Disruption to services - Storm Dudley & Storm Eunice

[Horizon22]

I see the Reading to Gatick Airport services are cancelled tomorrow.

I wonder if Redill services were running to Gatwick Airport by now would they be terminating them short or is it more about running less trains that where they run to?

Probably the loss of time due to reduced speed not making them worthwhile.

 

[thejuggler]

XC are in an even more awkward situation, not planning to accept tickets dated Friday on Saturday because of strike action.

Pity the Network Rail spokesperson didn't state this when he said tickets for services on Friday will be accepted on Saturday.

 

[Trackman]

Pity the Network Rail spokesperson didn't state this when he said tickets for services on Friday will be accepted on Saturday.

They are still running a very limited service on strike day, still the option for a full refund though.

 

[Graham H]

Just take a look on the BBC weather site and type in Freshwater (Isle of Wight) it actually says 115mph winds between 9 and 11. Still dont fully understand why we only have an amber warning here given that level of wind. Luckily it drops to 'only' 85mph once it crosses the Solent and gets to me

 

[londonmidland]

Models are now picking up on a sting jet being formed, heading over the Midlands and East Anglia as the storm heads East.

"A sting jet is a small area of very intense winds (often 100mph or more) that can sometimes form in powerful weather systems crossing the UK. Relative to the size of the storm, the sting jet is narrow, often 30 miles across, and only lasts 3 to 4 hours."

Read more here

 

[liamf656]

Just take a look on the BBC weather site and type in Freshwater (Isle of Wight) it actually says 115mph winds between 9 and 11. Still dont fully understand why we only have an amber warning here given that level of wind. Luckily it drops to 'only' 85mph once it crosses the Solent and gets to me

That’s 115 kilometres/hour, which equals to about 70 miles/hour. I’ve screenshotted both figures for comparison to avoid confusion, both from Freshwater

 

[kristiang85]

Models are now picking up on a sting jet being formed, heading over the Midlands and East Anglia as the storm heads East.

"A sting jet is a small area of very intense winds (often 100mph or more) that can sometimes form in powerful weather systems crossing the UK. Relative to the size of the storm, the sting jet is narrow, often 30 miles across, and only lasts 3 to 4 hours."

Read more here

There's a lot of big populations and infrastructure in the way of that.

 

[swissrailpassion]

An area from Birmingham to Cambridge looking risky for possible 160kmh mid afternoon.

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[Llandudno]

Llandudno, presumably?

Indeed, high tide on Friday around midday…

 

[al78]

Might be more windy weather affecting the northern half of the UK on Sunday. After what has been up until last week one of the most benign winters I can remember, it is a dramatic change to possibly have three windstorms coming through in the space of a week. It is typical this has to happen when I sign up for a walk 100km in February charity raising challenge, and I need to do 86 km over the next two weekends.

 

[al78]

There's a lot of big populations and infrastructure in the way of that.

This is what happened in the October 1987 storm and there was a lot of infrastructure and people in the way of that. Since then, sting jets have been researched and are far better understood and modelled. It is impressive to me that this storm and its potential impacts were being flagged up before the storm had even started to develop, which in a sense shows how far weather forecasting has come over the decades.

Ahh once again the hard working railway proves its at the cornerstone of our transport network. It’s funny that national express and other coaches haven’t made as many cancellations. Then again, they aren’t funded by the taxpayer.

No wonder everyone drives in this country.

Motorways aren't so vulnerable as I don't think that many of them are lined with trees which are capable of coming down and completely blocking them at very short notice, and off the motorways, motor vehicle speeds are much lower than trains, which gives drivers (who drive by line of sight rather than relying on coloured lights to tell them a stretch of road ahead is clear) a better chance of avoiding crashing into fallen trees (although it does happen, skip to 2:20). Railways do have sections which are lined with trees, and it only takes one tree to render a line impassible. With roads, if a road gets blocked, motor vehicles can turn around and divert, trains can't. The impression I get on this forum is the rail network and its timetabling is a very tightly knitted system which works wonderfully until a major perturbation throws it out, and it takes a lot of time and effort to get it back again, so it is easier and arguably more logical to anticipate things going tits up to the point where a reasonable service is impossible, and take measures such as cancelling services which increases slack in the system, and makes it easier after the event to get displaced trains and staff where they need to be. The roads aren't as vulnerable in this respect. In any case people in the forecast worst affected areas are being advised not to travel, by road or otherwise, because even on the roads, trees can come down onto vehicles or make major routes impassible. Ultimately we have to accept that severe weather can be damaging and disruptive, and we have to make and accept contingency plans. Severe weather doesn't happen very often in the UK.

 

[jkkne]

Might be more windy weather affecting the northern half of the UK on Sunday. After what has been up until last week one of the most benign winters I can remember, it is a dramatic change to possibly have three windstorms coming through in the space of a week. It is typical this has to happen when I sign up for a walk 100km in February charity raising challenge, and I need to do 86 km over the next two weekends.

It does feel almost a constant barrage of windy weather since pre Xmas. It’s still nigh on impossible to get a roofer or fence builder up here. We’ve had 1 day this week where there hasn’t been gusts of at least 50mph and we’ve had weather warnings most weekends. At least it’s not been cold!

Maybe social media makes it seem more prevalent but I don’t recall this much in my 64 years

 

[Sleepy]

Greater Anglia slowly cancelling & inputting revised services - at this rate 1st services will be running before all changes input !!

 

[infobleep]

Probably the loss of time due to reduced speed not making them worthwhile.

