Marlow branch line - engineering work, closures, incidents (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[Lee]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website :

Train services between Maidenhead and Marlow are being disrupted due to a broken down train. Short notice cancellations and delays can be expected.

Customers travelling from Maidenhead to Marlow road transport is available for this service.

[martyjon]

From the website at 20:10

21:06 Marlow to Maidenhead due 21:28
This train will be started from Bourne End. It will no longer call at: Marlow. This is due to resourcing difficulties.


20:37 Maidenhead to Marlow due 20:59
This train will be terminated at Bourne End. It will no longer call at: Marlow. This is due to resourcing difficulties.


Can someone explain why.

Surely they dont change crew at Bourne End.

Surely they dont mean that the driver or other crew member does'nt sign for the route Bourne End - Marlow.

These services are operated by Turbos which are normally one man operated trains ;-

1.  do they carry a second man on this branch to change the points at Bourne End to go to Marlow or is the route controlled by Reading Panel.

2. if they do carry a second man then can't the driver, if this is the operating procedure, change the points at Borne End or is this a "not my job scenario".


Also note the lack of road replacement transport being provided doesnt instil confidence in the public to get out of their cars and use public transport.

[grahame]

Odd one. Catching up time?  Have to provide a break for staff every so often during their shifts?  Resource problem being that there was a lack of track availability - a works train up there, for example?   Just guessing, frankly.

[martyjon]

Grahame.

The Maidenhead - Bourne End / Marlow branch is basically a single line branch thay used to run to High Wycombe but was truncated At Bourne End by Beeching.

I, like you Grahame, are not familiar with the branch but I wondered if this branch was operated in a similar fashion to the Gunnislake and Looe branches in that a/the second train crew member operates the ground frame to switch the point to continue to the end of the branch, in this case Marlow. This however could be controlled in its entirty by the Reading panel which would operate the point at Bourne End to give access to Marlow.

Thus my post WHY, expecting a member familiar with the situation to give a response.

[Lee]

Armed police surrounded a packed commuter train yesterday morning after reports that a teenager had boarded with a handgun (link below.)
http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news_article.php?section=5&category=87&story=5263

Terrified passengers raised the alarm as the man boarded the London-bound train at Bourne End station at 7.36am.

[Lee]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website :

Line problem between Maidenhead and Bourne End.
Train services between Maidenhead and Bourne End are being disrupted due to a vehicle striking a bridge.Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays can be expected.

Replacement road transport is in place.

[Lee]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website :

Line problem in the Bourne End area.
Train services between Bourne End and Marlow are being disrupted due to signalling problems in the Bourne End area.Engineers are working as fast as possible to restore services to normal. Short notice cancellations can be expected.

The branch line between Bourne End and Marlow will remain closed for a number of days. Train services will continue to operate between Maidenhead and Bourne End and road replacement transport will operate between Bourne End and Marlow.

[marlowned]

Easy one!

Thw route from Maidenhead to Bourne End is passed for DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard))(P) operation and the Bourne End to Marlow route is not so therfore when they are short of a guard they can run Marlow services DOO(P) to Bourne End.

They are two reasons for this - the ground frame has to be operated to get to Marlow and this needs a Conductor (driver could do it but ASLEF^» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) would probably argue and needs more time as driver would then have to set cab up). The other reason is that DOO(P) regulations only allow you to operate away from a track circuited line for a maximum of 20 minutes and the journey from Maidenhead to Marlow exceeds that.

The peak hour shuttles to Bourne End are DOO(P) and the day time branch is DOO(P) operated between Maidenhead and Bourne End allowing the Conductor to focus on tickets!

ABC

[Lee]

Welcome to the forum.

I would be interested to know a bit more about the quote below :

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website :

Line problem in the Bourne End area.
Train services between Bourne End and Marlow are being disrupted due to signalling problems in the Bourne End area.Engineers are working as fast as possible to restore services to normal. Short notice cancellations can be expected.

The branch line between Bourne End and Marlow will remain closed for a number of days. Train services will continue to operate between Maidenhead and Bourne End and road replacement transport will operate between Bourne End and Marlow.

[signalandtelegraph]

The problem was that the key on the train staff got stuck in the GF^▸ (Ground Frame) at Bourne End and specialist staff had to be sourced from Exeter to fix it on the Saturday. Work is currently taking place to replace the ground frame at Bourne End with power operated points operated from a new control panel at Bourne End.  The first stage of this work took place last weekend and the final commissioning is due to take place on the weekend of the 9/10 February. 

This however could be controlled in its entirty by the Reading panel which would operate the point at Bourne End to give access to Marlow.

The line is actually under the control of the original Slough Panel Box at the Maidenhead end but once the train leaves there it is effectively 'lost' to Slough Panel until it comes back.

[Lee]

A broken down train, according to BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) local news. From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website :

07:58 Bourne End to Marlow due 08:04
This train has been cancelled.This is due to an earlier train fault.

Replacement road transport has been arranged.

08:16 Marlow to Bourne End due 08:23
This train has been cancelled.This is due to an earlier train fault.

Replacement road transport has been arranged.

08:29 Bourne End to Marlow due 08:36
This train has been cancelled.This is due to an earlier train fault.

Replacement road transport has been arranged.

08:38 Marlow to Maidenhead due 09:00
This train has been cancelled.This is due to an earlier train fault.

Replacement road transport has been arranged.

[Lee]

Maidenhead Advertiser article, which says that train services were disrupted after an object was thrown through the driver's window showering him in glass (link below.)
http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news_article.php?section=5&category=89&story=5752

[John R]

Maybe FGW^▸ (First Great Western) should make it clearer when the problem is not of their making. Would probably gain them a little more understanding from the inconvenienced passengers/observers. 

[Lee]

Maidenhead Advertiser article, which says that train services were disrupted after an object was thrown through the driver's window showering him in glass (link below.)
http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news_article.php?section=5&category=89&story=5752

A reward of ^5,000 has been offered for information leading to the successful prosecution of anybody responsible for the attack (link below.)
http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news_article.php?section=5&category=89&story=5758

[Lee]

Declining member numbers will be discussed at the annual general meeting of the Marlow-Maidenhead Passengers Association, which has been running for 36 years (link below.)
http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news_article.php?section=5&category=89&story=5827

If extra support is not found there is a serious threat that the association - which works with companies like First Great Western and Network Rail - will fold.

The group meets on a regular basis to fight for better rail services and recently played a key role in achieving more peak time train services between Marlow and Maidenhead.

The MMPA announced:

"FGW^▸ (First Great Western) considers us to be a useful contact for the line and is anxious that we should keep the association going. However, if support from the membership is not forthcoming, then we may have to consider disbanding. Obviously this is a last resort, and we would prefer not to go down this route."

The meeting will also give the public a chance air their views and opinions with transport managers and it is set to take place in the Bourne End Community Centre, in Wakeman Road, Bourne End on Friday 14 March 2008 at 8pm.