This branch would be great for a class 398 if they can sort some wiring for the line and im sure a 398 will fit in both platforms at Bourne end

Excellent: and market the service as the 'Electric donkey'. The sparks effect will have passenger numbers growing strongly, and people will be like 'Hi, Sparkydonks, how're you doing? Compared to the old train you're as regular as a quartz clock.'

Mark

24th. Ded again.

Mark

The donkey's broken down, poor creature.

Mark

Generally the service is very reliable even with the need for 2 units at each peak.  More often than not its the units that fail and not the lack of crew of lineside equipment.

Thank you for that ET. That is a most useful document that allows me to fully understand how it all works. I must say though that the concluding paragraph on page 6 might be somewhat prophetic.

Looking at Google Maps I see that the points at Bourne End are now sporting new electric point motors. Are these part of the problem, having replaced the Victorian aged (and quite reliable) mechanical ground frame?

Line reported open by GWR at 1531 on Twitter

...Don't suppose any could afford to live in Marlow! ...

In olden days, a work around may have been found by using a pilotman. Of course, we don't know what the problem is, and these days it would need to be a pilotperson.

The only job on the railway where they must leave the railway premises immediately that their shift finishes

... and these days it would need to be a pilotperson.

They should contact the local heritage railways around them. They might have spare parts they need right away.

I don't know the details of the "signalling issue" ... but I muse that modern technology adds to how long things take to fix when there's a problem. I also muse as to whether other modern constraints prevent a unit being locked on the branch-off-a-branch with one train in operation on it, stop and proceed at crossings if necessary, and passengers transferring around the platform end at Bourne End.

I don't know the details of the "signalling issue" ... but I muse that modern technology adds to how long things take to fix when there's a problem. I also muse as to whether other modern constraints prevent a unit being locked on the branch-off-a-branch with one train in operation on it, stop and proceed at crossings if necessary, and passengers transferring around the platform end at Bourne End.

Alterations to services between Bourne End and Marlow
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Bourne End and Marlow the line is closed.
Train services running to and from these stations will be terminated at and started back from Bourne End. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 24/08/25.
Customer Advice
We have taxis in place to operate between Bourne End and Marlow, connecting out of trains from Maidenhead. Taxis will also operate between Marlow and Bourne End approximately 10 minutes EARLIER than the train they are replacing with a view to connectig into trains from Bourne End to Maidenhead. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee connections with train services.
-
We're sorry for the delay to your journey.
-
We will update this message with more information when we have it.
Further Information
An update will follow within the next 2 hours.
Customers are requested to check the stations Onward Travel Information poster and wait for replacement road transport at the designated stop. Customers are advised that the replacement road transport may run later than the advertised train times owing to the additional time taken by road between stations and the time required for loading and unloading at each stop.
If you require further information please speak to our staff at the station or on the train, use the Customer Help Point, message us on X @GWRHelp or call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950.

If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
Last Updated:23/08/2025 07:00

... have just asked what is purportedly their Bluesky account. (A reply might not be forthcoming as allegedly many TOCs are awaiting an update to whatever software it is that they use to coordinate their various social media activities)

It doesn't say that the ticket arrangement is in place.  Is it entirely informal ?

I was going to post the example on Geoffs website, but did not want to do so until I have absolute proof that I am not peddling myths.

Thank you Graham. It was where I first went looking too.

Could someone with social media savvy (and that is definitely not me!) reach out to GWR and see if this well thought-out arrangement is still in place and if so, where it is documented. Good intentions are of no defence if one was to meet the autonomous "we-are-revenue-protection" brigade. I have sadly seen them in action.

It is not in the routing guide easement list where I would have expected to find something similar to this example from elsewhere:

It doesn't say that the ticket arrangement is in place.  Is it entirely informal ?

I was going to post the example on Geoffs website, but did not want to do so until I have absolute proof that I am not peddling myths.

700784 Manual

Holders of tickets from Kyle of Lochalsh to either Glasgow or Edinburgh, may join Scotrail only operated trains at Mallaig. They will need to make their own arrangements to travel between Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig, as railway tickets are not valid on bus and ferry connections between the two locations. This manual easement will not operate in online journey planning systems.

