Flood damage to the railway line near Goole

geoffk · 27 Feb 2020

I understand the line is flooded somewhere east of Knottingley. Drax-bound trains have been noted on RTT as parked at Sudforth Lane. The Goole - Leeds passenger service has even disappeared from RTT, with no mention of it being cancelled on NRE or Northern's website.

The main concern though must be supplies to Drax if the line isn't reopened soon as I understand biomass can self-combust if stored. Anyone know more?

RailUK Forums

LMS 4F · 27 Feb 2020

geoffk said:
I understand the line is flooded somewhere east of Knottingley. Drax-bound trains have been noted on RTT as parked at Sudforth Lane. The Goole - Leeds passenger service has even disappeared from RTT, with no mention of it being cancelled on NRE or Northern's website.

The main concern though must be supplies to Drax if the line isn't reopened soon as I understand biomass can self-combust if stored. Anyone know more?

Local news has reported the level crossing at Snaith flooded which would stop the Goole trains. However the Drax trains turn off before their.

geoffk · 27 Feb 2020

A train left Milford Jn for Drax at 16.00, marked VST (very short term?), trailing load 2200 tonnes, but has only got as far as Sudforth Lane.

John Webb · 27 Feb 2020

geoffk said:
.....The main concern though must be supplies to Drax if the line isn't reopened soon as I understand biomass can self-combust if stored. Anyone know more?

I recall that biomass is carried in covered wagons to keep it as dry as possible. Dampness on natural materials encourages micro-organisms to grow, which in turn generates heat. When I did archery many years ago, the straw bosses on which the target faces were mounted had to be stored in a rack arrangement which kept them apart and allowed ventilation to prevent them from combusting, particularly if the bosses had been rained on. I've not heard so far of any biomass material on a train getting hot enough to self-ignite.

geoffk · 27 Feb 2020

John Webb said:
I recall that biomass is carried in covered wagons to keep it as dry as possible. Dampness on natural materials encourages micro-organisms to grow, which in turn generates heat. When I did archery many years ago, the straw bosses on which the target faces were mounted had to be stored in a rack arrangement which kept them apart and allowed ventilation to prevent them from combusting, particularly if the bosses had been rained on. I've not heard so far of any biomass material on a train getting hot enough to self-ignite.

Interesting, as my parents were keen archers many years ago and I must say I don't remember how the target bosses were stored.

Class 170101 · 27 Feb 2020

geoffk said:
A train left Milford Jn for Drax at 16.00, marked VST (very short term?), trailing load 2200 tonnes, but has only got as far as Sudforth Lane.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/96667/2020-02-27/detailed

Looks like it arrived around 19:40 today

Bald Rick · 27 Feb 2020

geoffk said:
I understand the line is flooded somewhere east of Knottingley. Drax-bound trains have been noted on RTT as parked at Sudforth Lane. The Goole - Leeds passenger service has even disappeared from RTT, with no mention of it being cancelled on NRE or Northern's website.

The main concern though must be supplies to Drax if the line isn't reopened soon as I understand biomass can self-combust if stored. Anyone know more?

Drax normally has about 5-7 days supply of biomass stored on site. There will be some catching up to do, but everything should be ok. Besides, it’s goig to be windy the next few days so they can turn down the fire a bit

The Lad · 28 Feb 2020

On site the stores are flooded with inert gas to prevent oxidation 'burning smouldering call it what you will'
It's a far cry from the old days when there were months worth of coal in stock. . . . .

Iskra · 4 Apr 2020

Branch Line News reporting that the line has essentially closed 'indefinitely' because of this flooding now. I assume it isn't economic to repair for the token service it receives.

No more (Leeds) Knottingley-Goole service for the time being.

Bletchleyite · 4 Apr 2020

Iskra said:
Branch Line News reporting that the line has essentially closed 'indefinitely' because of this flooding now. I assume it isn't economic to repair for the token service it receives.

No more (Leeds) Knottingley-Goole service for the time being.

So how is Drax now supplied? By lorry?

Iskra · 4 Apr 2020

Bletchleyite said:
So how is Drax now supplied? By lorry?

Sorry, to clarify; The line to Drax itself is okay now I believe, but flood damage at Snaith has effectively closed the rest of the line towards Goole, so the token passenger service can no longer run.

Bletchleyite · 4 Apr 2020

Iskra said:
Sorry, to clarify; The line to Drax itself is okay now I believe, but flood damage at Snaith has effectively closed the rest of the line towards Goole, so the token passenger service can no longer run.

Ah, I see. I suspect it (and the likes of the Conwy Valley) won't be being fixed at the moment as they are hardly essential and NR like everyone else is down on staff.

Iskra · 4 Apr 2020

Bletchleyite said:
Ah, I see. I suspect it (and the likes of the Conwy Valley) won't be being fixed at the moment as they are hardly essential and NR like everyone else is down on staff.

Yes there are significant service withdrawals at the moment. The following lines are affected in the North:

- Barton Branch
- Gainsborough Central-Brigg-Barnetby
- The Bentham Line
- Morecambe/Heysham Branch
- Sheffield-York via Pontefract Baghill

LNW-GW Joint · 4 Apr 2020

Does the planned Siemens assembly site at Goole (for the big tube contract) depend on the Goole-Knottingley line?

Iskra · 4 Apr 2020

LNW-GW Joint said:
Does the planned Siemens assembly site at Goole (for the big tube contract) depend on the Goole-Knottingley line?

Only a tiny bit at the end of the line, which could be maintained to accommodate access.

geoffk · 4 Apr 2020

The Drax line must be running OK as several trains a day are coming past me in the Calder Valley. So it's the single line from Drax Branch Jn to Goole which is still closed.

Bald Rick · 4 Apr 2020

geoffk said:
The Drax line must be running OK as several trains a day are coming past me in the Calder Valley. So it's the single line from Drax Branch Jn to Goole which is still closed.

There are, or at least were, special working arrangements to get the trains into Drax; I think one of the tracks west of Drax is out of service.

SteveHFC · 4 Apr 2020

Bald Rick said:
There are, or at least were, special working arrangements to get the trains into Drax; I think one of the tracks west of Drax is out of service.

There are indeed special working arrangements to get trains into Drax. Only DBC & GBRf Biomass traffic is running at the moment - but not all journeys that are in the timetable, plus a couple of Freightliner services each week. This will be in place for at least another three weeks. Reason I know this is that I am the individual in Capacity Planning at Network Rail who is planning the Drax services whilst these special working arrangements are in place.

Flood damage to the railway line near Goole

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