Flood Damage Near Polmont - 12/08/2020

[InOban]

As well as yesterday's disaster, the main E-G route was severely damaged when the Union Canal breached between Polmont and Linlithgow. ScotRail is saying that it will be closed for several weeks.
Fortunately end to end passengers have three alternative routes, but traffic from Edinburgh to stations to Dunblane will have to get used to RRBs.
There was also major flooding at Perth and and damage on the line between Cowdenbeith and Glenrothes. Both are expected to reopen tomorrow.

 

[Alanko]

The canal breach appears to be somewhere to the West of Whitecross, beyond the old Manuel brickworks site. We've not had anything through Linlithgow, yesterday or today, that I've been aware of.

 

[InOban]

Storm leaves 30m hole in Union Canal

Aerial images show the extent of the breach which has resulted in the closure of Scotland's busiest railway line.

www.bbc.co.uk

The story has reached the BBC.

 

[route101]

As well as yesterday's disaster, the main E-G route was severely damaged when the Union Canal breached between Polmont and Linlithgow. ScotRail is saying that it will be closed for several weeks.
Fortunately end to end passengers have three alternative routes, but traffic from Edinburgh to stations to Dunblane will have to get used to RRBs.
There was also major flooding at Perth and and damage on the line between Cowdenbeith and Glenrothes. Both are expected to reopen tomorrow.

Yes, i supposed to be up Inverness today , didnt go because of closure.

 

[Scotrail12]

Hoping to travel between Edinburgh and Glasgow tomorrow - which routes are open?

 

[mcmad]

Via Airdrie/Bathgate or Shotts

 

[Scotrail314209]

Hoping to travel between Edinburgh and Glasgow tomorrow - which routes are open?

Shotts, Bathgate and Carstairs.

 

[Scotrail12]

Just checked the timings - will go for Shotts, never actually been on that route before! Hopefully enough capacity. Expecting it to be kinda busy.

A2B end to end and all stops on a 334 sounds like torture - especially since I live on that line and know how long it takes.

 

[FQ]

Are they seriously not running any fasts via a different route?

 

[embers25]

Surely they could at least either run fast via an alternative route or via Grahamston as the connections there are currently awful.

 

[mcmad]

Surely they could at least either run fast via an alternative route or via Grahamston as the connections there are currently awful.

The line is washed away between Polmont and Linlithgow, no chance of fasts via Grahamston.

As to other routes, given the lack of loops I suspect the only way to run fasts would be cancelling stopping services.

There were pictures shared on facebook last night of the damage including OLE masts at 45° where their foundations had been washed out so it definitely won't be a quick fix. No idea how to get pictures from facebook onto here alas.

 

[embers25]

The line is washed away between Polmont and Linlithgow, no chance of fasts via Grahamston.

As to other routes, given the lack of loops I suspect the only way to run fasts would be cancelling stopping services.

There were pictures shared on facebook last night of the damage including OLE masts at 45° where their foundations had been washed out so it definitely won't be a quick fix. No idea how to get pictures from facebook onto here alas.

Doh on Polmont. The trains were still showing on RTT until a few mins ago so didn't think. Is fast via Carstairs not viable?

 

[Scotrail314209]

Doh on Polmont. The trains were still showing on RTT until a few mins ago so didn't think. Is fast via Carstairs not viable?

If you were doing it from Queen Street, it'd require a diversion via Springburn, then down through Coatbridge, Whifflet and Motherwell. It would take too long.

 

[Scotrail12]

On the Shotts route - it is only a 3 carriage train. Not insanely busy. Sadly not a fast, all stops.

 

[Scotrail12]

If you were doing it from Queen Street, it'd require a diversion via Springburn, then down through Coatbridge, Whifflet and Motherwell. It would take too long.

Would be better than nothing though.

 

[embers25]

Would be better than nothing though.

True..though surely a fast on the Shotts route from Central running directly in front of the slow would work?

 

[Scotrail12]

True..though surely a fast on the Shotts route from Central running directly in front of the slow would work?

