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News Archive 2013 - 2014Extra Through Train from Paddington to Bourne EndFirst Great Western is introducing an additional through train from Paddington to Bourne End at 16:32
Monday-Friday from the May 2015 timetable change.
GWR Running-in Board at High Wycombe RestoredChiltern Railways has had the original Great Western running-in board restored to its former glory with amended wording since the station
is not currently the junction for Maidenhead and Marlow. The sign had been covered up first by a British Railways Western Region enamel sign
and more recently by advertising posters. Many thanks to station manager Rob Munday for the initiative. The restoration was part funded by MMPA
and the Railway Heritage Trust. (Photo: Chiltern Railways)
Electrification Works at TaplowNetwork Rail will be clearing vegitation and installing piled foundations in the Taplow area between 12th January and 27th February.
From 2nd February to 20th April they will be installing the overhead line structures. For more information see
this [since deleted] letter (PDF).
Temporary Canopies at MaidenheadFirst Great Western’s promises in October that temporary canopies would be erected before work started on
demolishing the old canopies came to nought. We took this up with FGW and were advised that the canopies will be put up within the next two weeks.
We shall continue to monitor the situation.
Update: some temporary sheeting has been secured over the central part of platform 4/5. Overnight Works 5 - 16 January 2015Network Rail has notified us that it will be clearing vegitation along the Marlow line between 5th and 16th January.
This will take place overnight and will involve flailing.
Two Trains per Hour Off-peak?Great Western Railway is looking at the possibility of running a half-hourly off-peak service on the Marlow branch without the need to change trains.
This would require track and signalling modifications at Bourne End so that trains can access platform 2 from Marlow. It is dependent on getting Local
Growth Fund money from Thames Valley Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership plus funding from local government, Network Rail and DfT.
New Timetables started December 14thThe branch timetable is basically the same but some trains have been retimed by one or two minutes.
The 2318 Paddington-Oxford will call additionally at Twyford. Christmas and New YearFirst Great WesternSee FGW’s web site (javascript required) for full details. We have summarised the Thames Valley and Marlow local services here (now deleted). There will be no services on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Services will wind down early on Christmas eve. There will be an all-night service from London Paddington to Reading on January 1st for new year revellers. The Marlow branch will be closed for engineering work on 28th December and from 31st December to 2nd January. A replacement bus service will operate. Download [now deleted] this notice (PDF) from First Great Western outlining Christmas and New Year engineering works, service alterations and replacement bus services. Chiltern RailwaysSee Chiltern Railways’ Christmas and New Year travel information. Chiltern will operate a service between Bicester North and Marylebone on Boxing Day calling at principal stations.
FGW Christmas Engineering WorksPlease download [now deleted] this notice (PDF) from First Great Western giving details of Christmas and New Year engineering
works, service alterations and replacement bus services.
Maidenhead Bus ChangesA number of changes to Maidenhead's local bus services came into force on 3rd November. Routes 9/A/B have been withdrawn. Route 5 is extended from
the town centre to Furze Platt, Cranbrook Drive, St. Mark's Hospital (one journey via Halifax Way as 5A). Route 8 covers the Farm Road, Halifax Way and
All Saints Avenue loops.
Refunds for Season Ticket HoldersFirst Great Western has apologised to customers for the recent disruption caused by signalling failures. Refunds or extensions are available to holders of monthly and annual season tickets for 6th October. Please ask at your local booking office or see the travel advice page on the FGW web site. Download letters to monthly and annual season ticket holders (PDF). Major Works at MaidenheadWork to remove the canopies and train shed on platforms 4 and 5 at Maidenhead will be carried out over the weekends of 4th/5th and 11th/12th October. During these times the Marlow Branch and relief lines will be closed and a replacement bus service will operate for the branch and between Taplow, Burnham and Slough. The station forecourt will be closed and access to platforms 1 and 2 will be via the Shoppenhangars Road entrance. You can watch the operations to remove the superstructure with a 300 tonne crane from 12:00 on October 4th. Crossrail Works at MaidenheadCrossrail has notified us of work to install a walkway to the east of Maidenhead station over the next month. This will include some night time and
weekend work. For more information please see [now deleted] this letter.
