Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) relying on TfL^» (Transport for London - about)/Elizabeth Line to bail them out between Reading-Paddington it would seem.

Indeed, a proactive and preventative strategy often used during extreme heat, and far better than the points at Dolphin Junction failing in 'reverse' and four operational lines becoming two.

Quite a lot of freight loops will also be booked out for the same reason.  The loops at Milton, Wootton Bassett, Hullavington and Chipping Sodbury being five examples.

[TaplowGreen]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) relying on TfL^» (Transport for London - about)/Elizabeth Line to bail them out between Reading-Paddington it would seem.

Indeed, a proactive and preventative strategy often used during extreme heat, and far better than the points at Dolphin Junction failing in 'reverse' and four operational lines becoming two.

Quite a lot of freight loops will also be booked out for the same reason.  The loops at Milton, Wootton Bassett, Hullavington and Chipping Sodbury being five examples.

Given that the frequency of these extreme weather events have been on the rise for the last decade or so, what has/is being done to make this and other key pieces of infrastructure more resilient?

Dolphin Junction would seem to be a well known and hugely disruptive single point of failure.

[IndustryInsider]

The western section of Dolphin Junction was completely replaced at Christmas.  There was talk of the eastern section (which is the bit these particular trains use) being replaced and upgraded from 40mph to 70mph…not sure when though.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Quite a lot of freight loops will also be booked out for the same reason.  The loops at Milton, Wootton Bassett, Hullavington and Chipping Sodbury being five examples.

That's four. 

[TaplowGreen]

The western section of Dolphin Junction was completely replaced at Christmas.  There was talk of the eastern section (which is the bit these particular trains use) being replaced and upgraded from 40mph to 70mph…not sure when though.

Just seen a comment on another forum suggesting that the outstanding work on Dolphin Junction is scheduled for the end of this year - clearly can't come soon enough.

[ChrisB]

Probably coinciding with the HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) work & the Xmas closure.

[IndustryInsider]

Quite a lot of freight loops will also be booked out for the same reason.  The loops at Milton, Wootton Bassett, Hullavington and Chipping Sodbury being five examples.

That's four. 

Four locations but five loops as Hullavington has two. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Fair point. 

[TaplowGreen]

Elizabeth Line has fallen over due to a points failure - so that options now gone for those travelling from Twyford/Maidenhead/Slough etc this morning if they wish to get to London.

No service between Heathrow Terminals 2&3 and Heathrow Terminal 4 due to flooding caused by heavy rain and SEVERE DELAYS on the rest of the line due to a points failure at Southall. Tickets are being accepted on London Underground via any reasonable route.

[TaplowGreen]

Elizabeth Line has fallen over due to a points failure - so that options now gone for those travelling from Twyford/Maidenhead/Slough etc this morning if they wish to get to London.

No service between Heathrow Terminals 2&3 and Heathrow Terminal 4 due to flooding caused by heavy rain and SEVERE DELAYS on the rest of the line due to a points failure at Southall. Tickets are being accepted on London Underground via any reasonable route.

Update

Route(s) affected
Between London Paddington and Heathrow Terminals / Reading

Description
Severe weather at Heathrow Terminal 4 means that all lines are blocked to / from this station. As a result, trains running to / from Heathrow Terminals may be cancelled, delayed or revised.

Lines have now reopened following an earlier points failure at Southall. Trains running between London Paddington and Reading may continue to be cancelled, delayed by up to to 25 minutes or revised.

Disruption is expected until 10:00.

[TaplowGreen]

..........can't blame the weather today!

Cancellations to services between Reading and London Paddington

Due to a points failure between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed.

Disruption is expected until 13:15 01/07.

[TaplowGreen]

..........can't blame the weather today!

Cancellations to services between Reading and London Paddington

Due to a points failure between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed.

Disruption is expected until 13:15 01/07.

Disruption now pushed out to 1515..............if it starts disrupting people's plans to watch England play at 1700, the railway's reputation, already subterranean, is likely to sink even lower.

[grahame]

..........can't blame the weather today!

Cancellations to services between Reading and London Paddington

Due to a points failure between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed.

Disruption is expected until 13:15 01/07.

Disruption now pushed out to 1515..............if it starts disrupting people's plans to watch England play at 1700, the railway's reputation, already subterranean, is likely to sink even lower.

Yeah - got caught up in that.  09:48 off Paddington on time, 25 minutes down by Reading, 22 down (with a 25 minute connection) at Swindon, so I made Melksham on time.

Interesting, the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) journey planner had suggested the 10:00 train and shorter change; had I followed their advice, I would have missed the connection ... next train 2 hours later.   Good job I know who things work and took the first available train off Paddington in an abundance of caution.

[ChrisB]

Sensible rule of thumb is to take the first available train to the station of your connection & wait there rather than at your origin

[TaplowGreen]

Alterations to services between Westbury and Reading

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Westbury and Reading fewer trains are able to run on some lines.

Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed or diverted. Some stations between Westbury and Reading will not be served. Disruption is expected until 08:00 04/07.