Great Western Railway and Elizabeth Line Trains at Twyford on July 1st 2023

5th visit to Twyford on the Great Western Main Line and junction for the Henley Branch Line also known as the Regatta line from Henley-on-Thames.
Featuring services from Great Western Railway, Elizabeth Line and a bit of freight.
On the day of filming due to the Henley Regatta on the River Thames meant that due to high demand of passengers meant Henley services terminated via Platform 4 instead of Platform 5.
Engineering Works between Stroud and Gloucester area meant that GWR IET Cheltenham Spa services were cut back to Stroud.
When the former Great Western Main Line opened on July 1st 1839, Twyford station was a temporary terminus for under 9 months before being extended to Reading on March 30th 1840.
Today's station layout with canopy dates from 1846 although a few alterations have been made in recent years during the electrification of the great western main line from Airport Junction which is between Hayes & Harlington and West Drayton to Newbury & Cardiff Central which was finally completed fully on June 5th 2020
Step free access with Lifts and the footbridge being heightened for the electric wires dates from 2009 although electric services didn’t start until January 2018.
There were plans to electrify the Thames Branches however in November 2016 due to the difficulties and rising costs it was scaled back without any revised date.
Platforms 3 and 4 used by semi fast stopping services to and from Didcot Parkway operated by Class 387s which began operating on the line in January 2018 which run non stop between London Paddington and Slough.
Since December 2019 TFL Rail started operating all stopping services to and from Reading are now provided by Class 345s which first entered service on the Great Eastern Main Line in 2017 however wasn't until the following year in May 2018 when they first began on the GWML to Hayes & Harlington.
Since May 2022 TFL Rail was rebranded to Elizabeth Line which the central section from Paddington to Abbey Wood opened on May 24th 2022 however it wasn't until November 6th when services to Reading began running central section which since all Reading services go to Abbey Wood whilst Heathrow services mainly operate to and from Shenfield on the GEML which is the North eastern terminus of the Elizabeth Line.
Platform 5 is the bay platform for the Henley Branch which opened in 1857 between Twyford and Henley-on-Thames although originally with Shiplake being the intermediate stop however today the first stop on the branch is Wargrave opened in 1900.
Locally known as the Regatta Line from Henley-on-Thames most services terminate on Platform 5 although trains access the branch for stock movement via Platform 4 with certain stock maintained at Reading Traincare Depot.
However like the other two Thames Branches from Maidenhead to Marlow and Slough to Windsor & Eton Central only 1 train is allowed onto Branch at a time.
The frequency is 1 train every 30 minutes shuttling back and forth to and from Henley-on-Thames. Although a passing loop existed at Shiplake however was removed by British Rail in 1970 and since 1992 services on the Thames Branches have been provided by Class 165s and 166s respectively.
Platforms 1 and 2 are mainly nowadays passing platforms used by Class 800 and 802 IETs although the fast platforms can be used during engineering works if the slow lines are closed.
Twyford might feel like a normal rural style station to some however even on busy events like the Henley Regatta it's should be no surprise that it can be quite busy on the Platforms.
Music used:
JJD - Adventure
Music provided by NCS
Video link:
NoCopyrightSounds
• JJD - Adventure | Glit...
Filmed on Saturday July 1st 2023 on iPhone 14 Pro and edited on iMovie
#twyford #greatwesternrailway #elizabethline #gwr #class66 #freighliner #class345 #class387 #class800 #class802 #tfl #berkshire #hitachi #alstom #class165

[@zaydfadil5431]

Nice video!

[@BenJarvistrainsliftsroadtrips]

Nice video 👍

[@RoscoTrain107]

Thanks Ben

[@PK345Transport]

Nice video

[@RoscoTrain107]

Thanks

[@explorewithlorenzo9940]

Nice!

[@RoscoTrain107]

Thanks Lorenzo

[@BlainRhys]

Never Seen a 7 Car on The Henley Branch Before

[@RoscoTrain107]

It only happens when the Royal Regatta takes place on the River Thames in Henley. Which means that Platform 5 is not in use because it's only big enough for 3 car Turbos and during the Royal Regatta.

[@Oscar.w07]

Nice video but something that quite annoyed me is when you filmed the train from a very far distance and I kept skipping forward because it was to long, great video anyways bud ✌️

[@RoscoTrain107]

Thanks