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

[whole diary]

[ellendune]

A useful summary in Parliament from Teresa May. Hopefully this is the sort of interest and attention which will get the likes of Haines & Hopwoods feet held to the fire and some explanations for the shambolic service over the last few months.

https://twitter.com/NoelDolphin/status/1745822391601639598?t=ohXHnQW49ZY7FpI2R96C0w&s=19

It's all very well blaming Haines & Hopwood, but they can't make a can't make a silk purse out of sow's ear.  We all know that under the present arrangements it is the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) and the Treasury who are micro-managing the railways.

Government keep saying that revenue has not returned but people are starting to ask whether the reduced number of seats available is suppressing demand and therefore revenue. I would also ask whether reliability due to reduced maintenance is suppressing demand and therefore revenue. 

There is a theory of the anorexic company that keeps cutting costs and consequently loosing revenue until it ceases to exist.  You could see some element of that in BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)).  We are seeing it again here. 

[TaplowGreen]

A useful summary in Parliament from Teresa May. Hopefully this is the sort of interest and attention which will get the likes of Haines & Hopwoods feet held to the fire and some explanations for the shambolic service over the last few months.

https://twitter.com/NoelDolphin/status/1745822391601639598?t=ohXHnQW49ZY7FpI2R96C0w&s=19

It's all very well blaming Haines & Hopwood, but they can't make a can't make a silk purse out of sow's ear.  We all know that under the present arrangements it is the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) and the Treasury who are micro-managing the railways.

Fine. Then let's hear H & H stand up & say that, and explain what they'd do differently.

[ellendune]

It's all very well blaming Haines & Hopwood, but they can't make a can't make a silk purse out of sow's ear.  We all know that under the present arrangements it is the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) and the Treasury who are micro-managing the railways.

Fine. Then let's hear H & H stand up & say that, and explain what they'd do differently.

You know what this government does to people who publicly criticise their policies. Witness the people who have been suddenly disinvited to speak at government organised conferences for criticism of government policies. They would find a pretext to remove First Group and put in an operator of last resort who would led by someone who would not criticise, but may not have the ability that Hopwood undoubtedly has.  Haines would also find himself suddenly out of a job with similar consequences. 

It is quite possible that behind the scenes they are trying to argue for different policies, but to do so publicly would IMO^▸ (in my opinion) probably not be helpful. 

[bobm]

Could make for some interesting autobiographies in the future.

[Timmer]

Could make for some interesting autobiographies in the future.

I’m sure Taplow Green will be at the front of the queue at Mark Hopwood’s book signing.

[GBM]

Not quite Thames Valley?
Cancellations to services at Didcot Parkway
Due to damage to the overhead electric wires at Didcot Parkway fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Reading. Some stations between Reading and Didcot Parkway will not be served. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Due to damage to the overhead electric wires at Didcot Parkway we are unable to run most of our electric stopping train services that run between Didcot Parkway and Reading. As a result Cholsey, Goring & Streatley, Pangbourne and Tilehurst will see fewer trains than usual. During peak times some of our fast services will make additional calls at these stations to maintain customer connections.
Additional Information
We apologise for the disruption to your journey today.
........
Last Updated:15/01/2024 04:50

[TaplowGreen]

Not quite Thames Valley?
Cancellations to services at Didcot Parkway
Due to damage to the overhead electric wires at Didcot Parkway fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Reading. Some stations between Reading and Didcot Parkway will not be served. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Due to damage to the overhead electric wires at Didcot Parkway we are unable to run most of our electric stopping train services that run between Didcot Parkway and Reading. As a result Cholsey, Goring & Streatley, Pangbourne and Tilehurst will see fewer trains than usual. During peak times some of our fast services will make additional calls at these stations to maintain customer connections.
Additional Information
We apologise for the disruption to your journey today.
........
Last Updated:15/01/2024 04:50

No service between Marylebone - Oxford today either.

[bobm]

Yesterday the Swindon Advertiser tried to put two and two together and make five.  They confused lift problems at Didcot with engineering work!

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/24048375.swindon-trains-cancelled-problems-didcot-parkway/

Several Swindon train services have been cancelled after problems at a nearby station.

Trains from Swindon to Didcot Parkway have been cancelled throughout the morning and afternoon of Sunday after an issue at the latter station.

The lifts linking platforms to the subway at Didcot have failed.

Services to Reading and Oxford have been affected due to the cancelled links between Swindon and Didcot Parkway.

