Windsor Branch line - services, rolling stock and signalling - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

WRAtH^▸ (Western Rail Access to Heathrow)? Is that the Western link from LHR to the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line)

Re Thames bridge i presumme you mean the Brunel one but don't forget there's another on the the SW line and of a similar age.

[stuving]

WRAtH^▸ (Western Rail Access to Heathrow)? Is that the Western link from LHR to the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line)

Yes - I expected there to be a snappier name for it by now, but Network Rail have not shrunk it further than to western-heathrow-link or similar.

[bobm]

Just for the record here are the before and intermediate signalling arrangements at Slough

[Chris from Nailsea]

I simply love that modern technical approach - a few bin liners and some duck tape. 

[JayMac]

I think they are purpose designed signal masks, much thicker than bin bag polythene.

Duck should have a capital D. Other brands of duct tape are available. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yes, I know ... I was merely trying to be flippant. 

[bobm]

I think they are purpose designed signal masks, much thicker than bin bag polythene.

Duck should have a capital D. Other brands of duct tape are available. 

Gaffer tape starts with a G. 

[eightf48544]

Just picked this up from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website:

"An update will follow within the next 1 hour.

    Cancellations to services between Slough and Windsor & Eton Central

Due to a train fault between Slough and Windsor & Eton Central the line is blocked.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 22:45 22/05.
Customer Advice:
First Bus routes 77, 191, 701, 702: Slough (Bus Station) - Windsor are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.



An update will follow within the next 2 hours. Local First Bus routes 77, 191, 701, 702: Slough (Bus Station) - Windsor are accepting FGW tickets.

Last updated 18:01

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[autotank]

I^m working later shifts for a few weeks at the moment which is allowing me to commute using the excellent value 7 day Thames Rover (^53.40 with a railcard!). As a result I went on a trip to Windsor just for fun today as I hadn^t traveled the branch for a few years. A few things struck me:

1)   The removal of the loop just outside Slough, which is understandable as it never got used. I was perplexed to see it replaced with a 4 car turnback siding though. I can^t see a use for this and with electrification coming there (hopefully) won^t be many 4 car trains running, so it will become even more useless. Am I missing something obvious?

2)   The 20 minute frequency doesn^t fit in very well with the main line services. Is there scope for line speed increases once the line is electrified and a 15 minute service? It would be tight, but this morning we comfortably did a round trip from Slough in 14 minutes with a 4 minute turnaround at Windsor. The approach and departure from Slough seems very slow, which I hoped might have been improved with the recent track works.

3)   The early shutdown of service compared to other Thames Valley branches. The last down service is at 2320 Monday ^ Friday. Is there any reason a couple of extra shuttles can^t be run? The last down Marlow branch service leaves at 2351 and Henley at 0003.

(I have made a couple of these points before but they are still relevant!)

[Adelante_CCT]

The early shutdown of service compared to other Thames Valley branches. The last down service is at 2320 Monday ^ Friday. Is there any reason a couple of extra shuttles can^t be run? The last down Marlow branch service leaves at 2351 and Henley at 0003.

Don't see why not, the ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) movement back to RDG^‡(resolve) doesn't leave until 35 minutes later, and another round trip connecting with 1D87 fast from Paddington and 2P95 stopper (both 23:41) could be useful for Windsor folk.

[rower40]

1)   The removal of the loop just outside Slough, which is understandable as it never got used. I was perplexed to see it replaced with a 4 car turnback siding though. I can^t see a use for this and with electrification coming there (hopefully) won^t be many 4 car trains running, so it will become even more useless. Am I missing something obvious?

If a set-swap is needed, and the branch unit has to come out of service, then the siding can be used to store the failed train, without blocking the Down Main.

[IndustryInsider]

1)   The removal of the loop just outside Slough, which is understandable as it never got used. I was perplexed to see it replaced with a 4 car turnback siding though. I can^t see a use for this and with electrification coming there (hopefully) won^t be many 4 car trains running, so it will become even more useless. Am I missing something obvious?

If a set-swap is needed, and the branch unit has to come out of service, then the siding can be used to store the failed train, without blocking the Down Main.

Yes, I should imagine that's the plan.  Before the loop was turned into a siding it was used twice a day to get the unit on and off the branch - the track layout prevented a straight shunt out of the bay platform, behind a signal and back into the down main platform.  That can now happen (behind T3538), but should a unit be in trouble then that turnback siding would be a useful place to park it out of the way.  Bit puzzled about the 4-car comment and electrification though, as that is what would be provided on the Windsor branch surely?

I certainly agree with the comment about there being a demand for later trains from Slough to Windsor.  A 23:50ish departure on weekdays, certainly Friday's at least, would be very welcome.

[Electric train]

The electrification of the Thames Valley Branches is parked for the moment, a victim of over zealous Political Parties committing money that we (tax payers) don't have, an over eager NR^» (Network Rail - home page) to please the political masters say it can be don't ......... simples so 165's will be around for quite a while.

Oh and I believe there are a few technical issues around IEC 68150 protection and control system being installed as part of GWEP^▸ (Great Western Electrification Program) and teeing off branches ................ basically it was not considered in the outline design by the engineer because they were told by DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) the branches would not be electrified and then the political mind changes    I am sure there is a solution but its not simple or cheap

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, we're looking at latter CP6^▸ (Control Period 6 - The five year period between 2019 and 2024) I'd have thought - not too long in the grand scheme of things though!

[Surrey 455]

I'm sure I remember reading (probably on this forum) that the Windsor branch doesn't run any later due to rowdy behaviour.