New timetable - how was it for you ?

[whole diary]

[gpn01]

Day one of the new timetable and the only issue on the 07:02 from Maidenhead was a platform alternation (which was well announced and appeared on the departure screens).  So, a good start for the 07:02.

Don't know how the 07:04 fared - last I saw, the screens said it was expected to be 19 minutes late.

I guess it'll take a few days for the new schedule to settle down, so it's grin and bare it time.

Anyway, I hope that the schedule quickly settles down and I wish the staff well!

[BBM]

Don't know how the 07:04 fared - last I saw, the screens said it was expected to be 19 minutes late.

I got that train this morning, it pulled into Twyford at 07:10 (due 06:55) just as I arrived at the station. It was a very empty refurbished HST^▸ (High Speed Train)! As we arrived at platform 4 at Maidenhead at 07:20 what I presume to be the 07:19 was just leaving from platform 2 and we were held there for 4 minutes until we could get onto the fast line. Arrival at Paddington was at 07:45 (18 late). The train I'd planned to get from Twyford, the 07:23, was shown as running 7 minutes late on the arrivals board at Paddington.

This is my first post here, I've been lurking for a few months, greetings to all fellow regular Thames Valley FGW^▸ (First Great Western) passengers!

[Ollie]

Fine for me, 06:22 from Reading, arrived Paddington On Time

[johoare]

9.03 Maidenhead to Paddington.. Arrived 6 minute late at Paddington (although it's already 15 minutes later than my old train that they removed from the timetable), so I arrived at work very late, as I will do every day from now on (thanks FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for not listening to me).  Also this train is non-stop from Maidenhead to Paddington, yet we stopped at Slough to let a couple of people off, but no one on.. What's all that about then?

[argg]

Not bad this morning...I expect it will all settle down in time.

This evening looked like it was getting interesting but I got away earlier - did I miss the fun?

I would however be fascinated to know why the 7.25 Twyford - Paddington on the old timetable (always arrived almost empty from Oxford, only stopped at Maidenhead and was 6 carriages which seemed about right)...

...is now replaced by the 7.23 which now comes from Henley half full, still only one more stop at Maidenhead but is only 5 carriages.

It arrived on time - so that's OK then

[simonw]

The timetable wasn't bad, but the service was!

0657 BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) to London, scheduled to arrive at Reading at 0800, but arrived at 0845 due to Engineering overrun and signal problems near Hullavington. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) describes this a minor problem I call it 45 minute delay with no clear information provided.

1641 Reading to Swansea train delayed for 8 minutes at Wotton Basset due to a failure of automatic points. NR^» (Network Rail - home page) engineers had to operate them manually.

It's amazing that so many things do go wrong after Engineering work!

[BandHcommuter]

Today I was on the 0621 Westbury to Paddington. Now an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) instead of Adelante and is scheduled to take about 10 minutes longer than the 0639 in the previous timetable.

The conductor seemed to manage well with the doors and selective locking at the smaller stations (Bedwyn, Kintbury etc) and tickets were checked. I noticed that there were staff on normally unstaffed platforms, so perhaps FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are deploying extra resources during the transition. Slightly delayed between Reading and Paddington, but otherwise a promising start.

[gpn01]

Not quite sure what happened this morning at Maidenhead but I think that the 07:02 left from Platform 2 and the 07:04 went from Platform 4 at about the same time.  All I know is that I ended up with a seat on a nice HST^▸ (High Speed Train) and arrived at Paddington only a few minutes later than expected.

[Westernchallenger]

I was on the 1706 Paddington - Westbury on Monday. Formed of HST^▸ (High Speed Train) - SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) worked well with the Train Manager making clear announcements as to which coach to alight from at Theale, Thatcham, Kintbury, Hungerford, Bedwyn and Pewsey. Train ran on time throughout.

[Mookiemoo]

I was on the 1706 Paddington - Westbury on Monday. Formed of HST^▸ (High Speed Train) - SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) worked well with the Train Manager making clear announcements as to which coach to alight from at Theale, Thatcham, Kintbury, Hungerford, Bedwyn and Pewsey. Train ran on time throughout.

Thats because out of paddington the train is in the right formation for SDO

Its on the way in that the problem occurs

[gpn01]

This morning was 'entertaining'.....

The 07:04 arrived at Platform 4 at Maidenhead at 07:12.  The announcement, which'll probably now haunt the person who made it,  was "this train is running 11 minutes late due to it being a High Speed Train operating  on a slow (or stopping?) service".  I guess that, as the 07:04 is scheduled to be operated by a HST^▸ (High Speed Train), that we should expect this service to run late as a matter of course.

The 07:02 meanwhile was also delayed.  I think the sign said that it was due into Maidenhead at 07:20.  Presumably, as this is operated by a slow train on a high speed line, we should normally expect it to run ahead of time ?

As to why the HST is being operated with three of the seven carriages in First Class configuration astounds me.  The grot class carriages were standing room only whilst the 1st class ones were half empty.  With the changes to ticket prices due in the New Year perhaps it is time to encourage FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to operate the entire route as a single class ?  At least there would then be a fighting chance for the commuters to have a seat.

[BBM]

When I got to Twyford this morning at 07:10 the 06:52 to Henley (which on its return forms the 07:23 departure from Twyford to Paddington) was only just leaving! However the 07:04 trundled in at 07:16 and I caught that, arriving at Paddington some 15 minutes late at 07:59. The 07:23 was shown as running 12 minutes late on the arrival board at Paddington.

[WDcommuter]

I'm really pleased about the new timetable - there are now 4 trains an hour between West Drayton and Slough/Maidenhead/Reading instead of 2. However, they have been putting on fewer carriages, so some services have been really crowded. The new 8:21 from WD has been late every day so far (between 5-10 mins), but no cancellations yet and it would only be a 15 minute wait for the next one anyway so a big improvement.

[jane s]

Why are there NO semi-fast trains from Reading to Ealing Broadway in the morning peak?

If I miss the 07:22 from Tilehurst, not only do I now have to change at Reading (when previously there were plenty of subsequent through trains) but the train stops at practically every stop, meaning my journey would be nearly 1/2-hour longer than it used to be. Guess i'll just have to get used to getting up earlier (ugh!)

In the evening it is fine (apart from the 17:33 from Ealing Broadway which STILL has only 3 carriages - why??) - why oh why can't they replicate the Ealing-Hayes-Slough-Maidenhead-Twyford-Reading pattern in the morning?

Nightmare this morning though, the 07:22 was 1/2-hour late on a freezing cold morning.

It can only get better.....

[Lee]

Welcome to the forum , jane s and WDcommuter.

A belated welcome to BBM as well.