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

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

Disruption is expected to last until at least 4pm according to journeycheck.. I am starting to guess what the journey home is going to be like...

The only positive I can take from this is that I'll be working so late this evening in order to make up the time I lost coming in that there's a better chance of a clear run.

Last week was pretty poor, with repeated morning delays of 10 mins between Reading and Paddington, mainly centred around Southall.
Saturday was torrid.
This morning was just horrendous.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 45 mins or revised. Disruption is expected until 23:30 08/12.

Working late may not save you.........just been changed to 2330!!! 

[tomL]

Disruption from signalling problems at Acton is expected until end of service today. Please check before travel - http://bit.ly/YE38x0

https://twitter.com/FGW/status/541954093263372288

[johoare]

I am leaving work early in the hope I beat the madness.. Watch this space :-)

[TaplowGreen]

Disruption from signalling problems at Acton is expected until end of service today. Please check before travel - http://bit.ly/YE38x0

https://twitter.com/FGW/status/541954093263372288

Rather ironic that I renewed my season ticket yesterday and got an "extra" day added in respect of the void day on 6th October...........looks like I will have another one to add next time........"please check before travel"......outstanding advice.

[ChrisB]

What more can they say?....looks as though Journeycheck is carrying amends to beyond 1600 - so at least 2 hours forward. Makes sense to me....

At least they've raised all ticket restrictions for the rest of the day, so no peak restrictions this evening.

[Jason]

Do network rail ever publish any detail on incidents like this?
If I could get my head around some information on what takes engineering 18+ hours to fix then I might be more understanding.

[TaplowGreen]

I would imagine anyone counting on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to get them home for Christmas in a couple of weeks is doing so with extreme trepidation......imagine if this happens on Dec 23rd/Christmas Eve?

[chrisr_75]

I would imagine anyone counting on FGW^▸ (First Great Western) to get them home for Christmas in a couple of weeks is doing so with extreme trepidation......imagine if this happens on Dec 23rd/Christmas Eve?

It's actually rather easy to imagine this happening just before Christmas!! 

[ChrisB]

In a way, it might be worth it happening just so that Network Rail (NR^» (Network Rail - home page)) get severely bad press & likely hauled in front of the Transport Committee to answer a few obvious Questions (Qs) that they are refusing to publicise. And hopefully lead to removal of NR bonuses for 2014.


Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronyms

[ray951]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are saying that the disruption was caused by Data Cables not working correctly at Hanwell, west of Paddington.
https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/travel-updates/first-great-western-apology

Not sure how a cable doesn't work correctly unless they have been damaged.

[TaplowGreen]

In a way, it might be worth it happening just so that NR^» (Network Rail - home page) get severely bad press & likely hauled in front of the Transport Committee to answer a few obvious Qs that they are refusing to publicise. And hopefully lead to removal of NR bonuses for 2014.

..............you mean NR and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) get bonuses? What on Earth for?

[bobm]

All ticket restrictions lifted out of Paddington tonight.

[ChrisB]

At least they've raised all ticket restrictions for the rest of the day, so no peak restrictions this evening.

Posted earlier.

That letter from Mark Hopwood makes it sound as though it's in the past - has it been fixed then?

[bobm]

Normal working given at 14:50.

[NickB]

18.18 and 19.48 via Maidenhead cancelled.  So that puts 500+ extra people on the 19.05 3 carriage to Henley.  Good work.