Cardiff Area Signalling Renewal (CASR) work and incident (Update 30Oct17: RAIB report now released)

[PHILIPE]

Mass disruption this morning as Cardiff did not re-open until 0815 due overrun of the Engineering Works.

 

[PHILIPE]

Effect mitigated somewhat due to 29 buses on standby in the event of the Works going pear shaped

 

[gareth950]

So the CASR and related engineering work in South East Wales over ran this morning causing severe disruption through Cardiff Central with ALL lines through the station closed with all valleys services cancelled and no trains Newport - Bridgend.

Network Rail knew that this was the largest and most complex re-signalling project they'd ever undertaken. Why was it planned to hand the network back today when they'll be taking it back again for another possession on 1st - 2nd January? Given the complexity of the CASR wouldn't it have been better for NR to have kept full possession all this week and planned to hand the network back by 2nd January, therefore NR would've had more time to get more work done and replacement buses could've been kept in place and passengers would've known what to expect all week.

Some very angry passengers on twitter this morning complaining about conflicting information being given out and waiting at stations for up to 2 hours for emergency replacement buses to arrive. At one point the network was re-opened but then closed again soon after!

More bad publicity coming NR's way

(And for the record i'm not anti-NR at all, I fully agree that this holiday period was the best time to do this work. I'm just confused as to why the network was being handed back for just 3 days today, only for it to be re-possessed again over New Year. Why not just have kept the possession right through all week?)

 

[The Planner]

TOCs and FOCs probably said no to an extended block. Plus the compensation costs would have been huge.

 

[PHILIPE]

Delays still occurring despite forecast everything would be back in order. XC Nottinghams and some GWR trains turning back at Newport. Maestegs shuttling between Maesteg and Bridgend with bustitution and Cardiff Valleys still encountering problems. Trains that are getting through Cardiff are encountering delays and buses supplementing on some routes.

 

[gareth950]

Dusruption now expected for the rest of the day, so what was the point in trying to hand back the network today?
Just for the sake of 3 days the TOCs should have agreed to a week long block. It was obvious something like this was going to happen given the scale of the works.

A planned replacement bus service is better than a chaotic or non-existant train service from a passengers POV.

 

[najaB]

It was obvious something like this was going to happen!

And there was me on another thread saying that crystal balls were in short supply. Now we know where they all are. :roll:

 

[The Planner]

I doubt NR could afford the compensation and would have blown the costs of the works out of the water.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Some big delays occurring. Many trains turning at Newport.
Valley trains seem to be working reasonably well.
I can see a Swansea-Ealing Broadway train has been sitting at Cardiff for 90 minutes and counting.
No doubt crews and stock are dislocated.

(No resignalling, no electrification...)

 

[Carntyne]

Dusruption now expected for the rest of the day, so what was the point in trying to hand back the network today?
Just for the sake of 3 days the TOCs should have agreed to a week long block. It was obvious something like this was going to happen given the scale of the works.

A planned replacement bus service is better than a chaotic or non-existant train service from a passengers POV.

What part of the CASR project do you work on? It clearly wasn't obvious or the works would not have been started.

 

[PHILIPE]

So much for the forecast that everything would be normal from 1200 after allowing for trains and crews to get back into position.

 

[gareth950]

What part of the CASR project do you work on? It clearly wasn't obvious or the works would not have been started.

I don't, but I'm a commuter who lives outside Cardiff and almost every weekend blockade of Cardiff Central or the surrounding areas for CASR work over the last 2 -3 years has resulted in over-running work on a Monday morning causing disruption. It's not been as bad over the past year but in 2013 -2015 you could almost guarantee that if there was re-signalling work going on over the weekend that you weren't getting to work on Monday morning. So from past experience I anticipated there would be disruption today.

 

[gareth950]

I doubt NR could afford the compensation and would have blown the costs of the works out of the water.

This kind of discussion would be for another thread, but it's madness that NR has to pay compensation to TOCs for carrying out works on it's own network, that in the long term will be of benefit to the TOCs. Yes give them the compensation they need to cover the costs of running the replacement bus services but nothing else.

