... after which, normal service resumed, until around 8:30 this morning when the line appears to have closed once more.

Not a good morning in the Thames Valley.   The unit on the Marlow branch has also broken down.  Both have gone back to Reading.

As all henley kine tickets are also valid at Twyford, that can't happen otherwise Twyford pax will simply buy a Henley ticket as they become cheaper, and if Twyford were included, then station(s) up from Twford would buy Twyford tickets

The old 0742 direct to Paddington was 4 car - full and standing from Twyford

The new 0738 to Twyford with a connection to London is 2 car (supposedly 3 car from 2018) and most days (Mon - Thursday) full and standing from Henley

PASSENGERS have criticised a new early morning train service on the Henley branch line, saying it is overcrowded.

The old 7.42am direct service from Henley to Paddington, which took 45 minutes, was replaced on Monday by a new service leaving Henley at 7.38am and requiring a change at Twyford but giving a total journey time of 43 minutes.

The service has two carriages as far as Twyford, where passengers change to an eight-car train coming from Didcot.

Great Western Railway says that due to a lack of diesel rolling stock, the two-car shuttle will be run on the branch line until the new year, when the new electric trains will be used on the main line.

But commuters say the trains are too short for the line and could lead to some passengers missing the connection at Twyford.

Patricia Mulcahy, of the Henley Branch User Group, said: “Those who were not expecting this change will have had an unpleasant surprise. Two cars are not sufficient for this crowded service.

“The only remaining through service from Henley to Paddington is the 7.08am, which will also cease to be a through service at the end of December. None of these changes benefit branch line users. GWR’s strategy is to maximise the use of its trains by ‘cascading’ trains to the West Country.”

Yes, a much welcome improvement.   45-minute frequencies are a nightmare to remember as they don't repeat themselves for four hours, 30-minute frequencies are a doddle to remember. 

Even for Wargrave, I would suggest an hourly service is actually better than the current 45-minute off-peak frequency as it's easy to remember, as long as a more frequent peak service is offered at a similar level to today, and that will indeed be the case.

All we need now is for the Marlow branch to follow suit, technically a tad more difficult

However we seem very squeamish about knocking down house and other buildings and also Level Crossings.

All we need now is for the Marlow branch to follow suit, technically a tad more difficult

The Marlow Branch was put on hold ages ago ............. "due to unforeseen technical difficulties" mainly down to platform length at Bourne End

I am sure the TV branches will get wired in the more medium term, but with the new model of funding adopted by Government it may mean the towns folk of Henley may have to dip into their pockets, Bucks CC may source some funding for Marlow.

THE future of the Henley branch line is in jeopardy following the decision to put its electrification on hold indefinitely, say rail campaigners.

“We have always feared that if the branch line was not electrified, and continued to rely on diesel trains, the long- term future of the line would be in jeopardy once the owners and operators of the diesel trains decided they were too expensive/difficult to service.

“Branch line users need to understand the seriousness of this situation, which is a threat to the economic future of the line and the people it serves.”

[snip]

Mr Howell said he felt “very disappointed” and he would take up the issue with the minister as well as seeking assurances that the line would not be closed.

[snip]

Great Western Railway says a new timetable for the Henley branch line will go ahead as planned in May despite this week’s announcement.

The timetable will introduce a half-hourly shuttle service during off-peak times, replacing the current service which runs every 45 minutes.

THE future of the Henley branch line is in jeopardy following the decision to put its electrification on hold indefinitely, say rail campaigners.

The work on the line, along with the Marlow branch line, is one of four projects to be deferred following an announcement by rail minister Paul Maynard on Tuesday.

Commuters and campaigners joined councillors and Henley MP John Howell in expressing disappointment at the decision.

Electrification of the line was originally due to be completed in December next year but had already been put back as late as 2019 before the announcement.

Mr Maynard said the decision would save money at both the Department for Transport and Network Rail, which is facing a £2.5 billion funding black hole.

The other electrification projects to be deferred are the lines from Oxford to Didcot Parkway, Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads. Patricia Mulcahy, who chairs the Henley Branch User Group, said: “This is a severe blow to our hopes for the future of the line.

“We have always feared that if the branch line was not electrified, and continued to rely on diesel trains, the long- term future of the line would be in jeopardy once the owners and operators of the diesel trains decided they were too expensive/difficult to service.

“Branch line users need to understand the seriousness of this situation, which is a threat to the economic future of the line and the people it serves.”

She said the announcement hadn’t come as a great surprise after Great Western Railway managing director Mark Hopwood had hinted at it in a recent meeting with passenger groups from Maidenhead and Marlow and then cancelled a meeting with her group at short notice.

