Great Western Coffee Shop

Numerous cancellations today due to staff shortages from early afternoon until close of service - not great for people returning from half term hols.

There's a lot of extras between Paddington and Hayes and Harlington though ... suggests that cl.387 or diesel unit(s) are in use - and I'm guessing that route knowledge / type clearance might not be there for Heathrow?

Heathrow is BAA land....presukably has to be some agreement with them to run those?

AIUI no other random stock can run into Heathrow in normal service, as the only signalling system on the branch is GW ATP.   Without TPWS a 'normal' EMU cannot go there, even if it were physically cleared.

Paul

DMU's are out of the question as they are no "section 12" approved ie they are not fire rated to operate in the Heathrow tunnels, the 387 will not have been route cleared.  Also if there is a shortage of Connect staff GWR staff will not be much help as the drivers and conductor / guards will not have route knowledge.

Looks like the 140 busses were busy then

Same again today by the looks for it, for the same reason - not enough drivers.

18:07 Heathrow Terminal 4 to London Paddington due 18:36
18:07 Heathrow Terminal 4 to London Paddington due 18:36 will be cancelled.

This is due to a shortage of train drivers.

..................one of 12 cancellations listed from early evening onwards for the same reason.....seems to be a perennial problem around holiday times.