Both services usually go via Didcot Parkway but due to the problems, journey times will now be severely extended throughout Sunday.

Rail replacement buses have been scheduled for Swindonians to reach their affected destinations.

A spokesperson for Great Western Railway said: “The lifts are out of order between platforms 2, 3, 4 & 5 and the subway at Didcot Parkway station.”

It is not yet known when the problem will be resolved.

There had been a disruption between Didcot Parkway and Swindon on Saturday afternoon which lasted until 2.30pm.

The tracks were inspected and reopened but now due to the lifts issue, Swindonians will face another day of problems trying to travel to Didcot Parkway.

[nickswift99]

Not quite Thames Valley?
Cancellations to services at Didcot Parkway
Due to damage to the overhead electric wires at Didcot Parkway fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Reading. Some stations between Reading and Didcot Parkway will not be served. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Due to damage to the overhead electric wires at Didcot Parkway we are unable to run most of our electric stopping train services that run between Didcot Parkway and Reading. As a result Cholsey, Goring & Streatley, Pangbourne and Tilehurst will see fewer trains than usual. During peak times some of our fast services will make additional calls at these stations to maintain customer connections.
Additional Information
We apologise for the disruption to your journey today.
........
Last Updated:15/01/2024 04:50

An IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) shuttle has been put in place by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to provide stopping services between Didcot and Reading. Obviously no catering available, but well done to GWR for coming up with a temporary solution as short notice. On the flip side, GWR have also announced that services will be disrupted tomorrow (Tuesday).

[bobm]

Presumably GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have had to find Train Managers for the shuttle as the 387s normally run driver only but I don't think there is an agreement in place to run the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) the same way.

[IndustryInsider]

Presumably GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have had to find Train Managers for the shuttle as the 387s normally run driver only but I don't think there is an agreement in place to run the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) the same way.

Not if they’re stopping at the local stations, no.

[TaplowGreen]

Not quite Thames Valley?
Cancellations to services at Didcot Parkway
Due to damage to the overhead electric wires at Didcot Parkway fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Reading. Some stations between Reading and Didcot Parkway will not be served. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Due to damage to the overhead electric wires at Didcot Parkway we are unable to run most of our electric stopping train services that run between Didcot Parkway and Reading. As a result Cholsey, Goring & Streatley, Pangbourne and Tilehurst will see fewer trains than usual. During peak times some of our fast services will make additional calls at these stations to maintain customer connections.
Additional Information
We apologise for the disruption to your journey today.
........
Last Updated:15/01/2024 04:50

An IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) shuttle has been put in place by GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to provide stopping services between Didcot and Reading. Obviously no catering available, but well done to GWR for coming up with a temporary solution as short notice. On the flip side, GWR have also announced that services will be disrupted tomorrow (Tuesday).

Is there any indication of the nature of the problem with the OHL^▸ (Over-Head Line)?

[ChrisB]

In response to damage to the overhead wires at Didcot Parkway we've had to make some alterations to our service which will persist throughout today (15/01/2024) and continue into tomorrow. As it stands we're altering our service as a result of this incident in the following ways:

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) local services between Didcot Parkway and London Paddington will operate between Reading and London Paddington only due to their electric-only ability. This means Cholsey, Goring & Streatley, Pangbourne & Tilehurst will have a much reduced service operated by a 5-car IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) shuttling between Didcot Parkway and Reading, details of which can be found below.

We've currently two additional trains out on the network working additional services to provide a service for the intermediate stations between Reading and Didcot Parkway

As previously outlined these services will be formed of a 5-car Inter City Express Train (IET) which are not electric-only but also have the ability to run on diesel too, enabling them to operate through areas where the overhead wires are not available.

These additional trains ensure all stations continue to be served by rail albeit at a reduced frequency.

As previously mentioned this disruption is expected to continue into tomorrow's service (16/01/2024). Confirmation of this and an outline of the expected train plan will be outlined later this evening. Please check back here for updates as time progresses.

[TaplowGreen]

Now ongoing until the end of Wednesday 17

Would be interesting to understand the nature of the problem if anyone has any knowledge of it?

Cancellations to services between Didcot Parkway and Reading

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between Didcot Parkway and Reading fewer trains are able to run. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 17/01/24.

Train services between Didcot Parkway and Reading will be cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Reading.

[oxviem]

Indeed not a good month so far for the Thames Valley.

Whatever the issue is it does appear to be quite localised - possibly to the platform area? - if difficult to repair.