Which lines are going to be used by which services on the GW route out of Paddington?

[adrock1976]

Moderator note: split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-345-progress.120221/page-133

Although this is more of a timetabling question, is Crossrail and freight trains going to be specially dedicated to the Relief Lines with nothing else using them in normal service?

Also, what happens with the (pre Covid and pre Didcot split) 15 minute Oxford service that calls at the likes of Tilehurst and Fulham that did run along the Relief Lines?

 

[JonathanH]

Although this is more of a timetabling question, is Crossrail and freight trains going to be specially dedicated to the Relief Lines with nothing else using them in normal service?

Also, what happens with the (pre Covid and pre Didcot split) 15 minute Oxford service that calls at the likes of Tilehurst and Fulham that did run along the Relief Lines?

GWR continue to run off-peak services on the Relief Lines to Didcot Parkway (and will do so after Crossrail starts running) - they can't stop at Ealing Broadway, Hayes & Harlington, Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford in one train on the main. There was never more than 2tph relief line services from Paddington to Oxford. 345s took over the half-hourly GWR service to Reading on the relief lines.

 

[adrock1976]

GWR continue to run off-peak services on the Relief Lines to Didcot Parkway - they can't stop at Ealing Broadway, Hayes & Harlington, Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford in one train on the main. There was never more than 2tph relief line services from Paddington to Oxford. 345s took over the half-hourly GWR service to Reading on the relief lines.

Many thanks for that.

 

[Horizon22]

Although this is more of a timetabling question, is Crossrail and freight trains going to be specially dedicated to the Relief Lines with nothing else using them in normal service?

Also, what happens with the (pre Covid and pre Didcot split) 15 minute Oxford service that calls at the likes of Tilehurst and Fulham that did run along the Relief Lines?

The relief lines will be as busy as they ever were (covid service restrictions notwithstanding) - if not busier once Crossrail runs a full through service. The main beneficiary will be platform availability at Paddington. Some peak GWR trains run as well on the relief lines - although again that may be subject to change.

 

[73128]

GWR continue to run off-peak services on the Relief Lines to Didcot Parkway (and will do so after Crossrail starts running) - they can't stop at Ealing Broadway, Hayes & Harlington, Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford in one train on the main. There was never more than 2tph relief line services from Paddington to Oxford. 345s took over the half-hourly GWR service to Reading on the relief lines.

they do stop at those stations on the relief lines off peak, normally half hourly except Sundays, but currently in covid times only hourly off peak. Peak hours in the busy direction (and one contraflow evening up) they are fast between Maidenhead and Paddington, and some are 12 car.

 

[adrock1976]

If I have interpreted the Crossrail service level right, for west of Hayes & Harlington/West Drayton that the standard pattern will be half hourly Reading (as present), and half hourly to Maidenhead?