Taplow WorksVarious works going on at Taplow. Surveyors with theodolites separately surveying the bridge and the drains . According to the bridge team this is
to make bridge accessible, which would require attaching lifts to it on platforms 3 and 4. Platform 3 is also being trenched, with its central section
enclosed in barriers.
Planning Application at Bourne EndMMPA is objecting to a planning application at Cores End which would see a row of 22 houses squeezed onto the trackbed of the trackbed of the former Wycombe line which we wish to see reopened. This is totally daft but it looks like Wycombe DC will approve it anyway. The Network SouthEast StoryChris Green, dubbed “the best Chaiman British Rail never had” will be speaking at the RCTS meeting at Cox Green Community Centre,
Maidenhead on Monday 22nd September starting at 19:30. Chris will be signing copies of his new book about Network SouthEast. Admission is £2.00
for RCTS members and £3.00 for non-members.
Enhanced service to Henley-on Thames This WeekendFirst great Western is running addional trains to Henley for the Rewind Festival on August 16th and 17th, including later fast trains from
Henley to Twyford on Sunday.
Crossrail Works at Maidenhead Start on 5th JulyPlease read this [deleted] full briefing from Mark Hopwood, MD, FGW. Some car parking spaces on the main concourse will be lost. Alternative parking spaces will be made available in Silco Drive. Starting in August the platform canopies will be refurbished and modified to accommodate overhead line equipment. The platforms will be lengthened for 9-car Crossrail trains. An additional lift will be installed to provide step-free access to platform 1. Crossrail, First Great Western and Network Rail are holding a joint drop-in information session at Maidenhead Station on Tuesday 8th July between
14:00 and 19:00.
Electrification Works, June - August 2014Crossrail has notified us of piling works planned on the railway between Burnham and Maidenhead during the period from June to August as part of the
electrification of the line. This will involve working at night and may cause some disturbance to neighbours although disruption should only last for
a short time in any one area.
We are also advised that track works are planned to the west of Maidenhead station during June and July. Much of the work will take place overnight
and at weekends.
Chiltern Platform Lengthening Under WayWork has started to extend platforms at five stations between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street to provide the option for longer trains and extra seats on the Chiltern main line. Working with Chiltern Railways, Network Rail will extend platforms at Beaconsfield, High Wycombe, Princes Risborough, Haddenham and Thame Parkway
and Bicester North stations.
read more ...
Works at Taplow StationNetwork Rail is undertaking work at Taplow in preparation for Crossrail between July and December. Platform work will be done overnight and over some
weekends, from 28th July until 18th December. From 3rd July there will be some daytime work to set up a compound on the north side of the station.
Bucks LEP Moots Re-opening High Wycombe – Bourne EndThe Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership is making a submission for £30,000 for a business case study to be made into reopening
the line between High Wycombe and Bourne End that was closed in 1970. You can view relevant extracts from the Strategic Economic Plan
here or download the whole thing from here.
DfT Consultation on GW Franchise Ends SoonThe Department for Transport is currently undertaking a public consultation on the future of the Great Western rail franchise. The current franchise runs until September 2015 and DfT is considering how best to proceed after that. The DfT's consultation can be found through this link. This is an opportunity to set out our priorities and views on the Great Western franchise(s) through to 2020. The consultation closes on 26th June.
Read MMPA’s response here.
Ground Investigation Works at TaplowCrossrail has notified us about ground investigation works planned at night at Taplow station during the next fortnight.
Night Work at Coalman’s Way, BurnhamNetwork Rail has informed us that there will be some nighttime use of the Coalman’s Way access point east of Taplow station during May.
Membership Payments Now Accepted by PayPalYes, we are at last accepting subscriptions by PayPal. Although we pay fees for this service we hope that it will prove popular and that
an increase in our membership will outweigh the extra cost. Please see the Membership page for details.
