MARLOW - MAIDENHEAD PASSENGERS' ASSOCIATION

News

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December 2011 Timetables

The new timetables commenced on 11th December. You can download the FGW leaflets from here.

Network Rail timetable links are on the home page. In particular, users may prefer Table 117 to the FGW booklet because it includes all trains calling at Slough and it mostly keeps trains in the correct sequence.

The new Chiltern timetable booklet is here (PDF 1.7MB).

FGW Announces Extra Capacity Across the Network

First Great Western (FGW) has announced that it will be investing in 46 additional carriages for London and the Thames Valley. This represents an extra 4,500 seats in the morning and evening peaks to and from London – an increase of around 9%. This will be delivered through:

adding an extra standard class coach on the 18 of our High Speed Trains that currently run with seven passenger coaches, known as “2+7s”.
the introduction of five 5-car Class 180 Adelante trains on our North Cotswolds line, which releases some of the turbos currently used on the route to add capacity to commuter services in the Thames Valley and to and from London.
the introduction of three Class 150 units on the Reading to Basingstoke line to increase peak time seating capacity by 13%.

Customers should see improvements from Spring 2012, with all the additional vehicles in service by the end of September.

FGW MD Mark Hopwood said “There will still be some very busy services at peak times. The agreement is however a further very significant step forward and one that will improve the quality of service for many of our customers. It is also a practical demonstration of our determination to continue to invest and develop services for London and the Thames Valley throughout this franchise (and hopefully beyond!)”
[20111122]

Chiltern Mainline Timetable starts 5th September

The accelerated Chiltern Mainline timetable begins on September 5th. There are significant changes including loco hauled trains between Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street. More information here.
[20110827]

Update: There were some teething troubles due to signalling problems but the timetable has now settled down. However there is overcrowding on peak services from High Wycombe, Beaconsfield and Gerards Cross. These should be alleviated when more refurbished Mk.III coaching stock arrives in the new year.

New Shelter at Marlow

We are very pleased to report that the new shelter has been installed at Marlow. We are told by FGW that new cycle storage facilities at Marlow and Cookham should be completed this week.
[20110607]
Update: cycle hoops have been installed at Cookham but the facilities at Marlow are unchanged. The cycle shelter doesn't provide sufficient security and we would like to have Sheffield hoops installed under the canopy.
[20110827]
Update: the hoops at Cookham have not been installed as agreed and bicycles chained to them can obstruct accewss along the platform. We are taking this up with FGW.
[20110916]

Information System at Maidenhead

The new CIS at Maidenhead is now fully operational. This can't be said of the trains which often show the wrong next station.
[20110718]
Update: There have been persistent problems with the displays on platform 3 (down relief).
[20110827]
Update: We think that the platform 3 indicator is now working properly. If you notice any faults please let us know.
[20110916]

CCTV for Marlow and Furze Platt

Closed circuit television supervision will soon be installed at Marlow and Furze Platt stations, thanks to much lobbying by MMPA and negotiation between the parties concerned, in particular FGW and the local councils.
[20110421]
Update: this work is now scheduled for October.
[20110607]

Bus Shelter for Bourne End

This project is now going ahead following the resolution of uncertainty over ownership of the land. We expect real time bus information to be provided for buses in the High Wycombe direction only.
[20110421]
Update: the shelter has now been installed but there is no real time information. (click photo to enlarge)
[20110827]