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

[whole diary]

[Jason]

Level crossing barriers between Newbury and Reading causing disruption this morning.
eg, 1A72 lost 15 minutes.

[IndustryInsider]

Much better performance recently though, don't think anyone could contest that, and reflected in performance figures over the last few weeks.  Hopefully it will continue, though I'm sure there will be disruption again soon as it is such an intensively used section of track.

"Much better" - relatively to an extent in that "only" 1 in 5 trains are late?  I'm not sure too many Businesses would be celebrating that stat.

To show an improvement on June/July when there were several total meltdowns between Reading and Paddington is hardly a significant achievement, and your final comment emphasises that it's more down to luck/timing than anything else.

I get that the area is intensively used, but if memory serves we were all told that the extensive signalling work which in itself created massive disruption was supposed to address the problems and issues that this created along with replacing the older systems?

I guess I'm just pleased that, for customers as well as staff, the number of delays recently (by which I mean the last month or so) due to infrastructure problems in the Thames Valley has reduced.  I don't know how much of a role luck is playing in that, but I hope it continues.

[didcotdean]

This Didcot Herald story claims that for four weeks in August 60.2 per cent of trains were delayed or cancelled between Didcot and Paddington. Unfortunately it is just a reference to a piece in the Sunday Times so no clue on the method to come up with that figure (and the article if online would be paywalled).

[stuving]

This Didcot Herald story claims that for four weeks in August 60.2 per cent of trains were delayed or cancelled between Didcot and Paddington. Unfortunately it is just a reference to a piece in the Sunday Times so no clue on the method to come up with that figure (and the article if online would be paywalled).

The ST piece didn't say much more: "Punctuality was measured for the four weeks ending August 24". It was also not clear if only down trains were used; the text ony referred to London or Paddington to Didcot (Parkway).

[TaplowGreen]

This Didcot Herald story claims that for four weeks in August 60.2 per cent of trains were delayed or cancelled between Didcot and Paddington. Unfortunately it is just a reference to a piece in the Sunday Times so no clue on the method to come up with that figure (and the article if online would be paywalled).

The ST piece didn't say much more: "Punctuality was measured for the four weeks ending August 24". It was also not clear if only down trains were used; he text ony referred to London or Paddington to Didcot (Parkway).

If memory serves the Sunday Times piece measured punctuality at each station stop, rather than just arrival time at the final destination.

[IndustryInsider]

Which is what will now be happening for all TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) as per a recent announcement.  Might give the press some easy headlines but I'm all for transparency and this level of data will put many other industries to shame.

[TaplowGreen]

Which is what will now be happening for all TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) as per a recent announcement.  Might give the press some easy headlines but I'm all for transparency and this level of data will put many other industries to shame.

The best way for the railways to avoid "easy headlines" will be to raise performance to acceptable levels in all areas........what other industries/sectors do you anticipate being put to shame in the way you suggest and by what criteria?

[Electric train]

Which is what will now be happening for all TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) as per a recent announcement.  Might give the press some easy headlines but I'm all for transparency and this level of data will put many other industries to shame.

The best way for the railways to avoid "easy headlines" will be to raise performance to acceptable levels in all areas........what other industries/sectors do you anticipate being put to shame in the way you suggest and by what criteria?

Don't mind have the railway performance published however it should be a level playing field for all transport modes therefore all highway operators should publish their performance figures and be ready to refund the users for delays ................ or course that idea will never catch on

[stuving]

If memory serves the Sunday Times piece measured punctuality at each station stop, rather than just arrival time at the final destination.

Where was that - was there a fuller version of the article? What was in Sunday's paper had only the footnote I quoted, and this in the text: "The exercise used four weeks' punctuality data, ending on Thursday, August 24, for 360 journeys into and out of London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, and Glasgow."

Note, nothing about what "late" means, which trains were used (a huge choice there), or how (if) they were averaged. I took those 28 days-worth of data out of recenttraintimes.co.uk, and did a grand overall punctuality score for both ways with no margin of lateness. That gives 50%, so I guess you could get 40% by taking a more limited rage of times, particularly busier times (such as might represent commuters).

