Reading Buses and Thames Valley

[Parebunks]

The X40 improvements are something I hadn't spotted, thank you. With Carousel, I'm not sure if they would share the outstation, because themselves and TT are still separate companies within the GoAhead group.

They've shared management for a while and are increasingly integrated, altho not sure how the licensing would work and beginning to get off topic for this thread. Will also be interested to see if competition starting up on the Henley route sours the relationship between Reading and Go-Ahead at all - it's seemed fairly amicable in the past, with TT being the main beneficiary of Reading including other companies routes on their network map + generally smooth ticketing cooperation recently.

 

[AlastairFraser]

They've shared management for a while and are increasingly integrated, altho not sure how the licensing would work and beginning to get off topic for this thread. Will also be interested to see if competition starting up on the Henley route sours the relationship between Reading and Go-Ahead at all - it's seemed fairly amicable in the past, with TT being the main beneficiary of Reading including other companies routes on their network map + generally smooth ticketing cooperation recently.

We'll see I guess, but I wouldn't think GoAhead will be annoyed, in light of the recent expansion in Wycombe and the extra revenue that operation will not bring on.

There's a lot of potential for additional traffic on the Henley corridor too in the future as there may be a Clean Air Zone in Reading in future (currently it has been ruled out - https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/23882098.views-sought-future-road-reading-2040/), but the scheme could easily be considered at some point in the existing decade.

The Reading /South Oxon boundary east of Caversham Park Village Road would be a perfect location for one too (the new Reading Buses route 28/ Carousel's route 800 will pass it directly) - Caversham and the villages north of the Thames have high car ownership, a lot of peak time congestion, and parking in central Reading is quite expensive.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jul 2024 ==

POSTED 29th July

Tried the new Aqua 28 today. Quite impressed.

They struggle a bit with Reading and occasionally Henley traffic, but the blue gift bags available on bus welcoming us to the new service (containing an Aqua branded pen, a bottle of water with an Aqua 28 sticker on the lid, a microwaveable waffle, a granola bar and a timetable) was a very nice touch.

Loadings were light around 11am (high single figures at best), but that's to be expected.

There was reasonably healthy loadings in Cav itself, so should be OK till Sept, when the schools and colleges come back.

 

[BlainRhys]

https://www.carouselbuses.co.uk/service-changes-1st-september-2024 850 will now run an hour on Sundays which 28 will be the corridor for 800 on Sundays.

We will be making several improvements to the Carousel Buses network from 1st September 2024, with more buses to Reading and Bourne End and a new Sunday service to Maidenhead.​

the one 1 1A 1B 1C 1S

In partnership with Buckinghamshire Council, a new variant 1C will connect Chartridge with Chesham, Amersham and High Wycombe up to every hour on weekdays. Service 1 will also be altered to operate via Botley and Ley Hill and will no longer serve Lye Green.

To view the new times from 1st September 2024, please click here, and click here for a new route map.

34

The 0710 weekday journey from High Wycombe Coachway will be extended to run from Lane End at 0650 providing a new morning journey into Cressex and the Town Centre.

To view the new times from 1st September 2024, please click here.

36

Service 36 will be increased to operate every 30 minutes between High Wycombe and Bourne End. The Sunday service will be replaced by new service 37B (see below). Together with services 37 and 37A, this restores the High Wycombe to Bourne End weekday frequency to up to every 15 minutes.

To view the new times from 1st September 2024, please click here.

37 37A 37B 37S

We are pleased to be introducing a new Sunday service to Maidenhead on service 37, initially on trial basis. We hope this enhancement will be well used and that we can make this Sunday extension permanent.

Working with Buckinghamshire Council, a new 37A variant will be introduced running via Kingsmead Road, with service 37 returning to operate via the London Road through Wycombe Marsh and Loudwater. Buses will run up to every 30 minutes on weekdays, and together with service 36, this restores the High Wycombe to Bourne End weekday frequency to up to every 15 minutes.

Some journeys will also operate via the London Road between Wycombe Marsh and Loudwater. Journey variations will be as follows:

• 37 via London Road, Station Road and Boundary Road
• 37A via Kingsmead Road and Boundary Road
• 37B (on Sundays) via London Road, Station Road, Treadaway Hill, Flackwell Heath and White Pit Lane
• 37S (on school days only) via Kingsmead Road and Boundary Road, extending to Bourne End Academy after Bourne End Station

To view the new times from 1st September 2024, please click here, and click here for a new route map.

