Flooding: 26th October - Stafford - Stoke and the North West of England

[RealTrains07]

Severe disruption due to flooding today. Anyone been affected by it?

Has their been worser periods of flooding on the uk rail network in recent years?

How does flooding compare to other major issues for TOCs and network rail?


According to latest from network rail:

Flooding at various locations between Stafford and Stoke is causing major disruption to services through Stoke-on-Trent. Disruption is expected to continue until the end of service today

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for some parts of England and Wales. Heavy rain has caused flooding on some lines and as a result of this, journeys are disrupted.

Network Rail are on site at various locations monitoring the water levels. Where possible, pumps will be used to move the water away from the railway lines, however this has not been possible in some places as the surrounding areas are also flooded

http://m.nationalrail.co.uk/pj/disruption/details/2C55D7285F22429BB490ABC9514E3FA8

From personal experience i have never seen something so bad it causes all a days trains services from stoke (and other stations on the loop) to get cancelled at the start of the day.

With it being that time of year, thought it would be good to get a discussion and hear peoples views on flooding on the uk railway and how affected people have been today and even in recent events of flooding

if anyone could find any news online about the rail flooding that would be great. Have not found anything on the stoke on trent railway flood situation so far

 

[Statto]

Not only between Stoke & Stafford, also flooding between Alderley Edge & Chelford, means the down line is blocked, southbound trains are having to use the up line Alderley Edge to Chelford Loops, fortunate both lines bidirectional.

 

[londonbridge]

Left London heading to Shrewsbury for football. Got to Wolverhampton and nothing going through. Shared a taxi with some other lads to the ground, dunno what will happen with getting back to Wolves after the match yet.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Crewe-Chester is also affected, and other places nearby.
There's a notorious stretch on the line just east of Calveley which suffers from field runoff whenever there is heavy rain.
After 26 hours of heavy rain around here it has eased off now, but there is still a lot of landwater to get rid off.
It will take a day or so for the rivers to peak.
It's also not that uncommon on the west side of the country.

 

[Cambrian359]

All 5 routes out of Shrewsbury were closed earlier due to flooding! Not sure I’ve seen that before!

 

[brompton rail]

Flooding of track at Kirk Sandall on Doncaster - Hull / Scunthorpe line, no trains. Northern fasts diverted via Temple Hirst / Selby not serving Goole. FTPE cancelled with some running Cleethorpes to Scunthorpe and back, and some running Manchester to Sheffield or maybe Doncaster (probably not!). Rotherham Central closed owing to flooding and no trains or tram train. Meadowhall to Swinton running direct via Masborough, but Adwicks cancelled.

Flooding between Leeds and Wakefield earlier but now open I believe.

Add to this LNER disruption due to ‘shortage of drivers’ today isn’t a good day to travel!

 

[londonmidland]

Flooding near Ruskington which is affecting the LNER diverts between Doncaster and Peterborough.

Already quite a queue of trains in both directions.

 

[OuterDistant]

The Churnet Valley Railway had to suspend their Super Power Saturday due to the canal at Consall being at risk of flooding the track. They were due to feature three S160s on one train.

 

[Birkonian]

No trains between Hooton to Chester on Merseyrail. They had trouble starting bus replacements partly due to the weather.

 

[londonbridge]

Trains running from Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton/Birmingham now.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

TPE being affected through Huddersfield as a result, despite unexpected sunshine earlier. Mirfield had 2 successive Leeds services cancelled. Hopefully the next ex-Southport will run as I'm hoping to connect on from the Castleford service.

 

[jfollows]

Around Stoke, Open Train Times and similar indicate flooding on the up between Congleton and Kidsgrove, and on both lines between Sideway and Wedgwood.
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/images/structure/css/Trentham flooding.png
and
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/images/structure/css/Trentham flooding 1.jpg
appear to be from the latter location.
"Disruption is expected to continue until the end of service Sunday 27 October."