[TaplowGreen]

Which is what will now be happening for all TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) as per a recent announcement.  Might give the press some easy headlines but I'm all for transparency and this level of data will put many other industries to shame.

The best way for the railways to avoid "easy headlines" will be to raise performance to acceptable levels in all areas........what other industries/sectors do you anticipate being put to shame in the way you suggest and by what criteria?

Don't mind have the railway performance published however it should be a level playing field for all transport modes therefore all highway operators should publish their performance figures and be ready to refund the users for delays ................ or course that idea will never catch on

How would that work on the roads then? Is there an advertised time of arrival when you go for a drive? What fare would be being refunded? What criteria would be used for a payment?

[IndustryInsider]

Which is what will now be happening for all TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) as per a recent announcement.  Might give the press some easy headlines but I'm all for transparency and this level of data will put many other industries to shame.

The best way for the railways to avoid "easy headlines" will be to raise performance to acceptable levels in all areas........what other industries/sectors do you anticipate being put to shame in the way you suggest and by what criteria?

Buses, coaches, the London Underground, trams, foreign railways (that are all much better than ours of course)...

[TaplowGreen]

Which is what will now be happening for all TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) as per a recent announcement.  Might give the press some easy headlines but I'm all for transparency and this level of data will put many other industries to shame.

The best way for the railways to avoid "easy headlines" will be to raise performance to acceptable levels in all areas........what other industries/sectors do you anticipate being put to shame in the way you suggest and by what criteria?

Buses, coaches, the London Underground, trams, foreign railways (that are all much better than ours of course)...

TfL^» (Transport for London - about) publish extensive London Underground performance information (interestingly they include customer satisfaction), even benchmarking themselves against other metro systems across the World - it goes down to the level of station opening times and escalator availability - they also publish extensive performance information on buses and trams, and are subject to Mayoral and other scrutiny panels and committees - all easily accessible via their website.........that should keep you going for a while - something for the railways to aspire to?

Less bothered about foreign railways since my taxes don't subsidise them.

[Sixty3Closure]

If memory serves the Sunday Times piece measured punctuality at each station stop, rather than just arrival time at the final destination.

Where was that - was there a fuller version of the article? What was in Sunday's paper had only the footnote I quoted, and this in the text: "The exercise used four weeks' punctuality data, ending on Thursday, August 24, for 360 journeys into and out of London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, and Glasgow."

Note, nothing about what "late" means, which trains were used (a huge choice there), or how (if) they were averaged. I took those 28 days-worth of data out of recenttraintimes.co.uk, and did a grand overall punctuality score for both ways with no margin of lateness. That gives 50%, so I guess you could get 40% by taking a more limited rage of times, particularly busier times (such as might represent commuters).

From memory as the online article is behind a paywall late was more than minute rather than the current rather more generous timings. It also looked at all trains rather than just the narrow window used for reporting currently.

[IndustryInsider]

TfL^» (Transport for London - about) publish extensive London Underground performance information (interestingly they include customer satisfaction), even benchmarking themselves against other metro systems across the World - it goes down to the level of station opening times and escalator availability - they also publish extensive performance information on buses and trams, and are subject to Mayoral and other scrutiny panels and committees - all easily accessible via their website.........that should keep you going for a while - something for the railways to aspire to?

Less bothered about foreign railways since my taxes don't subsidise them.

I am very pleased TfL are now publishing data in such detail - certainly much more in-depth than when I was last trying to find it, which admittedly was several years ago.  That sort of level of data is already provided by the railways through the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) website, though the metrics vary a little as things like escalator availablility carry much less importance.

You're a better man than me if you can find any such levels of data on National Express coaches or on the vast majority of bus routes outside of London.

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between Slough and Tilehurst


Due to engineering works not being finished on time between Slough and Tilehurst all lines are blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 10:00 10/09.