High winds affecting rail services [18/01]

[infobleep]

High winds are affecting train services in the south and south east today. I've only looked at South Western Railway and Govia Thameslink Railway but do post any other updates from elsewhere. Not sure what name this storm has.

South Western Railway had disruption notices for trees down between Eastleigh and Basingstoke; Alton and Aldershot; Havant and Guildford. Earlier there was a tree down between Guildford and Woking too. Some of those have been cleared.

There was also a tree down between. Hinchley Wood and Surbtion and possibly another between Leatherhead and Waterloo. Those didn't have a disruption notice but I see they have now combined the two or three disruption notices into one and finally mentioned Surbtion and a tree down at Shawford.

You know it's bad when they are struggling to keep up with all the disruptions on the network.

The tree at Milford has damaged the singling and has blocked all lines so trains being diverted via Eastleigh and the tree at Hinchley Wood, the power supply but only in the up direction. I assume the down line isn't bidirectional or is it?

Not many trains running between Guildford and Woking as a result. The 7:34 started there. The 6:53 is running 50 minutes late and the 8:20 and 8:46 are both stopping services. Rest cancelled for now or diverted. The diversion routes for passengers would only be via Epsom or changing trains at Aldershot.

And if that wasn't enough, there's a track circuit failure at Clapham Junction on platform 3. They had one the other day I seem to recall.

https://www.journeycheck.com/swr/?

Southern have disruption on the Uckfield; East Grinstead lines and between Purley and Tattenham Corner and Horsham and Dorking. All due to obstructions.

http://m.nationalrail.co.uk/pj/disruption/details/8D6DA9F6A0FF4326AC24869986F52C64

It sounds as if the winds took longer to arrive than estimated as South Western Railway were reporting issues between 22:00 and 03:00. That's life. Hope everyone is safe and no trains damaged due to any of this.

 

[infobleep]

I see the 6:53 Guildford to Waterloo eventually got cancelled at Haslemere.

There is the 07:56 to Portsmouth Harbour from Guildford. Be interesting to see what they do with that.

The 7:14 Guildford to Waterloo via Cobham left 2 minutes late. That still appears to be running via Cobham but is delayed from Oxshott. Wonder if it's been rerouted but the system. Not updated to reflect that.

 

[theageofthetra]

Hayes (Kent) line blocked due to train striking a tree between New Beckenham and Lower Sydenham. Been a tree down at this location before.

 

[TheEdge]

Most of East Anglia has blown over

 

[jamesontheroad]

OHLE down between Stowmarket and Diss since the early morning, and a few minutes ago GA confirmed a treee down near Thetford.

Norwich is, once again, cut off from the rest of the world (exactly how Norwich folk like it )

Unfortunately, I need to be in London by 1PM and now my backup plan via Ely is toast. AGA initially said disruption until 1100 on the mainline and now 1200 via Thetford. Not sure where I have a better chance of getting through.

 

[Silver Cobra]

An object was caught in the wires between Stevenage and Peterborough, causing delays and cancellations to services on the ECML. The object has now been removed, but a 50mph speed limit remains in place until 0900 because of the winds.

 

[jamesontheroad]

A tweet from AGA to a customer earlier this morning suggests that 1K59, the 0633 Norwich to Cambridge, actually hit the tree between Eccles Road and Thetford. It appears to have continued to Thetford and terminated there.

 

[Max]

The Sevenoaks to Swanley line was blocked this morning due to a fallen tree earlier. The 0609 departure is currently 90 mins down and the next departure was not until 0746! Fortunately Thameslink turned a couple of services at Swanley which appears to have reduced the disruption further down the line somewhat.

 

[frediculous]

The Sheerness-on-Sea to Sittingbourne line was also shut today due to a fence on the track. Meant my usual train was cancelled. Also no power at Rainham (Kent) earlier either - very strange having totally dark platforms and no lights in the building. Staff were using torches and mobiles to help people!

