Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 09:55 28 Mar 2024
* Easter travel warning as millions set to hit roads
- Man suffers life-threatening injuries after train stabbing
* How do I renew my UK passport and what is the 10-year rule?
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
28th Mar (1917)
Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore closed (link)

Train RunningCancelled
07:43 Swansea to London Paddington
08:18 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
08:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
09:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
09:12 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
09:29 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
09:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
09:46 Westbury to Swindon
10:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
10:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
10:41 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
11:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
11:05 Swindon to Westbury
11:16 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
11:23 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
11:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
11:50 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
12:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
12:17 Westbury to Swindon
12:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
13:15 Swindon to Westbury
14:19 Westbury to Swindon
15:14 Swindon to Westbury
Short Run
05:40 Bristol Temple Meads to Penzance
06:00 London Paddington to Penzance
06:38 Weymouth to Gloucester
07:03 London Paddington to Paignton
07:33 Weymouth to Gloucester
08:38 London Paddington to Westbury
09:45 Bristol Temple Meads to Salisbury
09:50 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
10:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
10:55 Paignton to London Paddington
11:12 Salisbury to Bristol Temple Meads
Delayed
06:05 Penzance to London Paddington
07:10 Penzance to London Paddington
08:03 London Paddington to Penzance
08:35 Plymouth to London Paddington
09:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 09:13 Bristol Temple Meads to Gloucester
09:37 London Paddington to Paignton
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
10:23 London Paddington to Oxford
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 28, 2024, 10:11:50 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[193] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[109] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[75] Return of the BRUTE?
[59] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[46] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
[26] CrossCountry upgrade will see 25% more rail seats
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 [2]
  Print  
Author Topic: Is Paddington necessary?  (Read 6340 times)
Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5190


There are some who call me... Tim


View Profile
« Reply #15 on: August 28, 2022, 13:09:09 »

Daft idea IMHO (in my humble opinion)

Is that in reaction to ...
* Divert trains into "London Central" (a.k.a. Kings Cross / St. Pancras / Euston)
or
* Terminate at Reading and have folks use Crossrail or local trains in from there
or something else
* Terminate at Old Oak

<advocate mode=devil>With Euston services reduced from 4 to 1 an hour to Manchester and to 1 an hour to Birmingham, there is capacity there for:
* an hourly train to Swindon, divide for Taunton via Bristol and for Swansea
* a second hourly train to Swindon, divide for Cheltenham Spa and Weymouth
* an hourly train to Exeter, divide for Paignton and Penzance
* an hourly train to Reading, divide for Hereford via Oxford and for Exeter via Salisbury</advocate>

We may be at a real turning point for railways is everyone concerned doesn't get their reliability and other issues sorted out!


I agree that a radical rethink is necessary. I've had two trips out in the last fortnight - a day out in London, and a day out in Oxford. Both trips were on Wednesdays.

The least busy trains were the BRI» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains)-PAD» (Paddington (London) - next trains) IETs (Intercity Express Train); I could almost convince myself that they got emptier as we neared London. Places like Bath and Oxford, on the other hand, were heaving; there can be no doubt that the planned improvements at Oxford are vital.

I had forgotten just how uncomfortable the IETs are - I was in some pain when I arrived in London, and even more on the return leg to Bristol. The ride characteristics of these units are also worse than I remember. Perhaps I've just got used to the better comfort levels on the 166's that I usually catch?

The Elizabeth line was astonishing. I've been following the progress of building it on YouTube over the years, but that had not prepared me for the scale of it (I felt like a half-sized scale model of a human). The speed with which it got us from Tottenham Court Road to Paddington was disorientating. I can see that a lot of people may well transfer to the Elizabeth line at Old Oak, assuming the interchange is as easy as it should be. That would certainly diminish Paddington's role.
Logged

Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
didcotdean
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1424


View Profile
« Reply #16 on: August 28, 2022, 16:29:57 »


The least busy trains were the BRI» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains)-PAD» (Paddington (London) - next trains) IETs (Intercity Express Train); I could almost convince myself that they got emptier as we neared London. Places like Bath and Oxford, on the other hand, were heaving; there can be no doubt that the planned improvements at Oxford are vital.

This matches my recent anecdotal experience on off-peak weekdays and weekend over this summer. Traveling in near empty carriages at the ends of Bristol 9/10 IETs and by contrast in heaving 5 carriage Oxford (& North Cots beyond) trains. Especially the latter on Sunday when these serve Radley as well so there is no local alternative.
Logged
ellendune
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4452


View Profile
« Reply #17 on: August 28, 2022, 20:28:25 »

The Elizabeth line was astonishing. I've been following the progress of building it on YouTube over the years, but that had not prepared me for the scale of it (I felt like a half-sized scale model of a human). The speed with which it got us from Tottenham Court Road to Paddington was disorientating. I can see that a lot of people may well transfer to the Elizabeth line at Old Oak, assuming the interchange is as easy as it should be. That would certainly diminish Paddington's role.