Crossrail Track Works at MaidenheadNetwork Rail’s enabling works for Crossrail in the Maidenhead area will run
until 2016. These include major civil engineering works to the station over Easter 2014.
Crossrail Extended to ReadingCrossrail has announced that the service is to be extended to Reading, with 2tph from Reading and 4tph from Maidenhead towards London. This means that there is no need for a GW franchise service between Reading and Slough, and therefore no need for a new West facing bay platform at Slough. We also believe that the new bay platform at Maidenhead for branch line trains will not now be built. There will be no Crossrail depot at Reading but the stabling and turnback sidings at Maidenhead will go ahead (and are now under construction). The extension to the service is expected to be cost neutral because electrification will come under the Great Western scheme, and although one extra train is needed a lot of the costs of building, permanent way and signalling work at Slough and Maidenhead will be saved. Concern has been expressed that the new trains will have no toilets and few seats. In fact a nine-car Crossrail train will have about the same seating capacity as a five-car Networker turbo train. Crossrail has assured us that all stations operated by Crossrail will be manned, and that toilets will be available on them, all of the time that trains are running. There will be some fast services from Twyford and Maidenhead to London Paddington operated by the GW franchise.
Nights works at Maidenhead Station, Monday 28 April – Friday 2 MayNetwork Rail (NR) is about to undertake ground investigation works at Maidenhead Station. The work will involve trial trenches and boreholes on the station platforms. For safety reasons this work must take place at night when the trains are not running. Work will be from Monday 28 April to Friday 2 May between 22:00 and 07:00 hrs. NR apologises for any inconvenience this may cause. In accordance with the Crossrail Construction Code, NR will endeavour to minimise any unnecessary environmental impacts and those working on site will be briefed on their obligations to work considerately. If you have any queries, either before or while this work is taking place, please call the dedicated 24-hour National Helpline on 08457 11 41 41
or email Network Rail. Should you wish to learn more about Crossrail, please visit
crossrail.co.uk. NR would like to thank you for your patience and apologise for any inconvenience these
essential works may cause.
Crossrail Devegitation Work - April 2014From now and until mid April 2014 Network Rail (NR) will be removing some trees and vegetation along the embankments in selected areas. This is necessary to facilitate the installation of overhead lines and gantries for the new electric trains. Further devegetation works will be required later in the year and will recommence in late autumn. NR will provide updates closer to the time. The removal of trees and vegetation will take place during normal daytime working hours. Work will involve using a variety of equipment to remove vegetation. NR will endeavour to minimise any unnecessary environmental impacts and ensure those working on site will be briefed on their obligations to work considerately. If you have any queries, either before or while this work is taking place, please call the 24-hour helpline on 08457 114 141 or
email here.
Theresa May flags off new 2018 service from Paddington
Maidenhead’s MP, the Rt. Hon. Theresa May was at Paddington on Monday to launch First Great Western’ new fast evening service from Padington to Maidenhead, Twyford and Reading on Monday. This service has been made possible because of improved reliability of the Class 165/6 fleet. The 5-car 'turbo' which would normally have been on standby at Reading Depot now makes an extra journey to Paddington (empty) and back to Reading. The new service departs Paddington (usually platform 5 but check) at 2018 arriving at Maidenhead 2039, Twyford 2047 and Reading 2059. An updated version of the East 1 timetable booklet is available, but neither the branch line tables at the end of the booklet nor the
separate timetable leaflets for the Marlow and Henley branches have been updated.
New Train Performance Web SiteVisit Recent Train Times to find out how your train’s been running. Class 165/166 C6 OverhaulsWork will be commencing this month on modifications to the Class 165/1 and 166 'Turbo' fleet to fit new toilets with wheelchair access as
required by the Disability Discriminatuon Act (“Access for all”). At the same time one of the first class sections of the Class
166 units will be refitted with standard class seating. These sections have already been designated as standard class to provide more space
for passengers, and the sliding door has been locked open. Both Class 165/1 and 166 units will continue to have a first class section at one end.
