londonmidland
Established Member
National Rail Enquires has just updated to inform that major disruption is to be expected until 10:00 tomorrow. No doubt this will be a constantly changing situation.
Why does such a thing take so long to fix bearing in mind this has been going on all day?
Eh? There has been massive disruption to intercity services,causing delays right down as far as Cornwall! This one small area has screwed up the whole Western, , causing missed connections that will result in bigger delays for passengers than those being faced by Elizabeth line passengers.My other half uses the Elizabeth Line every day for work (works a slightly odd schedule so may not get caught in some things), but this is the first time they have been seriously affected. What galls me is that the long distance GWR services seem unaffected - there was no plan to use some main line capacity to run Elizabeth Line services for those stations that get nothing else. Nothing westbound at Slough from 1722 to 1852. No replacement buses organised, no help from station staff, passengers just left to fend for themselves.
The area from Paddington to reading was described as the golden 30 miles of track. This meant that if a single screw up occurred on that section, the entire service was doomed.Eh? There has been massive disruption to intercity services,causing delays right down as far as Cornwall! This one small area has screwed up the whole Western, , causing missed connections that will result in bigger delays for passengers than those being faced by Elizabeth line passengers.
Main line capacity is being used to run a limited Elizabeth Line service, and the only stations that aren’t getting service is because trains cannot stop at them on the relief lines.What galls me is that the long distance GWR services seem unaffected - there was no plan to use some main line capacity to run Elizabeth Line services for those stations that get nothing else. Nothing westbound at Slough from 1722 to 1852.
but the Elizabeth line also branches off to the east meaning it affects two mainline signalling regions(potentially). I don't know what would be prioritised.Main line capacity is being used to run a limited Elizabeth Line service, and the only stations that aren’t getting service is because trains cannot stop at them on the relief lines.
There is a pre determined plan for who gets what paths in these circumstances, when the main lines are closed GWR long distance suffers, and in my experiences that happens far more often. There are vital commuter flows across the South West that rely on GWR from Paddington too, the Elizabeth line shouldn’t have priority no matter what.
And it is far more annoying when your train in Bristol is cancelled due to a London signalling dault than where it is only 10 or so miles away
Yes, but there are still plenty of trains running on the Main lines, including platoons of them at close headways. Sure, all seem to be late, but not apparent why. Both my journeys to Slough and back on the Mains had notably slow running and multiple signal stops between Paddington and Airport Junction. Over on the Reliefs, a number of freights appeared recessed.Eh? There has been massive disruption to intercity services, causing delays right down as far as Cornwall!
Due to following the stoppers which are running up and down the mains.Yes, but there are still plenty of trains running on the Main lines, including platoons of them at close headways. Sure, all seem to be late, but not apparent why. Both my journeys to Slough and back on the Mains had notably slow running and multiple signal stops between Paddington and Airport Junction. Over on the Reliefs, a number of freights appeared recessed.
The delays on the Elizabeth Line can be, and were today, contained just to the West though mostly, with more trains turning around at Paddington from both directions.but the Elizabeth line also branches off to the east meaning it affects two mainline signalling regions(potentially). I don't know what would be prioritised.
As mentioned, following the Elizabeth Line services. I can remember many times that the exact opposite situation has occurred, with Elizabeth Line running unaffected while GWR is severely delayed because of an incident on the mains. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, the Elizabeth Line has won plenty of times.Yes, but there are still plenty of trains running on the Main lines, including platoons of them at close headways. Sure, all seem to be late, but not apparent why. Both my journeys to Slough and back on the Mains had notably slow running and multiple signal stops between Paddington and Airport Junction. Over on the Reliefs, a number of freights appeared recessed.
As a side note this is also entirely untrue. 3 GWR Didcot trains were stopped extra to their normal timetable in this period.Nothing westbound at Slough from 1722 to 1852
This signalling issue seems to be quite dramatic. At the moment, my train from Reading to Paddington is 179 mins late. I think I will be going SWR this time (which I normally do when not going directly into London from the office). I haven't seen it this bad in a while. The most memorable being the 2014 floods on the GWML.
Honestly, people are so hyperbolic and eager to declare the Elizabeth Line as a failure, probably want it to be shut down as well.So this is what happens on my Rest Day. Nothing fun happens on my shifts .