“HBUG will now press for that meeting to happen as soon as possible,” said Mrs Mulcahy.

Town, district and county councillor David Nimmo Smith said: “Disappointing does not even come close to my view on this.

“I knew that the electrification from Paddington to Bristol was way over budget and very late but I had hoped that the promises to give Henley and Shiplake the kind of rail service being provided elsewhere would be delivered.

“We had heard recently that Network Rail was protecting its ability to electrify the branch line. All a sham.

“I will be taking this up with John Howell to see what we can salvage from this announcement.”

Mr Howell said he felt “very disappointed” and he would take up the issue with the minister as well as seeking assurances that the line would not be closed.

“I can understand why they have chosen this project to be deferred but it will still be disappointing for residents of Henley who wanted to see electrification of the line,” he said.

Oxfordshire transport campaigner Hugh Jaeger said: “The blow for Henley is that it was told back in February that electrification could be as late as 2019 and now it has been put back even further with no dates in sight.

“All the trains for the line have been ordered and cost millions of pounds each, so what are they going to do with them? There are questions over how well this project has been managed.”

Councillor Rodney Rose, deputy leader of Oxfordshire County Council said: “The council is disappointed at the deferral of GWR electrification, especially as revised timescales for completing the project have not been confirmed, although we understand that Government needs to prioritise funding for the most beneficial rail projects.

“Oxfordshire’s top priority is East West Rail and the early delivery of this project that Government has already committed to would demonstrate that badly needed investment in the railway is able to come forward to meet Oxfordshire and national growth needs.”

Mr Maynard said holding back on the electrification projects would allow newer and bigger trains to be introduced on the lines without requiring “costly and disruptive electrification works”.

He said: “This will provide between £146 million and £165 million in this spending period, to be focused on improvements that will deliver additional benefits to passengers.

“We remain committed to modernising the Great Western main line and ensuring that passenger benefits are achieved.

“This decision underscores the Government’s approach to wider rail investment, that passenger outcomes must be delivered in conjunction with achieving the best value from every pound spent.”

Mark Langman, Network Rail’s Western route managing director, said: “The Great Western main line is undergoing a huge rail investment programme to enable new and upgraded trains with more seats and faster, greener journeys.

“The programme remains complex and challenging but good progress is being made.”

Great Western Railway says a new timetable for the Henley branch line will go ahead as planned in May despite this week’s announcement.

The timetable will introduce a half-hourly shuttle service during off-peak times, replacing the current service which runs every 45 minutes.

I'm I right in thinking the new arrangement wouldn't allow (which I think used to be possible?) two units to follow each other down the branch and join at Henley.

The driver also now has a short walk if he wants to use the phone.

This is a fault. Drivers are speaking to TVSC Twyford to confirm route is set for Bay or Relief.

Any reason for dispensing with the B in the theatre box?

Any reason for dispensing with the B in the theatre box?

Can you think of any stations which might welcome the hourly service Wargrave could move to, and which probably will be averaging more per train than it?

and 2 on and 2 off each train as it calls at each of Shiplake and Wargrave.

Wargrave rail travellers lose out



Rail travellers in Wargrave are upset at plans to reduce the frequency of train services to and from the village.

Home Secretary and Maidenhead MP Theresa May is among those to protest to train operator First Great Western.

The company is proposing to run half-hour shuttle trains between Henley and Twyford, via Shiplake, all day whereas currently the off-peak service is every 45 minutes.

This was one of the ideas it put forward to improve the Henley branch line after complaints by commuters about delays. But it would result in only an hourly off-peak service to and from Wargrave.

Philip Meadowcroft, of Watermans Way, Wargrave, said the move would be a ^serious setback^ for people travelling to and from the village by train between 10am and 3pm. He said: ^I think Wargrave could continue to cope with 45-minute services like Henley and Shiplake do but this could be an attempt to be too clever by half. The present situation is reasonable, not brilliant, and you would like to tweak it but this is a flawed plan because it has very little margin for punctuality. Of critical concern will be the amount of time connecting at Twyford for onward journeys.^

Mr Meadowcroft claimed the Henley Branch User Group, which was formed in April to represent the views of passengers in Henley, Shiplake and Wargrave, had not done enough to involve Wargrave residents in discussions with FGW.

He will now represent the village on the group along with parish councillor Chez Payne-Annetts.