41 41H 41S

We will be amending the route of service 41 between Great Missenden and Amersham in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council, operating via Hyde Heath and Chesham Bois instead of Old Amersham. Within Amersham, buses will operate via Chestnut Lane, New Road, Plantation Road and Grimsdell’s Lane. Frequent connections are available in Amersham to travel to Old Amersham, with buses operating up to every 15 minutes on the one.

In addition, a new 41H variant will operate on school days, providing links for students in Prestwood and Great Kingshill travelling to Holmer Green Senior School.

You can find the new timetable from 1st September 2024 here, and a map of the new route here.

Flightline 102

We have worked with Heathrow Airport to improve the Sunday service, with new early morning and late evening journeys. As a result of this, we’ll be operating a consistent timetable overnight on all days of the week.

To view the new times from 1st September 2024, please click here.

103 X103

More trips will operate in peak periods, with a review of journeys operating between Slough and Windsor in order to make these improvements possible. There will also be additional late evening trips between High Wycombe, Beaconsfield and Slough to provide greater travel opportunities on Mondays to Saturdays, though these will not operate to Windsor.

Following the introduction of service X103 on Sundays and Public Holidays in June, we’ll be making some enhancements from September, with the hourly service operating all through the day. There will also be an additional round trip added to the timetable with new journeys from High Wycombe to Slough at 1800 and Slough to High Wycombe at 1900.

To view the new times from 1st September 2024, please click here.

104

We’re adding a new morning trip from The Chalfonts and Seer Green to Beaconsfield and High Wycombe, providing an arrival into the town at 0720. There will also be some amendments to the journey times to maintain the headway of buses between High Wycombe and Beaconsfield.

For the first time, service 104 will operate on Sundays and Public Holidays, linking Seer Green and The Chalfonts with Uxbridge and Beaconsfield. For customers wishing to travel onward to High Wycombe, journeys are timed to enable an easy connection with Flightline 102 which runs every 30 minutes from Beaconsfield, Maxwell Road.

To view the new times from 1st September 2024, including the new Sunday service, please click here.

106 107

Services 106 and 107 will see some minor timing changes to improve punctuality during peak times.

To view the new times from 1st September 2024, please click here.

583

Service 583 will see some minor timing changes to improve punctuality.

To view the new times from 1st September 2024, please click here.

850

Following taking over services 800 and 850 from Arriva in July, we have identified a number of areas to improve the timetable. All buses will operate as service 850, via Wargrave and Twyford between Henley-on-Thames and Reading, up to every 20 minutes Monday - Friday, every 30 minutes on Saturday and hourly on Sunday.

As such, the 800 and X80 variants will no longer operate, with other links now available for those travelling between Reading, Caversham, Dunsden Green, Binfield Heath and Henley-on-Thames.

To view the new times from 1st September 2024, please check back here soon, and click here for a route map of service 850.

 

[Jimini]

Don't normally stray into the bus area of the forums -- but here's some anecdotal feedback from me from my house on Gosbrook Road in Caversham:

Aqua (28) services seem to be growing in popularity.

A fair number of the new Carousel bus services are double decker buses, and busy upon departure from Caversham Village heading towards Henley.

Both good to see!

 

[Kite159]

https://www.carouselbuses.co.uk/service-changes-1st-september-2024 850 will now run an hour on Sundays which 28 will be the corridor for 800 on Sundays

And from what it sounds like the Reading 28 route is replacing the 800 with the 850 via Twyford getting boosted. Not the best for passengers who used the 800 from Shiplake beyond Henley as they will now have to change buses and pay twice

 

[Mgameing123]

Are there plans for better buses in Maidenhead? The last bus at 6pm for most routes in the town is way too early. Especially on the interurbans to Windsor and Bracknell. Are there plans to increase service hours?

 

[AlastairFraser]

Are there plans for better buses in Maidenhead? The last bus at 6pm for most routes in the town is way too early. Especially on the interurbans to Windsor and Bracknell. Are there plans to increase service hours?

It would require subsidy from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, as passenger numbers are too low to run it as a commercial service.

