Great Western Main Line electrification - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[lordgoata]

When I arrived at Maidenhead this morning at 08:11, platform 4 seemed far busier than it has been in recent weeks!

[IndustryInsider]

I wonder how many carriages they'll manage to put on for these two trains then.. Not sure it's worth the risk of finding out it's a whole two carriages 

A 5-car Turbo was used this morning, and should be used again this evening, so not too bad.

Realtime trains suggests the 6.56 departure only made it as far as Taplow before there was an issue with the doors..aLso they were handing out leaflets at Maidenhead this morning about the increased capacity.. Let's hope they get the service sorted for tomorrow..

Yes, not too sure of the details but it looked like it went to West Ealing empty and was swapped for another two 387s in time for the next passenger working, so not to he perfect start GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) was hoping four, but not an all out disaster either.

We'll see how tonight and tomorrow morning shape up...

[johoare]

It looks like the 7.33am is a turbo again tomorrow.. So much for Electric trains

[johoare]

I just asked on Twitter how long this problem is likely to go on for and got the reply "Network Rail are working on the issue but I can't provide a date for when it will be sorted I'm afraid".. Doesn't sound terribly hopeful.. After all the years we've needed this extra capacity someone didn't check out that the electrics were going to work for the...erm..electric trains 

[Electric train]

I was on the 06:28 this morning, left on time arrived at Padd on time.   Oh and plenty of seats to chose from     Better that my usual 07:02 where its difficult find even standing space 

[Adelante_CCT]

Decided to try out the 19:12 this evening, still many seats available, with various off and ons at Ealing and Hayes, along with a mass exodus at West Drayton leaving it fairly empty with less than 10 people in my carriage for the remainder of the journey.

Here is the 19:12 having come in to Maidenhead on Platform 5, with the 19:36 having just arrived on Platform 3.



Hadn't got round to trying a 387 out before, very happy with my journey, plenty of leg room and pleasant AC on what had been a muggy afternoon. Looking forward to a larger rollout, power supply pending 

I know the odd late running freight was in the area but one slight problem I saw was by the time the units on Platform 5 had returned towards London, the service from Bourne End was being held on the branch, I hope this doesn't happen to often in the future.

[BBM]

I had to work in Ealing today so I took the 0635 Turbo from TWY^▸ (Twyford station) to MAI^▸ (Maidenhead station) and then I hung around there for the 0656 Cl.387 service which today had no door problems at Taplow or indeed anywhere else! Very nice smooth comfortable journey with plenty of seats for everyone and so good not to have to push my way out at EAL^▸ (Ealing Broadway Station). Not looking forward to a noisy hot plodding return journey on a Turbo later.

[TaplowGreen]

I wonder when the overhead line damage occurred then as the 0733 & others from Maidenhead were 3 car turbos, very cosy! (According to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) this was due to OHL^▸ (Over-Head Line) damage)

[johoare]

I was on the 7.33 today and it was actually not too overcrowded at all.. Probably helped by it starting at Maidenhead empty rather than the train which it replaces (the 7.29) which used to arrive fairly full anyway.. It will be even better once it's 8 carriages 

[lordgoata]

The 0811 on the other hand, was also a 3-car (down from 5) and was rammed solid!

[grahame]

I was on the 7.33 today and it was actually not too overcrowded at all.. Probably helped by it starting at Maidenhead empty rather than the train which it replaces (the 7.29) which used to arrive fairly full anyway.. It will be even better once it's 8 carriages 

I have been asked if this improvement in services from Maidenhead three weeks before a general election is a co-incidence of timing, or if it's been hurried into life (e.g. electric supply issues) early to help the local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament), who I understand is a key person to the Conservatives.

[ChrisB]

Neither.....planned well before that certain lady called the election.

[TaplowGreen]

I was on the 7.33 today and it was actually not too overcrowded at all.. Probably helped by it starting at Maidenhead empty rather than the train which it replaces (the 7.29) which used to arrive fairly full anyway.. It will be even better once it's 8 carriages 

I have been asked if this improvement in services from Maidenhead three weeks before a general election is a co-incidence of timing, or if it's been hurried into life (e.g. electric supply issues) early to help the local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament), who I understand is a key person to the Conservatives.

Ahhhhh, so the whole, massive delay and cost increase to the  electrification programme was all a cunning Conservative plan to get the timing just right.....got it!  

[paul7575]

Neither.....planned well before that certain lady called the election.

For a source, Paddington/Maidenhead peak services in May 2017 is clearly supported by the details shown in the September 2016 track access application - the same TAA that dealt with the Greenford and Hayes changes.   

Of course it is later (perhaps about 9 months?) than expected compared to when first announced in the new franchise brief,  IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) (without looking it up) May 2017 was supposed to have had EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) running to Oxford.   

Paul

[Timmer]

It's not a good start to the new Maidenhead-Paddington electric services is it?

Doubt anyone who uses peak time services along the Thames Valley was that surprised after all the problems and delays of the past few years though.