FGW on Chiltern line

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

What units are they using 165s or one of the 172s? It's a few years since I travelled on it and even then when I think it went through to Aylesbury via Pricnces Risborough I was outnumbered by staff.

[ChrisB]

165s...

[Brucey]

I wonder if the service were offered in one (or both) of the peaks, if it would actually be used by passengers?

I'm assuming the "down" service is more popular as enthusiasts (let's face it, they are probably the only ones using this service) are likely to come from Central London (having travelled there from elsewhere) than from Ruislip.

[John R]

But presumably the stock is needed for the Marylebone service in the peak hour. One sole departure from Paddington would be pointless in the peak - miss it by 30 seconds and then you have to go back to Marylebone. Also there may be insufficient platform space at Paddington in the peak.

[JayMac]

The Chiltern Paddington Parly serves two purposes.

One is to retain diversionary route knowledge for Chiltern drivers and guards and the other is to hold off the necessary legal processes that would have to be started if there was a cessation of passengers services over the line between Old Oak Common and Northolt Junction. One of those processes would be a public inquiry. Its not just station closures that require proper legal process. Sections of line are also covered by the same legal requirements if their passenger service is to be removed.

Easier all round to have a token service rather than formally close the line to passenger services.

That said, sometimes the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) do fupp up, as was the case with the line between Acton East Junction and Mitre Bridge Junction in West London. When CrossCountry services to/from Brighton were withdrawn, this section of line lost its passenger service, but there was no statutory public inquiry. The crude fix for this error by the DfT was a once a week, in one direction only, rail replacement bus between two stations (Ealing Broadway and Kensington Olympia) that were approximate to the rail route that had lost its passenger service.

Plans to resume a rail service over this section of line have not come to fruition. This despite it being written into the tender for the South Central franchise starting in September 2009. The franchise winner, Southern Railway have been given a derogation permitting them not to provide a rail service over this section of line due to logistical and rolling stock issues. Thus the DfT funded bus service continues although formal withdrawal of the passenger service over this section of line is currently in process. I believe (although I'm open to correction) that this is still to be ratified. The other section of line affected by the withdrawal of the CrossCountry services to/from Brighton - Latchmere No 1 Junction - Latchmere No 3 Junction - to the east of Clapham Junction, has a once daily rail service in each direction, provided by Southern, between Wandsworth Road and Kensington Olympia stations.

[Southern Stag]

There were moves to withdraw the two parliamentary services in West London but it all seems to have gone a bit quiet now. There was a consultation on it I believe.

[anthony215]

I was the only passenger on it when I traveled on it back in december the only other people on the train was the driver and the guard

[JayMac]

Travelled from Paddington to West Ruislip with Chiltern a few weeks back. Just me and one other passenger. Two drivers, two guards.