Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2026

[whole diary]

[GBM]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnvl1r1080go

Heathrow Airport train services resume after trackside fire disruption
Ewan Somerville
Published
5 September 2026
Updated 7 hours ago
Trains to and from Heathrow Airport were halted after a trackside grass fire caused delays and cancellations.

National Rail said there was a "major disruption" to services following the incident which began shortly after 16:00 BST.

.................continues............

[TaplowGreen]

Alterations to services between Reading and Didcot Parkway

Due to a safety inspection of the track between Reading and Didcot Parkway some lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations will be diverted. Pangbourne will not be served. Disruption is expected until 18:00 06/09.

Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
We have had a report of a defect on some lines in the Reading area. Trains may not be able to run over the affected line until it has been inspected or may have to run at reduced speed.

[TaplowGreen]

Cancellations to services between Reading and London Paddington

Due to vandalism of railway equipment between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run.

Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

.......Saturday’s fire now attributed to vandalism.

[NickB]

Yep. All those pesky firefighters with their foam and water, messing up the electrics. 

[NickB]

A fuller explanation has now been published.  This feels like it might take longer than today to resolve.  Does anyone have a view/info on how long this suspension to Reading might last for?

Due to vandalism of railway equipment between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
Following an incident on Saturday, where some electrical distribution equipment was damaged in a fire, there are some significant effects on train services as a result. Until repairs have been effected, it will not be possible to operate the full timetable of our electric trains between London Paddington and Reading owing to the demands this would otherwise place on the electrical distribution system.

Our High Speed / Inercity Express Train services will, in the main, continue to operate as scheduled. They are able to operate on diesel power through the affected area which would not have any effect on the loading of the electrical supply.

Train services which normally operate between Didcot Parkway and London Paddington (calling at local stations via Pangbourne) will only operate between Didcot Parkway and Reading in both directions. Passengers to or from stations to London Paddington will be required to change trains at Reading. Note that this will particularly impact on those customers travelling to / from Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough who may use, at no additional cost, Elizabeth line services between Reading and London Paddington. Note that at Paddington the Elizabeth line services call at platforms A and B which may be accessed via the entrances alongside platform 1 of the main terminal station. If you are travelling to or from Slough, Maidenhead or Twyford your ticket will be accepted for travel via Reading, if this provides a faster journey to or from London Paddington

[REVUpminster]

Yep. All those pesky firefighters with their foam and water, messing up the electrics. 

Like Paignton, most of the damage was done by firefighters trying to find the seat of the fire and prevent it's spread. If there's no fuel, ie wood, then it cannot spread. I don't know if insurance assessors take that into account.

[TaplowGreen]

This won't help - if it's the one I'm thinking of it gets clobbered quite regularly

Delays to services between Reading and London Paddington

Following a road vehicle colliding with a bridge between Reading and London Paddington the line has now reopened.
Train services running to and from these stations are returning to normal. Disruption is expected until 12:30 07/09.

Customer Advice
-
What has happened??
-
Weve been informed that a vehicle has struck a bridge in the Burnham area. The bridge will have to be examined to make sure its safe and any debris cleared.

[NickB]

Plenty of disruption on the Elizabeth line this evening so thanks to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) for disowning Thames valley passengers and assuming Elizabeth Line would carry the weight of their cancellations.

Detraining full and standing services to play timetable catch-up is straight out of the GWR playbook.

[grahame]

Detraining full and standing services to play timetable catch-up is straight out of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) playbook.

Indeed, though it is not unique to GWR or even to the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).  I can find you trains in Germany, for example, that have been turned back short. Pretty full, yes - not sure if I can recall any "and standing" at the time.

[ChrisB]

Huh? This is totally the result of the vandalism & fire at the Kensal Green electricity Feeder Station. Not due to be fixed until close on the 8th.

The entire Didcot - Paddington overheads being fed from Didcot Feeder station! So hence the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) on diesel & Elizabeth Line being allowed the run on the local lines. One tri[p now takes out everything from PAD^▸ (Paddington (London) station) to Didcot.

HEX reduced to half-hourly, not to T5 either. Didcot & Newbury stoppers as far as Reading only.

Railforums reporting that someone threw a disposable BBQ into the Kensal Green Feeder Station from the Grand Union canal towpath.

[TaplowGreen]

Railforums reporting that someone threw a disposable BBQ into the Kensal Green Feeder Station from the Grand Union canal towpath.

What is it with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and BBQs?

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yet another Yellow Card to TaplowGreen, for mentioning 'barbeques' anywhere other than on 'the lighter side'

 

[TaplowGreen]

Huh? This is totally the result of the vandalism & fire at the Kensal Green electricity Feeder Station. Not due to be fixed until close on the 8th.

The entire Didcot - Paddington overheads being fed from Didcot Feeder station! So hence the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) on diesel & Elizabeth Line being allowed the run on the local lines. One tri[p now takes out everything from PAD^▸ (Paddington (London) station) to Didcot.

HEX reduced to half-hourly, not to T5 either. Didcot & Newbury stoppers as far as Reading only.

Railforums reporting that someone threw a disposable BBQ into the Kensal Green Feeder Station from the Grand Union canal towpath.

For "close on the 8th" make that the 9th............................

Cancellations to services between Reading and London Paddington

Due to vandalism of railway equipment between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised.

Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 09/09/26.

[bobm]

Journeycheck now saying disruption is likely to last until next Tuesday (15th).

[NickB]

[slow hand clap]