It was National Grid, they've just issued a statement -
https://twitter.com/ng_eso/status/1159904985976594432
https://twitter.com/ng_eso/status/1159904985976594432
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ECML/MML major power problems (09/08)
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BBC reporting that 2 power generators failed at the same time, Hornsea wind farm and Little Barford power station in Bedfordshire. This caused the National Grid frequency to drop off the charts (48.914Hz)
https://twitter.com/enappsys/status/1159866308500041728
https://twitter.com/enappsys/status/1159866308500041728
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ABB125
Established Member
The power cut is certainly far reaching.
I was on 1B48 Paddington-Cardiff from Swindon an 1614. We left on time were 2 minutes ahead of schedule, and then got stuck behind a (late) class 6 freight (from Theale to Robeston if you're interested). Behind this we bimbled all the way to Bristol Parkway from Wootton Bassett junction, passing two loops it could have used. We left Parkway 5L at 1647, and departed rather slowly. Continuing slowly, we finally passed the freight at Patchway, but then come to a stand inside Patchway tunnel. For 20 minutes. The guard announced that it was a request from Network Rail as the signalling down to Cardiff had failed for an unknown reason, was now working but they wanted to ascertain the reason why. We eventually exited the tunnel 30L and continued into wales (annoyingly, just too late for me to catch the short GWR HST to Taunton at Newport).
There was further disruption to my journey laterto the (I believe now confirmed) fatality north of Cam and Dursley, but that's for a different thread.
I was on 1B48 Paddington-Cardiff from Swindon an 1614. We left on time were 2 minutes ahead of schedule, and then got stuck behind a (late) class 6 freight (from Theale to Robeston if you're interested). Behind this we bimbled all the way to Bristol Parkway from Wootton Bassett junction, passing two loops it could have used. We left Parkway 5L at 1647, and departed rather slowly. Continuing slowly, we finally passed the freight at Patchway, but then come to a stand inside Patchway tunnel. For 20 minutes. The guard announced that it was a request from Network Rail as the signalling down to Cardiff had failed for an unknown reason, was now working but they wanted to ascertain the reason why. We eventually exited the tunnel 30L and continued into wales (annoyingly, just too late for me to catch the short GWR HST to Taunton at Newport).
There was further disruption to my journey laterto the (I believe now confirmed) fatality north of Cam and Dursley, but that's for a different thread.
modernrail
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An honourable score draw between fossil and renewables then. I wonder if it was more of a generation or connection problem in each case.
Dren Ahmeti
Member
1Z99 at Marshmoor Junction, hopefully clearing an Up line somewhere to let some sort of service be restored!
Mitchell Hurd
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LNER's JourneyCheck shows the 13:00 Edinburgh to Kings Cross reported 220 minutes late - 15:56 Newark North Gate to Kings Cross reported 240 minutes late. Given the circumstances, that could have been a lot worse if I'm honest!
Dren Ahmeti
Member
If you think that’s bad, just have a look at the (public-facing) PPM, or the more internal delay minutes tomorrow!
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
I very much doubt it's that. Lightning strike is what seems to be being pointed at as the cause.
It's all a bit "The Day Britain Stopped", though, isn't it?
The thing I find quite remarkable is that 70x seem to be unable to be restarted after a power failure by the driver and allegedly require an engineer! Who designed that?!
randyrippley
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Don't be daft its the Chinese, not the Russians
Damned Huawei networking gear putting a back door into the National Grid
LOL score draw indeed. From what I read the Grid will automatically disconnect regions in order to reduce demand and restore the frequency back to 50Hz until alternative power generation is sourced. Just a giant balancing act between generation and demand. Interesting documentary about it here...
ashkeba
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I've given up, put a scarily three-figured hotel basement room on a card, praying either a TOC or insurance will pay out. If I had leftit, I expect prices would go from being an annying gamble tomorethan I could risk. Some will be in far more problems than me tonight. I hope they let people with tickets and nowhereelse to go stay in stations overnight.
Dren Ahmeti
Member
Official advice is to pay for whatever you *reasonably* need, and the TOC will refund you for it.
ashkeba
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Which TOC? The one who failed to carry me (TL) or the one who sold me the ticket? I got stiffed for £85 about a year ago in a similar situation, which is why I bought better travel insurance this year.
Do I reasonably need a bed or should we have sat in KX overnight?
Right Away
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Now we've found something that does it seems!
Kettledrum
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AND
According to the BBC, "Govia Thameslink said a technician is required to restart trains that have been stopped on the tracks by the power cut."
Why have we allowed this to happen. We have some highly skilled drivers, so why can't we equip them to be able to re-start the trains, which would avoid these problems and enhance network resilience
Am I right in saying that the reason nothing has left Kings Cross or St Pancras for the last 4 hours or so is because the 700s have sat down due to the power fluctuation.
I was stranded on an LNER class 91 operated service. There was no power cut, the air con and on-board systems continued to function. The issue was the lines ahead of us were blocked by 700s.
