Weather Disruption caused by storm Ciara (February 9th, 10th and 11th)

323 Class · 9 Feb 2020

Glossop branch of line at Dinting Vale

RailUK Forums

Bletchleyite · 9 Feb 2020

WelshBluebird said:
The thing is it depends where you are. Here I am in a part of South Wales where the wind and rain or no worse then a pretty normal wet and windy day yet there are no trains running, but in other parts of the country where there are downed trees etc there are trains running. It seems backwards to me but there you go!

What I don't get is why no RRBs between Lancaster and Preston when the M6 is absolutely fine, and indeed the RRB that was already scheduled from Windermere this morning (the first train) operated through fine.

Because Sunday is "going home day" there are going to be a load of strandings. And it seems like the railway is shrugging its shoulders and saying "not our problem mate". This is really not good enough. Even in such disruption a few years ago DB parked trains in platforms and offered them as accommodation.

While I have a decent workaround for myself (which puts me back on my original plan anyway) it just seems that an excuse is being made - is the real reason perhaps related to the PSVAR RRB issue? But the thing is I hate being lied to, it makes me quite angry.

aar0 · 9 Feb 2020

Llanigraham said:
Weather Alert for Mid and North Wales has now been upgraded to RED

Not on the Met Office?

Bald Rick · 9 Feb 2020

The weather has taken a sudden turn for the worse here in Hertfordshire - 30 minutes ago it was a blustery day, some rain, nothing extraordinary. Now it’s like being in a car wash. Fence panels off, bits of tree flying around, what cars that are out have pulled over.

LNW-GW Joint · 9 Feb 2020

aar0 said:
Not on the Met Office?

Still Amber for Wind over most of England and Wales (until 2100 today).
Yellow for Rain.

FQTV · 9 Feb 2020

There’s some flooding just to the West of Diggle Junction Signal Box, between Manchester and Leeds.

Transpennine Express services are beginning to show up as cancelled.

A tree on the line has also stopped all serves between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport.

Robertj21a · 9 Feb 2020

Bletchleyite said:
What I don't get is why no RRBs between Lancaster and Preston when the M6 is absolutely fine, and indeed the RRB that was already scheduled from Windermere this morning (the first train) operated through fine.

Because Sunday is "going home day" there are going to be a load of strandings. And it seems like the railway is shrugging its shoulders and saying "not our problem mate". This is really not good enough. Even in such disruption a few years ago DB parked trains in platforms and offered them as accommodation.

While I have a decent workaround for myself (which puts me back on my original plan anyway) it just seems that an excuse is being made - is the real reason perhaps related to the PSVAR RRB issue? But the thing is I hate being lied to, it makes me quite angry.

Avanti do at least make it perfectly clear that there is no provision of road transport (anywhere I assume).

PHILIPE · 9 Feb 2020

Severe flooding in Llanwrst in the Conwy Valley seems to have justified the pre-cancellation of the train service. Whether there is any severe damage to the recently rebuilt track will no doubt have to wait until conditions improve.

SuperNova · 9 Feb 2020

Samuel88 said:
it’s just a typical Glasgow day today, there were long queues in Buchanan bus station. It really is disappointing that train companies don’t seem to want to do their job and actually transport people...

The WCML is currently impassable north of Preston. There is a 50mph blanket speed restriction and a danger to life warning has been issued.

Personally, I find it disappointing that people have ignored advice not to travel.

Skimpot flyer · 9 Feb 2020

jon0844 said:
It's pretty dry here. Light drizzle only for now. If that changes, local roads quickly flood thanks to the slashing of drain clearing by the county council. Add in debris from trees etc and it won't be pretty.

Yes, Herts Country Council drainage budgets have been watered-down of late

Scotrail314209 · 9 Feb 2020

Some avanti services reported as full and standing. Presumably due to the weather and reduced train service.

Skimpot flyer · 9 Feb 2020

contractador said:
That sounds like a fast response.

As a genuine curiosity woupd anyone be able to describe what happens when a tree is spotted fouling the line. Is there a team the driver or signaller will refer to who then assess and deal the tree in question?

For certain specific trees, the driver has to fill out a Beeching report...

BRblue · 9 Feb 2020

WelshBluebird said:
The thing is it depends where you are. Here I am in a part of South Wales where the wind and rain or no worse then a pretty normal wet and windy day yet there are no trains running, but in other parts of the country where there are downed trees etc there are trains running. It seems backwards to me but there you go! Anyway the difference in location means if you are travelling from some places it really isn't that bad, so the idea of "must be crazy" isn't really fair. Especially as bus and coach operators are running services in some of the areas the railway isn't too.

Can we please stop with the bus/coach and railway comparisons... it's like comparing apples with bananas!

Bald Rick · 9 Feb 2020

Skimpot flyer said:
Yes, Herts Country Council drainage budgets have been watered-down of late

Non existent round here! I can guarantee that the main road near me is flooded because of the drains that have been blocked for over 2 years, and I don’t even need to go out to check. I’m at the point where I’m considering clearing them myself.

Bletchleyite · 9 Feb 2020

SuperNova said:
Personally, I find it disappointing that people have ignored advice not to travel.

