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

[whole diary]

[Jason]

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Bedwyn and Newbury fewer trains are able to run on all lines.
Impact:
Train services running through these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 10:00 04/12.

[Jason]

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between London Paddington and Slough fewer trains are able to run on all lines.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 60 minutes. Disruption is expected until 11:00 04/12.
Customer Advice:
A power trip is affecting the overhead cables at Hayes & Harlington. Network Rail engineers have turned off the power until the problem can be rectified.

[Jason]

Due to a problem currently under investigation at Reading fewer trains are able to run.
Impact:
Train services running through this station may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 09:45 12/12.

Edit: Unfortunately this is now updated to read:
Due to a person being hit by a train at Reading fewer trains are able to run.
Edit2: Disruption now until 12:00

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between Hayes & Harlington and London Paddington
Due to failure of the electricity supply between Hayes & Harlington and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on some lines towards London Paddington bound local stopping.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 12:15 12/12.

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington
Due to a points failure between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington the line towards Reading bound local stopping is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 13:30 13/12.
Last Updated:13/12/2018 12:29

[Jason]

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington all lines are blocked.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 10:15 17/12.

[Dispatch Box]

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between London Paddington and Hayes & Harlington all lines are blocked.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 10:15 17/12.

We always seem to be getting this?. Crikey, must be costing Network Rail (NR^» (Network Rail - home page)) a fortune.

Edit: VickiS - clarifying Acronyms

[IndustryInsider]

Most instances are resolved pretty quickly, and without causing much disruption.  In this case a simple reset did the trick.  Useful to have a catalog of them on this thread though I suppose.

[TaplowGreen]

Most instances are resolved pretty quickly, and without causing much disruption.  In this case a simple reset did the trick.  Useful to have a catalog of them on this thread though I suppose.

I think the fact that these, and more dramatic (recent) issues with the overhead wires keep happening is more worrying than the fact that some of them are resolved quickly...….it was only a couple of months ago that Paddington was effectively shut for a day if you recall?

[IndustryInsider]

I do recall.  That’s why I said ‘most instances’.

[TaplowGreen]

Not great when the service is already a lot less than normal


Alterations to services between Reading and Maidenhead


Due to a points failure between Reading and Maidenhead the line towards London Paddington bound local stopping is disrupted.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 16:45 28/12.
Further Information
Passengers travelling from Didcot Parkway/Reading for Taplow and Burnham are advised to travel to slough and circulate.

[TaplowGreen]

Not great when the service is already a lot less than normal


Alterations to services between Reading and Maidenhead


Due to a points failure between Reading and Maidenhead the line towards London Paddington bound local stopping is disrupted.
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 16:45 28/12.
Further Information
Passengers travelling from Didcot Parkway/Reading for Taplow and Burnham are advised to travel to slough and circulate.

Huzzah!

Trains now running normally between Reading and Maidenhead


Following a points failure between Reading and Maidenhead the line towards London Paddington bound local stopping is now open.
Train services running to and from these stations are now running normally.

[TonyK]

Passengers travelling from Didcot Parkway/Reading for Taplow and Burnham are advised to travel to slough and circulate.

Circulate? Do they make small talk with strangers, whilst eating hors d'oeuvres?

[broadgage]

"circulate via XYZ" seems to be the favoured term these days, it has the merits of being vague and not promising anything in particular.
Alternatives that give specific advice or instructions need too much thought.

"Change at ABC for local buses" has the drawback that ABC might not be served by buses at the relevant time, or that tickets might not be accepted.
"Change at DEF for London underground" has the drawback that the underground might be closed or on strike.
"Change at west Worzleshire for cross country trains" looks a bit silly if west Worzleshire is not in fact served by cross country.

But a simple "circulate via" avoids any such doubts, and can include walking, or giving up and going back to where you started, or doing something else instead.

[IndustryInsider]

When there's disruption, information to use local buses when ticket acceptance is often provided (together with which numbers) when they are relevant, more so than in the past IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion).  The same goes with the Tube or other TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s.  However, in this case clearly the best advice was to go through to Slough and double back, especially, as TG's two posts illustrated, the disruption was short lived, actually only affecting two trains. 

Though, for me, the word 'circulate' is a bit of a silly one to give to passengers.