Colchester overhead line damage 13/2/20

[superjohn]

Any insider information on this? ITV Anglia news showed a picture of wires hanging down over a mark 3 set but that may have been a library image.

According to RTT the 1400 Norwich to Liverpool Street has made it through, albeit ten minutes late at Manningtree, but nothing else has. Is it possible two services either side of the blockage have been ‘joined’ by the system and it didn’t actually run?

I’m due to travel from Saxmundham to Harwich for the boat tonight so I’m watching journey check intently. Something tells me I’ll end up driving for this one though. I don’t mind an extended train journey if I can get through somehow but I don’t fancy ending up on a bus around Ippo at that time of the evening.

 

[dk1]

Any insider information on this? ITV Anglia news showed a picture of wires hanging down over a mark 3 set but that may have been a library image.

According to RTT the 1400 Norwich to Liverpool Street has made it through, albeit ten minutes late at Manningtree, but nothing else has. Is it possible two services either side of the blockage have been ‘joined’ by the system and it didn’t actually run?

I’m due to travel from Saxmundham to Harwich for the boat tonight so I’m watching journey check intently. Something tells me I’ll end up driving for this one though. I don’t mind an extended train journey if I can get through somehow but I don’t fancy ending up on a bus around Ippo at that time of the evening.

The problem appears to be approaching Colchester so you should be okay. The Cambridge-Harwich doesn't need to operate on electric anyway even if the juice is still off.

 

[superjohn]

I was planning to go a little earlier than that, via Manningtree. The Cambridge to Harwich gets there quite late and has been very prone to cancellation recently. It would be a gamble too far, even on a normal day!

Looking at the data, I suspect the 1400 didn’t really get through. The timings are showing as “TD” either side of the blockage and “TRUST” for Ipswich to Colchester. I think two separate services ran in the path of one train.

 

[dk1]

I was planning to go a little earlier than that, via Manningtree. The Cambridge to Harwich gets there quite late and has been very prone to cancellation recently. It would be a gamble too far, even on a normal day!

Harwich branch looks like reduced to an hourly peak service this evening. Cant get the additional emu to Manningtree. The evening through service usually runs as it's the morning one that requires an extra unit.

 

[GB]

The line is planned to be handed back at 1800. Last I heard that is still on schedule.

 

[superjohn]

Am on board with the 1758 from Saxmundham, with crossed fingers and a huge amount of contingency time!

 

[dk1]

Am on board with the 1758 from Saxmundham, with crossed fingers and a huge amount of contingency time!

Line reopened. Bon voyage mate.

 

[306024]

Good job you're going tonight. Don't know how the ships performed in last week's storm, but I've been on the Hollandica in a force 7 which was fun.

If everything fails Ipswich and Colchester station staff are well practiced in taxis to Harwich, but more difficult from Manningtree simply as there are fewer cabs there.

 

[43055]

Good job you're going tonight. Don't know how the ships performed in last week's storm, but I've been on the Hollandica in a force 7 which was fun.

Shipais (Bit like RTT for Ships) show the Harwich - Holland ferry ran throughout the weekend. The Hollandica took an interesting route on the Sunday daytime sailing (highlited).

 

[superjohn]

All went well in the end. I got to Harwich with ages to spare so I decided to walk to Morrisons for supplies, rather than be rinsed on the ship. I foolishly trusted the Google Maps suggested walking route and wandered into a secure freight screening area. Security promptly arrived and directed me back to the terminal.

I am now making a leisurely journey across the Netherlands towards Bonn.