 

[BlainRhys]

795 returns on service 703 in its Thames Valley livery. It has also had a re-trim, but is currently without its logo and vinyls. (photo is my own)

795-SN66 WLK

In Its New Thames Valley Livery

www.flickr.com

 

[Non Multi]

I think the main issue with Maidenhead is the recent lack of a central bus station, to be honest.

The main issue there... is that apart from route 7, Thames Valley's Maidenhead suburb to town centre circulars are hourly, even during the weekdays. Therefore most of the time it's quicker to just walk to the town centre.

Neighbouring towns also have high car ownership, but have higher frequency bus routes. It currently just feels like a half-hearted effort from both council and operator (I think these are mostly tendered).

I'm also still staggered no one's bothered to revive a daytime Heathrow - Maidenhead direct service, either using the A4 or M4. I'm sure Heathrow would part-fund the service as per usual.

The BSIP survey highlighted the desire from users for a bus station. I don't see any material improvements beyond slightly larger shelters with realtime information being provided.

 

[AlastairFraser]

The main issue there... is that apart from route 7, Thames Valley's Maidenhead suburb to town centre circulars are hourly, even during the weekdays. Therefore most of the time it's quicker to just walk to the town centre.

Neighbouring towns also have high car ownership, but have higher frequency bus routes. It currently just feels like a half-hearted effort from both council and operator (I think these are mostly tendered).

I'm also still staggered no one's bothered to revive a daytime Heathrow - Maidenhead direct service, either using the A4 or M4. I'm sure Heathrow would part-fund the service as per usual.

The BSIP survey highlighted the desire from users for a bus station. I don't see any material improvements beyond slightly larger shelters with realtime information being provided.

Sadly, there's not much demand for higher frequency to a town centre which is a bit of a shell these days, I was down in the Thames Valley at Xmas and was shocked at the state of the Nicholsons Centre (apart from when Maidenhead Festival isn't on).
What would help is if some town circulars were extended elsewhere to places that are more of a destination - maybe your Heathrow plan is one that needs consideration.

Agreed on the bus station - RBWM's old administration just weren't interested. Hopefully the new council do something about it.

 

[sp503]

The main issue there... is that apart from route 7, Thames Valley's Maidenhead suburb to town centre circulars are hourly, even during the weekdays. Therefore most of the time it's quicker to just walk to the town centre.

Neighbouring towns also have high car ownership, but have higher frequency bus routes. It currently just feels like a half-hearted effort from both council and operator (I think these are mostly tendered).

I'm also still staggered no one's bothered to revive a daytime Heathrow - Maidenhead direct service, either using the A4 or M4. I'm sure Heathrow would part-fund the service as per usual.

The BSIP survey highlighted the desire from users for a bus station. I don't see any material improvements beyond slightly larger shelters with realtime information being provided.

Heathrow to Maidenhead is now rather conveniently accessible by Elizabeth Line with a 15-minute frequency throughout the day. The demand for Maidenhead - Heathrow express bus service will be very small, and even if the journey time is competitive, the waiting time for the bus would certainly cancel out any advantages it has.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Heathrow to Maidenhead is now rather conveniently accessible by Elizabeth Line with a 15-minute frequency throughout the day. The demand for Maidenhead - Heathrow express bus service will be very small, and even if the journey time is competitive, the waiting time for the bus would certainly cancel out any advantages it has.

I'd say it'd be more an extension of the Cippenham - Heathrow bus, similar to the old Heathrow to Maidenhead route.

Id say bus every 30 minutes on 16 or Atleast run an X16 from Maidenhead to Windsor via the main road.

Not able to compete with the Maidenhead to Windsor train. A through loop Maidenhead. - Windsor - Slough - Maidenhead may have some merit, if cannibalised from existing bus services.

 

[greenline712]

I've only been to Maidenhead once, actually last year. On a Saturday lunchtime, the shops were pretty deserted, apart from upmarket eateries.
Maidenhead is pretty affluent, and well provided with car parks close to the centre. I'd say it gets the bus service it requires . . . limited.
There's no point chucking loads of money at the town services, unless and until the town centre is improved, with shops that pepole want to visit, and visit reqularly.

