Update: Disruption to rail services to continue for third day (From Herald Series)

Update: Disruption to rail services to continue for third day

11:55pm Friday 21st December 2012 in News By William Crossley

PASSENGERS using First Great Western trains between Oxfordshire and London face another day of disruption tomorrow after fires damaged signal equipment in West London.

The blazes yesterday were at Acton and in an equipment room near Airport Junction, where the branch to Heathrow Airport leaves the Great Western main line.

As a result, trains are currently only able to use two of the four tracks between London Paddington and Slough.

The latest estimate for Network Rail engineers to complete repairs to the damaged equipment and carry out safety tests on signals is 4pm tomorrow.

As a result, an emergency timetable will remain in force, with fewer FGW trains running between Oxford, Didcot, Reading and London and others making extra stops, with extended journey times.

Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect services between Paddington and the airport are currently suspended.

Passengers are advised to check which services are running before setting out to stations at First Great Western's JourneyCheck page or by calling 08457 484950.

FGW tickets will be accepted on Chiltern Railways services between Banbury, Bicester North, Haddenham & Thame Parkway and London Marylebone, on CrossCountry services between Banbury, Oxford and Reading and on South West Trains' route between Reading and London Waterloo until further notice.