 

[InstantStation]

Does anyone have any idea about Rail Replacement Buses tomorrow from Stoke to Stafford? I phoned National Rail Enquiries but was advised to phone again tomorrow morning. Apparently there is "supposed" to be a 11:06 from Stoke on Trent to Birmingham New Street, but it "could be disrupted", so I would like to be able to work out, worst case, how early to arrive at Stoke for possible road transport to Stafford and and onward train to Birmingham,

If the journey were just to Birmingham, a further delay would be no big deal, but I am asking for a family friend who needs to get an onward connection to Cornwall and may become stranded with no way home if the times do not work out.

I guess I can assume, worst case, that a Rail Replacement bus service to Stafford would be at least once an hour and take no longer than around an hour. So that would be two hours delay relative to actual train times - less the 20 minutes or so it takes for a train to do the same journey.

Any advice much appreciated.

 

[RealTrains07]

Around Stoke, Open Train Times and similar indicate flooding on the up between Congleton and Kidsgrove, and on both lines between Sideway and Wedgwood.
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/images/structure/css/Trentham flooding.png
and
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/images/structure/css/Trentham flooding 1.jpg
appear to be from the latter location.
"Disruption is expected to continue until the end of service Sunday 27 October."

Good thing i didnt go home from uni yesterday

 

[Midnight Sun]

The Churnet Valley Railway had to suspend their Super Power Saturday due to the canal at Consall being at risk of flooding the track. They were due to feature three S160s on one train.

Rail replacment boat service to be provided by the Churnet Valley Steam Navigation Company

 

[30907]

Does anyone have any idea about Rail Replacement Buses tomorrow from Stoke to Stafford? I phoned National Rail Enquiries but was advised to phone again tomorrow morning. Apparently there is "supposed" to be a 11:06 from Stoke on Trent to Birmingham New Street, but it "could be disrupted", so I would like to be able to work out, worst case, how early to arrive at Stoke for possible road transport to Stafford and and onward train to Birmingham,

If the journey were just to Birmingham, a further delay would be no big deal, but I am asking for a family friend who needs to get an onward connection to Cornwall and may become stranded with no way home if the times do not work out.

I guess I can assume, worst case, that a Rail Replacement bus service to Stafford would be at least once an hour and take no longer than around an hour. So that would be two hours delay relative to actual train times - less the 20 minutes or so it takes for a train to do the same journey.

Any advice much appreciated.

If the situation is unchanged, assume 2hr delay and go for a train that would get to Cornwall that night.

 

[Mugby]

Does anyone have any idea about Rail Replacement Buses tomorrow from Stoke to Stafford? I phoned National Rail Enquiries but was advised to phone again tomorrow morning. Apparently there is "supposed" to be a 11:06 from Stoke on Trent to Birmingham New Street, but it "could be disrupted", so I would like to be able to work out, worst case, how early to arrive at Stoke for possible road transport to Stafford and and onward train to Birmingham,

If the journey were just to Birmingham, a further delay would be no big deal, but I am asking for a family friend who needs to get an onward connection to Cornwall and may become stranded with no way home if the times do not work out.

I guess I can assume, worst case, that a Rail Replacement bus service to Stafford would be at least once an hour and take no longer than around an hour. So that would be two hours delay relative to actual train times - less the 20 minutes or so it takes for a train to do the same journey.

Any advice much appreciated.

I got a Rail Replacement Bus from Stoke to Stafford this afternoon. It left Stoke at 1630 and took 25 mins. to reach Stafford.

I needed to get back to Derby and the only way was bus to Stafford then LNW to Tamworth and XC from there to Derby.
EMR hadn't arranged any buses from Stoke to Derby via Uttoxeter.

 

[Grumpy Git]

It's rained constantly for about 36 hours and the lines are flooded. I remember being in the Cotswolds several years ago and Moreton in Marsh (the town itself) had flooded, because roadside ditches and gullies had not been maintained, so the surface water had nowhere to go!
Is there any evidence that lack of ongoing maintenance has any bearing on these crazy state of affairs, (also refer to awful fallen tree incident at Bath/Bristol).

 

[jtuk]

Was intending to go Macclesfield to London to watch football, fortunately I didn't get a ticket for my first choice game or I'd be raging

 

[realnovice]

TPE have cancelled loads of services on the North Transpennine Route. I had to get an LNER back to Newcastle (first trip on Azuma so no bad thing) because it seems TPE have given up tonight.