The only option might be to extend the Slough and Windsor routes to the estates, with appropriate recovery time of course. Even then, I just can't see that there might be any decent levels of ridership achieved . . . better to use any money elsewhere.

 

[Mgameing123]

I'd say it'd be more an extension of the Cippenham - Heathrow bus, similar to the old Heathrow to Maidenhead route.

Not able to compete with the Maidenhead to Windsor train. A through loop Maidenhead. - Windsor - Slough - Maidenhead may have some merit, if cannibalised from existing bus services.

Windsor to Maidenhead train? Who would want to change in Slough?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Aug 2024 ==

I've only been to Maidenhead once, actually last year. On a Saturday lunchtime, the shops were pretty deserted, apart from upmarket eateries.
Maidenhead is pretty affluent, and well provided with car parks close to the centre. I'd say it gets the bus service it requires . . . limited.
There's no point chucking loads of money at the town services, unless and until the town centre is improved, with shops that pepole want to visit, and visit reqularly.

The only option might be to extend the Slough and Windsor routes to the estates, with appropriate recovery time of course. Even then, I just can't see that there might be any decent levels of ridership achieved . . . better to use any money elsewhere.

Maidenhead does deserve more bus service. Maidenhead is now redeveloping into a major commuter town thanks to the Elizabeth Line and these town routes need to help commuters get to the station.

 

[greenline712]

I don't believe that bus-train commuters are a significant market now in many locations.
Commuting is now generally a part-week thing .... car parks at stations are full mid-week, with some cars on Mondays, and lots of empty spaces on Fridays.
That's why peak fares are cancelled in London on Fridays.

If commuter buses can attract other passengers, all well and good ... if not, they'll need subsidy.
If evening buses also need subsidy, then the money will run out more quickly.

Sorry, but IMHO Maidenhead is the wrong town to try any ideas ...

 

[AlastairFraser]

I've only been to Maidenhead once, actually last year. On a Saturday lunchtime, the shops were pretty deserted, apart from upmarket eateries.
Maidenhead is pretty affluent, and well provided with car parks close to the centre. I'd say it gets the bus service it requires . . . limited.
There's no point chucking loads of money at the town services, unless and until the town centre is improved, with shops that pepole want to visit, and visit reqularly.

The only option might be to extend the Slough and Windsor routes to the estates, with appropriate recovery time of course. Even then, I just can't see that there might be any decent levels of ridership achieved . . . better to use any money elsewhere.

One thing that might increase ridership is a parkway station out by the A404(M) in Woodlands Park, which would be a good bus interchange and induce some commuting there as well from other parts of Maidenhead. Not sure if there is GWML capacity for it at the moment.

Windsor to Maidenhead train? Who would want to change in Slough?

It's an easy change and cuts a hell of a lot a time off. Connections mean it's only a 3 min wait and the shuttle is only every 20 mins if you miss it anyway. Bus can't compete.

 

[Mgameing123]

One thing that might increase ridership is a parkway station out by the A404(M) in Woodlands Park, which would be a good bus interchange and induce some commuting there as well from other parts of Maidenhead. Not sure if there is GWML capacity for it at the moment.

It's an easy change and cuts a hell of a lot a time off. Connections mean it's only a 3 min wait and the shuttle is only every 20 mins if you miss it anyway. Bus can't compete.

You only save 3 minutes. I’m so sorry but most people would rather have the convenience of a direct bus over some unreliable and expensive rail service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Aug 2024 ==

I don't believe that bus-train commuters are a significant market now in many locations.
Commuting is now generally a part-week thing .... car parks at stations are full mid-week, with some cars on Mondays, and lots of empty spaces on Fridays.
That's why peak fares are cancelled in London on Fridays.

If commuter buses can attract other passengers, all well and good ... if not, they'll need subsidy.
If evening buses also need subsidy, then the money will run out more quickly.

Sorry, but IMHO Maidenhead is the wrong town to try any ideas ...

No Maidenhead definitely has potential. The issue is the lack of transport integration in the UK. Here in Denmark I can use a train ticket on local buses as long it’s valid in the same fare zone.

But anyways as we are close to London and with Maidenhead Town dying. We should try to increase service hours on the town routes. It makes no sense that the last bus is at 6pm. No wonder nobody wants to take the bus.

If we provide the service then the demand will come.

