What are your answers to these questions:

Should FGW take over Waterloo-Reading line? If so what stock?

Should there be an additional Waterloo- Ascot stopper?

What about Reading-Waterloo via chertsy?

Random questions, but I'd like to hear from anybody who has a view.

"NETRail"  wrote


> Should FGW take over Waterloo-Reading line? If so what stock?
>

No - the one terminal one TOC arrangement seems to have advantages. SWT have
expertise on 3rd rail DC operation; FGW don't. Would you have FGW take over
all the Windsor lines? What about the Kingston roundabouts? If anything, the
gaps in the juice rail between Wokingham and Reigate should be filled in,
and SWT or Southern should take over Reading - Gatwick (or even SET - it was
originally an SER line), with a long distance fast service
(Brighton/Gatwick - Birmingham/ Manchester) taken over by VXC.


> Should there be an additional Waterloo- Ascot stopper?
>

The 4tph Waterloo - Reading service didn't really work. SWT's new timetable
seems to have been devised to take account of the number of passengers on
each route.


> What about Reading-Waterloo via chertsy?
>

Reverse at Virginia Water - a recipe for unpunctuality. The west curve at
Virginia Water was lifted many years ago.

Peter

NETRail wrote:

> What are your answers to these questions:
> 
> Should FGW take over Waterloo-Reading line? If so what stock?


No. The service fits perfectly with SWT and the stock should be 450 
Desiros, which it often is these days.


> Should there be an additional Waterloo- Ascot stopper?


The current off-peak service level appears to work well and is sufficient.


> 
> What about Reading-Waterloo via chertsy?


Indeed. What about it?


> 
> Random questions, but I'd like to hear from anybody who has a view.


My view is that SWT have done a good job of turning the service on this 
line around in the last few years. Quite why any sane person would 
consider complicating operations at Waterloo by introducing a second 
operator, is beyond me. Especially since services there are now running 
so smoothly compared with other Southern London Terminals. I don't 
believe that First Great Western are capable of doing a better job than 
South West Trains - quite the opposite infact.

Philip.

In article ,
NETRail  writes

>What are your answers to these questions:
>
>Should FGW take over Waterloo-Reading line? If so what stock?
>
>Should there be an additional Waterloo- Ascot stopper?
>
>What about Reading-Waterloo via chertsy?
>
>Random questions, but I'd like to hear from anybody who has a view.
>

No comment on above, but I wish they could operate a faster service
along this route, and no fare reduction if you take this route.
Easier action onto the southern lines or Eurostar (until 2007)

FGW might not exist much longer of course franchise up for renewal
maybe SWT run to Paddington !
 
-- 
Alan

NETRail wrote:

> What are your answers to these questions:
> 
> Should FGW take over Waterloo-Reading line? If so what stock?

No. Give it to Scotrail, and make them use 37's and sleeper coaches.


> Should there be an additional Waterloo- Ascot stopper?

Not until 03:57.


> What about Reading-Waterloo via chertsy?

Shorter than going via Exeter, I suppose. 


> Random questions, but I'd like to hear from anybody who has a view.

Random answers duly provided
-- 
http://gallery120232.fotopic.net/p15036433.html
(08 389 at Warrington Arpley, 21 Apr 2005)

NETRail wrote:

> Should FGW take over Waterloo-Reading line? If so what stock?


Hell no, I've just driven my girlfriend to Winnsersh to get the 70
minute train to Waterloo. It's clean, comfortable, smooth, modern and
has easy parking. Compare with the 50 minute train from Twyford to
Paddington on a stinking 165 (and paying for parking).

"Paul Weaver"  wrote in message
news:1126719256.447138.291570@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> NETRail wrote:
> > Should FGW take over Waterloo-Reading line? If so what stock?
>
> Hell no, I've just driven my girlfriend to Winnsersh to get the 70
> minute train to Waterloo. It's clean, comfortable, smooth, modern and
> has easy parking. Compare with the 50 minute train from Twyford to
> Paddington on a stinking 165 (and paying for parking).


Where's the easy free parking at Winnersh, apart from outside people's
houses?

Michael

Michael Hopkins wrote:


> Where's the easy free parking at Winnersh, apart from outside people's
> houses?
> 

He must mean Winnersh Triangle.

Michael Hopkins wrote:

> Where's the easy free parking at Winnersh, apart from outside people's
> houses?


Outside peoples houses. I parked quite legally on the road, although I
noticed a few residents had illegally driven down the pavement and
parked on it.

There was a near-empty car park at 3PM when I parked up too, although
it wasn't clear if it was for public use so I chose the road.