Any idea where that is documented?

Not widely publicised but I believe the interavailability is still valid.

The line of route has now got housing on it....

Soooo... the later of those two timetables, Marlow & High Wycombe's through services to Paddington have gone. High Wycombe to Maidenhead is now a mixture of through trains & others involving a minimum 15 minute wait at Bourne End.

Cue grahame? 

Does anyone have a Western Region passenger timetable for, say, 1968 or '69?

On 28th June 1873 the Great Marlow Railway Company’s line opened for passenger traffic. At two miles and 61 chains long, it became the branch from Bourne End to Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Marlow station was then named Great Marlow and Bourne End was Marlow Road. Marlow Road became Bourne End in 1874 and Great Marlow stayed as such until 1899 when the “Great” was removed.

[snip]

Yep.

Marlow to Maidenhead. Not familiar with it, having touched it only two or three times, ever - once to drop someone at Bourne End -  and that actually was for one of those early trains (and a day when we were praying that we'd be surveyed as to what travel modes had been used for a journey to work).

Looking at Realtimetrains, the half hourly pattern seems to be operated by two trains, on an out-and-back pattern from Bourne End and using just one platform there, once the service goes off-peak this drops back to one and the other takes itself off somewhere else. A bit odd, as this must tie up two extra carriages in the peak for no increase in capacity. (Or, more likely, I've misunderstood this completely)

Mark

In the morning peak, Marlow's hourly service goes half hourly for a bit, with the first train at 06:06 and then 06:36.

From the May timetable change, this goes to 6:16 and 7:06 before the half hour timetable kicks in, which seems a bit harsh.

Mark

between Bourne End and Marlow ................. (apologies for the clickbait headline    )

The line between Bourne and Marlow is in the first week of a 2 week closure for track renewals, services being replaced by a bus.

This is does not look like its causing to many issues as there has been nothing posted

Track renewals between Bourne End and Marlow for the duration with full branch line closures at weekends during those days.

Is there actually any intermediate traffic that would use a train such as this ... or is this a positioning move to resynchronise?


Which brings the question when two trains are running in the peak ... does the Marlow train wait for the arrival of the train from Maidenhead if it's late, or set off time come hell, high-water, or the sound of a 166 in the distance?

19:34 Maidenhead to Marlow due 19:57 will be started from Bourne End.
It will no longer call at Maidenhead, Furze Platt and Cookham.
This is due to a points failure.

A warm welcome to the forum Nippy

Hows it appears in the signalbox at Didcot:
https://photos.signalling.org/picture?/19012/category/1879-2015_may

I do feel if the line had survived 5 to 10 years longer it would still be operating today

I do feel if the line had survived 5 to 10 years longer it would still be operating today,

Or if you believe in conspiracy theories the through service  was deliberately run down by BR to facilitate closeures as it was an expensive line to operate with at least 4 manned crossing between Bourne End and Wycombe. Which also meant that traffic could flow freely, very important in the 70s.

Or if you believe in conspiracy theories the through service  was deliberately run down by BR to facilitate closeures.

Quaint isn't it    and all operated on basically Victorian technology. 

Token block between Maidenhead - Bourne End and "One Engine in Steam" on the Bourne End - Marlow

Interesting stuff, cheers. Why was the High Wycombe-Maidenhead line worked in two halves towards the end? Was its simply that traffic between Maidenhead and Marlow dominated and it was better to work the Bourne End to Wycombe section as a branch instead? This seems a little odd to me as I imagine that if the line was fully open today it would be very popular.

Hows it appears in the signalbox at Didcot:
https://photos.signalling.org/picture?/19012/category/1879-2015_may

"M" for Marlow and "M" for Maidenhead ... I suspect too similar and likely to get confused at first glance.

Presumably can't use 'M' as that would potentially be confused with "Mainline" ?

.....and just to add my bit, thats not a signal in Bobm's photograph, but a Point Indicator (its set for the Marlow line).

That is subtle ...

.....and just to add my bit, thats not a signal in Bobm's photograph, but a Point Indicator (its set for the Marlow line).