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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder whats happened to the Birmingham-Reading train

31 replies

Mycathatesmecuddling · 26/04/2023 18:08

I used to get a train from Birmingham to Reading, but now its disappeared and it wants to send me via london or other station's

I can't find any planned works, I cant find any explanation, and I just want to know when it will be back in case I can delay my journey.

Its like it never existed and I have just dreamt it. Has anyone else taken this train? Do you know whats happened to it? Or AIBU to expect a train between Birmingham and Reading at all and did this never actually exist?

OP posts:
berksandbeyond · 26/04/2023 18:09

It definitely did exist because I took it. It was a virgin train I’m sure

Boomboomboomboom · 26/04/2023 18:09

There is a line closure between Oxford and Didcot. Buses instead. That might be why?

Oldraver · 26/04/2023 18:10

The bridgeat Oxford station has been removed to extend the station, so no trains going south of there, though there is a bus link to Didcot (friend had to do this Saturday)

It is planned to go on all year

MissDollyMix · 26/04/2023 18:11

Yes - my in laws used to use this train to come and see us but they did away with it after covid. I complained to virgin (or whoever it is runs the line) and they basically said ‘tough titties’

Original poster
Mycathatesmecuddling · 26/04/2023 18:12

Right, the oxford thing would make sense. I have no idea why I couldnt find it via the planned works, I must have been putting all the wrong things in!

I might cry if it goes on all year though as it means me getting the tube between Euston and Waterloo at rush hour fairly regularly. Which is not fun at the best of times but I'm also partially sighted with a slight physical disability so even the thought of it is making me flap a bit

OP posts:
Original poster
Mycathatesmecuddling · 26/04/2023 18:14

MissDollyMix · 26/04/2023 18:11

Yes - my in laws used to use this train to come and see us but they did away with it after covid. I complained to virgin (or whoever it is runs the line) and they basically said ‘tough titties’

It was definitely running past covid, I got it end of fed/start of March

I think it must be the Oxford thing.

It did change from Virgin to cross country though which would explain why they might not have found it if they were looking on their website, it was around when virgin lost all the train contracts I think

OP posts:
Alconleigh · 26/04/2023 18:20

It's emergency work to a bridge between Didcot and Oxford which has knackered it, as PP have said, with the dreaded replacement bus picking up a section. I can't get Reading to Leamington Spa at the moment, which was the part I used fairly frequently.

StillWantingADog · 26/04/2023 18:22

It wouldn’t be in planned works because it wasn’t planned

yanbu to expect these things to be clear though

it’s years since virgin ran the cross country trains

Original poster
Mycathatesmecuddling · 26/04/2023 18:26

StillWantingADog · 26/04/2023 18:22

It wouldn’t be in planned works because it wasn’t planned

yanbu to expect these things to be clear though

it’s years since virgin ran the cross country trains

Ahh that makes sense

It drives me mad that it wasn't just really easy to find out, but at least I know now thanks to MN

I was thinking of the avanti section of my longer journey not the cross country part so I was wrong about the Virgin but I take so many trains that I get confused who is still running what

OP posts:
MyAnacondaMight · 26/04/2023 18:28

When it was Virgin the trains used to go all the way from Bournemouth to Edinburgh, via Reading/Oxford/Birmingham. Now they seem to finish at Manchester.

Would taking Crossrail to Reading be better for you than going out via waterloo? It’s much more accessible than older lines.

JimnJoyce · 26/04/2023 18:30

Bummer I have to go to Reading from Bham in the next few weeks

Delphigirl · 26/04/2023 18:32

Yes Birmingham oxford reading Southampton. Virgin x country. The oxford - Didcot line is closed at the moment that’s why.

CaptainBatEars · 26/04/2023 18:32

OP, this might be a long way round, but I used to get the train from Birmingham to Bristol and that direct journey takes just over an hour. You can then change at Bristol Parkway for a direct train to Reading which takes about 50 mins. Bristol Parkway is a smallish station so sounds like it'd be an awful lot easier to go that way rather than trying to fight your way across the rush hour Tube. You might also be able to book assistance to help with the change at Parkway.

Original poster
Mycathatesmecuddling · 26/04/2023 18:34

MyAnacondaMight · 26/04/2023 18:28

When it was Virgin the trains used to go all the way from Bournemouth to Edinburgh, via Reading/Oxford/Birmingham. Now they seem to finish at Manchester.

Would taking Crossrail to Reading be better for you than going out via waterloo? It’s much more accessible than older lines.

Maybe I will take a look at that thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Mycathatesmecuddling · 26/04/2023 18:36

CaptainBatEars · 26/04/2023 18:32

OP, this might be a long way round, but I used to get the train from Birmingham to Bristol and that direct journey takes just over an hour. You can then change at Bristol Parkway for a direct train to Reading which takes about 50 mins. Bristol Parkway is a smallish station so sounds like it'd be an awful lot easier to go that way rather than trying to fight your way across the rush hour Tube. You might also be able to book assistance to help with the change at Parkway.

I've changed at Parkway before thank you for this suggestion that sounds a lot less stressful!

OP posts:
GettingStuffed · 26/04/2023 18:36

The Bristol to Manchester train has also disabled we now have the choice of changing at Newport or Birmingham.

Oldraver · 26/04/2023 19:17

It probably isnt in 'planned works' as......shouts...the fuckers have been changing their minds on the Botley Road bridge closure for months and months. It was going to close before Christmas, then January, March and eventually closed on April 11th

Ive been trying to sort out a train for ages to Reading Festival and there was no up to date information as to how they were running the trains

Oldraver · 26/04/2023 19:20

Oh and the whole kerfuffle of closing a major road into Oxford has been going on for over a year with very little information coming out. It is a tad frustrating, all our buses into Oxford have been re-routed which has had a knock on effect as far away to where I live 18 miles outside Oxford

NotDavidTennant · 26/04/2023 19:29

Depending on the connection times you might be quicker changing at Cheltenham Spa rather than Bristol Parkway.

languagestudenthost · 26/04/2023 21:09

The works to the bridge are scheduled to finish 10 June so hopefully normal services will resume after then

Oldraver · 27/04/2023 16:31

languagestudenthost · 26/04/2023 21:09

The works to the bridge are scheduled to finish 10 June so hopefully normal services will resume after then

Isn't that the Nuneham Viaduct closure though ?

Danikm151 · 27/04/2023 16:34

Could getting a coach be an option for you?

SlipperyLizard · 27/04/2023 16:39

Google maps is good for planning journeys like this, as it will show you the different public transport options & you can see which is quicker (eg going via London vs not)

Original poster
Mycathatesmecuddling · 27/04/2023 20:41

Danikm151 · 27/04/2023 16:34

Could getting a coach be an option for you?

Unfortunately not as its work travel so I can only book the options on our travel system, but I have had some great alternative suggestions on here which I am very grateful for and I have a few options now that allow me to avoid London even if they take a bit longer

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 27/04/2023 20:45

We don’t have trains in the north anymore. They’ve all disappeared.

To wonder whats happened to the Birmingham-Reading train