Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption elsewhere - ongoing, since Oct 2014

[whole diary]

[DidcotPunter]

Personally I think there must be a fundamental underlying issue with the system configuration in the original Paddington to Hayes scheme as we don't seem to suffer quite as many failures on other more newer areas using the same equipment and system configuration.  Of course relay interlockings are much more reliable than modern electronic kit (look for example at Plymouth which is still using its original 1960 relay equipment and I can count the number of failures of that installation over the past 20 years on one hand).

+1 Thanks for the explanation!

The BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) SSI^▸ (Solid State Interlocking) was a well-proven system and my recollection from 1992 onwards when the Slough New (SN) scheme was implemented was that it was pretty reliable. Given all the inbuilt redundancy you describe I'm wondering what's changed in the past three years to make it fall over so regularly. Can't be the change to axle counters, can it?

[ChrisB]

What steep rise in fares is that, TG?

[TaplowGreen]

What steep rise in fares is that, TG?

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/rail-commuters-face-brexit-fare-hike-of-nearly-four-times-the-one-per-cent-public-sector-pay-cap-a3580271.html

.....................and on this occasion there is absolutely no need for you to ask "oooooooooooooo's gunna pay for it?"........we all are!!! 

[Electric train]

Thanks for that explanation, S&TE.

So, cheap British and European crap then? 

I can tell you that all of those modules I mentioned are certainly not cheap.

Personally I think there must be a fundamental underlying issue with the system configuration in the original Paddington to Hayes scheme as we don't seem to suffer quite as many failures on other more newer areas using the same equipment and system configuration.  Of course relay interlockings are much more reliable than modern electronic kit (look for example at Plymouth which is still using its original 1960 relay equipment and I can count the number of failures of that installation over the past 20 years on one hand).

The thing that does give SSI^▸ (Solid State Interlocking) (Solid State Interlocking) a problem at times is the signalling power supply; certain modules will fail safe if they are unhappy with power that they are supplied with which requires a signal tech to reset them.  Occasionally if there is a problem external to the railway with the DNO^▸ (Distribution Network Operator) system this can cause problems; UPS have been installed and are being installed in a lot of the supply points.

[Timmer]

Appears things weren't too good at Waterloo last evening either:
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/825203/London-Waterloo-Paddington-travel-commuting-delays-train-rail-rush-hour

Passengers were left stranded at London Waterloo, one of the country's busiest stations, after a track fault closed two platforms. Britons also reported mass delays at Paddington, around four miles away, as they desperately tried to get home during rush hour. They vented their anger on social media as temperatures rose to 82F (28C) on one of the hottest days of the year.

Graeme Hutchison‏ tweeted: "Not a good day for South West Trains or Waterloo. Cancellations and delays all over the boards." Poppy Rose wrote: "Avoid Paddington at all costs. No trains are allowed to leave the station due to signal failure. Waterloo has the same issue." Another user added: "Current situation at Paddington. No trains leaving the station at rush hour. No info on any of the screens, just lots of hot, tired people."

[broadgage]

We increasingly have a fair weather only railway that seems unable to cope with entirely predictable temperatures, or with rain or wind.

Any reasonable passenger would expect disruption in truly extreme conditions, but by "truly extreme" I mean winds of 100MPH, or 10 foot deep snow drifts, or temperatures that break records.

Large scale disruptions certainly seem to have got worse in recent years. Of course breakdowns occurred back in the old days, but I do not recall major London termini EVER being closed in the rush hours, yet now it seems to happen several times a year.
Paddington seems to be the worst in recent years, with Waterloo being a close second.

I expect it to get worse as more and more signalling is controlled from large centralised and remote signalling control centres. And of course electrification though a good thing in theory has added another risk of large scale failure, more exploding pigeons and more chance of failures in windy weather.

[Jason]

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Reading and London Paddington some lines are closed.
Impact: Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed. Disruption is expected until 09:45 06/07.

[TaplowGreen]

We increasingly have a fair weather only railway that seems unable to cope with entirely predictable temperatures, or with rain or wind.

Any reasonable passenger would expect disruption in truly extreme conditions, but by "truly extreme" I mean winds of 100MPH, or 10 foot deep snow drifts, or temperatures that break records.

Large scale disruptions certainly seem to have got worse in recent years. Of course breakdowns occurred back in the old days, but I do not recall major London termini EVER being closed in the rush hours, yet now it seems to happen several times a year.
Paddington seems to be the worst in recent years, with Waterloo being a close second.

I expect it to get worse as more and more signalling is controlled from large centralised and remote signalling control centres. And of course electrification though a good thing in theory has added another risk of large scale failure, more exploding pigeons and more chance of failures in windy weather.

You just have to be patient. Once GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have finished "building a Greater West" everything will be fine & dandy and we will move into broad, sunlit uplands with no delays, plenty of seats, trains/air conditioning/signals that dont break down every 5 minutes and even emails answered within 6 months.....staff will be easy to find at stations and will rush forward to offer assistance rather than picking their noses and scowling at passers by......you may even find them working on Sundays......I'm not sure which year, or even decade this huge leap forward will take place, but it is scheduled for April 1st.

[SandTEngineer]

.....and to back up what I said earlier in this thread the signalling has just failed again at Hayes (1600 on 06/07/2017)

Paddington at a standstill as well.  Seems nothing being let out to avoid blocking up the whole area for the next few hours.

[Jason]

Due to a safety inspection of the track between Newbury and Reading trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards Reading.
Impact: Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes. Disruption is expected until 17:30 06/07.

Is this how GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) is currently reporting the Hayes problem ?
"Due to a fault on this train between London Paddington and Slough all lines are blocked.
Impact: Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes. Disruption is expected until 22:00 06/07."

Edit: now amended to read: Due to a fault with the signalling system between London Paddington and Slough all lines are blocked.

Multiple signalling problems further out west too.

[mjones]

Thanks for the heads up! Would my Travel Card from Didcot allow me to go via Marylebone and Oxford?

[Jason]

The advice now reads:

Customer Advice:
Chiltern Railways are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.
CrossCountry are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.
South West Trains are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.
London Buses are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.
First in Berkshire & The Thames Valley are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.

[TaplowGreen]

.....and to back up what I said earlier in this thread the signalling has just failed again at Hayes (1600 on 06/07/2017)

Paddington at a standstill as well.  Seems nothing being let out to avoid blocking up the whole area for the next few hours.

You really couldn't make it up could you? Totally unfit for purpose.

[DidcotPunter]

Thanks for the heads up! Would my Travel Card from Didcot allow me to go via Marylebone and Oxford?

Judging from Jason's post I would consider the answer to be 'yes'

Allow plenty of time though because the Marylebone-Oxford trains get quickly wedged once Paddington is stuffed. They're mostly 5 car units every 30 mins (more in the peak with one loco-hauled service.

[chuffed]

I am half hoping Chris Grayling is caught up in all this , after his visit to us  out in the sticks and returning to his ivory tower.