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MARLOW - MAIDENHEAD
PASSENGERS’ ASSOCIATION
TWYFORD – TAPLOW / HIGH WYCOMBE |
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Jump to: News Events and Articles Publications
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The Marlow - Maidenhead Passengers' Association is the public transport user group - bus and train -
in the area served by the Maidenhead to Marlow railway line in the Thames Valley including its former route into High Wycombe.
We cover main line services from Taplow, Maidenhead and Twyford as well as High Wycombe station.
The Association’s Constitution may be viewed here.
We lobby the operators and local government on behalf of users to improve services and facilities, and we bring you timely information regarding proposed and actual service changes. The more members we have the stronger is our voice in fighting for your interests. For more about the benefits of membership and an application form please visit the Membership Page or e-mail us.
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Timetable DownloadsChiltern Railways 12 December 2021 to 14 May 2022:Download not yet available. London Marylebone - High Wycombe - Oxford/Aylesbury/Birmingham Moor St. (HTML) Changes to train times (HTML) Great Western Railway 12 December 2021 to 14 May 2022:
T12 Maidenhead to Marlow (PDF)
Arriva Bus 35/36/37 High Wycombe - Bourne End - Maidenhead (PDF) More timetable links on our Timetable Index. Live signalling diagram Twyford - West Drayton (from OpenTrainTimes.com) Compensation for DelaysFor information see GWR’s web site or download the Delay Compensation Form (PDF). For Chiltern Railways please see their Contact Us page. |
HTML Timetables
Marlow Branch 12 Dec 2021 to 14 May 2022 Engineering Summary LARGE PRINT TimetablesPhone
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Regulated Fares Up 3.8% in MarchAs predicted the Government is raising regulated fares by 3.8% in March. This was the annual rate of inflation in July based on the deprecated Retail Prices Index which gives a higher figure than the more accurate Consumer Prices Index.
We note that the road fuel duty has been frozen for the 11th year in succession, whilst the take-off and landing fees for
domestic flights have been halved. This was being planned while the government was hosting the COP25 Climate Conference in
Glasgow, and slashing the scope of HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail. Not only do passengers need a better deal, so does the planet.
Patronage Plummets in PandemicEstimated entry and exit figures for UK stations have been released by the Office of Rail and Road. The right hand column shows the percentage change since 2019-20. These figures are for the year ending 31st March. Our local stations look like this:
Half-hourly to Didcot RestoredGWR will be reintroducing its Didcot Parkway to London Paddington services throughout the day, to its half-hourly
frequency. From January, it will restore the branch lines in London and the Thames Valley to pre-pandemic frequencies
— three trains an hour on the Windsor branch, and half-hourly services on both the Henley and Greenford branches.
The Marlow branch keeps its hourly off-peak service as before.
(Train Times)
Battery Trains a Step NearerMark Hopwood confirmed at our AGM that GWR would be trialling a battery powered train with fast charging on the West Ealing
to Greenford line. This would appear to be a close fit with Viva Rail’s upcycled D78 District Line trains but other
manufacturers could be in the frame. Whatever is selected would eventually be deployed on the Thames Valley branches because
the Reading Traincare Depot doesn't want more than one new type to maintain.
Contactless Travel on the BranchWe are led to believe that a cashless ticket vending machine (TVM) will be installed at Furze Platt and, separately, that
NFC ("contactless") travel will be extended from Maidenhead to Marlow for journeys as far as Paddington and Reading. (DHYB)
Update: Mark Hopwood reported at our AGM that a TVM would be installed at Furze Platt. This would
be cashless and in view of the CCTV cameras, so should be less vulnerable to vandalism than previous attempts.
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GWR Introduces Temporary TimetableOwing to the number of train crew self-isolating GWR has introduced a temporary timetable from Saturday 8th January until Saturday 15th January. You can find a list of changes here. There are hardly any changes affecting the Thames Valley area but ad hoc cancellations could still occur. Please
check your journey before setting off. On twitter follow @GWRhelp.
MIND THE APP !If you’re celebrating the New Year in London (coronavirus permitting) and booking on the GWR App, don’t get caught out.
