Disruption Paddington to Reading

[PHILIPE]

Once again this route in chaos again today due to signalling problems in Acton Area. I have mentioned on the Forum before that the ongoing problems along such a busy section of line as this go largely unreported on the Forum. We see posts regularly re one train even in other parts but no mention when a busy route is all but closed for a whole day on frequent occasions. it could be that we have no regular posters from the area on the Forum
Back to the thread - Signalling problems along this route are happening almost every day now resulting in major disruption over varying periods of time. Today's is expected to continue until approx. 23 30 tonight. Rather than mention individual trains, I suggest the best thing to be would be to refer to FGW Journey Check to see the extent of the disruption.
I have started a new thread as a place to hold any discussion on the picture as a whole rather than just refer to individual occurrences when they occur (frequently).
As usual, passengers blaming FGW and not Network Rail who hide behind a veil of anonymity. Why can they not be transparent and openly accept the blame and keep the public posted re the problems and explain how the situation is being dealt with.

 

[plymothian]

Because "The Railway" is "the railway" to the public regardless of who owns it, they don't care how it works; they've entered into a contract with FGW when they buy a ticket, therefore it is FGW's responsibility.

 

[Oxfordblues]

You never hear of anyone being sacked or disciplined for the consequences of their failure to properly maintain the signalling system. It just seems to be accepted that it collapses occasionally, and recently that's been quite often.

Relief is on the way for Oxford's commuters when Chiltern's new service starts in September and they have an alternative to FGW at last!

 

[higthomas]

Relief is on the way for Oxford's commuters when Chiltern's new service starts in September and they have an alternative to FGW at last!

I guess you haven't seen the Patronage of the Tube and the X90. For many they already offer a better alternative!
I always find them astonishing.

 

[SF-02]

You're not wrong about the seeming lack of people on here who who FGW from Paddington. Same with Southeastern from central London. There never seems to be many responses. Other areas see threads going into many pages on sometimes very small matters.

 

[LexyBoy]

I think we're just used to it!

 

[samuelmorris]

Not a line I use often (probably just as well given the alarming fare costs) but I have to admit, I do see routine problems come up on travel reports about this line, it does seem quite a bad one for regular delays. Being far more familiar with routine chaos out of Liverpool Street though I suppose it doesn't always capture my attention :P

 

[HowardGWR]

Not a line I use often (probably just as well given the alarming fare costs) but I have to admit, I do see routine problems come up on travel reports about this line, it does seem quite a bad one for regular delays. Being far more familiar with routine chaos out of Liverpool Street though I suppose it doesn't always capture my attention :P

If you follow this link and keep it as a bookmark,
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Current+Affairs/Travel+&+Transport/Rail

you will be very depressed at the situation regarding 'signalling' reliability. I am not sure whether these reasons are accurate which is why i put 'signalling' in quotes but the delays are real enough.:cry:

 

[PHILIPE]

Because "The Railway" is "the railway" to the public regardless of who owns it, they don't care how it works; they've entered into a contract with FGW when they buy a ticket, therefore it is FGW's responsibility.

It is left to FGW to explain to their Passengers. compensate etc. , but NOT to maintain the signalling equipment. FGW can only operate trains if the structure is in place.

 

[tsr]

The delays today were very much signalling-related, if the apology from Mark Hopwood on the FGW website is anything to go by. Apparently there was an issue with the data cables used to transmit signalling system information.

 

[Mag_seven]

The delays today were very much signalling-related, if the apology from Mark Hopwood on the FGW website is anything to go by. Apparently there was an issue with the data cables used to transmit signalling system information.

A problem that may grow as NR switches from local signal boxes to NMCs covering very large areas. The cables and systems used to transmit data from the NMCs to the signals will have to be very robust.

 

[Rich McLean]

The delays today were very much signalling-related, if the apology from Mark Hopwood on the FGW website is anything to go by. Apparently there was an issue with the data cables used to transmit signalling system information.

The cable itself had deteriorated to a point where passing HEx/HEc EMUs were affecting the signalling operation, due to exposed EMF. This resulted in the lot going down. Should be fixed overnight. TBW working on the reliefs until end of service.

 

[PHILIPE]

The trouble is something else will occur on this section of line at any time on track record. Passengers are getting fed up with the recurring problems. One fixed and then another one.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You're not wrong about the seeming lack of people on here who who FGW from Paddington. Same with Southeastern from central London. There never seems to be many responses. Other areas see threads going into many pages on sometimes very small matters.

Like the thread "South West Trains Disruption" which has just escalated with varying degrees of delays are being posted for almost anything.

 

[Mugby]

Relief is on the way for Oxford's commuters when Chiltern's new service starts in September and they have an alternative to FGW at last!

Will it be a viable alternative, time wise, considering it will commence from Oxford by heading northwards before it turns south towards London?

 

[PHILIPE]

Will it be a viable alternative, time wise, considering it will commence from Oxford by heading northwards before it turns south towards London?

