[imagination]

When something like this happens:

Line incidents
Line problem between Castle Cary and Taunton.
Train services are being disrupted due to a broken down train between Castle Cary and Taunton.Engineers are working as fast as possible to restore services to normal. Delays of up to 120 minutes can be expected. Only west-bound train services are affected by this problem.


Last Updated: 08/10/2010 20:08

Line problem between London Paddington and Greenford.
Train services are being disrupted due to signalling problems between London Paddington and Greenford.Engineers are working as fast as possible to restore services to normal. Short notice cancellations can be expected.

London Underground are accepting First Great Western tickets between London Paddington and Greenford in both directions. Note that the Heathrow Connect services have been suspended.

Last Updated: 08/10/2010 19:31

Line problem between London Paddington and Slough.
Train services are being disrupted due to signalling problems between London Paddington and Slough.Engineers are working as fast as possible to restore services to normal. Short notice alterations, cancellations and delays of up to 45 minutes can be expected.

Please note that Heathrow Connect services have had to be suspended as a result of the signalling problem.

Last Updated: 08/10/2010 19:33

Line problem between Maidenhead and Slough.
Train services are being disrupted due to a broken down train between Maidenhead and Slough.Engineers are working as fast as possible to restore services to normal. Delays of up to 30 minutes can be expected.


Last Updated: 08/10/2010 19:46

Just out of interest, say you were working on a train going through something like that, what would be your thoughts?
Frustration?
Feeling sorry for the passengers?
Longing for it to be over so you can get back home?
Fear that the passengers will somehow blame it on you?

[NSEFAN]

I'd feel sorry for the passengers, advise them of what's happening and what's being done about it, maybe try and estimate when the problem will be sorted if relevant. I'd still expect a lot of abuse though.

[Chew Chew]

I remember getting stuck behind on a broken down train for about 2 hours a couple years back when I was heading to Warrington for my work.

I didn't mind though as the train staff were spot on and IIRC they handed out free soft drinks.

It all ended well for me as my work paid for the train ticket but I sent the train ticket back to Virgin so they sent me a cheque for £50 and travelling was claimable so I got an extra couple hours O/T.

[Flamingo]

Originally Posted by imagination

When something like this happens:



Just out of interest, say you were working on a train going through something like that, what would be your thoughts?
Frustration?
Feeling sorry for the passengers?
Longing for it to be over so you can get back home?
Fear that the passengers will somehow blame it on you?

Give out tea & sympathy, go through (surprisingly little abuse if you go to them), walk slowly through the train, keep asking in a loud voice "Any questions that don't contain the phrase "What Time"?", remind people that they can get back the ticket price if delayed for over 60 minutes, give out complaint forms, look up possible connections or reassure that taxi's will be supplied, adopt an "We're all in it together" attitude.

They can actually be very rewarding trains, as you have to think on your feet and they can leave you feeling that you have helped sort out peoples problems. Of course, depending on the cause of the delay (cable thefts and fatalities are usually OK, broken down trains not so), people may be sympathetic. Often, if you seem to be dong your best, any passengers who start getting unreasonable will be shouted down by others.

And telling people to start community singing usually lightens the atmosphere.

And above all pray to God that Control don't pull the rug out from under you by terminating the train somewhere stupid!

[MCR247]

There were some fairly hefty delays on FGW last night due to signalling problems around London and a train breaking down at Castle Cary. Some of the major delays:
1803 London-Penzance arrived at 0100 instead of 2312
1903 London-Penzance arrived at 0334 instead of 0038
1703 London-Penzance (The train that broke down) arrived at 0429 instead of 2230.

(copy and pasted from another forum)

Thanks Conner

[mumrar]

Well, according to an internal email, high winds anticipated at Dawlish mean a plan of action will be inforce between 18:30-22:30 when Voyagers will be suspended from the section. However some services will be replaced by an XC HST set, so for those of you who like to champion old over new, here you are.

[ajax103]

Originally Posted by Flamingo

And above all pray to God that Control don't pull the rug out from under you by terminating the train somewhere stupid!

Or play music chairs with the Signallers using the affected trains! By that, I mean have a decision then 30 seconds later change the decision then 30 seconds later go back to another decision resulting in the poor driver and station staff looking like idiots who have no idea what's going on!

[anthony263]

Originally Posted by MCR247

There were some fairly hefty delays on FGW last night due to signalling problems around London and a train breaking down at Castle Cary. Some of the major delays:
1803 London-Penzance arrived at 0100 instead of 2312
1903 London-Penzance arrived at 0334 instead of 0038
1703 London-Penzance (The train that broke down) arrived at 0429 instead of 2230.

(copy and pasted from another forum)

Thanks Conner

I was told that one of the gaurds/train mangers on the 17:03 London Paddington - Penzance offered to work the train through to Penzance so that people could get back home

[mathmo]

Ouch! I was trying to use local services around Slough yesterday evening and was unimpressed with the information provided, but the delays were nothing compared to this! At one point the announcements at Slough told passengers for local stations to get a train to London and then get trains back out (with a local train having been changed to non-stop when only 15 minutes down) - I refused as I could have walked in less time! The next train mysteriously became a stopping service some time later too (just as I was about to walk) which I was at least grateful for!

Any idea why two HSTs came through Maidenhead on the up relief line around 2000 when the broken-down train was heading towards Penzance?

[Chapeltom]

Two huge delays there! Customers can't have been too pleased on arrival.

11 hours 36 minutes to complete a journey! Wow, nearly 6 hours late. Even nearly 3 hours late is ages.

[sheff1]

Originally Posted by Flamingo

Give out tea & sympathy, go through (surprisingly little abuse if you go to them), walk slowly through the train, keep asking in a loud voice "Any questions that don't contain the phrase "What Time"?", remind people that they can get back the ticket price if delayed for over 60 minutes, give out complaint forms, look up possible connections or reassure that taxi's will be supplied, adopt an "We're all in it together" attitude.

They can actually be very rewarding trains, as you have to think on your feet and they can leave you feeling that you have helped sort out peoples problems. Of course, depending on the cause of the delay (cable thefts and fatalities are usually OK, broken down trains not so), people may be sympathetic. Often, if you seem to be dong your best, any passengers who start getting unreasonable will be shouted down by others.

And telling people to start community singing usually lightens the atmosphere.

When I was going from Kings Cross to Doncaster a few weeks ago on a train which was eventually delayed by around 4 hours, the guard did the things mentioned in the first para and, yes, people spoke up against the one passsenger who was unreasonable. However, if he had suggested community singing my mood would have deterioratied rapidly and 'Mr Unreasonable' may have found an ally.

[taxidave]

I was on the 19.48 Paddington to Cheltenham Spa train and we were kept informed as to the situation throughout the journey. I arrived back in Cheltenham about 40 down, having made up a little time after Didcot but soon lost that again, as usual, at Gloucester.

[mickey]

Originally Posted by MCR247

1903 London-Penzance arrived at 0334 instead of 0038
1703 London-Penzance (The train that broke down) arrived at 0429 instead of 2230.

Originally Posted by anthony263

I was told that one of the gaurds/train mangers on the 17:03 London Paddington - Penzance offered to work the train through to Penzance so that people could get back home

That's some delay! BUT full credit to FGW and its staff for carrying on and getting people where they wanted to go. It's all too easy just to give up and stop short but in this instance they ploughed on and if I'm ever unlucky enough to be in such a situation I hope the same people are in charge again.