Disruption due to poor weather

[DJ737]

I honestly have to say it's not as bad as the media (both at home and abroad) is making out.

That's good to hear, the media here are reporting real crappy weather in the UK.

It's going to be 44c here tomorrow and pretty grim bushfire wise.
Residents and holidaymakers have been told to get out of forest areas today, as tomorrow will be too late.

The V\Line (long distance) trains will be stuffed as 80 kmh speeds are imposed on the system, and half of the Metro system will probably go down as the airconditioning on the EMU's tend to fail over 35c.

Cheers
DJ737
Melbourne, Australia

 

[jon0844]

The weather is bad here, but it's made worse because we're not prepared for it (generally, and more so for the south).

As the cold weather could be around for a few months, and just as bad next year or the year after, we might actually start to use this year as a wake up call to say we need to prepare better for the future.

Besides the railway, the roads would work better if we had a better system for gritting and clearing snow, combined with more people buying the appropriate winter/all weather tyres. Even a 4X4 isn't sufficient for some of the road conditions we've had.

The Scandinavians and eastern Europeans can teach us a lot, and now I think we'll have enough cold days to warrant taking it seriously and not simply going 'well, it's only a day or two a year'.

Must admit, I prefer the cold than that sort of heat. At least I can throw on some more layers of clothing to warm up.

 

[SWT Driver]

Due to the large number of "Train Faults" the following will apply on Monday 11th.

ALL Waterloo to Dorking services are CANCELLED.

ALL Waterloo-Hampton Court services, a shuttle service will run between Surbiton & Hampton Court,

ALL Guildford via Cobham trains will call additionally at Berrylands & New Malden in lieu.

 

[devon_metro]

Too many fried german trains one would assume!!

 

[Bellwater]

Thankfully i work on British Built Trains...

 

[boing_uk]

Besides the railway, the roads would work better if we had a better system for gritting and clearing snow, combined with more people buying the appropriate winter/all weather tyres. Even a 4X4 isn't sufficient for some of the road conditions we've had.

It would be better if NO roads were treated and ALL road users were required to change to winter tyres.

Keeping the roads clear of ice and snow force a rediculous burden on highways budgets, which in turn leads to higher council tax - because winter maintenance is funded from revenue budgets.

 

[jon0844]

Snow ploughs would probably be sufficient, which would not require any supplies of grit (which could be reserved for clearing pavements, cycle paths etc).

I am going to enquire about a decent set of winter tyres next week as previous cold weather has usually been between February and May (yes, we've had snow in May once!) so I think this a wake up call to more cold weather in the coming weeks.

Problem is that once the last bit of ice/snow melts next week, everyone will be back to normal and ill-prepared for the next time.

 

[Aictos]

It's been confirmed that FCC are running the Snow timetable tomorrow and likely Tuesday as well, if the weather gets worse then there's a fair chance it may be in use on Wednesday as well.

 

[Tom B]

Problem is that once the last bit of ice/snow melts next week, everyone will be back to normal and ill-prepared for the next time.

There was something on the news about a report commissioned after the snow last winter which stated things such as shortage of grit, poor planning etc - which was published in June - funnily enough councils started listening to it in December!

 

[Failed Unit]

It's been confirmed that FCC are running the Snow timetable tomorrow and likely Tuesday as well, if the weather gets worse then there's a fair chance it may be in use on Wednesday as well.

East Coast are running thier snow timetable until at least Wednesday as well.

In general terms it is amusing that people say we didn't collapse this badly in the 1960's. However in some ways that is like comparing apples with pears. In the 60's people generally didn't travel as far to work and if the snow came they may have been able to walk. Definately not as many people going from say Brighton to London every single day.

 

[The Box Photter]

This is what FCC is saying on its website tonight:

"Monday, 11 January
We aim to offer 4-6 trains per hour in the morning and evening peaks between Bedford and St Pancras Intl. At other times of the day and all day south of St Pancras Intl there will be 2 trains per hour in each direction to/from Brighton (click here for the base timetable without additional services planned for Bedford-St Pancras Intl in the peak). All services will be 8 carriages long and call at all stations."

The timetable shows only a 2 TPH service which strangely takes 1 hr 24 mins to get from Bedford to St Pancras Int'l but only 1 hr 12 mins to get from St Pancras Int'l to Bedford WITH ALL THE SAME STOPS. Has someone at FCC made another cock-up with the timetable?

If there are other trains running Bedford - St Pancras Int'l in the peak hours WHY is it necessary to have them call at all stations as well? Why do any trains need to call at Kentish Town as it is served by the Northern Line?