They have hardly any turnaround time at Redhill but I fully accept one can't introduce a fresh timetable at short notice land I wouldn't expect it.

That said, most but not all, have a wait at Guildford which will help, not to mention any waiting time at Reading.

One of the rare times when the wait at Guildford will serve a useful purpose, now its original purpose is not required.

 

[O L Leigh]

Models are now picking up on a sting jet being formed, heading over the Midlands and East Anglia as the storm heads East.

"A sting jet is a small area of very intense winds (often 100mph or more) that can sometimes form in powerful weather systems crossing the UK. Relative to the size of the storm, the sting jet is narrow, often 30 miles across, and only lasts 3 to 4 hours."

Read more here

Awesome. Right when and where I’m meant to be going tomorrow.

 

[infobleep]

This is what happened in the October 1987 storm and there was a lot of infrastructure and people in the way of that. Since then, sting jets have been researched and are far better understood and modelled. It is impressive to me that this storm and its potential impacts were being flagged up before the storm had even started to develop, which in a sense shows how far weather forecasting has come over the decades.


Motorways aren't so vulnerable as I don't think that many of them are lined with trees which are capable of coming down and completely blocking them at very short notice, and off the motorways, motor vehicle speeds are much lower than trains, which gives drivers (who drive by line of sight rather than relying on coloured lights to tell them a stretch of road ahead is clear) a better chance of avoiding crashing into fallen trees (although it does happen, skip to 2:20). Railways do have sections which are lined with trees, and it only takes one tree to render a line impassible. With roads, if a road gets blocked, motor vehicles can turn around and divert, trains can't. The impression I get on this forum is the rail network and its timetabling is a very tightly knitted system which works wonderfully until a major perturbation throws it out, and it takes a lot of time and effort to get it back again, so it is easier and arguably more logical to anticipate things going tits up to the point where a reasonable service is impossible, and take measures such as cancelling services which increases slack in the system, and makes it easier after the event to get displaced trains and staff where they need to be. The roads aren't as vulnerable in this respect. In any case people in the forecast worst affected areas are being advised not to travel, by road or otherwise, because even on the roads, trees can come down onto vehicles or make major routes impassible. Ultimately we have to accept that severe weather can be damaging and disruptive, and we have to make and accept contingency plans. Severe weather doesn't happen very often in the UK.

A former work colleague from a previous place of work was killed when a tree fell on their car as they drove into work.

This kind of thing is rare but can be fatal.

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

Indeed, high tide on Friday around midday…

Flooding in my area... hopefully it's wrong but living near the sea has its issues when it's not summer.

 

[Taunton]

Maybe social media makes it seem more prevalent but I don’t recall this much in my 64 years

In my youth, in the 1960s-70s, we lived on the seafront in The Wirral. Hardly a winter went by without some major smasher storm or two. Sometimes they were particularly violent, whole roofs removed from the houses along the road. Benches across the road were wooden seats clipped to two very substantial concrete blocks underneath, which required a lorry-mounted crane to move them. These, a couple of times, were rolled by the weather into the middle of the road. Hardly any news coverage though. That seems to be what has changed.

All the events of trains being blown off the line seemed to happen long ago. Owencarrow in Ireland, blown over the viaduct, 1920s I think. And of course the Tay Bridge.

 

[ungreat]

Awesome. Right when and where I’m meant to be going tomorrow.

Join the club brother!

 

[Irascible]

We've had an area of high pressure sitting over us for a long time this winter, so no there hasn't been enough wind. It's not like you can store it for later.

 

[142blue]

So basically a full do not travel across pretty much all train companies today

Makes my job easier at least

 

[diffident]

RED Warning now for London and the South East...

Shows how quickly things are changing, it's rare for that to happen, if not unprecedented at 4am!

 

[SCDR_WMR]

RED Warning now for London and the South East...

Shows how quickly things are changing, it's rare for that to happen, if not unprecedented at 4am!

Yep, storm is still developing and I expect more warnings in the next few hours.

It's now very wet and gusty in Cheshire, bet it's woken people up in the south west already

 

[Scotrail314209]

Since London and the South East are now under red, would it be reasonable to assume that TOCs may make a last minute change and cancel any emergency timetables leaving London?

 

[diffident]

Since London and the South East are now under red, would it be reasonable to assume that TOCs may make a last minute change and cancel any emergency timetables leaving London?

Surely they would have to now, if not suspend services entirely?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Surely they would have to now, if not suspend services entirely?

They will be loath to suspend in entirety, but we'll see how the next few hours go.

I'd imagine control centres for the south will be calling in planning teams right now

 

[diffident]

They will be loath to suspend in entirety, but we'll see how the next few hours go.

I'd imagine control centres for the south will be calling in planning teams right now

I would hope that the planners would already be there!!! I know in my industry, we've been in since late last night!

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I would hope that the planners would already be there!!! I know in my industry, we've been in since late last night!

You would hope, but as there wasn't a red warning for that area until an hour ago why would they have been in all night?

 

[diffident]

You would hope, but as there wasn't a red warning for that area until an hour ago why would they have been in all night?

I'm an old cynic, but planning ahead??!! That's why I have been at work all night!

 

[Furryanimal]

Well,where i am in South Wales so far at least,i reckon it was worse on Wednesday when nothing was cancelled.
Still time to get worse of course.
But in addition to the trains Stagecoach and Newport Transport are not running buses until at least one,if at all,and Phil Anslow says they may not run at all day.
For those who have to get to work( i can see a big hospital out of the window) this morning will not be easy.

I am not downplaying the situation but i’m sure this didn’t use to happen!