Because on a Sunday most of them want to get home and have nowhere else to go! I think this sanctimonious attitude is wrong and unhelpful.

Bletchleyite · 9 Feb 2020

Just before I left Lancaster station a 195 arrived from Barrow and tipped a load of people out, almost all of whom wanted connections. Oops.

This is, as usual, being terribly managed.

6026KingJohn · 9 Feb 2020

Looks like a problem on Cross City North. 2P06 0927 Redditch - Lichfield Trent Valley arrived Sutton Coldfield at 1026 (on time) and it is still there. No other Cross City trains north of New Street. XC trains (Birmingham-York) which were diverted this way now appearing as cancelled between Birmingham on Burton on Trent, and vice versa.

Samuel88 · 9 Feb 2020

Bletchleyite said:
Just before I left Lancaster station a 195 arrived from Barrow and tipped a load of people out, almost all of whom wanted connections. Oops.

This is, as usual, being terribly managed.

why on Earth can’t TOC’s get their act together and sort out buses? All this rubbish about it being too dangerous, no one has told National Express, Scottish Citylink etc this...

PHILIPE · 9 Feb 2020

6026KingJohn said:
Looks like a problem on Cross City North. 2P06 0927 Redditch - Lichfield Trent Valley arrived Sutton Coldfield at 1026 (on time) and it is still there. No other Cross City trains north of New Street. XC trains (Birmingham-York) which were diverted this way now appearing as cancelled between Birmingham on Burton on Trent, and vice versa.

Overhead Line problems

MadCommuter · 9 Feb 2020

Apples: travel at high speed with long braking distances. For example, it may not be possible to stop in time should something be on the line. This risks the driver and passengers, plus damage to the train with consequential cancellations.

Pears: Generally follow other traffic so know the route is clear. Shorter stopping distances and generally motorways don't have trees lining them.

Robertj21a · 9 Feb 2020

Samuel88 said:
why on Earth can’t TOC’s get their act together and sort out buses? All this rubbish about it being too dangerous, no one has told National Express, Scottish Citylink etc this...

Those are planned, scheduled, services. These are emergency replacement buses.

158756 · 9 Feb 2020

Bletchleyite said:
Just before I left Lancaster station a 195 arrived from Barrow and tipped a load of people out, almost all of whom wanted connections. Oops.

This is, as usual, being terribly managed.

And from my vantage point elsewhere in Lancashire the worst of the weather now appears to have passed (the met office forecast agrees). Obviously that doesn't help if there is actual flooding on the line between Preston and Lancaster, but it just looks like a fairly windy day now.

If anyone wants to get to Preston Stagecoach buses appear to be running, though it's only hourly on Sundays, and not fast.

Antman · 9 Feb 2020

Bletchleyite said:
Because on a Sunday most of them want to get home and have nowhere else to go! I think this sanctimonious attitude is wrong and unhelpful.

Exactly, without interviewing every intending passenger it's impossible to know whether their journey is essential or not.

Samuel88 · 9 Feb 2020

Robertj21a said:
Those are planned, scheduled, services. These are emergency replacement buses.

The train companies have had at least 72hrs warning, no excuse...

matacaster · 9 Feb 2020

SuperNova said:
The WCML is currently impassable north of Preston. There is a 50mph blanket speed restriction and a danger to life warning has been issued.

Personally, I find it disappointing that people have ignored advice not to travel.

I've just been on national rail website, looking at Leeds to Carlisle (doesn't actually say S&C blocked, but must assume so). Despite the WCML being blocked north of Preston, main alternative suggested is going to Preston to catch an Avanti service. Wonder how that works?

A later alternative service shows as going via Middlesborough.

Dstock7080 · 9 Feb 2020

Everything at a standstill GwR/TfL Rail Ealing Broadway, (District LU ok, no Central)

bramling · 9 Feb 2020

Bletchleyite said:
Because on a Sunday most of them want to get home and have nowhere else to go! I think this sanctimonious attitude is wrong and unhelpful.

I don’t. There was plenty of warning given, and people had the opportunity to travel yesterday.

My local station is, as we speak, full of people attempting to make leisure trips to London. These idiots simply get in the way of those on more essential journeys, in other words those heading to work in key roles. Everyone I know that has travelled to work has taken at least some steps to give themselves contingency if unable to get home.

One wonders how many decided to stick with their plans in order to make the most of yesterday’s fine weather?

Raul_Duke · 9 Feb 2020

Samuel88 said:
The train companies have had at least 72hrs warning, no excuse...

So have the people who insisted on ignoring warnings.

Rail replacement busses can’t float through floods or fly over fallen trees.

Sometimes, just sometimes, we have to accept that things are out of our control and we can’t do what we want when we want it.

Saint66 · 9 Feb 2020

All services through Sutton suspended and the station is closed. Parts of a high rise being built next to the railway have come loose.

londonmidland · 9 Feb 2020

Reports that the overhead wires are on fire in Kilsby Tunnel (south of Rugby)

Weather Disruption caused by storm Ciara (February 9th, 10th and 11th)

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