Flooding at Winchburgh (07/08): looks like a canal tunnel

[Jonny]

Inaccurate weather measurement so close to an airport take off or landing flight path would seem unlikely.

Even in the wettest Scottish months there are 12-15 rain free days a month in the central belt. Considerably different in Oban of course, where you may enjoy 50% more rainy than days than the wettest Edinburgh month.

So the reality is it's a drainage problem. Unlike the Severn Tunnel though, the trackbed at Winchburgh is around 70 metres *above* sea level. There's probably potential there to deliver a gravity based solution, with a 70 metre drop, perhaps even generate power when it rains.

Edinburgh Park, which is not that far East, is about 50m above sea level so a track-side drain could be a viable proposition. The trouble starts with where the run-off goes.

Another alternative would be a drainage tunnel towards Abercorn. Again, the problem is where to put the run-off?

 

[haggishunter]

Inaccurate weather measurement so close to an airport take off or landing flight path would seem unlikely.

Nobody said it was inaccurate, but some of the recent thunderstorms have not only been very intense, they’ve been very small, but slow moving . Less than half a km being the difference between a soaking and not seeing a drop.

Radar returns this can show significantly more rain at a location than a point specific rain gauge.

 

[dubscottie]

The amount of shale/coal mines in that area once drained the water using "day levels".

Most have been destroyed now so the water has nowhere to go. Its is going to become an regular problem unless pumps are installed or the day levels restored (not good environmentally, orange burns).

 

[Carntyne]

Pumps are installed. They keep the tunnel open, apart from these freak heavy rain spells. Loads of melodrama in this thread.

 

[kilonewton]

Pumps are installed. They keep the tunnel open, apart from these freak heavy rain spells. Loads of melodrama in this thread.

Totally agree.
Think about it. “We have no money to do maintenance works to keep the lines at a standard to run trains, as we’ve spent all the money maintaining pumps which only get used once every 5 years” sounds silly.

 

[Class 170101]

Pumps are installed. They keep the tunnel open, apart from these freak heavy rain spells. Loads of melodrama in this thread.

Totally agree.
Think about it. “We have no money to do maintenance works to keep the lines at a standard to run trains, as we’ve spent all the money maintaining pumps which only get used once every 5 years” sounds silly.

Problem is passengers expect more these days, and I would suggest, partly because of their perception of fares charged to travel passengers feel they pay for a first class service but don't get that.