With the person wondering why HEX was reduced as well, a lot of contingency plans automatically reduce HEX down to 2tph, the Maidenhead terminators get dropped to Paddington and either the T5 or half of the T4 services drop to Paddington.
The last few weeks in my experience working on the line has been smooth sailing. Passengers haven’t “given up” or “become wary” of the line. People know that a bad day happens.
While obviously irritating, I don’t remember it being anywhere near as bad as what’s reported today. We were regularly updated on what was happening, and delays, rather than cancellations, are what I recall predominating.
I have seen these several comments about the gross disruption of GWR and HEx services being to free up space for Eliz stopping services. Well they weren't there. I rode Paddington to Slough and back facing the opposite line and didn't pass a single Eliz train in the whole journey both ways. Nor were there passengers on any of the platforms, Main or Relief lines, with that single exception I noted of at Ealing Broadway Down Main in the evening. Nor were there any stoppers shown on the departure boards at Paddington at all, which were just full of GWR trains.HEx half hourly is to free up capacity on the main lines for MTR stopping services to run. It is a “standard” response to any unplanned 2-track railway in the inner Thames Valley.
Considering how often people are calling for these supposedly fresh-air carrying trains to be abolished entirely, I do find it amusingly ironic that there’s then complaints when it’s reduced to make room for MTR.
Well I passed plenty of Liz line trains , plus platforms absolutely thronging with people on the Mainlines at several stations. I think you did just get lucky!I have seen these several comments about the gross disruption of GWR and HEx services being to free up space for Eliz stopping services. Well they weren't there. I rode Paddington to Slough and back facing the opposite line and didn't pass a single Eliz train in the whole journey both ways. Nor were there passengers on any of the platforms, Main or Relief lines, with that single exception I noted of at Ealing Broadway Down Main in the evening. Nor were there any stoppers shown on the departure boards at Paddington at all, which were just full of GWR trains.
Now I may have been extraordinarily unlucky both ways. But it's rather unlikely
Yes, but there are still plenty of trains running on the Main lines, including platoons of them at close headways. Sure, all seem to be late, but not apparent why. Both my journeys to Slough and back on the Mains had notably slow running and multiple signal stops between Paddington and Airport Junction. Over on the Reliefs, a number of freights appeared recessed.
Sorry if I missed this. I am relying on RTT information and what my other half reported when I picked them up - that there was no service to all four intermediate stations between Slough and Reading between those times - certainly nothing advertised on the boards. I know that RTT won't pick up on special stop orders so it may be that all four stations did get service, just not an advertised one.As a side note this is also entirely untrue. 3 GWR Didcot trains were stopped extra to their normal timetable in this period.
I have seen these several comments about the gross disruption of GWR and HEx services being to free up space for Eliz stopping services. Well they weren't there. I rode Paddington to Slough and back facing the opposite line and didn't pass a single Eliz train in the whole journey both ways. Nor were there passengers on any of the platforms, Main or Relief lines, with that single exception I noted of at Ealing Broadway Down Main in the evening. Nor were there any stoppers shown on the departure boards at Paddington at all, which were just full of GWR trains.
Now I may have been extraordinarily unlucky both ways. But it's rather unlikely ...
Or alternatively, Elizabeth line services are reduced to make way for HEX...HEx half hourly is to free up capacity on the main lines for MTR stopping services to run. It is a “standard” response to any unplanned 2-track railway in the inner Thames Valley.
Considering how often people are calling for these supposedly fresh-air carrying trains to be abolished entirely, I do find it amusingly ironic that there’s then complaints when it’s reduced to make room for MTR.
I think we are just doing theory here.The only sensible option is to half everyone’s services. Anything else is pure spite to HEx who pay to operate the railway like MTR and everyone else.
I could imagine the uproar if there was a closure in one of the Heathrow tunnels, and a decision is made to can all 6tph of EL services and allow the full 4tph HEx to remain.
Or alternatively, Elizabeth line services are reduced to make way for HEX...
Really HEX should be the first thing to be canned. Let Heathrow passengers take the Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line - better to have trains stopping and picking up passengers at intermediate stations on the inner GWML.
Theres a sign at the praed Street entrance to Paddington saying due to the signaling issues, only 50% of services across all operators are expected to run today