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

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

It's the Victoria Line - as I understand it, the driver opens/closes doors and sets the train underway. The computer then takes it to the next station....

[IndustryInsider]

It's the Victoria Line - as I understand it, the driver opens/closes doors and sets the train underway. The computer then takes it to the next station....

And the Jubilee, Northern and Central Lines I think.  Though the driver still 'drives' the train should the system have problems and to retain their knowledge of how to do so should there be problems.

[johoare]

I was on the 17.49 tonight.. It was no busier or quieter than usual though I've seen it a lot worse.

Realtime trains show the train arriving at 18.07 and a quarter.. The last passenger (me) left the plaftorm at exactly 18.11.. I'm not sure at which point the arrival time is calculated from so assuming it's as the front of the train comes into the platform, a good guess would be 3 minutes for platform 1 to clear..

Therefore looking at the picture from the other day (compared with today) NickB's estimate of ten minutes probably wasn't too far out

[NickB]

I stand vindicated!  It was meant as an estimate of how long 600 people would take to leave plat1 in single file (which it is, with the bends).

[IndustryInsider]

I stand vindicated!  It was meant as an estimate of how long 600 people would take to leave plat1 in single file (which it is, with the bends).

I'd have a guess at 6-7 minutes myself having watched many a busy train decamp from there.  Unless of course there's another issue which causes delay, for example someone falling on the steps.  I guess we'll have to wait until similar circumstances apply again and get someone down there with a stopwatch!

[Western Enterprise]

I stand vindicated!  It was meant as an estimate of how long 600 people would take to leave plat1 in single file (which it is, with the bends).

I'd have a guess at 6-7 minutes myself having watched many a busy train decamp from there.  Unless of course there's another issue which causes delay, for example someone falling on the steps.  I guess we'll have to wait until similar circumstances apply again and get someone down there with a stopwatch!

Another issue can be a sudden change of platform, say from relief to main.
Suddenly, lots of people trying to go upstairs, lots of people trying to go downstairs!

[johoare]

which is exactly what happened to this train.. To be honest if you're not already on the platform before the train arrives and starts emptying you don't get much of a chance to get up the steps against the flow of people

[IndustryInsider]

which is exactly what happened to this train.. To be honest if you're not already on the platform before the train arrives and starts emptying you don't get much of a chance to get up the steps against the flow of people

Looking to the future, with the extensive rebuild of Maidenhead station just starting, it looks as if alterations to the current stairwell may be included:

'The eastern subway will be extended southwards to platform 1 and new stair and lift access will be provided from it to all Crossrail platforms; passive provision will be made for a lift to platform 1.'

Now, until the extension of the route to Reading, you could probably say that Maidenhead's platform 1 would not come under the description of a 'Crossrail platform' as described above.  Whether that has now altered as Platform 1 may now be used by Crossrail trains heading to Reading I'm not sure?

[eightf48544]

Way back it was said that all main line platforms between London and Maidenhead would be made available for Crossrail Whether that is the current plan I don't know. Especialy regarding Taplow. Presuambly Platform 1 at Maidenehad would require extending to accept Crossrail. It was also why the Mains were to be electrified from Hayes to Maidenehad as well to give the operational flexibilty to use the mains and their associated platforms in times of perturbation.

[stuving]

Way back it was said that all main line platforms between London and Maidenhead would be made available for Crossrail Whether that is the current plan I don't know. Especialy regarding Taplow. Presuambly Platform 1 at Maidenehad would require extending to accept Crossrail. It was also why the Mains were to be electrified from Hayes to Maidenehad as well to give the operational flexibilty to use the mains and their associated platforms in times of perturbation.

The plan shows a small extension to platforms 2&3, but 1 and 4&5 apparently don't need one. All would need extending if the trains are lengthened to the maximum 240m. The "7-day railway" requirement won't have gone away.

[stuving]

Way back it was said that all main line platforms between London and Maidenhead would be made available for Crossrail Whether that is the current plan I don't know. Especialy regarding Taplow. Presuambly Platform 1 at Maidenehad would require extending to accept Crossrail. It was also why the Mains were to be electrified from Hayes to Maidenehad as well to give the operational flexibilty to use the mains and their associated platforms in times of perturbation.

The plan shows a small extension to platforms 2&3, but 1 and 4&5 apparently don't need one. All would need extending if the trains are lengthened to the maximum 240m. The "7-day railway" requirement won't have gone away.

Come to think of it, P1&2 at Maidenhead is exactly where extending to Reading might alter the plan - so what was published may not be relevant any more. There is no way from P1&2 to the reversing sidings at Maidenhead, so they could not be used for a "2T" service over the Mains. (Or not unless P1&2 were used for Crossrail turn-round, which sound unlikely when a "full" Sunday service is also using them.) If this 2T operation has to be extended to Reading, then maybe P1 has to be extended after all. Currently its operational length (ignoring DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) visibility) is 177 m, against 198 for P2&3 and 205 m for P4&5.

Going by those plans, the interpretation of 7-day or 2T capability is that existing platforms an all tracks will be extended to 205 m, but not where that have no P1 and not at some at minor stations (e.g. Iver) that do. But then the plans are not the final word (or picture).

[IndustryInsider]

Come to think of it, P1&2 at Maidenhead is exactly where extending to Reading might alter the plan - so what was published may not be relevant any more. There is no way from P1&2 to the reversing sidings at Maidenhead, so they could not be used for a "2T" service over the Mains.

Yes, that's what I was getting at.

[Jason]

I'm not sure what was going on this morning with signalling.
There were major delays to services through Bramley due to a signalling problem.
But then significant delays to London bound services passing through Reading both in arrival time at Reading and then slow running all the way in.
There was some mention of track circuit failure and general congestion all the way in but I don't see any specific mention.
I was a good 45 minutes late for the second day running.

[Jason]

There were major delays to services through Bramley due to a signalling problem.

Suggest the updater updates the update:
Delays between Basingstoke and Reading expected until 18:00        Last updated 13:50
A signalling problem near Bramley is causing delays of up to 30 minutes between Basingstoke and Reading. This is expected to continue until 13:00.

[a-driver]

Blimey that all sounds rather dramatic! What does it take to make a signal fall over?

Glad I came back from Plymouth yesterday! (on the 1510 from Plymouth, which was only 5 minutes late into Reading!!!)  

A total lack of maintenance and abysmal management by Network Rail, yet the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) continue to allow it to happen.  If a train operator performed this badly their franchise would have been stripped by now.