Disruption to services - Storm Dudley & Storm Eunice

[brick60000]

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

It might depend on the TOC, but very often plans at this sort of notice won’t be touched by the planning department. Things this close to the wire have always been dealt with by control in the TOCs I’ve worked/work at in planning.

 

[diffident]

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

In 20 years in my job, I've not seen a depression like this move in and keep reducing in pressure as it goes... Come 10am, and it'll be pretty rough!

It might depend on the TOC, but very often plans at this sort of notice won’t be touched by the planning department. Things this close to the wire have always been dealt with by control in the TOCs I’ve worked/work at in planning.

Thanks for that clarification, that makes more sense!

 

[Techniquest]

So far, so good in Hereford, still only an amber warning here in the Met Office app at least. I heard yesterday it had been upgraded to red but that could have been in relation to nearby South Wales. After all, the Severn is not that far away, and the River Wye was over its banks in places yesterday afternoon.

We've had the forecast heavy rain, but the wind has mercifully held back a bit here. It was always forecast to be worse after 8am here though. Considering how rural the line is between Hereford and Ledbury, I am not surprised in any way that WMR aren't taking the risk. In normal winter weather, some of the farmland around the line can get flooded badly as it is, never mind any issues caused by the wind as well!

I'm staying indoors today, with exception to a quick dash to a nearby shop after sunrise. I forgot the ibuprofen, the one thing I needed more than anything else yesterday! At least I will get my to-do list tackled today! I was meant to go to work, but that didn't happen when the leg muscles started acting up and cold symptoms started. Negative test, thankfully, and paracetamol which doesn't normally do anything for me has helped, phew!

My personal view is if the TOCs are saying do not travel, regardless of where someone is, then staying away from the railway is only sensible. Keeping it running must be a huge challenge, I tip my metaphorical hat to those men and women doing so Anyone who does need to travel, good luck!

 

[diffident]

So far, so good in Hereford, still only an amber warning here in the Met Office app at least. I heard yesterday it had been upgraded to red but that could have been in relation to nearby South Wales. After all, the Severn is not that far away, and the River Wye was over its banks in places yesterday afternoon.

We've had the forecast heavy rain, but the wind has mercifully held back a bit here. It was always forecast to be worse after 8am here though. Considering how rural the line is between Hereford and Ledbury, I am not surprised in any way that WMR aren't taking the risk. In normal winter weather, some of the farmland around the line can get flooded badly as it is, never mind any issues caused by the wind as well!

I'm staying indoors today, with exception to a quick dash to a nearby shop after sunrise. I forgot the ibuprofen, the one thing I needed more than anything else yesterday! At least I will get my to-do list tackled today! I was meant to go to work, but that didn't happen when the leg muscles started acting up and cold symptoms started. Negative test, thankfully, and paracetamol which doesn't normally do anything for me has helped, phew!

My personal view is if the TOCs are saying do not travel, regardless of where someone is, then staying away from the railway is only sensible. Keeping it running must be a huge challenge, I tip my metaphorical hat to those men and women doing so Anyone who does need to travel, good luck!

Don't risk yourself nipping the shop @Techniquest, do it sooner rather than later... 9am is your "rough patch"!

 

[Scotrail314209]

What’s the contingency regarding crewing for things like these? Surely the long distance services could run with just a train manager without any need for the catering crew?

Do they run with less crews on an emergency timetable to prevent less being out of place?

Not strictly trains, but Megabus have suspended all services into London.

SERVICE UPDATE : Please note all services in and out of London are currently suspended till further notice , Updates will be provided when possible

https://twitter.com/megabusuk/status/1494561000732909569?s=20&t=IICOl24e7kwJcNAjQb-ZQQ

 

[skyhigh]

What’s the contingency regarding crewing for things like these? Surely the long distance services could run with just a train manager without any need for the catering crew?

Yes they can do (though subject to requirements to have a second person in a double set at certain TOC). To be fair crewing isn't really a major issue compared to the weather.

 

[modernrail]

I personally think they should shut the network down for 5 or 6 hours in London. There is red warning and there will be a lot of flying stuff all over the place. Very dangerous in any urban area with so much lose masonry about to be found out. I don’t see the point in encouraging people out and risking damage to trains for the sake of a few hours. At least it comes in the middle of most of the public service shift change overs for hospitals etc.

That said, good luck hiding all the trains! But at least they wouldn’t be moving towards the moving target with a shut down.

 

[Scotrail314209]

On the subject of Eunice, looked out the window to see a lot of snow outside... and it's still quite heavy. This is in Ayrshire.

It's not super windy though.

 

[800001]

It might depend on the TOC, but very often plans at this sort of notice won’t be touched by the planning department. Things this close to the wire have always been dealt with by control in the TOCs I’ve worked/work at in planning.

Agreed TOC I work for, the control team would of come up with todays plan, and deal with an other issues that arise eg Red warning for London, as it happened.
The planning team would deal with things for 2-3 days in advance.

 

[MadCommuter]

If ScotRail shut down with an Amber, surely the areas in red should be shut down?

 

[philosopher]

If ScotRail shut down with an Amber, surely the areas in red should be shut down?

To be fair I am still quite surprised there are still train service in and out of London. There must be a big risk that a lot of people become stranded as train services are able to run in the morning but not afternoon.

 

[43066]

I don’t see the point in encouraging people out and risking damage to trains for the sake of a few hours.

