Problems on WCML north of Preston? (29/07)

[800001]

Yes- that could be very possible. I suppose we will find out in the next 10 minutes.


I wonder what happens to those who physically can’t climb down? Do they get some sort of ramp or other assistance or do they stay on the train?

Depending on how long the train will be stationary, depending on the person who can’t alight via ladders, eg wheel chair, limited mobility. Then I have know them remain on the train until It is rescued and alight at the next station.
If train would be there a long time. Then I’ve know the Fire Brigade called and they assist with removing them from the train.

 

[37884]

Depending on how long the train will be stationary, depending on the person who can’t alight via ladders, eg wheel chair, limited mobility. Then I have know them remain on the train until It is rescued and alight at the next station.
If train would be there a long time. Then I’ve know the Fire Brigade called and they assist with removing them from the train.

Ok. I know that DRS aren’t meant to carry passengers but in this circumstance is it allowed?

 

[800001]

Ok. I know that DRS aren’t meant to carry passengers but in this circumstance is it allowed?

Cant speak for Pendolinos, but am fully aware that it has happened at other TOCS……as it happened to a train I was dealing with once.

If the only way to get the customer off the train safely is by them remaining on the train dragged by a 57, I am sure some sensible contingency plans will exist.

 

[37884]

Appears to be coming north as 5S37, but will that be with or without the 57 on the front?

 

[pnepaul]

It looks like things are moving 9S60 -1018 Euston to Edinburgh had just left Preston about 25 minutes late.

 

[hwl]

Not intending to get too off-topic, but it's more likely to distinguish between National Rail (NR) and Network Rail (NWR) as these are both very common across this forum.

Some software can't cope with two letter acronyms hence NR use "NR" when the are no requirements and "NWR" when a TLA is required by software.

 

[37884]

It looks like things are moving 9S60 -1018 Euston to Edinburgh had just left Preston about 25 minutes late.

Yes. They may need to get 5s37 out of the way though- unless they want to route it on one of the opposite platforms.

 

[43096]

Maybe Carnforth if the pantograph is damaged?.....then a run round and back to Crews ETD?

Why would it go to Crewe ETD?! Longsight would be much more likely as the Pendolino home depot.

 

[MalaiseForever]

Two visually impaired people were unable to be evacuated, so remained on the stranded Pendolino with train staff and then were dragged to Lancaster by the thunderbird.

 

[dk1]

Two visually impaired people were unable to be evacuated, so remained on the stranded Pendolino with train staff and then were dragged to Lancaster by the thunderbird.

I wonder if they were cranks? Bonus for them if they were.

 

[Tilting007]

There was one stabled at crewe on Tuesday, not sure if that’s still there.

Not been one at Rugby since May 24.
Only Crewe and Carlisle unless strategically moved for something to provide a quicker rescue!

 

[trainophile]

I was at Preston this morning around midday. It looked pretty chaotic but there were several full sized coaches (road not rail!) outside the station on the Fishergate shopping centre side, and things seemed to be being controlled pretty well.

My from/to Blackpool services were thankfully unaffected, but not much was going anywhere else.

Nobody was kicking off, and plenty of staff were organising the queues for the RRBs, and on the concourse giving advice. I was impressed.

 

[Falcon1200]

Appears to be coming north as 5S37, but will that be with or without the 57 on the front?

Without, under its own power.

things seemed to be being controlled pretty well.

That is rather different from my experience! I was on 1S48 0840 Euston-Glasgow C, which after sitting at Crewe for 55 minutes longer than booked, went forward to Preston and terminated there at 1302, 84 minutes late. The station was already jam packed with people off earlier terminated trains and even while we were alighting, 1S52 0939 Euston-Glasgow C arrived, terminated and added more to the hordes. I didn't even try to join the huge queue for buses and went into Preston for lunch.

I returned to the station just in time to hear the train in Platform 4 announced as going to Glasgow, although as it transpired it was actually 9S60 1018 Euston-Edinburgh. This departed at 1418, 24 minutes late, very very full with disgruntled passengers. Notwithstanding the ongoing issue of no bi-directional signalling on the northern WCML, there does not appear to have been any attempt to introduce single line working to at least keep some service going north of Preston.

 

[800001]

That is rather different from my experience! I was on 1S48 0840 Euston-Glasgow C, which after sitting at Crewe for 55 minutes longer than booked, went forward to Preston and terminated there at 1302, 84 minutes late. The station was already jam packed with people off earlier terminated trains and even while we were alighting, 1S52 0939 Euston-Glasgow C arrived, terminated and added more to the hordes. I didn't even try to join the huge queue for buses and went into Preston for lunch.