Annual General MeetingFriday 28th March 2014 at 19:30 hrs.Bourne End Community Centre, Wakeman Road (see map).Guest Speakers:
Non-members welcome.
Maidenhead in Bottom 10 for Customer SatisfactionMaidenhead came 55th out of 63 stations in its category in Passenger Focus’s Passenger Satisfaction survey. Slough was not much better in 53rd place. The worst responses at Maidenhead were for toilet facilities (27%) How well train company dealt with delays (25%) and the availability of staff (18%). The sample size was 821. The per centages are those saying Satisfied or Good. Crossrail Works 27 Jan - 28 FebNetwork Rail has advised us about work due to take place over January and February near Delta Court, Maidenhead. This work is part of the Crossrail project. Between Monday 27th January and Friday 28th February 2014 works will be undertaken on the northern embankment of Maidenhead station, adjacent to Platform 5. This is to allow various surveys to take place ahead of the main Crossrail works at Maidenhead Station, which are due to take place from summer 2014. The works will involve up to 12 day shifts between 08:00 and 17:00 and will involve using chainsaws and a wood chipper. Note that the 0845 number is a shared revenue number. You can call the Network Rail switchboard on 020 7557 8000.
Alternatively you can call the Crossrail Helpdesk on 0345 602 3813 or e-mail.
Flooding - UpdateArriva bus 37 is now diverted via A308, A404 and A4155 between Maidenhead and Bourne End because Cookham High Street is now cut off by
floods. For some reason the buses are not serving Cookham Road, Harrow Lane, Queensway and Gardner Road which they could easily do before reaching
the A308 at Furze Platt.
We understand that a shuttle minibus has been arranged, running between Cookham Rise car park and Cookham High Street via the causeway from
approximately 11:00 to 14:30. The causeway is closed to motor vehicles except emergency vehicles. Trains to Cookham are running normally.
GW ElectrificationWe understand that the current plan is to use Class 387 Electrostars for Thames Valley Services. These trains are currently being delivered to Southern (purchased on behalf of the DfT) and will be displaced by new Thameslink stock in due course. The Thameslink programme is running some two years behind schedule because of financing difficulties with the new trains. It is believed that First Group insisted on not taking on refurbished Class 319 trains (the old Thameslink trains now operated by First Capital Connect) as a condition of the direct award franchise extension. Some units could be reduced to three cars to operate the branch lines, and a derogation will be sought to remove the buffer stops at Bourne End.
The 387’s coaches are 30m long, 3m shorter than the Thames Turbos. Removing trailer vehicles from some sets will allow others to be strengthened
to five cars.
Maidenhead StationTemporary changes to car park arrangementsFrom Tuesday 24 to Sunday 29 December inclusive the station forecourt car park will be closed to facilitate the operation of rail replacement buses. Alternative parking will be available at Shoppenhangers Road car park. Disabled bays, for blue badge holders, will be available in the parking bays located next to King Street. For more information please click here. For specific information about car parking at First Great Western stations please contact APCOA Parking on 08451 652030. Chiltern Christmas Travel ArrangementsTrains on Boxing DayChiltern Railways will be operating a service between Bicester North and Marylebone on Boxing Day, calling at principal stations.
Car parking will be free for the day.
CIS Officially Switched On
MMPA Chair Susan Morrison (in shades) officially switched on the new Customer Information System for the Great Marlow Line.
More photos in Gallery 13.
Timetable Changes from 2nd SeptemberIf you find any railway terms or abbreviations that you don't understand please have a look at our Jargon Buster Page. If they're not there let us know! First Great Western has announced the following changes to weekday evening services which will take effect from Monday 2nd September:
Crossrail Track Works at MaidenheadAt its Information Session on 16th July Network Rail handed out a leaflet outlining its track works in the Maidenhead area which will run from now until 2016. These include major civil engineering works to the station over Christmas 2013.
We understand that the new platform for the Marlow Branch will be a bay platform to the north of the existing tracks alongside platform 5a
and not back round the bend as we had been led to believe. A platform on the curve would almost certainly not meet current safety requirements.
