South West Trains disruption (Reading - London Waterloo line)

[Indy500]

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/sa1c9e4a1d1349548b8faaad06961215/details.html

Apparently problems with a single bridge in the Feltham area have knocked out direct rail services between Reading\Windsor and London Waterloo (with the only feasible alternative meaning a long connecting journey between Paddington and Waterloo on the tube). The replacement buses are shoddy at best - my journey this morning took 50 minutes instead of 15 as usual.

Anyone else affected here?

 

[Indy500]

The sign at Reading station says it will take at least 10 days to sort, but most likely longer. My housemate spoke to a member of train staff the other day and they estimate about a month!

Luckily my journey on that line doesn't go past Feltham and there were only problems for me on the Monday. I had no problems yesterday and hopefully there will be no more disruptions on the affected part of my commute until it's sorted now.

I've wondered when that single track would cause a problem, and here we are...there's a pair that bypass Ashford before Staines though.

 

[Indy500]

Isn't the Reading -> Waterloo line much slower than Reading -> Paddington?

And the tube journey from Paddington to Waterloo isn't far off the difference between them?

Yeah, but that's because fast trains from Reading - Paddington never make any stops

If you need to use any intermediate stations you're on the slow service. Just the one link is going to get crowding problems as well.

Yes, I'm affected. All you Feltham scum are taking up space on my train

Should be made to walk.

Well it's the closest station to Heathrow on that line...

 

[Indy500]

I do reading to mansion house every morning, can use either line. Going via paddington and then the tubes is faster and more frequent all round anyway

Not all of us are at Reading though

Hence:

Was it down this morning, could have perhaps explained the immense crowds on the main line.....

Who do our rail lines rely on antiquated bridges like that

The physical network hasn't had a major upgrade for decades.

 

[Indy500]

i'm doing Wokingham to Canary Wharf and i've given up and started going via Guildford this week which isn't too bad except for when i leave past 21.15 to go home because then i get a lovely 45minute wait at Guildford in the cold for a connection.

Thank god i'm away on business for the next 5 weeks, hopefully ample time for them to get things sorted.

Least you have Ascot within reasonable travelling time for Surrey connections, I'd have to go via Clapham Junction