 

[greenline712]

No Maidenhead definitely has potential. The issue is the lack of transport integration in the UK. Here in Denmark I can use a train ticket on local buses as long it’s valid in the same fare zone.

But anyways as we are close to London and with Maidenhead Town dying. We should try to increase service hours on the town routes. It makes no sense that the last bus is at 6pm. No wonder nobody wants to take the bus.

If we provide the service then the demand will come.

With the greatest of respect . . . I would submit that comparing Denmark and the English Home Counties is specious. They are not the same.

Just running a bus is no longer enough . . . service planning involves so much more if any service is to succeed.

The first requirement for any bus service is that there must be a reason for it . . . that means the destination must be somewhere passengers wish to travel to. If the destination is uninteresting, then why would passengers use it? We have seen so many bus routes created without understanding this basic principle and then fail. Maidenhead has very little to attract potential passengers. Simply (say) doubling frequencies and running evening buses will not do it.

BTW . . . I entirely agree about full integration between modes .. . . just maybe, with government control over railways and franchising over buses, this might come to pass. it will be hellish expensive initially, though . . . and for that reason I'll not hold my breath !!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

With the greatest of respect . . . I would submit that comparing Denmark and the English Home Counties is specious. They are not the same.

Just running a bus is no longer enough . . . service planning involves so much more if any service is to succeed.

The first requirement for any bus service is that there must be a reason for it . . . that means the destination must be somewhere passengers wish to travel to. If the destination is uninteresting, then why would passengers use it? We have seen so many bus routes created without understanding this basic principle and then fail. Maidenhead has very little to attract potential passengers. Simply (say) doubling frequencies and running evening buses will not do it.

BTW . . . I entirely agree about full integration between modes .. . . just maybe, with government control over railways and franchising over buses, this might come to pass. it will be hellish expensive initially, though . . . and for that reason I'll not hold my breath !!

Absolutely right. This Field of Dreams - "If you build it, they will come" may work as a cheesy Hollywood quote. However, it is absolutely and demonstrably untrue.

You are utterly on the money that any product - a bus service, a clothing item, food stuff, electronics - has to have a reason to exist, fulfilling a demand or market. To draw an analogy, you could manufacture the best typewriter in the world... Not gonna sell many!

Also, not certain where the idea is that last buses are at 1800? In Maidenhead, they are:

• 3 - 1950
• 6 - 1910
• 7 - 2055
• 8 - 1815
• 9 - 2015
• 16 - 1845
• 37 - 2035
• 53 - 1848 (Wexham Park) 2004 (Bracknell)

I'd suggest that they are running a bit later for the rail commuter trade. I've not been to Maidenhead too many times but found it an awful place to visit (sorry, locals) where the car is king - demonstrated by a dual carriageway that bounds half the town centre.

 

[AlastairFraser]

You only save 3 minutes. I’m so sorry but most people would rather have the convenience of a direct bus over some unreliable and expensive rail service.

So you can do Maidenhead to Windsor on a bus in 20 mins? You're going to need 25 mins at least to provide any semblance of reliability.

 

[Non Multi]

Sadly, there's not much demand for higher frequency to a town centre which is a bit of a shell these days, I was down in the Thames Valley at Xmas and was shocked at the state of the Nicholsons Centre (apart from when Maidenhead Festival isn't on).
What would help is if some town circulars were extended elsewhere to places that are more of a destination - maybe your Heathrow plan is one that needs consideration.

There's actually potential for passengers in the reverse direction, for instance their arts centre Norden Farm, in Altwood and their new leisure centre in Braywick are nowhere near the town centre.

Unless you have more routes crossing the centre, you need to change there and wait a while.

Heathrow to Maidenhead is now rather conveniently accessible by Elizabeth Line with a 15-minute frequency throughout the day. The demand for Maidenhead - Heathrow express bus service will be very small, and even if the journey time is competitive, the waiting time for the bus would certainly cancel out any advantages it has.

There was enough sustained demand for a direct Heathrow - Maidenhead bus service for Beeline (under various owners) to operate the service for over 25 years.

Last year there was a short-lived extension of Thames Valley's Route 12 on Sundays to Heathrow Terminal 5 using the M4 from Huntercombe spur (junction 7). Via the M4 and M25 the 10 mile journey took only 22 minutes. Journey times from Maidenhead would be similar.

