Disruption on WCML last Thursday, 26 Sept: Why Terminate at Preston?

[Watershed]

My sister is in Glasgow Central, trying to get back to West Yorkshire. I've advised her to go via Edinburgh. Is it actually a rail defect as per RealTimeTrains, or it is flooding related?

It's a broken rail according to Avanti JourneyCheck:

 

[Iskra]

It's a broken rail according to Avanti JourneyCheck:
View attachment 166622

Thanks, although the issue is resolved there seems to be a lack of trains in Glasgow to form workings South, next one that might run is 1840 but that's over an hour late heading North currently.

 

[childwallblues]

O

Probably crews in the wrong place. Glasgow crews do work as far south as Praston.

 

[Falcon1200]

Thanks, although the issue is resolved there seems to be a lack of trains in Glasgow to form workings South, next one that might run is 1840 but that's over an hour late heading North currently.

Departures from Glasgow Central to Euston were at 1335 (booked, actual 1347) and then 1730 (booked, actual 1743); Nothing in between!

Today's performance on the WCML was a complete and utter shambles. Shortly before 1100 a broken rail was discovered on the Down (northbound) line near Plumpton, between Penrith and Carlisle, and the line was blocked. The Up line remained open until blocked for repairs to be made, once staff and equipment were on site. There is, of course, no bi-directional signalling in the area, and Single Line Working could seemingly not at any stage be implemented either. This resulted in 9S44 0616 Euston-Edinburgh standing at Penrith from 1058 to 1525, and 1S45 0830 Euston-Glasgow C standing at Lancaster from 1056 to 1510 - Well over 4 hours in each case.

(This is not however what the railway's systems show, as 9S44 is recorded as terminating at Penrith and 1S45 as terminating at Lancaster, with specials going forward as 9Z44 and 1Z45 respectively. I cannot speak for 9S44 but I was on 1S45, and at no time whatsoever was there any announcement of termination; Passengers and crew remained on the train throughout, and when we (finally) reached Carlisle the screens showed the train as the delayed 1150 to Glasgow C, ie 1S45).

 

[GordonT]

Thanks, although the issue is resolved there seems to be a lack of trains in Glasgow to form workings South, next one that might run is 1840 but that's over an hour late heading North currently.

The 1840 departed Glasgow Central 71 minutes late.

 

[Class 170101]

Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith and Carlisle are always busy stops. Between them they more than justify running to Carlisle (if possible).

Also connections like Windermere, Lancaster for Morecambe and Carlisle for stations across to Newcastle (amongst others).

 

[Peter0124]

Also connections like Windermere, Lancaster for Morecambe and Carlisle for stations across to Newcastle (amongst others).

TPE can fill that gap tho, yes the trains are short and its hourly but in order for Avanti to prioritise Preston-London they need to make sacrifices. Avanti could run a few services up as far as Carlisle though but probably not the full service.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Seems I dodged quite a few bullets there. I travelled from London to Windermere last Thursday going via Manchester and Northern from there (because it was cheaper) which meant I ended up on one of the only trains that actually run normally up that bit of the WCML. And then, after considering returning today, I decided instead to return yesterday - seems that meant I fortuitously avoided another set of disruption. Since I had a bicycle with me, my options in the event of disruption would've been very limited.

Definitely feel for all the people who weren't so lucky though.

 

[MontyP]

It appears that 9S97 (1740 Euston to Glasgow via Birmingham New St) made it to New St, then reversed back to Rugby before heading up the Trent Valley. Now 2 hours late at Crewe. Anyone know why it reversed rather than continuing through the W Mids?

 

[Peter0124]

It appears that 9S97 (1740 Euston to Glasgow via Birmingham New St) made it to New St, then reversed back to Rugby before heading up the Trent Valley. Now 2 hours late at Crewe. Anyone know why it reversed rather than continuing through the W Mids?

Emergency services dealing with an incident between Wolves and Stafford so it was likely the only route available.

 

[Bikeman78]

For people from Liverpool or the North West, yes, but it does seem that they wanted passengers from further south not to end up in Carlisle and, instead, to go via Newcastle, particularly when they didn't advertise ticket acceptance via Dumfries. (The rights and wrongs of that seem to be being discussed in another thread.)

The Dumfries trains are four cars and usually lightly loaded. The bigger problem is that there are only four per day from Carlisle to Glasgow at the moment. As regards ticket acceptance, not really sure what the crew are expected to do if hundreds of annoyed Avanti passengers pile on the train.

 

[Tivvy]

It appears that 9S97 (1740 Euston to Glasgow via Birmingham New St) made it to New St, then reversed back to Rugby before heading up the Trent Valley. Now 2 hours late at Crewe. Anyone know why it reversed rather than continuing through the W Mids?

My wife was on that train. It terminated at Preston, and passengers had to transfer to another Glasgow train that has been held at Preston for this purpose (which must have been very annoying for those on the earlier train). Not exactly sure why - presumably to get trains and/or crew in the right place for today’s service.

 

[Dr Hoo]

The Dumfries trains are four cars and usually lightly loaded. The bigger problem is that there are only four per day from Carlisle to Glasgow at the moment. As regards ticket acceptance, not really sure what the crew are expected to do if hundreds of annoyed Avanti passengers pile on the train.

I appreciate that the ScotRail G&SW service is currently limited, possibly allowing 4-car operation, but single 2-car units are quite common normally.
All the more reason for other TOCs’ staff on trains or Carlisle station not to suggest diversion that way without explicit agreement.
Clearly if a train does end up completely rammed all the guard can do is suggest to stranded passengers at Gretna Green, Annan, Dumfries, Kirkconnel, Sanquhar, New Cumnock and Auchinleck that they use the station help points to seek assistance. Obviously it would be much better to concentrate strandees at Carlisle where assistance and RRBs are much easier to arrange.

 

[GordonT]

Problems again this morning with a points failure somewhere between Lancaster and Oxenholme stopping the job.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

It's at Carnforth. Am on the LSL Tour diverted into Barton and Broughton Loop after Preston. Think things may be on the move now though

 

[Cowley]

I think we’re probably moving on from why the thread was created now so we’ll wind this up.

Thanks everyone