Mr Meadowcroft said: ^I have about 40 people plugging into my emails to see what^s going on and I^m confident we have got enough interest here. We don^t want to get to loggerheads with Henley BUG but this all started because Henley users got fed up and contacted their MP. They didn^t engage with Wargrave and all this went as far as it did without any input from us.^

In a statement, Mrs May said: ^m really concerned about any reduction in services from Wargrave and I am surprised that this proposal has come forward, seemingly without any input from Wargrave commuters. I^ve asked First Great Western to come clean on their plans and have been clear there should be no changes that lead to a worse service for Wargrave commuters.^

Neil Gunnell, who co-founded the Henley user group, said that losing a stop at Wargrave was inevitable if the new services were to run on time. He said: ^Effectively you have to do shorter trips because you can^t quite fit the whole journey into half an hour. You have to lose a station but it^s not going to be Twyford or Henley because they are at the two ends of the line. That leaves Shiplake or Wargrave.

^There^s a level crossing at Shiplake where the train has to slow down already so to get to half hourly services they would have to drop the stop at Wargrave. The half-hourly peak-time services already get quite a lot of delays. To do a half-hourly service all day is quite hard but for two hours at a time they might manage it. When the track gets electrified the electric trains will be able to go faster and then First Great Western will be able to go for half-hourly services all day.^

Mr Gunnell added: ^We have tried to get Wargrave representation in the past and had posters at Wargrave station.^

A First Great Western spokesman said: ^The plans we are about to put forward for consultation are about balancing the needs of all rail users. With complex timetables inevitably you can^t improve services for the majority of users without having an impact on others. Wargrave will see an increase in the total number of services.^

This is a situation that is could so easily be solved with a bit of simple retiming of the branch service and would dramatically reduce journey times. Let^s hope this is picked up on and doesn^t happen in the future when engineering works are taking place on Saturdays.

It depresses me when politicians mouth off like this without bothering to find out the details beforehand. Pre-electrification can either keep the current service, or increase it's frequency offering a much more attractive service to Henley (730k ons and offs), at a slight detriment (but more regular interval service) to one of the intermediate stations (each around 90k ons and offs).

Theresa May seeking answers over rumoured reduction in Wargrave train services



Twyford MP Theresa May has expressed concern about a rumoured reduction in train services from Wargrave.

As part of proposals to introduce a daily shuttle service between Henley and Twyford, it has been suggested that trains will stop at Wargrave less frequently than at present.

This could mean Wargrave will receive only an hourly service.

A statement from Theresa May's office said that Wargrave commuters have reacted with alarm to the plans and many have contacted her to express their concern.

The Home Secretary has written to the managing director of FGW to ask him to clarify what plans they have for Wargrave services.

The statement said Mrs May has 'made clear' no changes should occur that are detrimental to Wargrave commuters.

She said: ^Yet again it looks like we have to go into battle to protect Wargrave^s train service.

"I^m really concerned about any reduction in services from Wargrave and I am surprised that this proposal has come forward, seemingly without any input from Wargrave commuters.

"I^ve asked FGW to come clean on their plans and have been clear there should be no changes that lead to a worse service for Wargrave commuters.^

A spokesman for First Great Western said he was aware they have been working with a new Henley rail user group about improving services.

He added he was not sure if any options put forward will impact Wargrave and is looking into it further.

Henley line could have shuttle trains by December


A train pulls in to Henley Station.

Half-hourly shuttle trains between Henley and Twyford could be introduced by December. The trains would run both ways every day via Shiplake.

This was one of the improvements put forward by train operator First Great Western to improve the Henley branch line after complaints by commuters about delays.

The timetable change would mean an hourly service to and from Wargrave with the aim of restoring a half-hourly service when the line is electrified.

There would also be an earlier service from Twyford to Henley on Sunday mornings and a later service from Paddington to Henley in the evenings.

A second lot of changes, which would come into force in May, would see faster and more regular services from Paddington to Henley with a maximum journey time of 49 minutes, compared with up to 63 minutes currently.

The Henley Branch User Group presented the proposals to members of the public during a meeting at the town hall on Thursday last week.Members of the group^s committee agreed to support the proposals.

Councillor Will Hamilton, who represents Henley Town Council on the group, said: ^The thought of going from 45 minutes to a 30-minute shuttle is fantastic. The big question is capacity ^ they are really going to have to look at that.^

Marco Taylor, who represents Twyford, raised concerns about overcrowding and asked First Great Western to consider how the number of passengers using the services would be managed.

The group was formed in April after a meeting organised by Henley MP John Howell following complaints to him about rail services.

Cllr Hamilton formally thanked Patrick Fleming and Neil Gunnell, the group^s founding members. He said: ^I want to thank you for the enormous amount of work that has gone into this already. This would never have happened if you hadn^t got together. This first response is remarkably good.^

The group would like feedback from commuters on the proposals and is looking for a representative from Wargrave to join the committee. Anyone interested should email henleybranchusergroup@gmail.com

Rail users^ group to be set up



Commuters in Henley are to form a new group in a bid to have a say on rail services.

