Disruption on the MML 25/06/23

[liamf656]

9T28 has come to a stand at St Albans City after losing a pantograph bringing an overhead line down (2am). For those less in the know it’s a 4 track railway with the incident occurring on the down slow. All lines have been blocked affecting EMR and Thameslink and may also affect Hull Trains if it continues. It also affects ECML customers as they were advised to use the MML due to engineering works. I believe the aim is to open the fast lines first

https://twitter.com/eastmidrailway/status/1672888465459929089?s=46&t=0v-fEDxFw2XTYyEM53ER3Q

We are waiting for the 2 lines to re open between Luton and London St Pancras, the estimate is now 10:30. Our services to / from London St Pancras may be altered or delayed until these lines re open.

Also to note that for some reason a Meridian (last night’s 1B00) has spent the night at Hendon within a T3 possession. Not sure on the details but shouldn’t be related as it came to a stop hours before the OHLE damage. Edit: Since confirmed in post #9 that this wasn’t the case and was in fact an issue with the TD feed

 

[MichaelTrains]

9T28 has come to a stand at St Albans City after losing a pantograph bringing an overhead line down (2am). For those less in the know it’s a 4 track railway with the incident occurring on the down slow. All lines have been blocked affecting EMR and Thameslink and may also affect Hull Trains if it continues. It also affects ECML customers as they were advised to use the MML due to engineering works. I believe the aim is to open the fast lines first

https://twitter.com/eastmidrailway/status/1672888465459929089?s=46&t=0v-fEDxFw2XTYyEM53ER3Q

Also to note that for some reason a Meridian (last night’s 1B00) has spent the night at Hendon within a T3 possession. Not sure on the details but shouldn’t be related as it came to a stop hours before the OHLE damage

I’m caught up in this mess.

Currently stuck at Kentish Town with about 300 other passengers.

The 09:35 off Pancras was the first train of the morning and it’s standing only.

Fair play to the Thameslink driver who has been keeping everyone informed of developments.

I’m over an hour late now so at least for the inconvenience my journey is free.

 

[liamf656]

1B02 is the first southbound train to move, 122 late

 

[MichaelTrains]

1B02 is the first southbound train to move, 122 late

We have just started moving but at reduced speeds.

We will be over 120 minutes late by the time we reach Bedford

 

[_toommm_]

I managed to escape London pretty sharpish, getting the first train (I think) to Tamworth at 08:20 then on to York. Luckily I’d planned to do this already with the ECML being partially shut.

Crosscountry is rammed enough from Tamworth, with the train only being four carriages. God help them with the ECML and MML passengers too.

 

[John Webb]

The failed train was still sitting in St Albans City station as we were packing up the South Box after an open afternoon, I was told there was a 37 class on the front, and on getting home and looking at the RailCam camera and diagram it seems to have moved northwards as 1Z99. No obvious sign of OLE damage immediately south of the City station, so not clear where the incident occurred.

 

[Adam0984]

From what I saw from the HT diversion the 700 was left at Luton Airport Pway , when we passed it was uncoupled from it then whilst we went via Sharnbrook it went the mainline and overtook us then we cut in front of it from Kettering

 

[FOH]

I noticed Thameslink abandoned the Herne Hill service rather than trying to run it in curtailed mode on 3rd rail sections only. Not great considering Southern via Tulse Hill and Dulwich was down with engineering works.

 

[louis97]

Also to note that for some reason a Meridian (last night’s 1B00) has spent the night at Hendon within a T3 possession. Not sure on the details but shouldn’t be related as it came to a stop hours before the OHLE damage

It didn't, the open access TD feed went down briefly, the train arrived London circa 2311.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jun 2023 ==

The failed train was still sitting in St Albans City station as we were packing up the South Box after an open afternoon, I was told there was a 37 class on the front, and on getting home and looking at the RailCam camera and diagram it seems to have moved northwards as 1Z99. No obvious sign of OLE damage immediately south of the City station, so not clear where the incident occurred.

The incident was in the Napsbury area, the 700 coasted into the platform at St Albans from there (minus one of its pantographs!).

 

[liamf656]

It didn't, the open access TD feed went down briefly, the train arrived London circa 2311.

Thanks for clarifying

 

[jon0844]

St Albans City earlier in the day.

 

[MichaelTrains]

Just out of interest who do I send my delay repay to?

I always use the Northern App to purchase my tickets because at least one of the trains yesterday was with Northern.

I ended up being 2 hours and 11 minutes late due to the over head line disruption yesterday.

 

[skyhigh]

Just out of interest who do I send my delay repay to?

I always use the Northern App to purchase my tickets because at least one of the trains yesterday was with Northern.

I ended up being 2 hours and 11 minutes late due to the over head line disruption yesterday.

The TOC who delayed you. In this case likely to be Thameslink?

 

[Mattydo]

I noticed Thameslink abandoned the Herne Hill service rather than trying to run it in curtailed mode on 3rd rail sections only. Not great considering Southern via Tulse Hill and Dulwich was down with engineering works.

Getting drivers down to Blackfriars by taxi without time to plan, particularly with Sunday cab availability might have been a challenge though.

 

[John Webb]

.......The incident was in the Napsbury area, the 700 coasted into the platform at St Albans from there (minus one of its pantographs!).

Thanks. Not a bad coast as it's uphill at 1 in 176 from Napsbury!
Any connection with the recent activation of the substation at Napsbury at all, do we know?

Not a brilliant view, but the train with some activity around and on it at about 3.20pm on Sunday:

 

[43066]

Thanks. Not a bad coast as it's uphill at 1 in 176 from Napsbury!
Any connection with the recent activation of the substation at Napsbury at all, do we know?

Not a brilliant view, but the train with some activity around and on it at about 3.20pm on Sunday:
View attachment 138026

You’d want to be very sure the juice was off before attempting that!

 

[QueensCurve]

You’d want to be very sure the juice was off before attempting that!

I remember seeing manual inspection of the pantographs under live OHLE at Paris Gare de Leon. I suspect there is more clearance to the wires under the French structure gauge and it is only 1,500V.