Agreed. They need more than what’s on offer at the moment - the slow Shotts train is as slow as treacle so there should be more fasts.

 

[Alanko]

Just checked the timings - will go for Shotts, never actually been on that route before!

I used to get it back from Glasgow sometimes if I wasn't in too much of a rush. Usually the train would be quieter, and for a while I could feel all nostalgic as it would be a pair of 158s coupled up.

The ruined hospital at Hartwood makes for an impressive sight.

 

[mcmad]

Agreed. They need more than what’s on offer at the moment - the slow Shotts train is as slow as treacle so there should be more fasts.

Why do they need to offer more? The communications from ScotGov are still very much on the stay home/local, one of the quotes from the FM today was "Nobody's social life should feel exactly as it was before" so what is this pressing need for 'fast' Edinburgh - Glasgow services?

 

[739678]

If there was demand for more capacity, then the simplest solution off peak would be to extend the Balloch to Airdrie train through to Edinburgh. That would give 4 trains an hour from Queen Street on a 15 minute interval, and they could even be run with just a stop at Bathgate before Haymarket to speed things up if need be...

 

[318266]

If there was demand for more capacity, then the simplest solution off peak would be to extend the Balloch to Airdrie train through to Edinburgh. That would give 4 trains an hour from Queen Street on a 15 minute interval, and they could even be run with just a stop at Bathgate before Haymarket to speed things up if need be...

That would require more 334s, as the 320s and 318s aren't allowed down past Airdrie.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Tomorrow Scotrail are running an hourly shuttle to Falkirk Grahamston from Glasgow Queen Street at XX:15, calling at Croy and Camelon. Presumably this is so they can link up with replacement buses.

 

[sng7]

The line is washed away between Polmont and Linlithgow, no chance of fasts via Grahamston.

As to other routes, given the lack of loops I suspect the only way to run fasts would be cancelling stopping services.

There were pictures shared on facebook last night of the damage including OLE masts at 45° where their foundations had been washed out so it definitely won't be a quick fix. No idea how to get pictures from facebook onto here alas.

There is a video on twitter here that shows the state of the railway. The track has been undermined with the ballast and soil beneth washed out., there is damage to the sides of the cutting as well as the damage to the OLE masts mentioned above. It does not look to be a quick and easy job.

 

[InOban]

At least I read that they've successfully plugged the canal breach, so NR can start.

 

[route101]

I used to get it back from Glasgow sometimes if I wasn't in too much of a rush. Usually the train would be quieter, and for a while I could feel all nostalgic as it would be a pair of 158s coupled up.

The ruined hospital at Hartwood makes for an impressive sight.

The 1926 from Edinburgh is still a pair of 158s .

I took the 1549 from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Carstairs today, plenty of waiting at signals between Motherwell and Glasgow. Went via Bellshill.

 

[Scotrail314209]

The 1926 from Edinburgh is still a pair of 158s .

I took the 1549 from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Carstairs today, plenty of waiting at signals between Motherwell and Glasgow. Went via Bellshill.

Those Edinburgh services do get really bad pathing. 32 minutes from Motherwell to Glasgow is a bit of a joke, really, even the Lanark which is all stops takes 24-28 minutes.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I needed to do Croy to Edinburgh today, with a bike, so it was a circuitous route via Queen Street, Central, and the Shotts line. Surprisingly quiet considering I left Central at about 515

 

[route101]

Those Edinburgh services do get really bad pathing. 32 minutes from Motherwell to Glasgow is a bit of a joke, really, even the Lanark which is all stops takes 24-28 minutes.

Yes, I suppose it's not s route intended for through passengers.

Anyone know if the Edinburgh to Oban and return 156 service is running? Can't work out for RTT , when the line is closed!

 

[Scotrail314209]

Yes, I suppose it's not s route intended for through passengers.

Anyone know if the Edinburgh to Oban and return 156 service is running? Can't work out for RTT , when the line is closed!

Cancelled today, will presumably remain that way until the line reopens.

 

[InOban]

The main purpose of the service is that it's now the only train which uses North curve at Cowlairs.