The idea was raised at a public meeting at the Christ Church centre on Friday evening organised by Henley MP John Howell.

About 45 people turned up to put questions to Mark Hopwood, managing director of First Great Western, and Tim Leighton, senior programme manager at Network Rail.

They raised issues including delays, overcrowding and late-night services and asked for more frequent services from London Paddington to Henley.

David Singer, of King^s Road, Henley, said he would like half-hourly services in the evening during the week. He said: ^The 6.05pm train is invariably late. During October and November it was late 10 times.^

Sarah Weldon, from Henley, said: ^The biggest problem I find is getting stuck at Twyford when you are rushing to catch a train and you miss it by one minute. In winter, when the toilets and waiting room are locked, you^re stuck on the platform with nothing to do.^

Patricia Mulcahy, of Milton Close, Henley, added: ^You think of overcrowding in terms of carriages. I^m thinking of the number of bodies crammed in. Sometimes in the evening there will be 50 or more people standing in a carriage. You can^t cram people into a bus because there is a maximum passenger number but you can put any number of people on a train and trains go much faster.^

Mr Hopwood said some first class carriages on First Great Western trains had been converted to create more space and that more would follow in the coming months. He said the next opportunity to change the train timetables would be May 2015.

He continued: ^We recognise that punctuality and reliability haven^t been as good as we would like. We have had some real challenges to face and we are reviewing a number of key areas, particularly customer information.^

Mr Hopwood said he had received many emails about the 6.05pm service from Paddington, which he said had a ^chequered^ past.

He added: ^I have set up a performance task force to address some of the poor-performing services we have had in the last few months and can assure you the 6.05pm train is top of the list.^

Mr Hopwood said he would return to Henley for a follow-up meeting in three months and would make a presentation addressing all the issues raised during the 90-minute meeting.

Mr Howell, who organised the meeting after receiving complaints from constituents about problems with rail services, said: ^I think two really positive things came out of this meeting - that a rail users^ group is going to be set up and that Mr Hopwood will come back for another meeting. There were some who doubted First Great Western would take notice of their concerns but it has done so and a follow-up meeting to outline how it is going to take them into account is important. One of those attending the meeting commented afterwards that the good thing was First Great Western understood the feelings of commuters.^

Patrick Fleming, of Henley in Transition, will be collecting the names of anyone interested in joining the Henley rail users^ group. He said: ^At this stage it^s about getting people together to decide what we want to do and how to form the group. The idea is to give people a way of talking to First Great Western and Network Rail to improve services for passengers but also to encourage and promote rail use in general.^

Coiuld employ similar technology as there is at Bradford on Avon which just precedes Greenland Mills crossing for trains heading towards Bath.  A non stop train activates the crossing at the appropriate time to prevent it having to slow down while a train calling at the station doesn't active the crossing until a plunger on the platform is pressed.

I assume not stopping at Shiplake is now a practical option following the installation of half barriers at the level crossing.  Before the train had to crawl over the open crossing so not much time would have been saved.

I think non-stop runs are currently only possible in the up direction. The white light doesn't illuminate for the down train until it's been in the platform for 20-30 seconds. Probably not the most complicated upgrade ever, but a it could result in a longish wait at the crossing for vehicles if the down train stops at Shiplake (but it's a very minor road).

I looked at the geography at Shiplake last night to see if a loop could be put there.  I think it would be possible if trains were stopped nearer the Twyford end of the platform.  Both faces are still there.  However it would mean sacrificing car-parking space and sorting out the footpath pictured above.  You could then end the loop before the level crossing to avoid the need to remodel that part.

Rail firms to visit

Commuters from Henley are being offered the chance to comment on rail services.

Henley MP John Howell has arranged for representatives of First Great Western and Network Rail to meet rail users. He expects issues such as overcrowding, the future of the Henley-London service and communication during the recent floods to be raised.

The meeting will be held at the Christ Church Centre in Reading Road next Friday from 6.30pm.

Mr Howell said: ^I get a steady postbag of complaints about the service that First Great Western provides, so it seemed the obvious thing to arrange for FGW to come to Henley and tell commuters what it is doing. There are a number of issues which it needs to address. It will also be good to hear from Network Rail on the work they did during the flooding.^

Still I was very thankful for the decision as there was lots of free seats on that train (even after everyone got on).. It would be really nice if they could incorporate that stop into the timetable to be honest but I don't think we'll be that lucky..