 

[al78]

Were the winds in the south stronger than expected? The forecast yesterday said the strongest winds would be in central and northern England, and gusts across the SE would be around 50 mph. That is not normally strong enough to bring down trees in significant number in the winter.

 

[RichJF]

Lots of trees down on the Southern network. 2 trees on the Uckfield line, one at Lingfield, one on the Dorking-Horsham line, one on Tattenham Corner line, one at Swanwick.

 

[zoneking]

The line between Surbiton and Effingham junction is blocked. However, Southern still managed to cancel the 07.37 service from Epsom to Guildford, even though there is no blockage on that line. People at Effingham junc had to wait 1.5 hours for a train to Guildford. I did see an empty train come down via Cobham at 08.28 Must have been galling for the passengers waiting at stations to see an empty train pass through.

 

[DarloRich]

there was a tree branch on the platform at Fenny Stratford today. I had to walk round it. Awful scenes. Things seem ok in LMWR land.

( I did put it back over the fence so it didn't end up on the railway line)

 

[jon0844]

Were the winds in the south stronger than expected? The forecast yesterday said the strongest winds would be in central and northern England, and gusts across the SE would be around 50 mph. That is not normally strong enough to bring down trees in significant number in the winter.

Network Rail reported gusts of 69mph between Welwyn North and Peterborough and imposed a 50mph restriction that was later extended to Royston. Later on it was raised to 80mph.

It seems to have been an interesting morning. At one point a big sign looked like it was going to fall on the line near Stevenage and block just about everything south.

 

[sprinterguy]

7X10 04:21 Banbury - Chaddesden sidings struck a tree at Willington on the Birmingham - Derby line early this morning, which caused some disruption to early starting Crosscountry trains from Derby.

There's also been a couple of battered Voyagers this morning, after 5E79 04:37 Eastleigh - Guildford struck a tree shortly after leaving Eastleigh, and 1O02 06:04 Birmingham - Bournemouth struck a tree at Milverton just north of Leamington Spa coming off the Kenilworth line. Both units were subsequently retired to their nearest depots with resulting knock on effects to services.

there was a tree branch on the platform at Fenny Stratford today. I had to walk round it. Awful scenes.

A truly harrowing account - Thoughts and prayers with the people of Fenny Stratford this morning.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Were the winds in the south stronger than expected? The forecast yesterday said the strongest winds would be in central and northern England, and gusts across the SE would be around 50 mph. That is not normally strong enough to bring down trees in significant number in the winter.

It was as windy in MK last night as I can recall it ever being in recent years. I normally sleep with the window open but had to close it because it was being blown around, and I hear of lots of fences down etc and no doubt a tree or two.

 

[jfollows]

Down electric trains are using the up line between Sandbach and Alderley Edge this morning (1H61 06:36 Euston to Manchester http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y80445/2018/01/18/advanced). Down diesel trains have been able to use the down line (1W44 05:39 Cardiff to Manchester http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P13537/2018/01/18/advanced). It was windy in Wilmslow at 03:30 this morning, as forecast, because unusually it woke me up. It's fairly calm now. Presumably weather-related problem with the overhead power.

EDIT: Now reported
"Overhead wire problems near Sandbach has resulted in disruption for trains travelling between Manchester Piccadilly and Crewe. Trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised.

Disruption is expected until 10:00."

FURTHER EDIT: Now appears fixed by 09:50. Shows the value of the reversible signalling here.

 

[OneOffDave]

Significant delays between Basingstoke and Waterloo this morning. We were being told that the tree across the line at Shawford was affecting trains starting at Basingstoke. The 0716 FNB to WAT was eventually cancelled, and the 0746 was a little late but far too crowded to get on, esp as a wheelchair user. I eventually got on the 0728 at 0816 (48 late) and it arrived into WAT 69 late. No one was telling the passengers or station staff anything which was no help at all. The station staff were great but there was nothing they could do or tell us. The PIS wasn't updating correctly either.

