Great Western Coffee Shop

From the FGW website :

Line problem in the Bourne End area.
Train services between Bourne End and Marlow are being disrupted due to signalling problems in the Bourne End area.Engineers are working as fast as possible to restore services to normal. Short notice cancellations can be expected.

The branch line between Bourne End and Marlow will remain closed for a number of days. Train services will continue to operate between Maidenhead and Bourne End and road replacement transport will operate between Bourne End and Marlow.

This however could be controlled in its entirty by the Reading panel which would operate the point at Bourne End to give access to Marlow.

Maidenhead Advertiser article, which says that train services were disrupted after an object was thrown through the driver's window showering him in glass (link below.)
http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news_article.php?section=5&category=89&story=5752

"FGW considers us to be a useful contact for the line and is anxious that we should keep the association going. However, if support from the membership is not forthcoming, then we may have to consider disbanding. Obviously this is a last resort, and we would prefer not to go down this route."

No a coat of paint won't do much to improve the
acual service, but one thing that we have found
at Penmere is that after things had been tidied
up (painted), sometimes it can attract people,
more so than you would think.

In my occassional observations of Furze Platt over the years, there's no shortage of people hanging around the station. Usually youths that are probably up to no good though!

Both Karl and Industry Insider have highlighted the problems for a TOC of running stations like Furze Platt. It makes an interesting study.

Here we have a single platform staion in a totally urban environement with an AHB road rail crossing at the Maidenhead end. Several road/rail collisons over the years. There are shops nearby including if it's still there a Fish and Chip outlet. There is also a large comprehensive secondary school nearby as well.

It is also largely unmanned (totally?) joining passengers should purchase tickets from the conductor but with only a 5 minute run to Maidenhead that may not be possible. Not sure if there is a ticket machine.

So how do you make it a bright clean welcoming environment as Karl suggests and at the same time not make it too attractive that it attracts the crowds Industry Insider suggests gather there?

No a coat of paint won't do much to improve the
acual service, but one thing that we have found
at Penmere is that after things had been tidied
up (painted), sometimes it can attract people,
more so than you would think.

In my occassional observations of Furze Platt over
the years, there's no shortage of people hanging
around the station. Usually youths that are probably
up to no good though!

Both Karl and Industry Insider have highlighted the
problems for a TOC of running stations like Furze
Platt. It makes an interesting study. Here we have a
single platform staion in a totally urban environement
with an AHB road rail crossing at the Maidenhead end.
Several road/rail collisons over the years. There are
shops nearby including if it's still there a Fish and
Chip outlet. There is also a large comprehensive
secondary school nearby as well. It is also largely
unmanned (totally?) joining passengers should purchase
tickets from the conductor but with only a 5 minute run
to Maidenhead that may not be possible. Not sure if there
is a ticket machine. So how do you make it a bright clean
welcoming environment as Karl suggests and at the same time
not make it too attractive that it attracts the crowds
Industry Insider suggests gather there?

Business park bosses are being called upon to revive the ^gateway to Marlow^.

Councillors this week spoke of the need for investment to help brighten up the area leading up to Marlow train station in Station Approach and improve the waiting area within it. Marlow Town Council have asked operator First Great Western if they can fund refurbishment but have not yet heard whether any money is available.

The possibility of attracting a sponsor from Globe Business Park, which is situated within walking distance of the train station, was raised at a council meeting on Tuesday.

A three sided brick wall ^ one of which has a hole in it ^ is the only shelter currently provided for waiting passengers at the station. The current untidy appearance and litter surrounding the area gives a bad impression of Marlow, councillors agreed.

Cllr Richard Scott, who also sits on Wycombe District Council and Buckinghamshire County Council, said: ^As a gateway to Marlow it's not very attractive for a relatively small amount of money we should be able to improve it.^ Creating some flower beds outside would be one way to improve the appearance, he said.