At least, it would get to London.

 

[WelshBluebird]

It does seem like the Paddington to Reading line has had a hell of a lot of disruption over the last few months, even more so than normal.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Aren't we getting new signalling rolled out on the GW route anyway? ERTMS should be installed in the next few years, yes?

 

[PHILIPE]

It does seem like the Paddington to Reading line has had a hell of a lot of disruption over the last few months, even more so than normal.

I would say that's rather an understatement, something almost every day.

 

[Rich McLean]

Aren't we getting new signalling rolled out on the GW route anyway? ERTMS should be installed in the next few years, yes?

Regular disruption is set to continue until electrification, crossrail and re-signalling is complete, so yes, a few more years of pain to endure.

Most of the kit down there is old kit, re-controlled to TVSC, apart from the Slough area, which has still has old kit but controlled from Slough PSB

 

[Marklund]

You never hear of anyone being sacked or disciplined for the consequences of their failure to properly maintain the signalling system. It just seems to be accepted that it collapses occasionally, and recently that's been quite often.

Why would you hear of internal disciplinary action?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The cable itself had deteriorated to a point where passing HEx/HEc EMUs were affecting the signalling operation, due to exposed EMF. This resulted in the lot going down. Should be fixed overnight. TBW working on the reliefs until end of service.

That sounds like it was in practically new signalling cables too.

 

[Rich McLean]

That sounds like it was in practically new signalling cables too.

Moisture getting into the cable, poor screening etc etc. Apparantly, its been like it for 3 weeks (NR S&T aware), but didn't make itself known until today.

 

[moggie]

Aren't we getting new signalling rolled out on the GW route anyway? ERTMS should be installed in the next few years, yes?

PMSL! It will just be a variation of the same grief. Won't change until Level 3 gets introduced or at least until maintenance have had a settled system to iron out the gremlins caused by constant disruption of line side works.

Of course by the time the network ever sees a L3 system that will no doubt suffer other problems caused by the wrong type of sun spots or something else terrestrial.

 

[paulravuslante]

The cable itself had deteriorated to a point where passing HEx/HEc EMUs were affecting the signalling operation, due to exposed EMF. This resulted in the lot going down. Should be fixed overnight. TBW working on the reliefs until end of service.

HEx running half-hourly and Connect cancelled as a result today (9th Dec). FGW running stoppers to Hayes in the spare Connect slots.

UPDATE 0925: A full HEx service is being attempted but with cancellations. Connect still replaced by FGW.

 

[LexyBoy]

It is left to FGW to explain to their Passengers. compensate etc. , but NOT to maintain the signalling equipment. FGW can only operate trains if the structure is in place.

The point plymothian is making though is that ordinary passengers do not - and should not need to - care about the behind-the-scenes organisation. If the trains are late, it's FGW's job to sort it out - passing the buck up their supply chain is not on.

If I buy something online which doesn't turn up, I don't care whether it was a problem with their IT system, courier, or whatever: I expect the company I've bought from to fix it.

Of course, FGW don't have the option of finding a different supplier. Signalling failure? Not our responsibility. Trains broken down? Not our trains. Station on fire? Nothing to do with us. Fares too high? Blame gummunt. The phrase "natural monopoly" comes to mind...

 

[londonbridge]

There were problems on Saturday morning. I went East Croydon-Shepherds Bush-central line to Ealing Broadway to pick up a train to Hayes. I arrived at EB just in time to miss the 8.11. The 8.16 Oxford service was showing as delayed and subsequently cancelled and i had to wait for the 8.41 Heathrow Connect.

 

[nickswift99]

Saturday morning had delays of 85 mins plus for services through Reading from Paddington.

It didn't help that the number of platforms at Reading were limited by the track laying works at Reading on the Berks & Hants lines.

 

[PHILIPE]

The point plymothian is making though is that ordinary passengers do not - and should not need to - care about the behind-the-scenes organisation. If the trains are late, it's FGW's job to sort it out - passing the buck up their supply chain is not on.

If I buy something online which doesn't turn up, I don't care whether it was a problem with their IT system, courier, or whatever: I expect the company I've bought from to fix it.

Of course, FGW don't have the option of finding a different supplier. Signalling failure? Not our responsibility. Trains broken down? Not our trains. Station on fire? Nothing to do with us. Fares too high? Blame gummunt. The phrase "natural monopoly" comes to mind...

It is the responsibility of FGW to communicate with their passengers and to be in possession of the facts to be able to do this, but unless FGW maintain the signalling this is not buck passing. It is merely attributing the blame in the direction of the body responsible. Why should they have to receive the blame for matters outside their control.

 

[button_boxer]

Will it be a viable alternative, time wise, considering it will commence from Oxford by heading northwards before it turns south towards London?

The FGW route via Didcot and Reading isn't exactly direct - Oxford to London is more east than south really.