If you search for trains back from Paddington on 31st December, then scroll forwards up to 03:43 (for Maidenhead) you are charged for
an off-peak return. However if you enter the return time on 1st January on the “Find times and tickets” page you’ll
be charged for two singles, which is nearly twice as much for the same trains.
Crossrail Trial Operations BeginThe final phase of the programme before the Elizabeth line opens for passenger services is now underway. Trial Operations involves operational exercises to ensure the safety and reliability of the railway for public use and to fully test the timetables. More than 150 scenarios will be carried out over the coming months to ensure the readiness of the railway for passenger service. These include exercises to make sure that all systems and procedures work effectively and staff can respond to any incidents, including customers being unwell or signal failures. In the new year, a series of more complex exercises will include evacuations of trains and stations using thousands
of staff and volunteers. The final step will see a period of “shadow running”, operating timetabled services
ahead of the Elizabeth line opening. It will take several months to complete this final complicated phase.
Five GWR Services Transfer to TFLOn 12th December five more GWR services between Reading and Paddington transferred to TFL-RAIL. These are the 07:00 and 07:30 from Reading calling additionally at Burnham, West Drayton and Ealing Broadway, and the 17:27, 18:26 and 18:56 from Paddington calling additionally at Ealing Broadway and West Drayton. Journey times will increase by one to two minutes. Note that TFL-RAIL trains have no toilets and mostly back-to-the-window seating. The changes anticipate the introduction of
Elizabeth Line services in 2022, although initially passengers for central London will still have to change at Paddington. The
earliest date for through running is now Autumn 2022 (and we know what Modern Railways’s Roger Ford thinks about
estimates based on seasons of the year!).
PlusBus from Bourne EndPassengers travelling to High Wycombe can book to Bourne End with the PlusBus add-on which gives unlimited bus travel on participating operators’ services including Arriva and Carousel around the High Wycombe urban area (PDF). The cost per day is £3.60 for adults or £2.40 with a railcard. A child ticket is £1.80. For season tickets and further information please see the PlusBus web site.
Face Covering Mandatory AgainJust a reminder that unless you are exempt you need to wear face covering when travelling on all public transport.
SNIPPETSNorthern Line Bank branch will be closed from 15 January until mid-May. There will be a shuttle from Camden Town to Moorgate. Morden trains will run via Charing Cross. 
In Cold Weather..If you’re the last on or off a diesel unit, please close the train door. Save energy and keep the train warm, especially at terminal stations. The doors on Class 387 Electrostars will close automatically after a short interval if not being used. Class 345 Aventras (TFL-RAIL) do not have passenger operated door close buttons. Older News |
Bourne End looking North-East in 1947. The bay platform for the “Marlow Donkey” is on the left. |
EVENTSPlease contact the organisation concerned for membership or if you wish to join the meeting as a guest. Marlow and District Railway Society - currently holding meetings on Zoom. RCTS - currently holding meetings on Zoom. Saturday 8th January - CANCELLED. Model Railway Exhibition, Cox Green Community Centre Marlow, Maidenhead and District Model Railway Club.
10th March 2022 - The Maidenhead to High Wycombe Railway A talk on the line by John Gurney to mark the 50th Anniversary of the closure of the line to High Wycombe. This talk has been extremely well received when given to the Wycombe Society some years ago. Bourne End Community Centre ((map). Tickets and information. |
ARTICLESBattery Trains for the Branch? We get a ride on Viva Rail’s Class 230. GWR Report to the AGM 2018 Intercity Express - First Impressions Electrifying the Branch -
A personal view (html) by Richard Porter. Could High Wycombe Line Be Reopened? Read this article
from the Bucks Free Press.
Maurice Oram 1935 - 2018 Some recollections of our late Honorary President from Mark Hopwood. |
Latest PublicationsMMPA Newsletter ArchiveIssue 188 (PDF): A4 | A5 x 2 | Pamphlet Rail Business Daily (sign up)RailnewsRail Technology MagazineModern Railways |
Railfuture (all PDF)Railwatch No. 170 December 2021
Community Rail NetworkTransport Focus |
Last updated 10th January, 2022
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