ECML disruption, 1/5/21

[Ceat0908]

Appears to be significant disruption, according to LNER because of signalling issues. Any idea what is going on specifically. been delayed plenty of times by sig issues, but 220 mins delay on one service is a lot!

 

[nlogax]

NR had to fix some signalling in the Dunbar to Berwick area. It's blitzed the reservations-only policy for services during the first half of the day. The s/b Azuma I'm on right now is very busy as part of today's free-for-all.

 

[Taunton]

It's blitzed the reservations-only policy for services during the first half of the day. The s/b Azuma I'm on right now is very busy as part of today's free-for-all.

So when it's convenient for the railway they can just say "get any train you like". But not when it's convenient for the passengers.

 

[Ianno87]

So when it's convenient for the railway they can just say "get any train you like". But not when it's convenient for the passengers.

In the other discussion a common question is "what happens during disruption?".

Well, here's your answer... the system copes.

 

[nlogax]

In the other discussion a common question is "what happens during disruption?".

Well, here's your answer... the system copes.

Indeed it does. LNER doing well today considering they've dealing with high loadings while the WCML is mostly out of action at the same time as these signalling woes.

Had to bite my tongue when a nearby passenger in this crowded carriage asked the train manager 'but what about social distancing?'. The TM was far more tactful in his response than I would have been.

 

[Ianno87]

Had to bite my tongue when a nearby passenger in this crowded carriage asked the train manager 'but what about social distancing?'. The TM was far more tactful in his response than I would have been.

"You are very welcome to leave the train and travel later on or tomorrow if you do not feel comfortable"

(I presume the guy just wanted other people to get off...)

 

[nlogax]

"You are very welcome to leave the train and travel later on or tomorrow if you do not feel comfortable"

(I presume the guy just wanted other people to get off...)

I wanted to suggest they vacate their seat and find some comfy overhead space in the luggage racks..

 

[noddingdonkey]

Had to bite my tongue when a nearby passenger in this crowded carriage asked the train manager 'but what about social distancing?'. The TM was far more tactful in his response than I would have been.

OK, I'll bite. Why is it inappropriate to think that a TOC would be expected to have risk assessed the maximum permissable occupancy of each type of train carriage and to have a queuing system in place should services be over subscribed?

In the current situation, don't covid restrictions trump a little inconvenience for people having to wait for the next train?

 

[221129]

In the current situation, don't covid restrictions trump a little inconvenience for people having to wait for the next train?

Put simply, no. Social distancing isn't a legal requirement and maximum capacity is a guideline not a hard rule. In disruption like today's the aim is to get people to where they need to be. No one is forcing people to get on trains.

 

[43096]

In the other discussion a common question is "what happens during disruption?".

Well, here's your answer... the system copes.

What are loadings like compared to pre-Covid though? Rather less, which inherently means it is easier to cope. If everything was wedged (as was the case on Sundays) they’d be stuffed.

 

[bramling]

"You are very welcome to leave the train and travel later on or tomorrow if you do not feel comfortable"

(I presume the guy just wanted other people to get off...)

Isn’t the latter the whole philosophy behind compulsory reservations?

 

[Ianno87]

What are loadings like compared to pre-Covid though? Rather less, which inherently means it is easier to cope. If everything was wedged (as was the case on Sundays) they’d be stuffed.

Even with every seat reserved, it at least means management of the number of people to handle during disruption, so you're not dealing with trains that are *already* full and standing before disruption is thrown into the mix. I fact, you will know exactly the number of passengers reserved and can plan accordingly (including numbers joining at intermediate stations, amount of road transport required etc).

Isn’t the latter the whole philosophy behind compulsory reservations?

It seems all reservations were cancelled, so the guy may or may not have been on his booked train.

 

[nlogax]

Isn’t the latter the whole philosophy behind compulsory reservations?

LNER did try to implement a vague degree of social distancing but in the context of 200+ minute delays and being the only direct Scotland to London route today I can see why reservations were binned.

 

[Ianno87]

LNER did try to implement a vague degree of social distancing but in the context of 200+ minute delays and being the only direct Scotland to London route today I can see why reservations were binned.

If SD had tried to be enforced, you'd just be in part shoving the problem onto the station instead.

 

[JonathanH]

It still demonstrates why the government's official advice is that people should try to minimise travel as much as possible, to leave room for those who have to travel, particularly if there is disruption.

 

[route101]

I got caught up in this. Booked on the 0900 LNER from Edinburgh to Newcastle. Turned up at P5 and a member of staff said to board the the delayed 0830 on P6. Got told to board coach c, no reservations coach. (Not sure how one coach would take a 9 car 801)

The 801 used for the 0900 departure formed the 0930 departure, that was also sat with a train load of passengers and was full to capacity according to the guard.

Still no sign of our departure, and the 0930 next to us eventually departed at 1045. A few people bailed from our train, I decided to give it another 15 mins as bit pointless going to Newcastle for a few hours now. Another 801 was sat on P4 with a load of passengers going nowhere. At 1130 the guard the said its unlikely we will depart until 1pm at least. I thought screw it and jumped off. Went to Gala instead.

The 0830 didn't depart until 1246 from looking at RTT.

 

[nlogax]

The 0830 didn't depart until 1246 from looking at RTT.

It was truly a mess. I'd planned to be on the 12.30. Finally my train left EDB just shy of 14:00 on what turned out to have been the 10:00 service.

 

[greyman42]

It still demonstrates why the government's official advice is that people should try to minimise travel as much as possible, to leave room for those who have to travel, particularly if there is disruption.

I don't see any good reason to minimise travel. The government should be encouraging it.

 

[bramling]

I don't see any good reason to minimise travel. The government should be encouraging it.

Someone needs to have the backbone to decide one way or another if social distancing is necessary. If it is then minimise travel is appropriate, if not then it isn’t. As usual we have the muddled mess, the same muddled mess that’s given is a high death toll *and* high economic and societal damage. We seem to get the worst of all worlds.

 

[greyman42]

Someone needs to have the backbone to decide one way or another if social distancing is necessary. If it is then minimise travel is appropriate, if not then it isn’t. As usual we have the muddled mess, the same muddled mess that’s given is a high death toll *and* high economic and societal damage. We seem to get the worst of all worlds.

I think that the public have decided that it is not, which usually results in the government dropping it to save face. An example of this was the lifting of the ban, which nobody took any notice of, on meeting your friends on a park bench.

 

[bramling]

I think that the public have decided that it is not which usually results in the government dropping it to save face. An example of this was the lifting of the ban, which nobody took any notice of, on meeting your friends on a park bench.

I agree entirely, it's farcical. I'm just sick of the fact that we still have some pretty draconian restrictions (an extreme example being limits on numbers at funerals) on the basis that social distancing remains so vitally important, yet on the other hand when it suits packed trains are perfectly fine. If it didn't matter so much it would be funny, however the whole thing is messing with people's wellbeing and livelihoods.

 

[Siemens Trains]

If SD had tried to be enforced, you'd just be in part shoving the problem onto the station instead.

Waverley didn't seem overly busy yesterday. I was there from about 1 until 3pm (northbound woes in my case).
Spent a while in Caffe Nero at platform 2 & 19 - a few people milling around but not to a worrying degree.
Quite a big station though. Maybe Newcastle wouldn't fare so well.