading. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Cancellations to services between West Ealing and Greenford
Due to a points failure between West Ealing and Greenford the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

28 cancellations, 32 part-routes on Journey Check

Problem at Dolphin Junction is partially fixed in that the track is now clear but trains can only run on diesel on the main lines thrpugh the section.  The points issue is on the relief lines at Kensal Green after a crack was found in them overnight.

More work to be carried out at Dolphin Junction tonight.

[TaplowGreen]

You really couldn't make it up, could you?

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between London Paddington and Slough some lines are closed.

Train services running to and from these stations have been delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer Advice
Following a train driver reported a 'flash' in the Slough area, and subsequent tripping of the overhead electric wires, a technician has found a pheasant stuck in the roof of the train near the pantograph (the equipment that allows a train to draw power from the overhead electric wires.)
-

[bobm]

For “Slough area” read Iver.   In other words not the same place as the other day.