 

[Silver Cobra]

While not directly related to the wind, a GN service running late as a result of the earlier delays is currently being held in platform 2 at Stevenage, as a passenger has been taken ill. Southbound services will most likely be delayed as a result, with all having to run through platform 1.

 

[bussnapperwm]

Cross City South in Birmingham suspended due to damage to the overhead equipment

Tickets valid on National Express West Midlands buses with road transport Redditch - Longbridge.

 

[IainG81]

The objects cought in wires at Harpenden and Cricklewood have been removed as over 11.40 according to Network Rail.

 

[infobleep]

The 5:37 Guildford to Waterloo via Cobham departed Hinchley Wood 1 minute late but as no report for Surbtion; Wimbledon or Earlsfield. It departed Clapham Junction 2 hour 15 minutes late but for Vauxhall and Waterloo it just says delayed. Anyone know what happened to it?

As an aside, South Western Railway are running replacement buses between Haslemere and Guildford; Effingham Junction and Surbtion and Guildford and Woking. However the disruption notice on Journey Check makes no reference to the replacement buses between Guildford and Woking and just says the Effingham Junction ones are on route.

Gifwn trains are running ok in the south bound direction, I'm surprised they are running replacement buses in both directions. I'd have thought they'd only need to run them up and then just fast down as trains running.

Also the diverted services are for Waterloo to Portsmouth are listed but not the ones for the Cobham line. The Cobham line ones are being diverted via Woking, the Portsmouth ones via Eastleigh.

Disruption expected until 16:00. I'll be amazed if it only lasts until then.

I hope no one was injured today. On Twitter there was a photo of the slightly squashed signalling cabinet at Milford. Amazing what a tree can do to metal when it falls.
Photos here:
https://twitter.com/SW_Help/status/953949432805982209?s=09

Apparently Milfodd line due reopen shortly. Not sure about Hinchley Wood.

 

[6Gman]

A truly harrowing account - Thoughts and prayers with the people of Fenny Stratford this morning.

They will rebuild!

 

[TEW]

The 5:37 Guildford to Waterloo via Cobham departed Hinchley Wood 1 minute late but as no report for Surbtion; Wimbledon or Earlsfield. It departed Clapham Junction 2 hour 15 minutes late but for Vauxhall and Waterloo it just says delayed. Anyone know what happened to it?

I imagine it went empty to Wimbledon Park Depot, there was reported to be some damage to the train. Passengers were evacuated from the train via the track to Hinchley Wood station.

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/south-western-railway-disruption-passengers-14170752

 

[hwl]

Lots of trees down on the Southern network. 2 trees on the Uckfield line, one at Lingfield, one on the Dorking-Horsham line, one on Tattenham Corner line, one at Swanwick.

The ground is fairly soggy at the moment so far less wind required to blow trees over.

 

[infobleep]

I imagine it went empty to Wimbledon Park Depot, there was reported to be some damage to the train. Passengers were evacuated from the train via the track to Hinchley Wood station.

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/south-western-railway-disruption-passengers-14170752

Cheers for that. Like the photo of the person walking down the track with their bike. I've yet to be detrained from a service. I'm not saying I want disruption to occur but part of me finds the idea of being detrained exciting as it's not every day one gets to walk down a usually live railway - for good reasons of course.

 

[IainG81]

C2C service replaced by buses between Upminster and Greys due to damage to wires from a tree falling.

 

[IainG81]

Damage between Upminster and Ockendon. Trains are diverted via Dagenham Docks but run non stop to Greys

 

[GB]

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk-and-essex-rail-service-cancellations-due-to-high-wind-1-5359722

Dewirement includes 3 bent or twisted stantions

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

It's grim on the continent too, says the BBC:

All long-distance train services in Germany, and many regional services, were cancelled for the rest of Thursday.
Flights at Amsterdam Schiphol airport were briefly suspended

Pictures of trucks blown over in the Netherlands.
NS has stopped running trains because of network damage, with only Arriva (diesel?) services operating.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42731505