By the way, its thawing here in Bedfordshire.

 

[jon0844]

The snow and ice is melting quite rapidly here too. The pavements are still a mess, but the roads are pretty clear.

As the expected snow didn't fall in Hatfield and the surrounding area, I wonder how bad it will be tomorrow after all. It seems the Met Office has downgraded a lot of its severe weather warnings to advisory (which is probably just playing safe).

Hopefully tomorrow things will run pretty well, as I have to be at work no matter what. Even if I have to walk 35 miles!!

 

[PTF62]

It's been confirmed that FCC are running the Snow timetable tomorrow and likely Tuesday as well, if the weather gets worse then there's a fair chance it may be in use on Wednesday as well.

But for the Great Northern route with (assuming they don't have too many problems) additional services in the morning and evening peaks -

"The emergency timetable that was in place on Friday is in operation again on Monday but we aim to add trains over above this to provide up to 4 trains per hour in the peak to and from Cambridge and Peterborough to ease crowding."

The snow timetable is -
http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/content/doc/cms/GN Em tt.pdf

And the link to the GN extra peak trains is -
http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/content/doc/cms/GN extras.pdf

 

[Trog]

Which is why we have CAT equipment to scan for cables. :roll::roll:

The trouble is that in my experience which I will admit was a while ago, and the kit may have improved since, they don't work very well near the OHL.

If you know the cable is there and can use a signal injector on it you stand a chance. But otherwise the signal from the cable you want just gets lost in the background hum. I once walked down a track using CAT equipment and was getting a positive result off every wooden sleeper I passed.

The real laugh was when I was told to take a rep from the CAT machine makers out to site after we hit a cable. After he failed to get a reading out of a signal cable while holding it in the air with the machine, his opinion was that we were onto a loser.

On site I usually did a CAT run before the weekend for the paperwork, then did it again once I had the isolation and the track out as there was then a chance it would work.

 

[Old Timer]

Those CAT scans used to pick up the traction return. Away from the OHL they work better, but bridges can be a problem.

As you will know, station areas are high risk areas for buried services and need even greater care. Appropriate Isolations do occur for CAT scans, provided the will and the money is there, although the cable run affected was at the back of platform 1 I am told and in an area where cables were known to run.

 

[lev441]

It's been confirmed that FCC are running the Snow timetable tomorrow and likely Tuesday as well, if the weather gets worse then there's a fair chance it may be in use on Wednesday as well.

I don't quite get why FCC have to run a snow timetable.. its sleeting now yes, but alot of the snow has thawed/thawing.. surely they could run more trains that that, its pretty pathetic..

 

[O L Leigh]

I find it amusing that the UK does not require by law that certain items of equipment are carried in all vehicles where many of our European neighbours do. If every car was required to carry a set of snow chains as I believe the Spanish do, then the problems of untreated roads would be reduced.

Fortunately I live within 200 yards of a main road. However, if I didn't I think I would certainly be investing in a set of chains and a snow shovel.

O L Leigh

 

[boing_uk]

The problem with have some roads treated and some not, is that it makes it difficult to have snow chains/winter tyres for a journey.

Certainly it would be better for road users if all roads were not treated to at least give a consistent surface.

One of the biggest problems I found walking from the station to work was the so-called treated footways, which had just turned to a difficult-to-walk-through frozen slush - like walking through dry sand.

At least the untreated footways were compacted snow and fairly easy underfoot. However the "we must salt the footpaths" brigade had been clamouring, with the expectation that salt clears snow, when in actual fact it really doesnt. Its a shame that the "something must be done" types are always the ones that get listened to.

 

[jon0844]

I don't quite get why FCC have to run a snow timetable.. its sleeting now yes, but alot of the snow has thawed/thawing.. surely they could run more trains that that, its pretty pathetic..

It was not a nice journey in this morning. I hope things return to normal soon.

My train was pretty much on-time but it seems they've padded out the journeys on the snow timetable to give more station dwell time, which they needed because my train got packed to the point where there were arguments on the train at every stop as people demanded others move down.

For once, there was absolutely no way that anyone could move down. The bigger problem became having any space to let people get off.

I don't know if the PA system was broken, but the driver said nothing the whole way. No safety announcement, no announcements about what station we were at, stations to change at for services elsewhere or even to tell people to keep clear of the doors!

I think the snow timetable is not going to be workable this week. Last week, many people didn't go in. Eventually, people HAVE to go in to catch up on what they've missed, or because bosses aren't so forgiving.