The new platform will require a sheet piled rataining wall to extend the embankment.
Update: Network Rail has issued a new leaflet on the Christmas works at Maidenhead station. [now deleted] Crossrail Drop-In Session - 20th NovemberCrossrail has organised a drop-in session at Maidenhead station from 14:00 to 18:00 on Wednesday 20th November to keep local residents and
rail users informed about Christmas works at the station. Please bring
this invitation (PDF) with you
to gain access via the ticket gates.
Chiltern to Run Boxing Day ServiceChiltern Railways will be operating a service between Bicester North and Marylebone on Boxing Day, when car parking will be free of charge.
CIS ProgressThe customer information display at Cookham is now operational. Unfortunately on one side, half of it is obscured by the Help Point sign.
A display unit has also been erected on platform 2 at Bourne End, but not on platform 1.
Update: CIS is now installed at all Marlow and Henley branch stations.
FGW Franchise Extended by 2 YearsFirst Group has had its Greater Western franchise extended by almost two years, from 13th October 2013 to 20th September 2015.
This was virtually inevitable, otherwise the Government would have been in the rediculous situation of taking the Great Wesern into
public ownership at the same time as trying to flog off East Coast to the private sector.
Update: rumour has it that "First" branding on trains and station signs will go under the management contract. We also expect new liveries and
staff uniforms.
Crossrail Works at Taplow, 5-26 OctoberNetwork Rail advises taht it will be carrying out work to install new cable ducting for signalling between the above dates. This involves
excavating platform surfaces and may cause some disruption to neighbours. The work will be done 24 x 7 except between 17:00 and 22:00
Mondays to Fridays.
Cycle Theft Dominates Crime FiguresStatistics recently published by British Transport Police show that cycle theft accounted for 59% of crime at Maidenhead
(38 against 8 public order offences, in the year 2012-13). A similar proportion was reported along the branch (except Furze Platt
where there are no cycle hoops) and at Taplow three cycle thefts were the only recorded crimes.
MMPA Welcomes Taplow User GroupThe Taplow Rail User Group (TRUG) has joined forces with MMPA which now takes on a watching brief for Taplow station.
We welcome the existing TRUG members to MMPA and extend a hand to all those who use Taplow station. See our press release
here (PDF).
Changes at ReadingOver the bank holiday weekend Platform 11 at Reading will come into use. Platform 10 will then be taken out of use for rebuilding.
Overground Guards Strike on Bank Holiday WeekendRail union RMT has called a strike on shifts commencing between 00:01 on Sunday 25th August and 23:59 on Monday 26th August. This is expected to affect the northern section of the Overground where TfL is trying to introduce driver only operation. Minor Works at Taplow, 11th-18th AugustNetwork Rail will be undertaking some minor works on platofrms 1 and 2/3 at Taplow to install new cable duct along the platforms. This will involve making some trial drillings on the platforms to ascertain ground condition. Some work will take place at night owing to the close proximity of the tracks. Train services at Taplow will not be affected. The work will take place on Monday 11th August to Thursday 14th August 08:00 to 18:00 and 22:00 to 06:00, and on Sunday 18th August 00:00 - 18:00.
If you have any queries please call the Network Rail National Helpline on 08457 114141 or email
crwest@networkrail.co.uk.
FGW 17th out of 23 for Customer SatisfactionFirst Great Western has come 17th out of 23 TOCs in Passenger Focus’s National Passenger Survey – Spring 2013, with
80% of passengers reporting satisfied or good. Chiltern came 10th with 89%. First Capital Connect tied for last place with Northern Rail at 76%.
Crossrail WorksWe have received the following missive from the Crossrail help desk: I am writing to notify you about work planned in the Maidenhead area as part of the installation of a new computer controlled signalling system. This work, much of which will need to take place at night when trains are not running, will include drilling small holes into rails and sleepers. It will also involve the use of a number of access points along the track. There will also be more extensive work between Saturday 29 June and Friday 5 July near Maidenhead station, including excavating soil.
This will involve a small worksite being set up in the station car park.
