Impact of Storm "Christoph" (January 2021)

[Mcr Warrior]

How's the GB rail network been coping so far with the impact of Storm "Christoph"?

Understand that there's been some flooding of rail lines in the Chorley area (between Bolton and Preston) a little earlier and also at Wennington (between Giggleswick and Carnforth).

Can't be the only locations, surely?

 

[Watershed]

Blanket speed restrictions coming into force.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Too much to monitor individual areas, I guess? Not much rain here yet.

 

[Deepgreen]

Christoph - no 'e'.

As a matter of interest, where do people think the blanket speed restrictions concept will take us? The Met Office issues weather warnings on the basis of their predictions, but they will be castigated if they fail to predict damaging weather and so will presumably be more, rather than less, cautious with the warnings. The railway therefore is put in 'emergency mode' more and more often as the bar is lowered over time. Am I being too pessimistic to imagine a scenario not too far in the future when speed restrictions are applied every time an active front passes through? I'm not decrying the idea of appropriate precautions; I just wonder where it leads to.

 

[BJames]

EMR's Liverpool-Norwich is running between Manchester Picc and Norwich only (until midday tomorrow by the sounds of it).

Too much to monitor individual areas, I guess? Not much rain here yet.

Likewise down here in London - although I gather we will be avoiding the worst of it.

 

[brad465]

Here is the met office warning map: all warnings are for rain (ignoring an ice warning for Shetland), so this will be where any long term rail disruption results it'll be in these areas through to at least Thursday, depending on what flooding and/or landslide impacts result:

UK weather warnings

Met Office UK weather warnings for rain, wind, snow, ice, fog, thunderstorm, lightning and extreme heat.

www.metoffice.gov.uk

For Wednesday and Thursday there are snow warnings (yellow) for the Southern Upland areas, which may impact the mainlines crossing into Scotland and the line via Dumfries.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Christoph - no 'e'.

I'm obliged. Thread title duly tweaked!

Believe that there's now been some flooding in mid Wales on the line between Machynlleth and Shrewsbury.

And almost inevitably in North Wales, on the Conwy Valley line, in particular the section between North Llanrwst and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

 

[Llanigraham]

I'm obliged. Thread title duly tweaked!

Believe that there's now been some flooding in mid Wales on the line between Machynlleth and Shrewsbury.

That is normally not actual flooding over the line, but high river levels at Black Bridge, not far out of Machy station.
The bridge has sensors and CCTV.

 

[hwl]

I hope they have some large pumps are Werrington!

 

[Bletchleyite]

And almost inevitably in North Wales, on the Conwy Valley line, in particular the section between North Llanrwst and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

That of course will always happen - the thing of real interest is whether the more recent preventative works have reduced the damage caused.

 

[6Gman]

I'm obliged. Thread title duly tweaked!

Believe that there's now been some flooding in mid Wales on the line between Machynlleth and Shrewsbury.

And almost inevitably in North Wales, on the Conwy Valley line, in particular the section between North Llanrwst and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Isn't the flooding usually north of Llanrwst?

(And isn't it already a bus replacement anyway?)

 

[43055]

To no surprise Draycott has flooded again (between Long Eaton and Derby). EMR London - Sheffield and XC Nottingham - Cardiff are still running with some delays but EMR's Newark - Matlock has been suspended as they can't travel through the floodwater with buses running Nottingham - Derby and Derby - Matlock.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Lots of surface water everywhere in Herts - sodden fields etc cannot take any more rainfall , swollen rivers , with the result that they expected signal cable problems at Harpenden - and got it - so emergency single line working between St Albans and Luton effectively for several hours. In normal circumstances this would have been carnage in terms of individual passenger disruption. 24 hours of rain to come .......

 

[Bletchleyite]

Isn't the flooding usually north of Llanrwst?

Generally, yes. Further south it's a bit high to be flooding, though the Llanrwst cutting itself usually does.

South of Betws it doesn't flood (too high up), though you do get landslips.

 

[Class 170101]

To no surprise Draycott has flooded again (between Long Eaton and Derby). EMR London - Sheffield and XC Nottingham - Cardiff are still running with some delays but EMR's Newark - Matlock has been suspended as they can't travel through the floodwater with buses running Nottingham - Derby and Derby - Matlock.

I'm confused, if its flooded between Derby and Long Eaton surely trains can still run between Nottingham and Newark and between Derby and Matlock rather than bus, especially in a time of social distancing?

 

[High Dyke]

I'm confused, if its flooded between Derby and Long Eaton surely trains can still run between Nottingham and Newark and between Derby and Matlock rather than bus, especially in a time of social distancing?

It may be a case of unit availability and crewing.