The Marlow Society also believes improvements need to be made and called upon Marlovians to come together to reinvigorate the area. Society spokesman David Steele said he had been ^embarrassed^ recently to watch a Canadian couple visiting the town getting wet and wind swept due to the lack of shelter there. ^Here's an opportunity to spend a little bit of money to make a better impression when people come into Marlow and when they leave it. It's not as if we're talking about a massive redevelopment. If you want to attract people onto public transport it needs to be as nice as possible.^

The station is simply in need of a little ^tender loving care^, Mr Steele said.

Mr Steele said signs and maps of Marlow would make a significant difference and aid travellers getting to the town centre because of the distance.

Paul Murphy, secretary of Marlow-Maidenhead Passengers' Association, said although he was not aware of any passenger complaints about the state of the station the organisation believes the Marlow stretch of the track could be better marketed and smartened up.

First Great Western were unavailable for comment.

Marlow station set for makeover

Marlow Railway Station could be given a major revamp, it was revealed at a meeting of the Town Council last night.

First Great Western (FGW) and Network Rail have been approached to remove graffiti and install CCTV, ticket machines, and information screens.

The scheme is in the early stages but money has been budgeted by FGW to install CCTV with work carried out some time in the new year.

Speaking after the meeting, chairman of the Maidenhead and Marlow Passengers Association, Susan Morrison likened the station to an 'unloved step child'.

"It is clearly not very attractive, and we would like to see it given a major revamp," she said.

Read more in next week's Advertiser.

0703 Maidenhead ^ Paddington non-stop service (0620 from Didcot Parkway) to be formed as a 5-car instead of 4-car. This provides an additional 100 Standard Class seats in a key morning peak service
0602 Reading ^ Slough ^ Paddington service to call additionally at Maidenhead, providing a new fast service into London
1736 Paddington ^ Oxford service (fast to Maidenhead) will be formed as a HST instead of a 4-car Turbo
1742 Paddington ^ Bourne End to be accelerated, running 5 minutes faster to Maidenhead and 4 minutes faster to Bourne End
Continuation of recent introduction of Maidenhead call in 1750 Paddington ^ Oxford HST service
1818 Paddington ^ Oxford service (fast to Maidenhead) to run as currently; with a better connection to Bourne End, arrival time there will be accelerated by 4 minutes
1833 Paddington ^ Oxford ceases to operate between Paddington and Oxford For Maidenhead, the 1833 will be effectively replaced by an accelerated and retimed 1842 Paddington ^ Bourne End service. Instead of taking 36 minutes to get to Maidenhead (which makes it a relatively unattractive service), it will depart at 1836 and get to Maidenhead in 27 minutes. As far as Maidenhead it will be formed as a 5-car service instead of a 3-car, providing an additional 186 seats on this train. (NB the 1842 presently has an average load factor of c.72% so there should, on average, also be a further 75 standard seats available for use from Paddington)
The Bourne End connection out of the 1918 Paddington ^ Oxford will be retimed, accelerating the journey time from Paddington to Bourne End by 4 minutes
An additional Maidenhead call will also be inserted into the 1947 Paddington ^ Cheltenham HST service, taking the pattern of fast services to Maidenhead up to 2000
1519 Taunton ^ Paddington HST service will call additionally at Maidenhead (1730)
For Twyford, an additional call will be inserted into the 1848 Paddington ^ Cheltenham HST
1812 Paddington-Henley becomes a 3-car v 4-car service
Saturdays: 2245 Paddington ^ Didcot runs 2 min later from Maidenhead to Reading to provide a better connection off the branch
Saturdays:0650 Twyford ^ Henley runs 7 min later to improve connections onto the branch
Sundays: An additional 0835 Maidenhead ^ Marlow and 0901 return trip will run, giving the branch a 1-hour earlier start on a Sunday compared to the usual service. Long term operation will depend on sufficient traffic being generated.

This has to be seen as a retrograde step, stopping HSS between Reading and Paddington.

This has to be seen as a retrograde step, stopping HSS between Reading and Paddington. I can't imagine East Coast trains stopping at Biggleswade or Virgin trains stopping at Hemel Hempstead.