 

[gazzaa2]

A fair bit of rain over the last 24 hours but hardly apocolyptic. It shouldn't cause that much chaos.

The slightest bit of extreme weather these days (heavy rainfall, minus temperatures, snow, heat) and the rail system grinds to a halt.

 

[sd0733]

There is a track washout at Pontrilas so the Hereford-Cardiff line is expected to be closed for 2 days according to Network Rail
Not going to help TFWs stock having 2 fleets separated for a while. Most of the ones trapped in the North seem to be 150s aswell!

 

[Llanigraham]

A fair bit of rain over the last 24 hours but hardly apocolyptic. It shouldn't cause that much chaos.

The slightest bit of extreme weather these days (heavy rainfall, minus temperatures, snow, heat) and the rail system grinds to a halt.

I cannot answer for other areas, but parts of Mid Wales had 4" of rain overnight, which is well above average. Very few systems are designed to cope with that, which is why so many roads and rails have been closed in this area.

 

[6Gman]

A fair bit of rain over the last 24 hours but hardly apocolyptic. It shouldn't cause that much chaos.

The slightest bit of extreme weather these days (heavy rainfall, minus temperatures, snow, heat) and the rail system grinds to a halt.

If the line's flooded, the line's flooded.

 

[jtuk]

If the line's flooded, the line's flooded.

I await the "If the railways were run the way I wanted, the train would also be a boat and we'd be fine" argument

 

[Mugby]

If the line's flooded, the line's flooded.

Depends what your definition of flooding is: Water covering sleepers, water half way up the rail, water over the rails....

How would you define flooding?

 

[PHILIPE]

There is a track washout at Pontrilas so the Hereford-Cardiff line is expected to be closed for 2 days according to Network Rail
Not going to help TFWs stock having 2 fleets separated for a while. Most of the ones trapped in the North seem to be 150s aswell!

Now expected to be closed until November 1st according to TFW Journey Check

 

[CHAPS2034]

There is a track washout at Pontrilas so the Hereford-Cardiff line is expected to be closed for 2 days according to Network Rail
Not going to help TFWs stock having 2 fleets separated for a while. Most of the ones trapped in the North seem to be 150s aswell!

NR now saying shut until end of play next Friday

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.aspx

Shrewsbury / Hereford - Newport:

No trains between Hereford and Newport due to several sections of track, ballast and embankment have been eroded or washed away in the Pontrilas area. The line is expected to remain closed until the end of the day on Friday 1 November.

Initial inspections suggest that repairs will take at least 7 days to complete. A more detailed inspection with specialist monitoring equipment will be made after full daylight, Sunday morning from 08:00.

A limited bus shuttle service will operate between Newport and Hereford all day, Sunday 27 October. This shuttle will not run to a specific timetable.

You are advised not to travel unless absolutely essential.

You may use your ticket dated today (26/10/19 on Sunday 27/10/19 or Monday 28/10/19 and you may also use tickets dated Sunday 27/10/19 on Monday 28/10/19.

Other problems in S Wales in that link

It would seem that there are now problems north of Stafford on both the Crewe and Stoke lines, so job has stopped.

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.aspx

Flooding in the Stafford area has resulted in all lines being blocked between Stafford and Crewe and also between Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent via Stone.

Trains are currently unable to run via Stafford and will not be able to for the remainder of the night due to flooding. Customers are advised NOT TO TRAVEL.

Trains are unable to run between Manchester / Liverpool / the north / Scotland and Stafford. Trains will terminate at alternative stations as all platforms will become full.

A fair bit of rain over the last 24 hours but hardly apocolyptic. It shouldn't cause that much chaos.

Around an inch and a half in Manchester in 26 hours. Steady rainfall rate all the time. Lots of road under water. Leaf-fall doesn't help with blocked drains etc.

 

[fgwrich]

Rail replacment boat service to be provided by the Churnet Valley Steam Navigation Company

View attachment 69833

Ouch, I hope that isn’t today?

 

[Llanigraham]

Depends what your definition of flooding is: Water covering sleepers, water half way up the rail, water over the rails....

How would you define flooding?

How about the definition in the Rule Book?