Paddington-Reading blocked due to OLE isolation and lineside fire (5/9)

[GraphitProjekt]

I think there was another N-2 of Kensal Green on 13 Aug. But I've no idea what that issue was exactly

 

[class ep-09]

Of course but highly unlikely we will ever get to know. Also what was the source of ignition? Potentially a overheating cable/failed joint although more likely a discarded cigarette on the adjacent canal path.

This location is well clear of the main lines and even accepting the supposition that all these cables provide power to the OLE that wouldn't have prevented the movement of diesel powered trains along the fast lines. GWR though ran a very scant service maybe that was more to do with crew displacement but even so with an all bimode IET fleet they had the opportunity to do better. The net impact was severe overloading on SWR and Chiltern which is creating the potential for another catastrophe elsewhere. GBR has plenty to do but it would be wise if it took up some medium term challenges like how we manage and recover from such incidents.

No , GWR could not run better service as electric only powered trains were blocking the lines including Up Main at Ealing Bdw ( Heathrow Express) preventing “diesel” trains from getting to Paddington to form another service.
Diesel or not it was impossible to run anything at all .
Not to mention evacuations of electric trains - just outside of Paddington, Kensal Green as an example.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Sep 2026 ==

The entire line was clearly blocked for the emergency services to respond. It isn’t that far away. There was nothing blocking the lines towards Reading at any point, and nothing towards London after around an hour. There were two stranded trains but they were in the 6 track section and easy to work round.

It is therefore clear that the lack of electricity was not the ‘single’ point of failure.

For some time both “up” lines were blocked by electric trains that had no power to move , preventing 8xx getting to Padd to form outbound services even in “diesel” mide .
So, no GWR could not do anything better.

Not to mention displaced units and crew.

 

[TFN]

All IETs on diesel, HEX reduced to half hourly, XR withdrawing the T5’s and extra Readings. Didcots are only running between Reading and Didcot. Newburys only between Reading and Newbury.

How much longer does an IET take between Reading and Paddington on diesel instead of electric?

 

[class ep-09]

All IETs on diesel, HEX reduced to half hourly, XR withdrawing the T5’s and extra Readings. Didcots are only running between Reading and Didcot. Newburys only between Reading and Newbury.

How much longer does an IET take between Reading and Paddington on diesel instead of electric?

Marginally longer as most of running times have some padding added

 

[800301]

All IETs on diesel, HEX reduced to half hourly, XR withdrawing the T5’s and extra Readings. Didcots are only running between Reading and Didcot. Newburys only between Reading and Newbury.

How much longer does an IET take between Reading and Paddington on diesel instead of electric?

If it’s actually running on all its GU’s nothing noteworthy

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Interested as to what GWR do when the last long distance services of the day are cancelled by things like this.

For example the 1745 from Penzance didn’t run - what do they do with punters who turn up at Penzance for that service? 1745 Penzance to Paddington

Similar stories from Hereford, Cheltenham etc but they may have had other routes such as via Birmingham.

To be fair to Avanti where last trains get canned they usually sort a bus out, so what happened last night for GWR pax?

Interested as to what GWR do when the last long distance services of the day are cancelled by things like this.

For example the 1745 from Penzance didn’t run - what do they do with punters who turn up at Penzance for that service? 1745 Penzance to Paddington

Similar stories from Hereford, Cheltenham etc but they may have had other routes such as via Birmingham.

To be fair to Avanti where last trains get canned they usually sort a bus out, so what happened last night for GWR passengers.

The alternative was a CrossCountry service at 18:15 (thankfully a 5-car) to Bristol Temple Meads, arrived 19 minutes late at 22:33. The 22:30 London train (also a 5-car IET) was delayed til 22:58, presumably so passengers didn't have to rush like maniacs to the IET.

Typical that GWR cancel a 9 or 10-car train and expect everyone to fit in the next 5-car service! Seems to happen often I believe.

 

[mrmartin]

GWR Twitter reporting it's due to vandalism of railway property. Is this right or just nonsense?

 

[WAO]

The electrical power diagram above shows the Bramley transformer and independent feeder to Reading, with classic supply to Newbury (but no sectioning, other than TSC's down the line)

While there is a lot of switchgear installed at the Reading ATFS site, the rest was paused, was it not?

It's a big ask for Foxhall.

WAO

 

[swt_passenger]

GWR Twitter reporting it's due to vandalism of railway property. Is this right or just nonsense?

It’s possible. It wouldn’t be that difficult to recognise it as railways related. As I posted earlier in the thread, ‘grass fire’ seems to be downplaying it a bit for me…

 

[Horizon22]

GWR Twitter reporting it's due to vandalism of railway property. Is this right or just nonsense?

I believe this is what Network Rail have stated following the LFB / Met / BTP investigations.

 

[mrmartin]

Ah I see. Thought maybe there had been another, different incident. Makes sense.

 

[hwl]

The electrical power diagram above shows the Bramley transformer and independent feeder to Reading, with classic supply to Newbury (but no sectioning, other than TSC's down the line)

While there is a lot of switchgear installed at the Reading ATFS site, the rest was paused, was it not?

It's a big ask for Foxhall.

WAO

It’s possible. It wouldn’t be that difficult to recognise it as railways related. As I posted earlier in the thread, ‘grass fire’ seems to be downplaying it a bit for me…

I believe this is what Network Rail have stated following the LFB / Met / BTP investigations.

Given that the other side of the fence is the Grand Union Canal towpath plenty of opportunity for "vandalism" including (foreign) state sponsored which may be why they may not be saying too much at this stage.
Too much easily accessible critical infrastructure along that section of towpath and this should a wake up call for NG, UKPN and NR.