This has to be seen as a retrograde step, stopping HSS between Reading and Paddington. I can't imagine East Coast trains stopping at Biggleswade or Virgin trains stopping at Hemel Hempstead.

Oh my goodness, a couple of extra minutes to call at Maidenhead, to make sensible use of what is evidently spare seating capacity to help people travelling between Reading and Maidenhead after work and for anyone heading for an evening out in London from Maidenhead. The train is a semi-fast starting at Taunton, running against the peak flow, so unlikely to be packed, not an express from Plymouth or Cornwall, and it currently calls pretty much everywhere along the Berks and Hants line, plus Slough!

Don't the Intercities stop at lots of/several stations relatively close together once they get to Devon/Cornwall? (I may be totally wrong there).. What is the difference between doing that there or at this end of the journey?

I'm not saying the stations SHOULDN'T have a service, but the HSS should not stop - esp in the peaks where journey times are important and the trains are already packed!

You're absolutely right, they do. As do FGW services west of Swansea, calling at Llanelli, Pembrey and Burry Port, Kidwelly and Ferryside on the way to Carmarthen. Kidwelly and Ferryside are even request stops!

Permanent Way problems at Furze Platt
Network Rail is working to replace sleepers at Furze Platt station following an emergency on Tuesday morning. A temporary speed restriction was in operation and some delays to services have been reported.

So will the people who don't want their nice fast intercities stopping between Reading and Paddington also agree to miss out lots of the little stops further west as that will also speed things up?  If we cut a lot of those out there would be loads of time to stop at Maidenhead... ;) ;D

Also couldn't some of the stops in Devon and Cornwall and Wales be serviced by local trains as we have at this end of the journey? So speeding the intercity service up?

We could send you some of ours? Then the HSTs can stop more at this end and we won't need as many local trains  ;)

That would be good as well.

What makes the Thames Valley more entitled to HST's than the West Country.

What makes the Thames Valley more entitled to HST's than the West Country.

It was kind of tongue in cheek, hence the wink..

But really why should one place or another be entitled to more HST stops.. If the local services in Devon Cornwall were a lot better then you wouldn't need them either..

But anyway.. I'll stop (unintentionally) winding people up now (hopefully)  ;) ;)

Because the current services in the TV are at or approaching capacity, so if there a lightly loaded services then the capacity needs to be used of the service could be capped, the TV is at least 7 years before there is a significant increase in capacity with Crossrail and a further 3 before GWML electrification and that is provided the crowd in the Palace of Westminster don't chop those two schemes

Um, no because the point of these services is to transport the people from Devon and Cornwall to London. Not Maidnehead to London, nor Devon & Cornwall to maidenhead. That's why there should be stops at major places in Devon and Cornwall, few after that and none after Reading.

I think that might be last May (2010) the poster is referring to.. That has been happening daily since then  ::) ;D

Correct the poster is a year old

I assume the new arrangement will require three drivers. One to take the Bourne End portion forward. One to dispose of the remainder of the Paddington train and the third to run the Marlow/Bourne End shuttle as now.

Only one driver, the 2 car part of the train remains stabled in plat 5 at Maidenhead certaily for part of the evening

A man has died after being hit by a train near Marlow railway station this afternoon.

He was hit by the 1.06pm service from Marlow to Maidenhead near the Mill Lane level crossing and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The man has not yet been identified. British Transport Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious.

The line between Marlow and Maidenhead was closed for a time due to the incident, with a replacement bus service running in its place, although the line has now been handed back to Network Rail by police investigating the collision.