Every train was crush loaded once it got nearer to London. Some may have been like this from the start.

 

[williamn]

FCC are only operating 2 trains an hour Bedford - Brighton and no trains at all on the Wimbledon loop. I really can't understand why this is, most other trains companies, including ones on 3rd rail seem to be operating ok, I would say that FCC is opearting at only 20% of capacity, maybe less...

 

[jopsuk]

confusion and chaos this morning around 7:45ish at Cambridge. FCC passngers told to get on a waiting train in platform 3, signed as limited stops to Kings Cross, departing 0758. NXEA passngers such as myself (going to an intermediate stop on the WA line) clustered around the platform 1-3 screens and platform staff wondering if and when we'd get a train- the set due to form the 0748 was taken out service due to faults. There'd also been a fatality this morning to the south of Cambridge (I think this might have involved an XC train from the airport?) disrupting everything. Lots of passngers confused as to why FCC were running the snow timetable, as Cambridge city itself was defrosting rapidly.
Another FCC train pulled into platform 1, and was announced and signed as the 0810, more stops to KGX- however just before 0758, with the train in platform 3 full and standing, the two were swapped. Cue stampede-with the replacment Liverpool Street service still not in the platform, it wasn't fun to be caught in the middle of this. Overheard some choice comments from station control over the platform staff radios concering (I think) the signallers- though I think this might have been more in relation to the determination to have the late running 0748 depart from platform 2, when it had to wait for both FCC trains to leave before entering the platform.

Still got to work on time though, so not so bad in the scheme of things, and fatalities can't be planned for. Felt sorry for the platform staff, especially explaing the lack of Kings Cross express services.

 

[O L Leigh]

The problem with have some roads treated and some not, is that it makes it difficult to have snow chains/winter tyres for a journey.

Winter tyres, yes. Snow chains, no.

Once you get to a treated road you pull over and whip them off. Simple.

O L Leigh

 

[O L Leigh]

Too pricey. Plus you'd probably find them dreadful to drive on once you got to a treated road. As I said above, a set of chains would be a more sensible option here in the UK. Once you've got them properly adjusted they are quick to fit and remove.

When we had the snow last Feb, a colleague of mine was the only resident to get out of his street purely because he was the only one with a set of chains.

O L Leigh

 

[gordonthemoron]

For winter tyres, most germans just use steel rims rather than alloys

 

[O L Leigh]

You can get composite chains for cars with limited clearance where conventional chains are not advisable. Two versions I can find quickly are Snobootz and Michelin's Easy Grip composite snow chains that are all over eBay at the moment.

O L Leigh

 

[90019]

You can also get snow socks. My friend was thinking about getting some because his old fiesta is sitting on really short springs, and as such snow chains won't fit.


Btw, what car is it and what are the dimensions of the wheels?

 

[Pumbaa]

Top marks to LM today and over the last few days. They've been runnning a full TT with the odd delay here and there, nothing too special by LM standards!

Even managed a full complement of /1s on the Trent Valley services today, and all but one 350 on the BHM > LIV circuit was also a /1, with just 350245 covering in for a 350 with dodgy doors.

 

[Aictos]

Praise indeed for LM, had problems due to Live Departures, TRUST and the CIS not showing the London bound services today as they were in the system as they were shown as not stopping although the Stevenage bound services were done okay.

Still, because of the wrong timings on the London bound service on the CIS screens, control thought some (not all) might go a minute or two early and asked if I could hold them to right time.

Well, me being keen to renew my dispatching knowledge (We use CD/RA, as opposed to some Thameslink stations where a White Bat and Green Flag are used) and seeing as I knew my manager was about, decided to dispatch all trains from Platform 1 which the drivers usually look back and self dispatch.

Rather then just play it easy and just say right off you go, especially when you don't know who's about.

Was inspired by Network Rail in the Brighton area who are always keen to run ghost trains and who have a funny sense of humour with one train's head code looking like SMEG!

 

[StewieG]

With this disruption etc... Anyone have any idea where I can get hold of EC's "Amended" Timetable?

I've been trying to find it everywhere, and i'm off to London tomorrow and dont have a clue what the times are except 08:40 off Leeds =/

 

[ukrob]

With this disruption etc... Anyone have any idea where I can get hold of EC's "Amended" Timetable?

I've been trying to find it everywhere, and i'm off to London tomorrow and dont have a clue what the times are except 08:40 off Leeds =/

Is it really too tricky to find the East Coast website? The amended timetable for the next few days is on it.