Bristol Temple Meads Fasts

[mangyiscute]

Will there be a decent connection onto the one that starts in Maidenhead from the GWR one that stops in Maidenhead and Slough? If not I really hope TfL consider terminating the Maidenhead one in Reading - I can't imagine there would be any pathing issue since the relief lines aren't too congested between Maidenhead and Reading and Elizabeth line gets platforms 13 and 14 in Reading to start services so I guess its just the extra driver/train requirement - edit: I guess the pathing would just be what it is currently in peak times with the Elizabeth line services leaving 10/20 mins apart with the gwr one in between

 

[MarkyT]

If and when western access to Heathrow is ever built then trains using that from Reading will be the best way into the airport from all points west. To me, Heathrow would be the natural terminus for all local GWR local all stations services from Basingstoke, Newbury and Oxford, running through Reading and providing a combined 6tph from there into the airport, with a standard Twyford, Maidenhead, Slough stopping pattern. TfLs Elizabeth line would provide all relief stopping services east of Slough and cover Taplow, Burnham.

 

[Benjwri]

To me, Heathrow would be the natural terminus for all local GWR local all stations services from Basingstoke, Newbury and Oxford, running through Reading and providing a combined 6tph from there into the airport, with a standard Twyford, Maidenhead, Slough stopping pattern. TfLs Elizabeth line would provide all relief stopping services east of Slough and cover Taplow, Burnham.

This is absolutely not the passenger flow from these areas. I would suggest the proportion who want to go to Heathrow, for probably a once a year holiday, is tiny compared to those who travel to work every day. The trains in the peaks are pretty much full, especially the semi fasts.

Taking away direct Paddington services these stations have had since they opened would cause uproar.

 

[MarkyT]

This is absolutely not the passenger flow from these areas. I would suggest the proportion who want to go to Heathrow, for probably a once a year holiday, is tiny compared to those who travel to work every day. The trains in the peaks are pretty much full, especially the semi fasts.

Taking away direct Paddington services these stations have had since they opened would cause uproar.

Basingstoke and Newbury stoppers don't go to London, most if not all terminating in the west bays at Reading today. Many users from smaller stations west of Reading on the main line also usually change at Reading for a faster journey to Paddington. The busy semi-fasts could still run on the Reliefs west of Slough however, switching to the Mains east of there for the fast leg to London, which of course will stop at Old Oak Common in the future.

 

[Wychwood93]

Basingstoke and Newbury stoppers don't go to London, most if not all terminating in the west bays at Reading today. Many users from smaller stations west of Reading on the main line also usually change at Reading for a faster journey to Paddington. The busy semi-fasts could still run on the Reliefs west of Slough however, switching to the Mains east of there for the fast leg to London, which of course will stop at Old Oak Common in the future.

I would agree with that on the premise that 'dangly wires' arrive in Basingstoke, given that Newbury already has them. For either of Basingstoke/Newbury I would have some a.m/p.m peak services all stations to Reading and then either fast to Pad or have a Slough stop, with an hourly off-peak to/from Heathrow. That is the easy bit - the costly bit is the western link!

 

[twitch7443]

Chippenham is not so much an intercity hub, but more the only station serving a lot of towns, upto about 10-15 miles away. However recent road changes and lots of additional traffic lights have made it a painful location to drive to.

The current road system is frankly horrible - I hope the in-progress station upgrade leads to some changes for the road system, I'm sure it is absolutely insufferable during morning peak (which I am fortunately able to avoid, though many aren't).

 

[JonathanH]

For either of Basingstoke/Newbury I would have some a.m/p.m peak services all stations to Reading and then either fast to Pad or have a Slough stop, with an hourly off-peak to/from Heathrow.

Not ideal to run 4-car trains on the east side of Reading, while it is ideal to run 4-car trains on the west and south side to match platform lengths.

 

[mangyiscute]

Not ideal to run 4-car trains on the east side of Reading, while it is ideal to run 4-car trains on the west and south side to match platform lengths.

And with the amount of people who would change off of these trains at Reading and the way there are bay platforms for the Basingstoke and Newbury services, and 4 platforms for relief line eastbound services, it doesn't make any sense to send these trains onto Heathrow. Peak time, Basingstoke passengers will always go via Waterloo, intermediate stations don't generate enough traffic to justify a through service and Newbury already has these fast trains.