Great Western Coffee Shop

As at 07:53 this morning

Due to a speed restriction over defective track between Slough and Windsor & Eton Central fewer trains are able to run.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice:
The trains that leave Slough at 30 minutes past the hour and Windsor at 39 minutes past the hour, will be cancelled. Please note that there are no toilet facilities on this service.

If I recall rightly the track defect was on the down main on Monday with a 5mph speed limit over the affected section. Is this a new disease which is contagious and has now spread to the Slough to Windsor single line whilst the down main has recovered following successful treatment over Tuesday night.     

The repair work on the Down Main has removed the points accessing the branch line.  So the unit on the Windsor shuttle is currently trapped on the branch with no access to a depot for refuelling or water.

I saw this morning that the crossing casting has been removed and plain-lined for the Down Main

Suggestion elsewhere that it might be there for a few weeks, refuelled at the permanent way access point "on the curve".  I wonder how long that unit has to go to an exam?

Presumably the reduction to an hourly service is to save fuel rather than due to a lack of time to make 2 trips per hour.  The train normally only uses the points at the start and end of the day so there's effectively no change at other times.

Normally a 20 minute service so quite a reduction.

As I read it, the service is reduced by one service an hour and not to one service an hour.   Gaps of 20 minutes and 40 minutes.

I would also imagine with GWR 'knowing' how long it will be there, that it will not be racking up too many miles towards its next examination/service.  That, I imagine, would halt the service completely.

Maybe not the best situation in the middle of the tourist season.

Anyway if I have to go to Windsor for work it will obviously easier to cycle from Slough.

I understand unit refuelled successfully Friday night. No mention of Loo emptying!

Part ordered for point estimated completion 12th August.

GWR have re-timed Windsor's. Every 30 minutes is quite good because there is now a 2 minute  cross platform connection half hourly fast from Pad (Oxford and Cotswold line).

Every 20 minutes doesn't fit so there is wait at Slough off two trains.

Coming back is not so good as there is a 15 minute wait at Slough.

I should imagine the toilets will be locked out of use as the trip is only five minutes anyway!  The 30-minute interval service is the sensible thing to do - let's hope the train doesn't suffer any kind of failure!

Looks like the unit trapped on the branch might be freed soon.

The main lines through Slough are closed for part of Sunday to presumably allow the points to be re-instated.

Then early on Monday morning there is a path to get the unit "home" - http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C24066/2019/08/19/advanced (http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C24066/2019/08/19/advanced)

Summer staycation for the unit?