The Reading line has been a pitiful shell of its former self today, with 4 car trains followed by cancellations everywhere you look! Really doesn't help that the diagram with the cancelled train is the one following the 4 car although that's just sheer bad luck I suppose
Can we have the pre-May timetable back please, and forget about introducing the 701s? Everything somehow seems so much worse now!The Reading line has been a pitiful shell of its former self today, with 4 car trains followed by cancellations everywhere you look! Really doesn't help that the diagram with the cancelled train is the one following the 4 car although that's just sheer bad luck I suppose
At least it looks like 2C55 will be 8 car for two days in a row which is pretty rare these days
I am guessing it is because the run down of 455s (and 458/5s) is really beginning to bite. It is not the presence of 701s making it worse it is the presence of erm - not enough 701s !.
Yep, the 455s are failing faster than yes the amount of 701s coming in. It will be a bit more pain before the eventual relief. No surprises with the increase in 4 Car Ops of 455s. It will get better slowly at least with stability now in training and some more fleet pushing for passenger readiness.
Yes, despite my tongue-in-cheek comment I of course realise that this is undoubtedly the case. On the current carriage working notices one of the all-day Class 455 Reading diagrams is meant to go over to 2 x 458/5 at some stage. I wonder if that will ever happen.
Im sure they will try get as many 701s on the Windsor side especially for the Saturday as there’s also a rugby match happening. The alterations are already up on the planned improvements section on the SWR website. One can hope that they can clear them for passenger service to Reading in the next week or so
www.southwesternrailway.com
701 021, I believe.
Could really do without the rugby on the same day as Ascot, pretty sure there was a game on last year and it was chaos at Twickenham.
Thanks for pointing me towards that - it had completely passed me by. The train planners are certainly using some creativity to get that 4tph service to Ascot during the week!Im sure they will try get as many 701s on the Windsor side especially for the Saturday as there’s also a rugby match happening. The alterations are already up on the planned improvements section on the SWR website. One can hope that they can clear them for passenger service to Reading in the next week or so
Planned Improvements - June Works | South Western Railway
In order to maintain and improve the rail network we need to carry out engineering works. Find out more about our June engineering work.
I'm really surprised that the rugby lot at Twickers don't make sure there's not such a clash. Royal Ascot is an immovable feast, but surely a rugby match could be moved. After all the date of Royal Ascot isn't exactly a surprise. It's the same week every year.
It's as if they're reliving their first few years after introduction.Well I certainly wouldn't be relying on 458s at this point either, yet another pair (3rd one today) has just broken down on 2U49, today they seem to be doing their best to match the 455s availability
But different sporting organisers are only interested in clashes in their sports, they don't even consider that other sports exist let alone if there are any clashes. It isn't the first time that it has happened, I am sure that 2024 had the same issue.
Yes, and you would think after last year thar they'd try to avoid the clash. They do work with the railways and other public transport organisations to ensure as smooth as possible transport to and from the events so you'd think that they'd know how problematic this clash is. I'm sure SWR will have highlighted the issue, seemingly to no avail.
You're brave!
Avoid Thursday, Ladies Day!Oh great - another Saturday with only 2tph on the Kingston route, and gridlock on the roads when i need to cross the river.
I was at Clapham a week or so back and it seemed largely business as usual, nearly everything arriving on the suburban platforms was red and 455 shaped
With the slow door operation and frequent station calls it can't be doing anything for punctuality.
There’s not that much wiggle room available. The domestic rugby final is at Twickenham the previous weekend, the match on the 21st is their warmup for their tour to the Americas. Maybe they could put it on the Sunday, but I suspect that might limit the numbers they’d get. Plus dealing with a Sunday service on various public transport modes. I’m sure they’ve considered the implications of the clash and decided that is the best date.
Fair enough.
And a potentially unreliable Saturday bus service Weybridge to Virginia Water, when horse racing and rugby fans get the extra 450 or 458 trains that would have run on the line.
SWR have got little choice, unfortunately. Currently they haven't even got enough rolling stock to operate the normal day to to day service.
Unusual to put the headcode / train running number in a customer facing publication.Im sure they will try get as many 701s on the Windsor side especially for the Saturday as there’s also a rugby match happening. The alterations are already up on the planned improvements section on the SWR website. One can hope that they can clear them for passenger service to Reading in the next week or so
Planned Improvements - June Works | South Western Railway
In order to maintain and improve the rail network we need to carry out engineering works. Find out more about our June engineering work.
Very - but why only on 14th June?
I've had a look at the Windsor services being diverted Tues - Fri and only one, the 0933 from Waterloo, is a 701. I imagine that will be swapped out, perhaps for a pair of 455s, to enable the diversion to/from Bracknell.Im sure they will try get as many 701s on the Windsor side especially for the Saturday as there’s also a rugby match happening. The alterations are already up on the planned improvements section on the SWR website. One can hope that they can clear them for passenger service to Reading in the next week or so
Planned Improvements - June Works | South Western Railway
In order to maintain and improve the rail network we need to carry out engineering works. Find out more about our June engineering work.
Unless they clear the 701s to at least Bracknell
