Don't know what's going on but FGW cancelled the Railair to Reading
this evening and pax had to go via Hayes & Harlington Station. That is
apparently via a 140 bus from Heathrow to H&H, then Thames Strain
(sorry FGWL) stopping all stations to Reading. Great when folk have
paid £15 for the journey by coach. Anyone know what or why? I have
heard rumours that FGW are cancelling the entire LHR-Reading service in
the near future - perhaps they have already. CJB.

On 27 Sep 2006 14:59:37 -0700, wrote:

Don't know what's going on but FGW cancelled the Railair to Reading
this evening and pax had to go via Hayes & Harlington Station. That is
apparently via a 140 bus from Heathrow to H&H, then Thames Strain
(sorry FGWL) stopping all stations to Reading. Great when folk have
paid £15 for the journey by coach. Anyone know what or why? I have
heard rumours that FGW are cancelling the entire LHR-Reading service in
the near future - perhaps they have already. CJB.

Maybe because of the traffic problems on the M4?

jonsie wrote:
Don't know what's going on but FGW cancelled the Railair to Reading
this evening and pax had to go via Hayes & Harlington Station. That is
apparently via a 140 bus from Heathrow to H&H, then Thames Strain
(sorry FGWL) stopping all stations to Reading. Great when folk have
paid £15 for the journey by coach. Anyone know what or why? I have
heard rumours that FGW are cancelling the entire LHR-Reading service in
the near future - perhaps they have already. CJB.

Maybe because of the traffic problems on the M4?

Indeed. Credit to FGW for using the fact that they're a rail company to
their advantage and sorting this one out.

(in any case, if I paid to go on a horrible coach and then found myself
on a comfortable train instead, then I'd be delighted - all too often
this happens the other way round...)

--
John Band
john at johnband dot org
www.johnband.org

In message om, at
01:22:10 on Thu, 28 Sep 2006, John B remarked:
(in any case, if I paid to go on a horrible coach and then found myself
on a comfortable train instead, then I'd be delighted - all too often
this happens the other way round...)

A bus, plus an all stations stopper, doesn't sound more comfortable than
the airport coaches! And would take much longer than the coach is
scheduled to.
--
Roland Perry

"Roland Perry" wrote:
(in any case, if I paid to go on a horrible coach and then found myself
on a comfortable train instead, then I'd be delighted - all too often
this happens the other way round...)

A bus, plus an all stations stopper, doesn't sound more comfortable than
the airport coaches! And would take much longer than the coach is
scheduled to.

I don't know why they didn't, but surely they could have used the Heathrow
Connect service - a direct rail link to Hayes + Harlington from Heathrow.

--
"For want of the price of tea and a slice, the old man died."

AstraVanMan wrote:


I don't know why they didn't, but surely they could have used the Heathrow
Connect service - a direct rail link to Hayes + Harlington from Heathrow.


BAA aren't known for being co-operative about allowing nonpremium pax to
use the tunnel into the airport. remember the tube closures which
according to this group, LUL had to pay a hefty amount for HEX to take
travelcards for a day

In article , (Roland
Perry) on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 10:30:09 +0100 wrote:

A bus, plus an all stations stopper, doesn't sound more comfortable
than the airport coaches! And would take much longer than the coach is
scheduled to.
--
Roland Perry


Hi Roland,

Just looked at your website(s) and they seem a little out of date. Also
no mention of your time at CIX.

--
Richard
( email - (reverse the obvious) )
( www.virbius - more is hidden than viewable! British site! )

jonsie wrote:
On 27 Sep 2006 14:59:37 -0700, wrote:

Maybe because of the traffic problems on the M4?

There are alternatives to using the M4. The A4 is one option although
it may be busy. Other alternatives via the A40 / M40.

In message .com, at
02:02:49 on Thu, 28 Sep 2006, Earl Purple
remarked:
Maybe because of the traffic problems on the M4?

There are alternatives to using the M4.

Only if your coaches aren't already stuck on the M4.

The A4 is one option although it may be busy.

If the M4 is closed (and at Slough, too), it will doubtless be
completely clogged up with diverted traffic. Slough town centre must
have been a real mess.

Other alternatives via the A40 / M40.

It's actually quite difficult to get from the A40/M40 to Reading (I used
to live quite close to the M40, north of Reading). The road is diverging
to the north quite significantly. I suppose you could try going via High
Wycombe and Maidenhead Thicket (as long as the M4 was OK west of there).
But it's an awful long way round.

M3 J3 and Bracknell is a better alternate (and it's further away from
the influence of the original jam).
--
Roland Perry

Roland Perry wrote:

It's actually quite difficult to get from the A40/M40 to Reading (I used
to live quite close to the M40, north of Reading). The road is diverging
to the north quite significantly. I suppose you could try going via High
Wycombe and Maidenhead Thicket (as long as the M4 was OK west of there).
But it's an awful long way round.

M40, A404 and then A4 or A4155 according to your pick. Given the
circumstances, A4155 may be better option.

M3 J3 and Bracknell is a better alternate (and it's further away from
the influence of the original jam).

I know all the routes to Bracknell. Worked there once. From Heathrow
you could even just go onto the A30 then A329 through Ascot. Of course
that route may also be full of A4-avoiding traffic.

If you're starting at Heathrow T4 then you're already on the A30. If
not then you can head round the ringroad.