Govt. preps DOR for GWRail Union RMT has been notified of an emergency scheme to take the Great Western Franchise into the government-owned
Directly Operated Railways should negotiations on extending the franchise break down.
(more information)
Crossrail Works at Maidenhead Depot, Silco DriveNetwork Rail will be undertaking extensive track work around the new Maidenhead Depot on Silco Drive from 29th April.
This includes altering the track layout and installing new sidings.
Which? Wants Your Train Travel StoriesWhich? magazine is looking for your train stories, and in particular ticket machine nightmares.
More
information here.
Chiltern Capacity Changes from MayChiltern Railways has announced some capacity changes that will come into effect with the May timetable. AM PEAK to Marylebone0715 from Bicester North lengthened by one coach;
PM PEAK from Marylebone1615 to Birmingham Snow Hill shortened by one coach;
Marlow Regatta 8th-9th JuneBuses will supplement trains on the branch on Saturday 8th June. There is no rail service on Sunday 9th June but additional buses will be laid on. We have protested about the scheduling of Network Rail engineering work during this important event, but to no avail. Redwood Proposes Wokingham - Maidenhead - High Wycombe Rail LinkJohn Redwood M.P. (Con., Wokingham) is proposing new rail links radiating from his constituency in all directions including to
High Wycombe via Maidenhead, Windsor, Heathrow and south via Farnborough.
More details on the Windsor Link Railway site.
Firast Great Western Apologises for Reading ChaosMMPA has received an apology to all members from FGW Performance Manager, Andy Penrose, for the disruption to serices after the Easter shutdown. Network Rail's engineering work to connect the new platforms overran and only four through platforms are available this week. To make matters worse, units that were outstationed during the shutdown were delayed getting back to the depot, and turbos coming out of the depot have to reverse at Reading West and Tilehurst in order to get into Reading Station. This in turn delayed incoming services. We also heard that the branch unit ran out of diesel over the weekend, leading to a bus replacement between Marlow and Bourne End. FGW has introduced a thinned-out timetable until the end of the week. The full service should be resumed on April 8th. Please check your journey before travelling. MMPA would like to express its appreciation to the staff on the ground who have had to deal with this difficult situation.
Free Fares Database AccessATOC’s Fares Data are now freely available here. Real Time Bus Information at Bourne EndReal-time bus information display is at long last operational at Bourne End Station. It is only provided on the south side of the road, for buses
towards High Wycombe.
Enabling Work for CrossrailNetwork Rail has advised that it is conducting enabling works between Stockley Junction and Twyford for the new Crossrail signalling
system from 15th October until May 2013. This involves access to a number of points including Cannon Lane, Maidenhead for the delivery of materials.
More information can be found in
this letter (PDF).
Crossrail Works over Easter WeekendNetwork Rail will be installing signalling equipment in preparation for Crossrail from 07:00 on Good Friday, 29th March and 07:00 on Easter Monday, 1st April between West Drayton and Maidenhead, including around Coalman's Way, Taplow and two miles either side of Maidenhead Station. The work will include drilling rails and sleepers, excavating soil and using screw piling to construct concrete bases. Some disturbance may be noticed. There is a 24-hour helpline on 08457 114141 or you can email enquiries to crwest@networkrail.co.uk.
Timetable ErrorFGW has confirmed that the 23:18 Mon-Fri from Paddington to Oxford is still the connecting service for the 23:50 Maidenhead to Marlow.
The printed timetable booklets show the 23:00 as the connection from Paddington.
Bourne End BridgeProgress at last! We understand that the contractors hope to start work on the bridge on 15th January, subject to reaching agreement with loacl authorities and landowners regarding logistics and environmental issues. The work will involve grit blasting and measures will need to be taken to avoid detritus falling into the river. This will inevitably cause some noise intrusion for nearby residents. Update: We notice that work is now proceeding on the bridge deck,
Royal Borough Bus ChangesRevised routes and timetables for RBWM services operated by Courtney buses came into force last week.
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Last updated 18th September, 2022