I returned to the station just in time to hear the train in Platform 4 announced as going to Glasgow, although as it transpired it was actually 9S60 1018 Euston-Edinburgh. This departed at 1418, 24 minutes late, very very full with disgruntled passengers. Notwithstanding the ongoing issue of no bi-directional signalling on the northern WCML, there does not appear to have been any attempt to introduce single line working to at least keep some service going north of Preston.

single line working needs staff on the ground doesn’t it? The same staff who were most likely assisting the customers during the evacuation of the train?

 

[Falcon1200]

single line working needs staff on the ground doesn’t it? The same staff who were most likely assisting the customers during the evacuation of the train?

The train onto which the passengers off the stricken 1S37 were transferred, 9M50 0652 Edinburgh-Euston, arrived at Preston at 1111. As per my post, the first train north of Carlisle departed at 1418.

 

[trainophile]

Oh dear. Well I was merely observing, as I wasn’t trying to get beyond Preston in any direction at that time. I’m sorry for people caught up in the situation who feels more should have been done. It wasn’t the best of weather for it either was it?

 

[Tilting007]

The train onto which the passengers off the stricken 1S37 were transferred, 9M50 0652 Edinburgh-Euston, arrived at Preston at 1111. As per my post, the first train north of Carlisle departed at 1418.

After passengers were evacuated both lines were blocked for 2hrs to do the work to repair the defect.

 

[sn5775]

Daft not being able to haul 390s with passengers on board anymore but as failures are rare nowadays TOCs can get away with cost savings like this.

Strange considering the Branch Line Society are running a Class 57 + Class 390 charter between Crewe and Litchurch Lane just before The Greatest Gathering.

I was a passenger on 9A55 1527 Stafford to Coventry in the front first class carriage and it was very busy with around half a dozen first class passengers standing.

 

[Bertie the bus]

I returned to the station just in time to hear the train in Platform 4 announced as going to Glasgow, although as it transpired it was actually 9S60 1018 Euston-Edinburgh. This departed at 1418, 24 minutes late, very very full with disgruntled passengers. Notwithstanding the ongoing issue of no bi-directional signalling on the northern WCML, there does not appear to have been any attempt to introduce single line working to at least keep some service going north of Preston.

I was also at Preston station at around 14:00, thankfully not travelling, and heard the announcement for Glasgow, followed by a further announcement that it was in fact going to Edinburgh. That announcement was followed by another telling passengers not to run. So after causing confusion which resulted in passengers running around like headless chickens they were then castigated for being confused and running around.

I was only on the station for a few minutes but it did appear chaotic. The short-stay car park wasn't much better either. Blocked by coaches which weren't boarding passengers but preventing any cars from passing.

 

[Steddenm]

Why can't a 390 be hauled by a 57 in pqssenger service anymore? They used to via Nuneaton on diverted drags and also on the North Wales Coast?

 

[Falcon1200]

After passengers were evacuated both lines were blocked for 2hrs to do the work to repair the defect.

Thanks, that does clear it up, and on reflection was the right thing to do, ie restore normal working as soon as possible. I do wonder however whether more, and better, information could have been provided to passengers, even if just an estimate for re-opening the line. I might then have spent longer exploring the delights of Preston town centre and returned once the service had settled down!

Regarding the situation at Preston station, other passengers complained about the lack of staff to assist, however I have great sympathy for those on duty, being resourced to deal with normal traffic, not literally hundreds of passengers trying to travel north. Also thanks and well done to the staff who managed the evacuation from 1S37.

 

[37884]

I wasn’t at Preston yesterday, but have been several times when a similar situation has occurred. Its often a bit of a nightmare, especially with heavy luggage, but the staff seem to do the best they can with organising it all. The emergency buses north, which I have never actually got on, do seem to work well for getting passengers north and stopping them all being crammed on to the first down train.

 

[JamesT]

Why can't a 390 be hauled by a 57 in pqssenger service anymore? They used to via Nuneaton on diverted drags and also on the North Wales Coast?

Because nobody has maintained the competency for doing it? The West Coast upgrade finished so there's no regular diverts any more, and diesel-equipped trains can be scheduled for North Wales.

 

[Carlisle]

Strange considering the Branch Line Society are running a Class 57 + Class 390 charter between Crewe and Litchurch Lane just before The Greatest Gathering.

As others have said most staff operating competency has long since lapsed given it was axed as a cost cutting measure by Virgin West Coast about 15 years ago shortly after they acquired class 221s with the added advantage they didn’t require 2 drivers in passenger service unlike the pendo drags AFAIK,

 

[Tilting007]

As others have said most staff operating competency has long since lapsed given it was axed as a cost cutting measure by Virgin West Coast about 15 years ago shortly after they acquired class 221s with the added advantage they didn’t require 2 drivers in passenger service unlike the pendo drags AFAIK,

I am sure this rule has been amended and a pendo can be rescued with passengers on.

Depending where the 57 is dictates if it is considered or not.

 

[Carlisle]

I am sure this rule has been amended and a pendo can be rescued with passengers on.

Depending where the 57 is dictates if it is considered or not.

Ok thanks.