Why has GWR removed Slough from Cotswold Line services to PAD?

[AlastairFraser]

There now appears to be metal fencing and gates on the fast line platforms at Slough.

There has been for years as I understand it - the gates used to be occasionally opened for the few that did stop there.

 

[Benjwri]

There has been for years as I understand it - the gates used to be occasionally opened for the few that did stop there.

This isn't correct, the fencing was installed at the end of 2022/start of 2023. The gates were then left open until the Cotswold Line services stopped stopping. There are numerous photos available online (Google Maps place images with upload dates, there's also a streetview on the platforms from November 2022) which back this up.

 

[Kite159]

There has been for years as I understand it - the gates used to be occasionally opened for the few that did stop there.

The barriers at Slough only appeared last year. Before then the ticket gates for the main exit were located on the platform causing tailgates at busy times.

As for the Slough call being removed from the intercity services, it's a good thing as it stops the 5 coach units for Oxford & beyond getting filled up at Paddington with passengers for Slough who wants a faster train

 

[AlastairFraser]

This isn't correct, the fencing was installed at the end of 2022/start of 2023. The gates were then left open until the Cotswold Line services stopped stopping. There are numerous photos available online (Google Maps place images with upload dates, there's also a streetview on the platforms from November 2022) which back this up.

Hmm, must have been false memory. Thanks for the correction.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jan 2024 ==

The barriers at Slough only appeared last year. Before then the ticket gates for the main exit were located on the platform causing tailgates at busy times.

As for the Slough call being removed from the intercity services, it's a good thing as it stops the 5 coach units for Oxford & beyond getting filled up at Paddington with passengers for Slough who wants a faster train

I remember the old barriers, I just seem to remember fencing in the middle of the relief/fast line island platform in the middle of Slough station. Ah well.
On your latter point, I would argue that it would be better for GWR to lengthen their 5 cars with additional rolling stock to avoid Elizabeth Line/Didcot semi fasts overcrowding - however, this may not be possible in the interim.

 

[Benjwri]

I just seem to remember fencing in the middle of the relief/fast line island platform in the middle of Slough station.

There was some temporary fencing by the new staircase, and there was fencing on the extension to the platform that was extended for the Liz Line

 

[AlastairFraser]

There was some temporary fencing by the new staircase, and there was fencing on the extension to the platform that was extended for the Liz Line

Perhaps what I was thinking of

 

[Taunton]

I wrote multiple comments on here in past years about the hazardous situation that used to prevail at Slough station exit on the quite narrow Down Main platform, once the exit gateline was put in actually on the platform, which used to be beyond acceptability in the morning peak if relief line services, plus the Windsor shuttle, all arrived at the same time, and the crush to exit spilled out well over the yellow line, whereupon a Down Main service came on the scene at 125mph. On a couple of mornings a revenue block was even in progress, with BTP in attendance, it must have been particularly concerning for drivers, many of whom gave a considerable horn on approach.

There was an "excuse" that because the station building is a Listed Building (it's a Brunel original) it couldn't be varied. In recent times common sense has arrived.

 

[mangyiscute]

You can almost always make the connection from the gwr service arriving into reading at about xx:55 onto the elizabeth line which is at xx:59, even if it is not officially stated - if not, there is the gwr semi fast to slough and change that people have mentioned too, so the overall journey time shouldn't be much longer. Unfortunately, your journey is one of the few that has suffered from the changes, but overall the changes are a positive for most.
I was also annoyed at these changes too as it reduced the frequency of the Reading to Ealing Broadway trains which i often use, and while you can change from the semi fast at Slough towards London, you can't do that towards Reading - plus 387s are far nicer than 345s (no i don't want a sideways seat for 45 mins), but overall giving maidenhead and twyford fast london trains is useful for a lot of people.

 

[Benjwri]

There was an "excuse" that because the station building is a Listed Building (it's a Brunel original) it couldn't be varied. In recent times common sense has arrived.

Generally when someone says that it doesn't mean it isn't allowed, it just means they don't want to pay to apply for planning consent.

 

[Purple Train]

There was an "excuse" that because the station building is a Listed Building (it's a Brunel original) it couldn't be varied. In recent times common sense has arrived.

It's not a Brunel original. The present station buildings were designed by J.E. Danks in 1882.

 

[Taunton]

It's not a Brunel original. The present station buildings were designed by J.E. Danks in 1882.

You're right! A local error, seemingly, along with it being felt to be Queen Victoria's departure point, and building, before the Windsor branch was built. Possibly its address being in "Brunel Way" has something to do with the misunderstanding. Here's the listing.

Slough Station booking hall, booking office and travel centre, Non Civil Parish - 1113374 | Historic England

List entry 1113374. Grade II Listed Building: Slough Station Booking Hall, Booking Office And Travel Centre. May include summary, reasons for designation and history.

historicengland.org.uk