And it's wondered by politicians why the costs of getting any upgrade work done on the UK network are so astronomical. (GWML mistakes aside)

 

[All Line Rover]

And it's wondered by politicians why the costs of getting any upgrade work done on the UK network are so astronomical.

And it's wondered by politicians why the majority of the UK public (exceptions include Telegraph readers - a newspaper which spends its time criticising the fact that Network Rail is nationalised (), although hardly surprising for articles written by Richard Wellings) support re-nationalisation.

 

[The Planner]

This kind of discussion would be for another thread, but it's madness that NR has to pay compensation to TOCs for carrying out works on it's own network, that in the long term will be of benefit to the TOCs. Yes give them the compensation they need to cover the costs of running the replacement bus services but nothing else.

And it's wondered by politicians why the costs of getting any upgrade work done on the UK network are so astronomical. (GWML mistakes aside)

Unfortunately their track access contracts specify that they run a certain amount of services, if we restrict that then we have to pay out, hence the Xmas Day and Boxing day works.

 

[PHILIPE]

Now quoting points and signalling failures are part of the mess

 

[Class 170101]

Would the operators have been able to find enough buses from around the country for the three working days given that the following large blocks are taking place

Liverpool Street to Ingatestone / Billericay
Paddington to Ealing Broadway
Manchester Area

It was pointed out the other day the NRES disruption pages for Ipswich to Stowmarket track fault that sourcing buses was proving difficult due to the Liverpool Street to Ingatestone / Billericay block.

 

[edwin_m]

This kind of discussion would be for another thread, but it's madness that NR has to pay compensation to TOCs for carrying out works on it's own network, that in the long term will be of benefit to the TOCs. Yes give them the compensation they need to cover the costs of running the replacement bus services but nothing else.

And it's wondered by politicians why the costs of getting any upgrade work done on the UK network are so astronomical. (GWML mistakes aside)

This is another consequence of short franchises. Any benefits to the TOC (such as higher revenue and lower operating costs) aren't realised until the work is completed, often years after disruption starts. By then the franchise that suffered the losses from the disruption will have ended or at the very least won't have much time to recoup the benefits.

 

[father_jack]

Now quoting points and signalling failures are part of the mess

The problem at Cardiff is congestion. It just hasn't worked as a 2 track railway in spite of only 1 GWR Swansea-Pad an hour and only 1 Cardiff-Bristol (Portsmouth Hbr)and return running. With the ATWs and XCs all fighting for room in hindsight it was doomed from the start.

There have been various axle counter/signal failures during the day indeed but the damage was done as soon as the over run occurred.

There was one rather big whoops, the first train up the valleys after the over run (2T08) left Cardiff with the correct signal and theatre box for the the Up Llandaff but reported that the points from the old Up Barry to the Up Relief at Cardiff East which should have been removed during the block were still in situ in the reverse position on the ground.............

 

[Dai Corner]

A NR spokesman was interviewed on BBC Wales earlier. He said he was confident the work would be completed in time to run a normal service on Tuesday Jan 3rd.

 

[PHILIPE]

From looking at ATW Twitter, the information to passengers is atrocious. Passengers are expecting to be informed by CIS but complain that they are only capable of showing "Delayed" when they want an estimate of the delay or the train just disappears from the screen without saying "Cancelled" or whatever. Staff on the ground can't inform them because they just don't know themselves. Information in times of disruption have been a sore point for years and TOCs keep saying that it will improve. Not just a lack of information but confusing and incorrect information is being given out, i.e. passengers were told at Newport to alight from one train and catch the one alongside on the next platform but then it pulls out :cry::cry:

 

[PHILIPE]

Quote from ATW Journey Check

Amended Timetable between Cardiff Central - Maesteg / Swansea Friday 30th December

Due to limited platform space and restrictions in train movements in the Cardiff area as a result of the ongoing improvement works being carried out by Network Rail, services between Maesteg and Cardiff Central will not be able to run between Bridgend and Cardiff Central via Pontyclun. Replacement buses will operate, connecting into and out of trains at Bridgend.

Additionally, trains between 0900 - 1400 that run between Cardiff and Swansea calling at Bridgend, Pyle, Port Talbot Parkway, Baglan, Briton Ferry, Neath, Skewen, llansamlet and Swansea will also be unable to run in both directions and will also be replaced by buses.

