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

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

Sounds like the recovery will be long and painful...........

Due to a fault with the signalling system at Maidenhead trains have to run at reduced speed on all London Paddington lines.
Train services running through this station will be cancelled, delayed by up to 75 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 12:30 23/10.
This is due to an axle counter failure at Maidenhead. Lines have reopened at Maidenhead however trains are having to be talked past signals on both lines due to the failure. Delays are to be expected.


This won't help either;

Delays to services at Oxford

Due to engineering works not being finished on time at Oxford:
Train services running through this station may be delayed by up to 40 minutes. Disruption is expected until 10:45 23/10.

[IndustryInsider]

Services to London need to be 'talked by' two red signals so that will take twice as long as those heading away from London that just need the one talking by.  Trains are at least getting though now and will be less and less delayed as the backlog is worked through and the odd train cancelled to thin things out a little.  The 08:10 from Weston Super Mare to Paddington only lost 5 minutes through the section thanks to the generous Sunday timing allowances.

You may have better things to do with your Sunday morning, but watching how the signallers are dealing with the issues on the map http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/slough can be quite fascinating... 

[TonyK]

You may have better things to do with your Sunday morning, but watching how the signallers are dealing with the issues on the map http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/slough can be quite fascinating... 

More important things, maybe, but they can wait.

[TaplowGreen]

You may have better things to do with your Sunday morning, but watching how the signallers are dealing with the issues on the map http://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/slough can be quite fascinating... 

More important things, maybe, but they can wait.

Sadly I am being "talked by" the sofa through the back door to mow the lawn. Delays and cancellations are not an option.

I would be interested in what is being done to sort out the axle counter issue though, I remember not so long ago it was being flagged as a panacea to all the signal failures that were occurring, now it seems to be pretty much a daily event.

[TonyK]

Sadly I am being "talked by" the sofa through the back door to mow the lawn. Delays and cancellations are not an option.

 

At least I have a morning with a chain saw to amuse myself. After another cuppa, maybe. It's in the planning...

[IndustryInsider]

I would be interested in what is being done to sort out the axle counter issue though, I remember not so long ago it was being flagged as a panacea to all the signal failures that were occurring, now it seems to be pretty much a daily event.

As I suspected in this instance it was due to the large amount of engineering work in preparation for electrification and the layout changes at Maidenhead this Christmas - we've discussed those on the Crossrail thread.  Piling had caused damage to the sensitive axle counter equipment.  Another reminder of how difficult it is to do complex work on an operational railway.  Expect more instances of similar disruption until all the work is completed during next year.  Hopefully after that it'll settle down and be reliable, but I'm having my doubts.

[TonyK]

At least I have a morning with a chain saw to amuse myself. After another cuppa, maybe. It's in the planning...

Who'd be a prophet, eh? Anyone know a chainsaw mender?

[Surrey 455]

Piling had caused damage to the sensitive axle counter equipment.

.... and to BT Openreach cables. Still no broadband for many in West Drayton & Uxbridge.

[TaplowGreen]

Day after day after day....... Delays to services between Newbury and Reading
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Newbury and Reading trains have to run at reduced speed on the line towards Reading.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 10 minutes. Disruption is expected until 16:00 27/10.
Last Updated:26/10/2016 13:15

[NickB]

Disruption is expected until 16:00 27/10.
Last Updated:26/10/2016 13:15

Disruption expected for >24hrs?!?!?  Not good.

[IanL]

And this morning at Worcester, trains cancelled along the Cotswold line due to signal failures.

[TaplowGreen]

Getting far beyond a joke now.....I'm at Slough and there are far chunkier delays than 10 minutes. I wonder if there's any chance of an incident free day anytime soon?                       Delays & Cancellations between Ealing Broadway and Hayes & Harlington
Due to a speed restriction over defective track between Ealing Broadway and Hayes & Harlington trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines towards Reading.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 10 minutes or revised. Hanwell will not be served. Disruption is expected until 18:00 27/10.

[NickB]

Getting far beyond a joke now.....I'm at Slough and there are far chunkier delays than 10 minutes. I wonder if there's any chance of an incident free day anytime soon? Delays & Cancellations between Ealing Broadway and Hayes & Harlington
Due to a speed restriction over defective track between Ealing Broadway and Hayes & Harlington trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines towards Reading.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 10 minutes or revised. Hanwell will not be served. Disruption is expected until 18:00 27/10.

Good thing I can claim this on delay repay.  Oh, wait...

[Jason]

Something is knackered outside Paddington. It's taken 15 minutes to get almost nowhere.

[NickB]

Agreed.  17.49 to Worcester was 6mins late moving from the platform 'due to signal problems' and isn't moving very fast yet.
At first I attributed this to the 'Intercity' unit being used - I haven't seen a blue white and red unit for quite some time. 😳