7.01 from Maidenhead to Paddington

[whole diary]

[NickB]

I was looking at this myself.  For the 7.07 it is 5 cancellations since the new year and an average of 33% reliability. The adjacent trains are not much better.

I sent my official ‘this is not good enough what are you doing about it?’ to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) two weeks ago. Obviously no reply as it is still 2020. Next week I’ll be contacting my MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) as she ran for re-election promising improvements (not abolition) of fast commuter services.

[IndustryInsider]

Coupling issue at Oxford again this morning!  Eventually left 25 minutes late as a 5-car.

[ray951]

I was looking at this myself.  For the 7.07 it is 5 cancellations since the new year and an average of 33% reliability. The adjacent trains are not much better.

I sent my official ‘this is not good enough what are you doing about it?’ to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) two weeks ago. Obviously no reply as it is still 2020. Next week I’ll be contacting my MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) as she ran for re-election promising improvements (not abolition) of fast commuter services.

Maybe we can have a competition to find the worst performing service since the beginning of the year
I give you the 0807 Didcot to Oxford at 31% RT - 5 minutes and 6% RT (which was Jan 1st).

[BBM]

I've heard reports that the performance of the 1708 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-BDW (first stop TWY^▸ (Twyford station)) has been pretty bad so I've just checked the past 5 journeys on RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) and found this:

15/1: arrived BDW 27L
16/1: arrived BDW 39L
17/1: terminated 30L at NBY^» (Newbury - next trains)
20/1: terminated 33L at NBY
21/1: arrived BDW 17L

 

[Sixty3Closure]

The 17.08 has also run non stop to Reading once or twice which meant it was pretty empty after all the Twyford passengers got off.

[ray951]

I've heard reports that the performance of the 1708 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-BDW (first stop TWY^▸ (Twyford station)) has been pretty bad so I've just checked the past 5 journeys on RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) and found this:

15/1: arrived BDW 27L
16/1: arrived BDW 39L
17/1: terminated 30L at NBY^» (Newbury - next trains)
20/1: terminated 33L at NBY
21/1: arrived BDW 17L

 

This must be a winner, since the beginning of the year the RT-5 Minutes measure has been 0% (average late 19.5 minutes) and the 1708 is 43% (average late 7.5 minutes).

[IndustryInsider]

Is that the one that splits at Newbury?  There have been numerous problems with that at Newbury.

[ray951]

Is that the one that splits at Newbury?  There have been numerous problems with that at Newbury.

According to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) the service does divide at Newbury.

I am surprised that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) use a class 800 on a stopping service from Newbury to Bedwyn, why not Didcot - Oxford?

[IndustryInsider]

Operational inconvenience mainly.  If it was a Turbo it would be limited to 90mph, not so good in terms of the peak paths on the main line out of Paddington.  If it were a 387 it would not be able to go any further than Newbury where the wires run out.  Didcot to Oxford does in fact have the odd IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) on stopping trains, too, but usually a Turbo is the best option as it is a 90mph main line, so no speed benefit from an IET.

[BBM]

Is that the one that splits at Newbury?  There have been numerous problems with that at Newbury.

Looks like there are also problems joining it at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) tonight, I've just seen this on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/sjm881/status/1220030275016691714

Once agian the @GWRHelp 1707 padd to Bedwyn will be late as they try crashing two sets of carriages together. Platform staff watching and shaking their heads

[Sixty3Closure]

Most of the delay (34 mins late into Twyford) was caused by door problems. Announcements just said that problems closing the door meant might be a few mins delay. half an hour later we're off....

[IndustryInsider]

Most of the delay (34 mins late into Twyford) was caused by door problems. Announcements just said that problems closing the door meant might be a few mins delay. half an hour later we're off....

Sounds like one unit wasn't talking properly to the other.  Hitachi still have plenty of work to do to get the couplings to work to an acceptable level.

[NickB]

I don’t suppose GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) fancy rolling back to the pre Christmas timetable do they?  This one is total guff, in so many ways.

[Sixty3Closure]

Skipped Maidenhead again this morning after arriving 5 mins late at Twyford. Possibly due to that freight train that keeps sneaking onto the tracks just as the 06.54 is due.

Edit: Looks like the 07.07 also didn't stop at Maidenhead according to angry Twitter posts

[sanfrandragon]

Skipped Maidenhead again this morning after arriving 5 mins late at Twyford. Possibly due to that freight train that keeps sneaking onto the tracks just as the 06.54 is due.

Edit: Looks like the 07.07 also didn't stop at Maidenhead according to angry Twitter posts

Both 7.02 and 7.07 cancelled this morning to preserve the timetable, amidst angry scenes at Maidenhead and dangerous over-crowding on the platform.  I didn't see any security guards, but not surprised they have been sighted before.  In the words of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) official on the platform 'Twyford, Maidenhead & Slough have been cut adrift' under the operation of the new timetable.  Just how many times do they need to practise coupling at Oxford to get that train to leave on time?  With Crossrail from Maidenhead not making sense for another 2 years until it goes through the tunnels, commuting from Maidenhead will be impractical.

All this and higher ticket prices too!