It depends where you want to go.  If it is to South Kensington  or anywhere of the District line side of the circle the Elizabeth line is not too helpful. 
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40687



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #18 on: August 28, 2022, 21:10:14 »

If you speculate forward ... and take note of the original plan for trains to carry on though Paddington onto the Met:

a) Start the broken circle from Old Oak - then Royal Oak, Paddington, Edward Road, Baker Street, etc
b) Change at Old Oak for Crossrail
c) Change at Ealing Broadway for Central line and District line which sorts out Earls Court, South Ken, Victoria and MPland
d) Change at Paddington still for Charing Cross, Waterloo, and The Elephant - on to Lewisham?

I am reminded of how it was when I was in college and commuted into Holborn Viaduct, with most traffic leaving the train at Blackfriars.   And of Hamburg Altona, where the long distance trains have already dumped at Hauptbahnhof.

Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Electric train
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4355


The future is 25000 Volts AC 750V DC has its place


View Profile
« Reply #19 on: August 29, 2022, 07:31:49 »

If you speculate forward ... and take note of the original plan for trains to carry on though Paddington onto the Met:

a) Start the broken circle from Old Oak - then Royal Oak, Paddington, Edward Road, Baker Street, etc
b) Change at Old Oak for Crossrail
c) Change at Ealing Broadway for Central line and District line which sorts out Earls Court, South Ken, Victoria and MPland
d) Change at Paddington still for Charing Cross, Waterloo, and The Elephant - on to Lewisham?

I am reminded of how it was when I was in college and commuted into Holborn Viaduct, with most traffic leaving the train at Blackfriars.   And of Hamburg Altona, where the long distance trains have already dumped at Hauptbahnhof.



a. - Not sure that would provide much in the way of additional useful connectivity
c. - Build a new Central Line station at OOC (Old Oak Common (depot)) at the Western end of the site and stations on both the West and North London Lines would provide connections to most of these and more.
d. - The quickest way to Lewisham would still remain Elzabeth Line to Farringdon, Thamelink to London Bridge and then Lewisham

One thing is certain the pandemic has changed all previous planning of passenger journeys, however over the next year or 2 the new pattern will be clearer, and OOC HS2 (The next High Speed line(s)) station will provide greater journey connectivity than Stratford (East London) 
Logged

Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40687



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #20 on: August 29, 2022, 09:39:07 »

I find myself wondering if we're going to see asymetric patterns when Old Oak opens.    Passengers going IN to London will change at Old Oak because it should be quick easy.   Passengers coming OUT from London will change at Paddington in the hope of getting a seat on the train, having staff around if something goes wrong, and (initially at least) lots of places to grab a bite to eat.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Electric train
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4355


The future is 25000 Volts AC 750V DC has its place


View Profile
« Reply #21 on: August 29, 2022, 10:20:51 »

I find myself wondering if we're going to see asymetric patterns when Old Oak opens.    Passengers going IN to London will change at Old Oak because it should be quick easy.   Passengers coming OUT from London will change at Paddington in the hope of getting a seat on the train, having staff around if something goes wrong, and (initially at least) lots of places to grab a bite to eat.

The HSS (High Speed Services) dwell times at OOC (Old Oak Common (depot)) will be short 2 may be 3 mins, a bit like Reading HSS

There will be staff at OOC to around the same level as you encounter at Reading.

Food outlets I don't think there will be a shortage, indeed the OOC area could develop into something like Stratford especially around the Grand Union Canal, it's just the Elzabeth Line TCD that prevents a big shopping centre as part of the station complex but plenty of opportunity North of the Canal
Logged

Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
Clan Line
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 858



View Profile
« Reply #22 on: August 29, 2022, 11:20:30 »


Is Paddington necessary?....................just ask my Granddaughter !



Logged
Robin Summerhill
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1145


View Profile Email
« Reply #23 on: August 29, 2022, 13:01:42 »

If this is such a fantastic idea then presumably somebody is calling for something similar at Stratford?

If they are not then it might give some insight into what other people would be thinking about it...
Logged
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 18894



View Profile
« Reply #24 on: August 29, 2022, 13:05:43 »

Is Paddington necessary?....................just ask my Granddaughter !



... and Finn.
Logged

"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

- Sir Terry Pratchett.
chuffed
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1499


View Profile
« Reply #25 on: August 29, 2022, 21:49:15 »

Should be renamed PaddFinnton Station....
Logged
Robin Summerhill
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1145


View Profile Email
« Reply #26 on: August 30, 2022, 15:49:59 »

Should be renamed PaddFinnton Station....
And in good old-fashioned GWR (Great Western Railway) tradition, OOC (Old Oak Common (depot)) could be renamed Paddington Road...
Logged
Electric train
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4355


The future is 25000 Volts AC 750V DC has its place


View Profile
« Reply #27 on: August 30, 2022, 18:27:53 »

Should be renamed PaddFinnton Station....
And in good old-fashioned GWR (Great Western Railway) tradition, OOC (Old Oak Common (depot)) could be renamed Paddington Road...

Bishops Road I think would be more apt,
Logged

Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: 1 [2]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page