Please note that Arriva Trains Wales services between Carmarthen - Swansea - Cardiff - Newport - Hereford - Shrewsbury - Crewe - Manchester are not affected and are expected to run as planned as will GWR services between Swansea - Cardiff Central - Bristol Parkway - London Paddington

For Paddington, read West Ealing

 

[ValleyLines142]

My mate said it took him almost fifty minutes to get from Newport to Cardiff, a journey which normally takes fifteen minutes. A customer in my shop also said of the same problems.

I was booked on the 1850 Cardiff to Manchester but that was cancelled and was starting at Newport. Unfortunately there were no other services to Newport however the delayed 1645 Llanelli to Chester which started at Swansea at 1712 was one of the only ones through, so I caught that. Thankfully the conductor on board said I could stay on this right the way to Crewe, and then change onto a Virgin service. We have just left Shrewsbury 35 minutes late and I'm hoping to make a mad dash onto the 2123 Crewe to Manchester, which should be okay as it has just left Lichfield five minutes down.

 

[louis97]

There was one rather big whoops, the first train up the valleys after the over run (2T08) left Cardiff with the correct signal and theatre box for the the Up Llandaff but reported that the points from the old Up Barry to the Up Relief at Cardiff East which should have been removed during the block were still in situ in the reverse position on the ground.............

As far as I was aware it is due to be removed over the New Year closure, this is why there is no services East at all - even to Queen Street.

Still suggests a bit of an oversight on someones part, clearly should have been clipped the moment it was taken out of use.

 

[louis97]

Quote from ATW Journey Check

Amended Timetable between Cardiff Central - Maesteg / Swansea Friday 30th December

Due to limited platform space and restrictions in train movements in the Cardiff area as a result of the ongoing improvement works being carried out by Network Rail, services between Maesteg and Cardiff Central will not be able to run between Bridgend and Cardiff Central via Pontyclun. Replacement buses will operate, connecting into and out of trains at Bridgend.

Additionally, trains between 0900 - 1400 that run between Cardiff and Swansea calling at Bridgend, Pyle, Port Talbot Parkway, Baglan, Briton Ferry, Neath, Skewen, llansamlet and Swansea will also be unable to run in both directions and will also be replaced by buses.

Please note that Arriva Trains Wales services between Carmarthen - Swansea - Cardiff - Newport - Hereford - Shrewsbury - Crewe - Manchester are not affected and are expected to run as planned as will GWR services between Swansea - Cardiff Central - Bristol Parkway - London Paddington

For Paddington, read West Ealing

You mean Ealing Broadway

 

[PHILIPE]

You mean Ealing Broadway

Me the dunce

 

[gareth950]

Isn't Paddington partially re-opening tomorrow? Looking on NRE South Wales trains are running direct into/out of Paddington.

 

[PHILIPE]

Isn't Paddington partially re-opening tomorrow? Looking on NRE South Wales trains are running direct into/out of Paddington.

Yes. So they are. Perhaps I had another overrun on the brain.

 

[trainophile]

I see Gerald didn't run tonight either.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Quote from ATW Journey Check
Amended Timetable between Cardiff Central - Maesteg / Swansea Friday 30th December
Due to limited platform space and restrictions in train movements in the Cardiff area as a result of the ongoing improvement works being carried out by Network Rail, services between Maesteg and Cardiff Central will not be able to run between Bridgend and Cardiff Central via Pontyclun. Replacement buses will operate, connecting into and out of trains at Bridgend.
Additionally, trains between 0900 - 1400 that run between Cardiff and Swansea calling at Bridgend, Pyle, Port Talbot Parkway, Baglan, Briton Ferry, Neath, Skewen, llansamlet and Swansea will also be unable to run in both directions and will also be replaced by buses.

From NRE:
Train services are expected to run as planned tomorrow, Friday 30 December

Confusingly, that text is followed by details of XC/Marches/Bristol trains turning at Newport which presumably was today's situation.
We shall see...

Update:
After some early trains got away on time, delays seem to be accumulating again through Cardiff, particularly eastbound.