This train will be cancelled.
This is due to a member of train crew being unavailable.
Additional Information:
Replacement road transport is available

Newton Abbot Facilities: Ticket Vending Machine problem At Newton Abbot station.
The ticket vending machines are out of order.
TVM currently unable to take credit card purchases - Please purchase tickets at ticket offices, where applicable, or ticket barriers or on-train where no other means of purchasing is available.
Message Received: 08/12/2012 07:31

Newton Abbot Facilities: Ticket Vending Machine problem At Newton Abbot station.
The ticket vending machines are only accepting cards.
Please purchase tickets at ticket offices, where applicable, or ticket barriers or on-train where no other means of purchasing is available.
Message Received: 07/12/2012 09:38

Bourne End railway bridge to get ^1m revamp

(http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/imagelibrary/Client%20Images/Client00010/ResizeCache/00424000/00424210%20-%20200x134.jpg)

Work has started on a ^1m revamp of the historic Bourne End Railway Bridge. The structure over the River Thames, which runs from the village to Cookham, carries the Marlow Branch Line train service and provides a crossing point for walkers using the Thames Path.

Network Rail owns the bridge and has employed building contractor Osborne to undertake the project. The steel bridge requires minor structural changes and will also be given a new coat of protective paint. Bad weather had delayed the start of work which had been due to start in mid January. A team of 20 will now be working six days a week to make up time.

No date for the project to be completed has been given and estimates have ranged from the 'end of the summer' to the winter. Work will not affect the train service or walkers although boats will be restricted to passing through only one of the three spans at certain stages.

Osborne has consulted with the Environment Agency, Bucks County Council and The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Noise control measures, including special acoustic curtains, will be used.

The bridge was first constructed in 1854 out of wood by Isambard Kingdom Brunel before being demolished and then reconstructed from steel in 1895.

A work colleague wants to travel from Cookham to Maidenhead in the afternoon of next Sunday (May 19th) but he can find no available train times. I've checked Realtimetrains.co.uk which is similarly blank for that day. I've searched in the service disruptions on Network Rail and FGW websites but although there is mention of engineering work that day affecting services between Reading and Paddington, there is no word specifically on anything affecting the Marlow branch. Is it correct that there'll be no service that day on the line?

A MAN from Marlow has died after being hit by a train late last night.

British Transport Police said the death of the 35 year-old is not being treated as suspicious.

First Great Western, which runs the service from Marlow train station, said it happened about 11.30pm during the last service of the day.

The company has expressed its condolences to the victim's family.

One train has been out of action as a result but services are running as normal today.

British Transport Police spokesman Simon Letouze said: ^BTP officers were called to the line close to Marlow station,  on Thursday, June 27 following a report of a man being struck by a train.

^The incident was reported to BTP at 12.15am and is currently being treated as non-suspicious.

^Medics from the South Central Ambulance Service also attended the incident, but a man, a 35-year-old from Marlow, was pronounced dead at the scene.

^A file will be prepared for the Coroner.^

Dan Panes, spokesman for First Great Western, said: ^Originally we didn't realise a person had been hit and the service continued through to Maidenhead. Our thoughts are with the person involved in the incident and the family and also very much with our driver. These services are going pretty fast, it's not something a driver can do anything about and when they're involved in these kind of incidents it can hit them hard.^

The driver will be given counselling.

The train, consisting of five cars, is out of service while police investigate.

Marlow train cancelled after 'suspicious package' concerns

(http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/resources/images/3549086.jpg?display=1&htype=0&type=mc2)
Marlow train cancelled after 'police incident'

A suspicious package has been revealed as the police incident which caused a train from Marlow to be cancelled on Saturday.

First Great Western confirmed police were called after staff at Maidenhead Station found an unattended item on a train on Saturday afternoon.

They locked the train out of use and passengers were moved away from the carriages.

FGW spokesman James Davis said: ^Maidenhead station staff advised that a suspicious package had been left on the train. The police attended, checked the train and declared the package non-suspicious.^

British Transport Police confirmed they dealt with Saturday's incident.

A BTP spokesman said: ^We were called to Maidenhead railway station shortly before 4.30pm on Saturday, April 11, following a report of a suspicious package on a train. The train terminated at the station and was held there for a short time. BTP officers attended and declared the package safe.^

As a result, the 17:06 from Marlow did not run, with passengers saying First Great Western blamed the cancellation on ^disruptive passengers^ at the time.

Passenger Dominic Hall said there were ^a lot of people disrupted^ and forced to wait an hour until the next train.