Some of us have to get to work, including those of us who work on the railway!

To be fair I am still quite surprised there are still train service in and out of London. There must be a big risk that a lot of people become stranded as train services are able to run in the morning but not afternoon.

Well yes, but those people are on notice that services may withdraw and no alternative transport provided, so it’s up to them if they want to take the risk.

 

[87015]

Agreed TOC I work for, the control team would of come up with todays plan, and deal with an other issues that arise eg Red warning for London, as it happened.
The planning team would deal with things for 2-3 days in advance.

Just because it’s enacted via control doesn’t mean planning haven’t done much of the work in the background. Basic reduction plans should really be on the shelf in any case and just need tidying up for todays existing STP.

 

[800001]

Just because it’s enacted via control doesn’t mean planning haven’t done much of the work in the background. Basic reduction plans should really be on the shelf in any case and just need tidying up for todays existing STP.

I can assure you, it was done by control at my toc with no
Involvement from planning.

 

[REVUpminster]

Trains cancelled on the Devon and Cornwall branches except Exmouth is the mantra; but how many customers think Paignton is a branch line and local trains are not running yet they are except the first which was reversed short at Newton Abbot

 

[Ken H]

Not so bad here up north (upper ribblesdale) Max wind gusts forecast for early afternoon but under 60mph. Dunno how much stuff will end up running here.

 

[AndyHudds]

TPE cancelling services left right and centre due to 'extreme weather' which in West Yorkshire is just heavy rain and a light breeze, which is now turning to blue sky and no rain. Nothing going west to east for well over an hour from Huddersfield until the 7.17 to Newcastle.

 

[55002]

Is the ECML speed restriction less than 50mph? Times on RTT seem to be for less.. 2 hours 45 mins London to Newark, 120 miles..York to London 4 hours 14 mins on 1E10 1000 ex EDB..

 

[Peterthegreat]

Cross Country are running Edinburgh to York and Derby to Bristol with nothing in between. Seems rather bizarre as no warnings given for York to Derby.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Avanti have confirmed this:

Judging by what a spokesman said on R4 this morning, it's Network Rail that closed routes in Wales today, rather than the individual TOCs.
It's not exceptional in my corner of Wales so far, but the peak has yet to come.

 

[williamn]

Somewhat miraculously the lowland sleeper to London ran without incident last night, we even arrived 30 mins early!

 

[dan4291]

Lumo are running as far as York today, apart from the 1612 off Edinburgh which is only going as far as Newcastle before forming the 1749 to Edinburgh (normally the 1436 off Kings Cross).

 

[TheEdge]

Somewhat miraculously the lowland sleeper to London ran without incident last night, we even arrived 30 mins early!

Well that's probably due to the fact Eunice didn't make UK landfall in Cornwall until around 7am this morning.

 

[jkkne]

TPE cancelling services left right and centre due to 'extreme weather' which in West Yorkshire is just heavy rain and a light breeze, which is now turning to blue sky and no rain. Nothing going west to east for well over an hour from Huddersfield until the 7.17 to Newcastle.

Yeah, think this has been highly convenient for TPE. They ran services without issue during an amber alert on Wednesday (and in the past) and ran skeleton services during the Arwen red which impacted their services much more. There’s no reason for them to cancel stuff today aside saving a bit of cash

Most of their network is under a yellow warning and is expected to see nothing more than 50mph gusts which for the North, is normal.

 

[800001]

Is the ECML speed restriction less than 50mph? Times on RTT seem to be for less.. 2 hours 45 mins London to Newark, 120 miles..York to London 4 hours 14 mins on 1E10 1000 ex EDB..

times seem about right, and it is definitely 50mph south of York.

 

[Bletchleyite]

TPE cancelling services left right and centre due to 'extreme weather' which in West Yorkshire is just heavy rain and a light breeze, which is now turning to blue sky and no rain. Nothing going west to east for well over an hour from Huddersfield until the 7.17 to Newcastle.

It's decidedly not that windy in Milton Keynes at the moment. Plenty of time yet, though; it's meant to peak here around lunchtime, though we are meant to have 61mph gusts now and, er, don't.

While I hope no serious damage is done and no lives are lost, I do in a way hope there is some "decent" wind at least to the point of inconveniencing people. Not because that's good, but because if it turns out to have been a well-intentioned cry of wolf, people may not heed the warnings next time, and that could cause deaths.

 

[Wivenswold]

That's a first ever Red Weather Warning for London and the South East. Storm still off Cork and has a long way to travel, seems to be a little slower getting here compared to even the 0600 forecasts.

GEML still running London to Norwich, delays of about 15-20min due to TSR across all routes.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That's a first ever Red Weather Warning for London and the South East. Storm still off Cork and has a long way to travel, seems to be a little slower getting here compared to even the 0600 forecasts.

GEML still running London to Norwich, delays of about 15-20min due to TSR across all routes.

Is there a decent site for following it?

 

[williamn]

Well that's probably due to the fact Eunice didn't make UK landfall in Cornwall until around 7am this morning.

Thanks for the uncalled for sarcasm. Given the WCML was blocked most of the day it was by no means a given that the sleeper would run.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Whilst I fully understand the need to be ultra cautious it is based on the horrendous weather forecasts given. If these forecasts are not very accurate (eg timings, areas affected or wind strengths achieved) then no doubt there will be a backlash against the industry.