This is a very poor feature of the 700s.
I was stranded on an LNER class 91 operated service. There was no power cut, the air con and on-board systems continued to function. The issue was the lines ahead of us were blocked by 700s.
This is a very poor feature of the 700s.
SN1 19-5
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I spent a night wandering around Plymouth a bit back.
This would have been fun if I was about 20 years old... There was a big party for the students. I am 57 years old. No fun happened!
Too tight to pay for an hotel! I roughed it in Plymouth. I did have a free ride home to SN1 to compensate me!
My TOP TIP from Plymouth roughing it?
Find the coach station and bed down there. There will be a security guard on duty, you should be able to bluff him.
Railway stations at night tend to be "iffy" places to be. I can't think why!
This would have been fun if I was about 20 years old... There was a big party for the students. I am 57 years old. No fun happened!
Too tight to pay for an hotel! I roughed it in Plymouth. I did have a free ride home to SN1 to compensate me!
My TOP TIP from Plymouth roughing it?
Find the coach station and bed down there. There will be a security guard on duty, you should be able to bluff him.
Railway stations at night tend to be "iffy" places to be. I can't think why!
Kettledrum
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This is one of the occasions when you can see a plus side to ordering new bi-modes for the MML. All electric trains grind to a halt whereas bi-modes have some ability to continue or get to safety.
LeylandLen
Member
As the power problems seem to have occurred throughout the country with several TOCs affected, surely 'ECML/MML power problems'
is the wrong name for this thread ?
BBC 10pm news shows Clapham Junction in darkness Friday rush hour and Newcastle airport in darkness .
is the wrong name for this thread ?
BBC 10pm news shows Clapham Junction in darkness Friday rush hour and Newcastle airport in darkness .
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bramling
Veteran Member
Interesting to see how the 387s held up.
But it does seem to be the 700s that have caused the continuing problem, so thanks Thameslink Programme for another day of GN disruption.
I’ve now finished work and am sat on an empty 3x365 at KX. Waiting for the go-ahead and allegedly we’ll be off.
Nicholas Lewis
Established Member
This needs a RAIB investigation. Circa 30 700/717's affected looking at OTT
Why an RAIB investigation ?
ashkeba
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Now in the hotel, I see that King's Cross announcers were wrong to tell us all mainline stations had problems. We could have got a Liverpool Street service and then a bus across... but with wifi and mobile networks at KGX in meltdown, how could we know that? I forsee an argument when I try to claim 
Dren Ahmeti
Member
I do love some people’s assumptions about the bi-modes’ ability to get moving.
Yes, they can move on diesel, but when they have nowhere to go, they’ve got absolutely naff all use!
Current priority is to:
Detrain the poor pax on 9J47
Move 2K22 out of the way
And get 1E15 moving.
Then there will finally be a clear route to London via the US.
Update: Blocks removed, Down Hertford is finally open!
Yes, they can move on diesel, but when they have nowhere to go, they’ve got absolutely naff all use!
Current priority is to:
Detrain the poor pax on 9J47
Move 2K22 out of the way
And get 1E15 moving.
Then there will finally be a clear route to London via the US.
Update: Blocks removed, Down Hertford is finally open!
Shaw S Hunter
Established Member
Makes no difference if a disabled electric train is blocking the line ahead. As has happened today.
Sadly this is the culmination of a long-term trend in train design which has gradually taken traincrew out of the engineering "loop". Beyond resetting circuit-breakers or rebooting computers traincrew are not considered capable of doing very much useful with modern traction.
notverydeep
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Heading north past an array of stranded trains between Welwyn Garden City and Welham Green with passengers awaiting detrainment. They’ve been there since 1650! 1P52 making progress though, only 210 late. Let’s hope that there are some taxis here...
PS can anyone advise the rear class 365 (522 and 514 were the front 8 coaches)?
PS can anyone advise the rear class 365 (522 and 514 were the front 8 coaches)?
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bramling
Veteran Member
I think I’m right in saying they investigate major delays as well as accidents. Obviously in this case there’s the added issue that a batch of defective trains has led to a hazardous situation of detrainments, even those led by staff introduce risk, let alone self-instigated ones.
Meanwhile my 3x365s have just left KX, just four of us in the front carriage... Driver assures me he will be stopping at my station. So so far only a few minutes down on what would have been my originally planned service.
bramling
Veteran Member
I think I’m right in saying they investigate major delays as well as accidents. Obviously in this case there’s the added issue that a batch of defective trains has led to a hazardous situation of detrainments, even those led by staff introduce risk, let alone self-instigated ones.
Meanwhile my 3x365s have just left KX, just four of us in the front carriage... Driver assures me he will be stopping at my station. So so far only a few minutes down on what would have been my originally planned service.
ExRes
Established Member
There is, of course, one overwhelming feature in favour of bi-modes and diesels, power supply whether they're moving or stationary
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