Blaenau Ffestiniog partial tunnel collapse (24/10)

[bionic]

Apparently the single line has been closed due to a "partial tunnel collapse". Don't know any more details but it doesn't sound good.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not again... is this going to happen every single time it is spitting a bit?

Edit: nothing on the TfW site about it? Though RTT shows cancellations:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P71014/2019-10-24

Interesting that it's turning at North Llanrwst - what tunnel would that be? Seems to be a very short one just before Llanrwst station?

 

[pdeaves]

Interesting that it's turning at North Llanrwst - what tunnel would that be? Seems to be a very short one just before Llanrwst station?

Is North Llanrwst just a convenient place to reverse even if it's the Ffestiniog tunnel that's blocked?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is North Llanrwst just a convenient place to reverse even if it's the Ffestiniog tunnel that's blocked?

It's fairly convenient for running RRBs, though so is Betws which would seem a more sensible place to do it as it means the main demand is still on the train. You can reverse anywhere as it's a single line.

 

[mmh]

Not again... is this going to happen every single time it is spitting a bit?

It's always spitting a bit in Blaenau, even when it's dry!

 

[A0wen]

Is North Llanrwst just a convenient place to reverse even if it's the Ffestiniog tunnel that's blocked?

If Llew Jones are the RRB provider, it's very convenient...... their depot is opposite North Llanrwst station !

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

We've actually had a few dry days in North Wales, so not extreme by any means.
It's due a pasting tomorrow though.

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

I wonder if it is a tunnel collapse this time...…..or a builders merchant sack like last time!

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

If Llew Jones are the RRB provider, it's very convenient...... their depot is opposite North Llanrwst station !

I suggest this is the reason also , Llew Jones yard is literally outside the station entrance.

 

[175001]

Activate the "it's a waste of money, close the line!!!!" brigade

 

[175001]

Is North Llanrwst just a convenient place to reverse even if it's the Ffestiniog tunnel that's blocked?

A pilotman is requires required past North Llanrwst too. Very hard to find at short notice

 

[Rich McLean]

Activate the "it's a waste of money, close the line!!!!" brigade

If the line is closed for longer than its open every year, which it has done in recent years, makes it harder to justifiy keeping it open

 

[Ianno87]

You can reverse anywhere as it's a single line.

Depends on the signalling arrangement. e.g. a token/staff would be fine. Absolute Block may not be as (AIUI) a box more not in normal running offer and accept the same train from/to itself?

 

[PHILIPE]

There is a thread here for when it was closed the last time in August. The thread was subsequently closed.

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/conwy-valley-line-landslip-21-08.189537/

 

[Bletchleyite]

Depends on the signalling arrangement. e.g. a token/staff would be fine. Absolute Block may not be as (AIUI) a box more not in normal running offer and accept the same train from/to itself?

I don't know what the method of working south of Llanrwst loop is, but there's no other box, is there? So surely it would be as normal?

Why out of interest would a pilotman be required?

 

[Tomnick]

I don't know what the method of working south of Llanrwst loop is, but there's no other box, is there? So surely it would be as normal?

Why out of interest would a pilotman be required?

“Working by Pilotman to the point of obstruction” - broadly, possession of the token implies authority to proceed through the whole section, which clearly isn’t appropriate here.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Blaenau tunnel is closed for emergency repairs until end of service on Friday, according to NRE.
So it's evidently not a long-term issue.
Meanwhile buses to/from North Llanrwst

 

[Bletchleyite]

There is now info on the TfW JourneyCheck:

Customer Advice
Network Rail report that following a safety inspection, Blaenau tunnel has been closed for emergency repairs and a further, more extensive survey by a geological engineer.
The engineer's inspection will not take place until Friday 25 October, with no confirmed time of completion. Train services will terminate at/start back from NORTH LLANRWST station.
Replacement road transport services are conveying passengers between North Llanrwst and Blaenau Ffestiniog via Betws-Y-Coed in both directions until further notice. Road transport calling patterns will be as follows:
Southbound - North Llanrwst to Blaenau Ffestiniog, calling at all advertised station stops (connecting with the train's arrival at North Llanrwst from Llandudno/Llandudno Junction)
Northbound - Blaenau Ffestiniog to North Llanrwst, calling at all advertised station stops (connecting with the train's departure from North Llanrwst to Llandudno Junction/Llandudno)
Please note that the last train service normally departing Blaenau Ffestiniog (20:23) will operate as a bus service through to Llandudno, alongside the amended train service between North Llanrwst and Llandudno.

 

[krus_aragon]

Blaenau tunnel is closed for emergency repairs until end of service on Friday, according to NRE.
So it's evidently not a long-term issue.

It's probably fairer to say that they don't know if it's a long-term issue yet, as they haven't inspected it. But here's hoping...

 

[Cambrian359]

Given the forecast for Friday and Saturday it was probably destined to end up closed this weekend anyway!(and the next 3 months...)

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

The service will be covered with buses for tomorrow (Saturday).
This will then give a window until Monday [as there isn’t a Sunday service] to allow for any works to be completed.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The service will be covered with buses for tomorrow (Saturday).
This will then give a window until Monday [as there isn’t a Sunday service] to allow for any works to be completed.

Why does this always happen when I'm considering a ride?

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

Why does this always happen when I'm considering a ride?

It's that grey wet and misty here today you wouldn't see much at all. Probably best to swerve this weekend anyway. Floods starting up the valley on the roads at least

 

[175001]

Normal working resumed

 

[xc170]

So "partial tunnel collapse" was maybe an exaggeration?

 

[Bletchleyite]

So "partial tunnel collapse" was maybe an exaggeration?

I suspect something small did fall off the roof (it's an unlined tunnel, so that's probably to be expected occasionally like any rock face with freeze-thaw cycles going on and a DMU rattling through every few hours), and the engineer's report was to ensure that nothing else bigger was going to fall off before it reopened.

It appears touch wood that with lines flooded all over the country it somehow escaped today (RTT seems to show everything having run), though I might now have jinxed it!

 

[Parallel]

Is North Llanrwst just a convenient place to reverse even if it's the Ffestiniog tunnel that's blocked?

It would be interesting if trains could or did terminate at the grand station of... Roman Bridge. From memory I think it’s fairly close to the main road. Are there any bus companies in Blaenau?

But of course, it is probably easier just to run to North Llanrwst with the current arrangement, though trains have run to Betws-y-Coed on occasion.

 

[krus_aragon]

It would be interesting if trains could or did terminate at the grand station of... Roman Bridge. From memory I think it’s fairly close to the main road. Are there any bus companies in Blaenau?

It's something around 300 or 400m from the main road (which is where rail-replacement buses call). There's a side road that leads down to the station, but good luck getting a bus down there and turned round again!

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's something around 300 or 400m from the main road (which is where rail-replacement buses call). There's a side road that leads down to the station, but good luck getting a bus down there and turned round again!

TBH I'd suggest something should be put into place to allow terminating at Betws without a pilotman - it is the main destination, to the extent that there is one - and it's also quite good for bus operations with a handy "Platform 3" stop just out the back.

 

[krus_aragon]

TBH I'd suggest something should be put into place to allow terminating at Betws without a pilotman - it is the main destination, to the extent that there is one - and it's also quite good for bus operations with a handy "Platform 3" stop just out the back.

Off-hand, all I could think of is a block station at Betws that spends most of its time switched out. As suggested upthread, holding the relevant token/staff gives you authority to proceed all the way along the block, right through the landslip area.

In the past, when there's been a long closure a stop block has been set up south of Llanrwst or Betws station (with relevant working nitoces) to isolate a portion of the line, but let services extend beyond North Llanrwst.