Crossrail to Reading Announcement

[YorkshireBear]

I concur however Reading already has a good local service. I think this all comes down to capacity which Crossrail will eat into.

I would hope it is replacing the current local service with FGW only providing semi fast and fast Reading-London services Crossrail provide the rest. Plus the branches (which are certainly going to become an operational anomaly.).

 

[455driver]

Crossrail trains could terminate in the station and then proceed onto the depot to wait time before running back into the station to start back.

That way the trains would have good turnaround times where-as if they were to turnaround in the platforms they would either have no recovery time so the platform wasnt blocked (and so muck up the service) or wait time in the platform blocking it while the train waited its departure time.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Crossrail trains could terminate in the station and then proceed onto the depot to wait time before running back into the station to start back.

That way the trains would have good turnaround times where-as if they were to turnaround in the platforms they would either have no recovery time so the platform wasnt blocked (and so muck up the service) or wait time in the platform blocking it while the train waited its departure time.

Hmm Crossrail to Penzance? Or maybe just Bristol Temple Meads. That will give them a station big enough to stay put in.

 

[455driver]

They dont wunt nune ov that electrickery stuff down there, it would scare the piskies!

 

[transmanche]

Will it need parliamentary approval to dump the Maidenhead infrastructure?

That I don't know. But a recent National Audit Office report highlighted that extending Crossrail to Reading would actually save money.

The Crossrail route currently terminates in the west at Maidenhead; the sponsors are considering whether it should run to Reading. The Department expects that this change would result in a slight reduction in the construction costs of the Crossrail programme, largely because some works at Slough and Maidenhead would no longer be required. The cost of electrifying the Great Western Main Line and of redeveloping Reading station is being paid for as a separate project.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

Perhaps Crossrail should be seen as a sort of enhanced Central Line. One of tricks used by Paddington commuters in past years was to walk to Lancaster Gate, this took you to Central Line destinations without having to use the Bakerloo and change at Oxford Circus. As I understand it, the Crossrail station will be in Eastbourne Terrace. So if non-stops from Reading, Maidenhead and Slough survive, the fastest route is going to be to terminate at Paddington and change to Crossrail there.

It remains to be seen how or whether the Oyster system will be modified. Currently the limit is West Drayton.

 

[rebmcr]

Assuming that the Crossrail units will have a mixture of seating with possibly 50% being longitudinal, Reading into Central London on a stopper is quite a distance. If I was a Reading based commuter I would be inclined to take fast train to Paddington and change.

What if your final destination is Bank? Canary Wharf?

 

[Class377/5]

It remains to be seen how or whether the Oyster system will be modified. Currently the limit is West Drayton.

TfL have said all Crossrail will be on Oyster. This makes no difference. Will be similar to how Watford is done and likely the same as Gatwick Oyster extension TfL/Southern are pushing for.

What if your final destination is Bank? Canary Wharf?

Quicker to change and you get a fair amount of trains starting at Paddington meaning getting a seat wont be too much of an issue.

 

[swt_passenger]

The written statement is now out and makes the intended service pattern clearer. Only two trains to be extended to Reading, with 2 tph terminating at Maidenhead, as I thought would be the case when I posted last night - so the Maidenhead turn back and additional platform will almost certainly remain exactly as planned.

Once operational, Crossrail services are expected to serve Maidenhead on a 4 trains per hour basis as originally planned, with 2 of these services continuing to Reading via Twyford.

In addition, the planned future Great Western franchise service pattern from Reading to London will not change. Twice hourly semi-fast services and existing fast mainline services will continue, calling at the same stations as today.https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/extension-of-crossrail

 

[northwichcat]

Will this news result in any existing units being made available for cascade when the work is complete?

 

[swt_passenger]

Will this news result in any existing units being made available for cascade when the work is complete?

A few perhaps, but any DMU cascades (generally thought to be internally within GW) are predominantly down to electrification. Who or what runs the local services east of Reading by the time Crossrail starts will be dealt with by flexing the number of EMUs yet to be ordered surely?

 

[northwichcat]

A few perhaps, but any DMU cascades (generally thought to be internally within GW) are predominantly down to electrification. Who or what runs the local services east of Reading by the time Crossrail starts will be dealt with by flexing the number of EMUs yet to be ordered surely?

Yeah we're obviously expecting the 16xs to head west unless funding to clear routes for those units isn't made available and possibly 143s and 153s could drop out of the franchise depending how much extra capacity the franchise needs.

 

[RichmondCommu]

What if your final destination is Bank? Canary Wharf?

I would still take a fast train to Paddington and change to Crossrail. Even with the change it would still be quicker.

 

[TEW]

The written statement is now out and makes the intended service pattern clearer. Only two trains to be extended to Reading, with 2 tph terminating at Maidenhead, as I thought would be the case when I posted last night - so the Maidenhead turn back and additional platform will almost certainly remain exactly as planned.

But it does seem that the West-facing bay at Slough and the 2tph Reading-Slough shuttle have sensibly been dropped.

 

[swt_passenger]

But it does seem that the West-facing bay at Slough and the 2tph Reading-Slough shuttle have sensibly been dropped.

Yes - and of course it must be sheer coincidence that NR have started work at Maidenhead, (indeed it is well in hand), but not started at Slough...

