Lightning Strikes disable Breckland Line (6/7/2017) - and now Bittern Line (8/8/2017)

[jamesontheroad]

Services are suspended along the Breckland Line between Ely and Norwich because of lightning strike(s).

GA are reporting that lightning has damaged the signalling system in two places, between Thetford and Attleborough and between Shippea Hill and Ely.

Disruption is expected until 21:00 today.

It's worth having a look at lightningmaps.org for a sense how many strikes there have been across East Anglia today.

 

[jamie_r]

Also a strike to 'signalling equipment' on the line between Diss and Norwich. No service at all to Norwich from London via Cambridge, and many trains from Liverpool Street also disrupted. GA on Twitter say that 'fewer' electric trains can work between Diss and Norwich at the moment (but also that none can(!)), and are running a limited Diesel shuttle service between Diss and Norwich.

 

[jamesontheroad]

The disruption will continue today.

There are no trains between Ely and Norwich today (Friday 7 July), and until further notice.

 

[jamesontheroad]

Continuing our unsettled summer of storms, one or more lighting strikes has today knocked out the signalling on the Norwich - Sheringham line.

Source: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/168982.aspx

Is this the same system is installed along the Breckland Line?

 

[Bald Rick]

Continuing our unsettled summer of storms, one or more lighting strikes has today knocked out the signalling on the Norwich - Sheringham line.

Source: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/168982.aspx

Is this the same system is installed along the Breckland Line?

No, the signalling on the Cromer branch is a very different design than that on the Ely - Norwich line. The former is more susceptible to lightning strikes because of its system architecture.

Incidentally, before anyone chips in with 'signalling never used to break with lightning in the old days', it certainly did. Indeed I had a signaller on the Ely - Norwich off work for a while having had the misfortune to be pulling a lever when lighting hit the track some distance away. He ended up on the other side of the box, thanking his lucky stars.