Bearing in mind how the service had ground to a halt, usually TOCs make arrangements for their tickets to be used on local buses so people can get to their destinations. It took FGW 5 days to make such arrangements last Feb, which bearing in mind First Group run the local buses is a bit much. When I asked them if they were going to do it, they said it couldn't be done. However when Slough MP Fiona Mactaggert contacted FGW and said it should be done, doors opened and within 24 hours it was possible.
Why was there such a fuss at the time about local bus acceptance? It wasn't necessary and the intervention of a local MP only complicated things further.
On Thursday 13th February 2014 there was still a train service operating through, and calling at, Maidenhead. A reduced service to and from London, but a service nonetheless. Rail replacement buses were in place for journeys between Maidenhead and Twyford (
https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk...able - Twyford Maidenhead - until 140214.ashx), where local rail services had been suspended to allow as many longer distance trains as possible through the affected area. Most with additional calls at Maidenhead.
Here's the list of services for the evening peak on 13th February 2014:
1C20 1530 Paddington to Weston; calls additionally at Maidenhead
1C22 1630 Paddington to Weston; calls additionally at Maidenhead
1C24 1730 Paddington to Weston; calls additionally at Maidenhead
1C26 1830 Paddington to Weston; calls additionally at Maidenhead
1C28 1930 Paddington to Weston; calls additionally at Maidenhead.
1W07 1722 Paddington to Hereford, calls additionally at Slough
1W08 1822 Paddington to Hereford, calls additionally at Slough
1W09 1922 Paddington to Hereford, calls Slough
1B51 1545 London Paddington to Swansea; calls additionally at Twyford
1B59 1645 London Paddington to Swansea, calls additionally at Twyford
1B69 1745 London Paddington to Swansea, calls additionally at Twyford
1B79 1845 London Paddington to Swansea, calls additionally at Twyford
1C96 1945 Paddington to Exeter; calls additionally at Twyford.
1C86 1506 Paddington to Exeter St Davids; calls additionally at Slough and Maidenhead
1C87 1606 Paddington to Exeter St Davids; calls additionally at Slough and Maidenhead
1C89 1703 Paddington to Exeter St Davids; calls additionally at Slough, Maidenhead,
Hungerford, Pewsey, Westbury and Castle Cary.
1C92 1803 Paddington to Exeter; calls additionally at Slough, Maidenhead, Newbury,
Hungerford, Bedwyn and Pewsey
1C95 1903 Paddington to Exeter; calls additionally at Slough and Maidenhead
1A87 1458 Exeter to Paddington; calls additionally at Slough
1A89 1600 Exeter to Paddington; calls additionally at Slough
1A91 1700 Exeter to Paddington; calls additionally at Slough
1A92 1800 Exeter to Paddington; calls additionally at Slough
1A22 1500 Bristol TM to Paddington; calls additionally at Twyford and Maidenhead.
1A24 1600 Bristol TM to Paddington; calls additionally at Twyford and Maidenhead.
1A26 1700 Bristol TM to Paddington; calls additionally at Twyford and Maidenhead.
1A28 1800 Bristol TM to Paddington; calls additionally at Twyford and Maidenhead.
A full train plan was made for Friday 14th February, (attached to this post) again with Maidenhead continuing to have a train service. On the Saturday Network Rail tamped the worst affected parts of line in the Maidenhead area so they could remain open. Saturday's train plan is also attached.
Even after further poor weather overnight on the 13th/14th February the lines remained open with 'extended temporary block working'.
Normal working was restored to the main lines later on the Saturday, albeit with emergency speed restrictions. A lot of work was done by Network Rail on the Sunday.
A much improved service was in place by the start of the morning peak Monday 17th February. There were still delays, reduced service and timetable changes, but trains ran. To say that the service ground to a halt in the Thames Valley and FGW did nothing for 5 days is just plain wrong.
Trains continued to run, ticket restrictions were lifted, ticket acceptance with other TOCs and the Underground was in place. Buses were not needed.
it really annoyed me at the time just how much oxygen was given to commuters and politicians in the Thames Valley. Journey times were extended and trains were much much busier, I agree, but at least they continued to have a train service and things were back to near normal within a week. In the west and south west things were far far worse. With, at times, no chance of an alternative bus because the roads were so bad. To say nothing of large parts of the south west peninsula being totally cut off from the rest of the UK rail network for nearly 3 months.