Low demand is irrelevant in this case. Heathrow would be funding it. They already fund a lot of 24/7 routes with low loadings during the daytime, as Heathrow staff commute at very anti-social hours.

 

[AlastairFraser]

There's actually potential for passengers in the reverse direction, for instance their arts centre Norden Farm, in Altwood and their new leisure centre in Braywick are nowhere near the town centre.

Unless you have more routes crossing the centre, you need to change there and wait a while.

Isn't Norden Farm out on the way towards Woodlands Park? I'd suggest my 37 connection plan to the 7 is a decent idea then.

 

[Non Multi]

Isn't Norden Farm out on the way towards Woodlands Park? I'd suggest my 37 connection plan to the 7 is a decent idea then.

It's served by the hourly route 3 circular. It's also not too far from the A4 so you could also use the infrequent routes that serve Berkshire College of Agriculture, Henley and the rural western hamlets of Maidenhead.

The 7 doesn't cross the A404, Altwood is to the north of the A404, Woodlands Park is to the south. The 7 would have to be partly rerouted north to serve Altwood and Norden Farm.

 

[Mgameing123]

So you can do Maidenhead to Windsor on a bus in 20 mins? You're going to need 25 mins at least to provide any semblance of reliability.

It takes 40 minutes from town by train.

 

[AlastairFraser]

It takes 40 minutes from town by train.

????
How do you come to that conclusion?
Example itinerary:
Maidenhead 14.59 -> Slough 15.07. Change for Windsor, leaving 15.10. Arrive at Windsor 15.16.

How do you make that 40 mins?

It's served by the hourly route 3 circular. It's also not too far from the A4 so you could also use the infrequent routes that serve Berkshire College of Agriculture, Henley and the rural western hamlets of Maidenhead.

The 7 doesn't cross the A404, Altwood is to the north of the A404, Woodlands Park is to the south. The 7 would have to be partly rerouted north to serve Altwood and Norden Farm.

Perhaps the 3 would be more appropriate then. The leisure centre at Braywick is already on through route 53, perhaps it could do with a frequency increase.

 

[Non Multi]

Perhaps the 3 would be more appropriate then. The leisure centre at Braywick is already on through route 53, perhaps it could do with a frequency increase.

The 53 Bracknell - Wexham Park Hospital is an interurban route that's funded by multiple local authorities, so that would be complicated.

Extending one of the local circulars such as the 7 to Braywick (or a loop around Bray) would be easier.

Back in the 1990's Beeline ran minibuses from Slough (back when it was a big shopping destination) through to Woodlands Park.

 

[AlastairFraser]

The 53 Bracknell - Wexham Park Hospital is an interurban route that's funded by multiple local authorities, so that would be complicated.

Extending one of the local circulars such as the 7 to Braywick (or a loop around Bray) would be easier.

Back in the 1990's Beeline ran minibuses from Slough (back when it was a big shopping destination) through to Woodlands Park.

Maybe - what would you do to the 7's town centre loop, to make sure it can head south without doubling back too much?

 

[Deerfold]

????
How do you come to that conclusion?
Example itinerary:
Maidenhead 14.59 -> Slough 15.07. Change for Windsor, leaving 15.10. Arrive at Windsor 15.16.

How do you make that 40 mins?

For a fit person with no luggage and no delays at all to the first train. Otherwise, add an extra 20 minutes. Certainly no journey planner would give you that itinerary.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Aug 2024 ==

That's why peak fares are cancelled in London on Fridays.

That trial finished in May.

 

[Non Multi]

Maybe - what would you do to the 7's town centre loop, to make sure it can head south without doubling back too much?

Start the 7 from Braywick then do the town centre loop. RBWM would ideally put in a new stop closer to the leisure centre. There's a large empty tarmac island leading to the entrance road of the Leisure Centre that looks suitable for a bus bay.

 

[Trainman40083]

For a fit person with no luggage and no delays at all to the first train. Otherwise, add an extra 20 minutes. Certainly no journey planner would give you that itinerary.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Aug 2024 ==


That trial finished in May.

I consider myself fairly fit, and I know Slough station. I'd not even attempt a three minute connection from one side to the other...Even if both train doors were next to the footbridge (and the Windsor train never will be).