 

[ess]

So presumably FGW will retain 2 tph from Oxford to Paddington stoppers with the Reading to Paddington stoppers replaced by Crossrail?

 

[JamesRowden]

So presumably FGW will retain 2 tph from Oxford to Paddington stoppers with the Reading to Paddington stoppers replaced by Crossrail?

The junction upgrades around Reading mean that the Oxford-Paddington stoppers could run as extensions of the planned Reading-Paddington semi-fasts or as additional fast services between Reading and Paddington.

 

[swt_passenger]

The junction upgrades around Reading mean that the Oxford-Paddington stoppers could run as extensions of the planned Reading-Paddington semi-fasts or as additional fast services between Reading and Paddington.

There are a number of different options aren't there - the easiest way to look at it is that the Crossrail extension has just made the Reading - Slough shuttle stillborn. It had never really been categorically stated where the (FGW) remaining 2 tph through trains on the reliefs would originate from, so that hasn't really been clarified in any way.

 

[TheKnightWho]

So presumably FGW will retain 2 tph from Oxford to Paddington stoppers with the Reading to Paddington stoppers replaced by Crossrail?

I would have thought it'd be better to make it semi-fast - stopping everywhere until Reading, and then running straight through to Paddington.

It might actually increase ridership from places like Radley, where an almost 2 hour trip (or 1h 20m+ with a change) to London is pretty offputting.

 

[SF-02]

Yeah we're obviously expecting the 16xs to head west unless funding to clear routes for those units isn't made available and possibly 143s and 153s could drop out of the franchise depending how much extra capacity the franchise needs.

It needs a lot. The South West is often overlooked. Bristol and Bath are seeing large increases on inadequate services. With infrastrucutre improvements hopefully arriving by 2020 demand will skyrocket and those 165/166 will fill up quickly.

 

[northwichcat]

It needs a lot. The South West is often overlooked. Bristol and Bath are seeing large increases on inadequate services. With infrastrucutre improvements hopefully arriving by 2020 demand will skyrocket and those 165/166 will fill up quickly.

I think the FGW is set to get around 40-45 x 4 car EMUs for the newly electrified commuter services, so if you allow for FGW giving up the 143s and 153s after that then it's still around 130 additional carriages. I personally think FGW will be under pressure to release more Sprinters to allow for 142s to be withdrawn by the end of 2019 without ordering new DMUs.

 

[LexyBoy]

Rob Wilson still pushing for Crossrail to serve City commuters (whilst accepting credit for extension to Reading)... Not everyone works in London Rob - what about all those people who commute into Reading from the towns around, making it the prosperous town it is?

Great news, if expected. I can see myself using it - in the evenings, esp. at weekends, the fast trains are few and far between so going direct from central London on Crossrail would be attractive compared to a half-hour wait at Paddington.

 

[TEW]

So presumably FGW will retain 2 tph from Oxford to Paddington stoppers with the Reading to Paddington stoppers replaced by Crossrail?

The Oxford stoppers will be different from now, but it isn't yet clear in what way yet. The remaining two FGW services from Paddington-Reading on the relief lines will be much faster than today calling only at Ealing Broadway, Hayes & Harlington, Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford. Whether they will continue all stations to Oxford, elsewhere or just terminate at Reading isn't known yet. The Oxford stopping services could run fast to Paddington or semi-fast, perhaps with calls at Twyford, Maidenhead or Slough.

 

[swt_passenger]

Rob Wilson still pushing for Crossrail to serve City commuters (whilst accepting credit for extension to Reading)...

To add, he seems to want a hybrid HST/Crossrail service that has the ambience and speed of an HST then enters the tunnel portal. I'm surprised he isn't asking for it to run non-stop through the west end as well...

 

[transmanche]

Not everyone works in London Rob - what about all those people who commute into Reading from the towns around, making it the prosperous town it is?

Including a fair number of people who commute out from London to Reading every day.

 

[route:oxford]

To add, he seems to want a hybrid HST/Crossrail service that has the ambience and speed of an HST then enters the tunnel portal. I'm surprised he isn't asking for it to run non-stop through the west end as well...

I suppose there is always the option for an Open Access operator to run a single fast service from Oxford to Bank in the morning.

 

[swt_passenger]

I suppose there is always the option for an Open Access operator to run a single fast service from Oxford to Bank in the morning.

Aye, that'll be Alliance (Grand Central) with an IEP - it can only be a matter of time.

Probably next on their to-do list after Kings Cross - Edinburgh non-stop... :roll:

 

[Class 170101]

The written statement is now out and makes the intended service pattern clearer. Only two trains to be extended to Reading, with 2 tph terminating at Maidenhead, as I thought would be the case when I posted last night - so the Maidenhead turn back and additional platform will almost certainly remain exactly as planned.

I am surprised that only two trains an hour will go to Reading. I would have thought four might have been slightly better.

 

[transmanche]

I suppose there is always the option for an Open Access operator to run a single fast service from Oxford to Bank in the morning.

An Open Access Operator on TfL? Can't see that happening.

 

[route:oxford]

An Open Access Operator on TfL? Can't see that happening.

Is it legal for them to refuse an open access operator?