 

[ChrisC]

To no surprise Draycott has flooded again (between Long Eaton and Derby). EMR London - Sheffield and XC Nottingham - Cardiff are still running with some delays but EMR's Newark - Matlock has been suspended as they can't travel through the floodwater with buses running Nottingham - Derby and Derby - Matlock.

Is this a problem that can ever be sorted? I remember this happening on a number of occasions when I used to travel to college in Derby in the 1970’s. That’s why I questioned in another thread whether if HS2 was to end at East Midland Parkway should the Erewash Valley Line be upgraded for high speed running to Sheffield because of regular flooding on the route via Derby.

 

[43055]

I'm confused, if its flooded between Derby and Long Eaton surely trains can still run between Nottingham and Newark and between Derby and Matlock rather than bus, especially in a time of social distancing?

It may be a case of unit availability and crewing.

Might be more the type of train i.e. 222's and 170's can run through but 15x's can't?

 

[PHILIPE]

I'm obliged. Thread title duly tweaked!

Believe that there's now been some flooding in mid Wales on the line between Machynlleth and Shrewsbury.

And almost inevitably in North Wales, on the Conwy Valley line, in particular the section between North Llanrwst and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Nothing long term on Conwy Valley and should be open for Thursday. I am confidently not singling the route out now and treat it as any other route. Hoping my confidence holds out.

 

[175001]

Conwy Valley shut south of North Llanrwst. Usual cutting flooding I'd guess.

 

[Bald Rick]

Christoph - no 'e'.

As a matter of interest, where do people think the blanket speed restrictions concept will take us? The Met Office issues weather warnings on the basis of their predictions, but they will be castigated if they fail to predict damaging weather and so will presumably be more, rather than less, cautious with the warnings. The railway therefore is put in 'emergency mode' more and more often as the bar is lowered over time. Am I being too pessimistic to imagine a scenario not too far in the future when speed restrictions are applied every time an active front passes through? I'm not decrying the idea of appropriate precautions; I just wonder where it leads to.

The only change to the application of blanket speed restrictions that I am aware of relates to the potential for earthworks failures after heavy rainfall on saturated ground. Even so, that change was around 10 years ago. I think it is fair to say that we are having more ‘high wind events’ now than in the past.

Is this a problem that can ever be sorted? I remember this happening on a number of occasions when I used to travel to college in Derby in the 1970’s. That’s why I questioned in another thread whether if HS2 was to end at East Midland Parkway should the Erewash Valley Line be upgraded for high speed running to Sheffield because of regular flooding on the route via Derby.

Draycott was ‘sorted’ about 20 years ago. However there is a new plan to help fix. Part of the problem here is that, ahem, ‘certain TOCs’ have restrictions about running through floodwater over and above the requirements of the rule book.

Network Rail to help restore disused Derbyshire canal - Rail Engineer

Listen to this article Network Rail is to invest £350,000 in helping to restore a section of the historic Draycott canal route in Derbyshire, both to reduce flooding on the railway and to rebuild heritage, creating new recreational facilities for locals and tourists alike. Known locally as the...

www.railengineer.co.uk

 

[apinnard]

Are NR having issues around St Albans and Harpenden again?

 

[M60lad]

Rochdale-Hebden Bridge closed due to flooding at Walsden area, this will also have an impact on Blackburn-Rochdale via Todmorden service aswell.

 

[Fokx]

Most routes surrounding the area of Manchester have a blanket 40mph speed restriction

Newton Le Willows to Manchester via Chat Moss is currently closed due to flooding at Parkside Jn

 

[Bald Rick]

Are NR having issues around St Albans and Harpenden again?

Yesterday, yes. The signalling power was also off briefly in the small hours of this morning whilst it was rerouted to new cables.

 

[M60lad]

Looks like because of the problems at Walsden 01:50 Liverpool Biomass Terminal-Drax GB Railfreight service is currently stuck at or near Littleborough after getting there at 06:39, no reports of it after it left Littleborough.

 

[bus man]

Rotherham Central closed till noon concern at nearby river

 

[skyhigh]

Rochdale-Hebden Bridge closed due to flooding at Walsden area, this will also have an impact on Blackburn-Rochdale via Todmorden service aswell.

Now shut from Sowerby to Rochdale.

 

[30907]

Looks like because of the problems at Walsden 01:50 Liverpool Biomass Terminal-Drax GB Railfreight service is currently stuck at or near Littleborough after getting there at 06:39, no reports of it after it left Littleborough.

Delayed a further 2hr but ran, followed by a Blackpool-Leeds, and nothing has run since according to RTT.

 

[A0]

Yesterday, yes. The signalling power was also off briefly in the small hours of this morning whilst it was rerouted to new cables.

Yesterday's disruption sounded quite serious - was it Storm Christophe related or something else ?