 

[Horizon22]

Given that the other side of the fence is the Grand Union Canal towpath plenty of opportunity for "vandalism" including (foreign) state sponsored which may be why they may not be saying too much at this stage.
Too much easily accessible critical infrastructure along that section of towpath and this should a wake up call for NG, UKPN and NR.

It may also be “accidental” vandalism, such as mindlessly lighting a fire / barbecue around dry grass etc. That’s how a lot of this year’s grass fires have started and they suddenly grow to surroundings.

 

[williamn]

Line now closed again due to a bridge strike.

 

[swt_passenger]

Given that the other side of the fence is the Grand Union Canal towpath plenty of opportunity for "vandalism" including (foreign) state sponsored which may be why they may not be saying too much at this stage.
Too much easily accessible critical infrastructure along that section of towpath and this should a wake up call for NG, UKPN and NR.

If I remember correctly from my boating days there’s DNO cabling just under the towpath surface in a few places. I agree with the possibility you raise, just didn’t put it in writing...

 

[zwk500]

Line now closed again due to a bridge strike.

3 of 4 lines now reopened [from observation of Signalmaps.co.uk] at Burnham, if that's the one you're referring to.

 

[williamn]

3 of 4 lines now reopened [from observation of Signalmaps.co.uk] at Burnham, if that's the one you're referring to.

Yes we’re on the move now.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

For some time both “up” lines were blocked by electric trains that had no power to move , preventing 8xx getting to Padd to form outbound services even in “diesel” mide .

I take it they don't have any Thunderbird locomotives available.

It looks as if a handful of 165 units were out on the lines to or from Paddington late on Saturday night. Were these scheduled or some form of emergency timetable?

 

[800301]

I take it they don't have any Thunderbird locomotives available.

It looks as if a handful of 165 units were out on the lines to or from Paddington late on Saturday night. Were these scheduled or some form of emergency timetable?

A 57 can rescue a 387 but not much point when other Lizzy line trains are still blocking the line, an 800 can rescue a 345 and a 387 but again not much point when there are multiple trains in the way

3 services were formed of 165’s late evening to make sure the last trains were covered, they were just running vice 387

Photo shows 165125 about to operate 2P86 to Ealing Broadway at Reading P15 this was the last train to East that night

 

[hwl]

It may also be “accidental” vandalism, such as mindlessly lighting a fire / barbecue around dry grass etc. That’s how a lot of this year’s grass fires have started and they suddenly grow to surroundings.

Hopefully that is all it is but NG, UKPN and NR might want to pay for some foliage trimming along the towpath both on the towpath (often more material) and NR side of the fence (often less material).

 

[GraphitProjekt]

The electrical power diagram above shows the Bramley transformer and independent feeder to Reading, with classic supply to Newbury (but no sectioning, other than TSC's down the line)

While there is a lot of switchgear installed at the Reading ATFS site, the rest was paused, was it not?

It's a big ask for Foxhall.

WAO

They should really install a neutral section somewhere at Reading that way Holly Cross could actually be used to take some of the load off, although such an intervention would be much more useful for N-2 of Foxhall because ultimately, without Kensal Green, anything west of Maidenhead is going to be a problem. I've heard however that Reading independent feeder underwent some descoping and is a bit of a bottleneck that can't actually deliver that much power even if the supply transformer at Bramley is 80 MVA like the rest of them are.

 

[Farnborough]

NR Western have put up some pictures. Looks pretty extensive damage so done well to get things back up running.

Slightly puzzled... the photo in post #4 appears not to be adjacent to the track?!

 

[swt_passenger]

Slightly puzzled... the photo in post #4 appears not to be adjacent to the track?!

It is taken from the main lines right next to the Crossrail depot entry & exit tracks that are at a higher level and hidden by greenery. If you check the linked satellite view in post #60 by @edwin_m, and go to the left, the viewpoint is just past the skew overbridge, the incident is the other side of that bridge, ie towards Paddington. Post #65 also shows the relationship between the sites.

 

[GingerRH]

I’ve been informed that an investigation has found the fire was started due to vandalism, someone threw a disposable BBQ over the fence from the canal.

Man arrested over fire that caused Heathrow rail disruption

Nearly 400 passengers had to be escorted from a train which lost power after overhead cables caught fire.

www.bbc.co.uk

A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson following a grass fire near London Paddington station that caused major disruption to rail services.

Services affected from Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning included the Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth line and Great Western Railway trains out of Paddington towards Reading.

Almost 400 passengers had to be escorted from a train that lost power after overhead cables caught fire.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Aren't those banned or something?

 

[mrmartin]

Not entirely sure I'd consider that vandalism (doesn't it have to be intentional and malicious?). Obviously bad.

As others have pointed out no doubt better vegetation management could have prevented or at least made the resulting fire less intense.

 

[800301]

Showing on journey check, disruption until the end of tomorrow

Since 1800 and possibly earlier 80x’s have been running in electric to/from Pad, there does seem to be quite a bit of variation with line voltage, I saw anything as low at 20kv indicated at some points under full power

 

[SWML9102]

Showing on journey check, disruption until the end of tomorrow

Since 1800 and possibly earlier 80x’s have been running in electric to/from Pad, there does seem to be quite a bit of variation with line voltage, I saw anything as low at 20kv indicated at some points under full power

All 80x at Pad currently running in diesel as far as I can see.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Will they be pan up anywhere? Or is it just simpler to cancel electric working route wide.

 

[SWML9102]

Will they be pan up anywhere? Or is it just simpler to cancel electric working route wide.

On 1B34 at present. Ran diesel all the way from Paddington to Reading, and just switched to electric at Reading.