Disruption to train services between Reading and London - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[infoman]

https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/live-network-updates

[grahame]

https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/live-network-updates

For the record - current advice:

Travel update - Tuesday 20 September

Network Rail have been working overnight to restore the overhead electric lines (power cables) between London Paddington and Slough so that services can resume.

However, disruption is expected to continue into the morning and customers are strongly advised to only travel if necessary and check before you travel.

There will be no GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services to or from London Paddington until at least 09:30.  Long distance high speed services will start/terminate at Reading instead.

Customers wishing to travel between London and Reading are advised to travel via Reading and London Waterloo on South Western Railway services.

Customers can also use Chiltern Railways services between Oxford and London Marylebone.

A limited GWR shuttle service will operate between Reading and Slough, calling at Twyford & Maidenhead.

We sincerely apologise for the significant disruption caused by this substantial de-wirement.

Tickets dated for travel on Monday 19 or Tuesday 20 September will be valid for travel upto and including Wednesday 21 September.

and from JourneyCheck

Cancellations to services between Slough and London Paddington

Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between Slough and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on all lines.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Reading. All stations between Slough and London Paddington will not be served. Disruption is expected until 12:00 20/09.

Customer Advice

Following significant damage to the overhead electric lines between between Paddington and Slough earlier yesterday (Monday 19 September) there are no train services running between London Paddington and Slough.
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Network Rail rapid response units are on site overnight and we are focussed on getting services up and running as soon as possible. However, due to the extent of the damage, disruption is expected for the rest of today, and until at least 12:00 Tuesday 20 September.
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Customer travelling between London & Reading should travel to/from London Waterloo, using South Western Railway services to/from Reading.
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Customers can also use Chiltern Railway services between Oxford, Banbury, and London Marylebone.
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If you require any further assistance or information please speak to a member of Train Crew or Station Staff. Alternatively please use station help points where provided.
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If you hold a ticket dated for Monday 19 September, you can use this today (Tuesday 20 September)
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CrossCountry will convey passengers via any reasonable route until 12:00 20/09/22.
London Underground are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice. Please check your journey at tfl.gov.uk
London Buses are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice. Please check your journey at tfl.gov.uk
First Bus route X25: Reading - Heathrow Airport ( Rail Air ) are conveying passengers between Reading and Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 in both directions until further notice.
Replacement bus services are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice. Reading Buses are accepting GWR tickets. Check your journey at reading-buses.co.uk
Replacement bus services are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice. First Bus Berkshire are accepting GWR tickets. Check your journey at firstbus.co.uk/berkshire-thames-valley

Further Information

An update will follow within the next 2 hours.
If you hold a valid single, return, or weekly ticket, you will be able to claim compensation for delays of 15 minutes or more. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
Last Updated:20/09/2022 07:12

[ChrisB]

Lines opened at 0930. 2 diesel, 2 electric. Delays & cancellations will still be likely. Full fix overnight tonight

[infoman]

Could trains not run Reading to Slough-Windsor as the damage was at Hayes.

I think three of the four through routes at Slough are bi-directional.

[stuving]

Could trains not run Reading to Slough-Windsor as the damage was at Hayes.

I think three of the four through routes at Slough are bi-directional.

They did, though not until the afternoon. There was a 2 tph^▸ (trains per hour) shuttle Reading to West Drayton, plus a few extra ones to Slough. SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) also ran extra trains to Reading, building up to 2 tph extras doubling the service, but not until the evening. None this morning, though.

[ChrisB]

Windsor is only a 4car platform

[Electric train]

Could trains not run Reading to Slough-Windsor as the damage was at Hayes.

I think three of the four through routes at Slough are bi-directional.

The track layout at Slough is not designed for this type of move any longer, its designed for ECS^▸ (Empty Coaching Stock) to / from Reading a couple of times a day.

The reversing and crossing over would have been painfully slow better to try and do quick turn arounds and passengers transferring at Slough

[John D]

Great Western Railway (GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)) is warning customers in the Thames Valley to plan for changes to train services during the hottest parts of the day on Monday and Tuesday, as track temperatures are forecast to reach levels requiring speed restrictions.

The changes will mostly impact local stopping services between Reading and London Paddington, with changes to trains serving Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford.

And unhelpfully for those planning a journey

Due to the short-notice changes, industry information systems will not show the correct train timetable until the day of travel.

https://railuk.com/travel/gwr-to-run-amended-service-during-extreme-heat-on-monday-and-tuesday/

Strangely although very hot weather is expected Mon-Thur, only expecting disruption Mon-Tue, which suggests if they can manage We'd-Thur why didn't they start their planning 2 days earlier, as this hot weather has been forecast for over a week.

[ChrisB]

This will be extended to Thursday at least

[Chris from Nailsea]

I expect Coffee Shop member 'TaplowGreen' will be keeping an eye on it. 

[broadgage]

I expect Coffee Shop member 'TaplowGreen' will be keeping an eye on it. 

And also broadgage.

[Bob_Blakey]

So the question, to which I don't believe we the customers have ever received a full and frank answer from Network Rail, is 'Why is the railway infrastructure between London Paddington & Reading, and more particularly it seems to me between Paddington & Slough, so horrendously unreliable?'

Answers on a very large postcard.

[TaplowGreen]

So the question, to which I don't believe we the customers have ever received a full and frank answer from Network Rail, is 'Why is the railway infrastructure between London Paddington & Reading, and more particularly it seems to me between Paddington & Slough, so horrendously unreliable?'

Answers on a very large postcard.

This may be of some interest - although not much information was forthcoming...............

https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=29248.0

[broadgage]

This only underlines my long held view that ALL new electric trains should be fitted with a battery or diesel engine, so as to permit continued operation when the wires come down.
Consideration should be given to retrofitting batteries to existing electric trains.

[grahame]

This only underlines my long held view that ALL new electric trains should be fitted with a battery or diesel engine, so as to permit continued operation when the wires come down.
Consideration should be given to retrofitting batteries to existing electric trains.

Yes but ...

Batteries and diesel engines require maintenance, and are only going to help when the knitting is not physically blocking / fouling or has the slightest possibility of fouling the tracks on which the trains will run.   You are in effect suggesting everything should be bi-mode with the added complications of things like control systems that are going to be needed whether the backup engines are 280 horsepower or 2800 horsepower, and set up to allow 125 mph running or 25 mph running.  You may save a bit if you have to be stationary to switch modes.