Problems around Brighton on the evening of 22 June 2024

[AlbertBeale]

When trying to get from Brighton to London on Saturday evening, I found 3 out of 4 pending London services were cancelled. (Actually, I think 2 were shown as not running when I first got to the station, but then another one switched to cancelled.)

One of the signs said something about late-arriving crew; so was there a problem up the line somewhere? (While I was at the station, one of the "cancelled" services for which the train was physically present - a T/Link - headed off north, presumably empty; since they only need a driver, and there obviously was one, why wasn't it in passenger service?)

I got round the problem by dog-legging to Hove on a Southampton departure and picking up a direct London train from there, which was a valid route on my ticket without needing any special disruption dispensation; I figured out that even if that didn't get me to London much earlier, it might at least save me from being crammed on a train from Brighton with several loads of passengers on it.

At Haywards Heath on my London-bound train, there was a GX service on the adjacent northbound platform with its on-train signs saying it was for Victoria (though with no passengers on it and with no departure time I could see) - might that have been a very delayed service turning short at HH, hence explaining at least one of the Brighton cancellations? [NB - are all 4 lines through HH reversible?]

Additionally, when I was waiting for the London train at Hove, there were repeated announcements about delays on the West Coastway services because of problems at a level crossing earlier. Where was that? What happened?

Lastly, relating to a recent thread about frequent revenue blockades (at least for interchanging passengers) at Brighton, on none of the 3 occasions I was around Brighton station on Saturday did I see any sign at all of any blockades, though the station was pretty busy at times.

Also, another point on that thread related to platform allocations at Brighton: my West Coastway service to Southampton in the evening left from Platform 3; both 1 and 2 were occupied at the time. Is that normal? (Or maybe those platforms were congested because of the delays on that line?)

 

[Somewhere]

Thameslink are still suffering from their long - term shortage of drivers that they've never sorted out.
There was a failed train at Three Bridges which clogged up the Brighton Mainline. The empty Thameslink you saw was probably going to the Sidings I expect
Trains to Southampton can leave from platform 3, that's perfectly normal

 

[Jan Mayen]

The level crossing problem was in the Ford area. I assume the one next to Ford station, but don't know for certain. This blocked the line for some time.
This caused (amongst many other issues), the driver of the 1729 Gatwick Express from London Victoria to Brighton to be unable to get to their train, so another driver had to be found. Most of the passengers were advised to travel on the following Littlehampton train. The GX then departed late, with very few passengers. It then picked up further delays as it travelled to Brighton.
The return working was then amended to run nonstop to London Victoria as it was so late. However, due to a train breaking down just as it was leaving platform 4 at Three Bridges, further disruption was caused. (The rear carriage was still in the platform, but it blocked the crossovers north of the station). A following train on the up fast had to do a wrong direction move to Balcombe Tunnel Junction, thus causing the 'nonstop' GX (and a Thameslink train) to be held in platforms 3 & 4 at Haywards Heath while this was completed.

The above is from personal observation, speaking to the GX onboard supervisor, listening to announcements and looking at the maps on Open Train Times.

 

[Controller1701]

Platforms 1,3 & 4 are fully reversible at Haywards Heath, with crossovers provided at Copyhold Junction. Platform 2 is only reversible for terminating trains from the south end.

Paul

 

[75A]

Thameslink are still suffering from their long - term shortage of drivers that they've never sorted out.
There was a failed train at Three Bridges which clogged up the Brighton Mainline. The empty Thameslink you saw was probably going to the Sidings I expect
Trains to Southampton can leave from platform 3, that's perfectly normal

As long as it's 4 coaches or less.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Thameslink are still suffering from their long - term shortage of drivers that they've never sorted out.
There was a failed train at Three Bridges which clogged up the Brighton Mainline. The empty Thameslink you saw was probably going to the Sidings I expect
Trains to Southampton can leave from platform 3, that's perfectly normal

Are they still overly reliant in Overtime workings to cover the deficit?

 

[Somewhere]

As long as it's 4 coaches or less.

Which they mostly are

Are they still overly reliant in Overtime workings to cover the deficit?

And people don't want to work overtime. There's football on and its sunny

 

[NSEWonderer]

Fair enough

 

[zwk500]

Platforms 1,3 & 4 are fully reversible at Haywards Heath, with crossovers provided at Copyhold Junction. Platform 2 is only reversible for terminating trains from the south end.

Paul

Is the Up Main reversible from Copyhold Jn to HHE now?

 

[AlbertBeale]

Thanks for all the information everyone. NB - the 3 cancellations I saw during close to one hour's cycle of services on the departure board in the evening were two Victoria services and one T/Link. Meaning one T/L then picking up 4 lots of passengers (potentially - I didn't wait to find out but went via Hove instead). This would have been at a time when there are only 4 (maybe 5) direct Brighton-London services ph, as opposed to the 6ph earlier on.

 

[Controller1701]

Is the Up Main reversible from Copyhold Jn to HHE now?

You've got me wondering now, am sure that I've seen the appropriate junction indicator on T333 signal to allow the move, although looking at maps the up loop has an extra signal in the down direction. Hopefully I've not lulled people into a false direction.

Paul

 

[zwk500]

You've got me wondering now, am sure that I've seen the appropriate junction indicator on T333 signal to allow the move, although looking at maps the up loop has an extra signal in the down direction. Hopefully I've not lulled people into a false direction.

Paul

Just checked an old cab ride

And at 54.11 the signal for the Down Line only has 2 Junction indicators, nos. 1 and 4, for the loops only.

At HHE 1 and 4 are fully reversible, but 2 and 3 are restricted to only allowing the 'wrong' movements southwards.

 

[Controller1701]

Just checked an old cab ride

And at 54.11 the signal for the Down Line only has 2 Junction indicators, nos. 1 and 4, for the loops only.

At HHE 1 and 4 are fully reversible, but 2 and 3 are restricted to only allowing the 'wrong' movements southwards.

Ahhh fair enough.

Paul

 

[zwk500]

Ahhh fair enough.

Paul

No worries, I did hear a few years a plan for all 4 tracks to be reversibly signalled at some point, although would have been surprised to see only 1 line done rather than both.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Just checked an old cab ride

And at 54.11 the signal for the Down Line only has 2 Junction indicators, nos. 1 and 4, for the loops only.

At HHE 1 and 4 are fully reversible, but 2 and 3 are restricted to only allowing the 'wrong' movements southwards.

But for one of 2 and 3, southwards wouldn't be a wrong movement...

 

[zwk500]

But for one of 2 and 3, southwards wouldn't be a wrong movement...

An excellent spot of pedantry. Better to say 'wrong direction moves are only available at the south end'.
You can arrive 'wrong' direction into 2 from the south, or depart 'wrong' direction from 3 to the south.

 

[AlbertBeale]

An excellent spot of pedantry. Better to say 'wrong direction moves are only available at the south end'.
You can arrive 'wrong' direction into 2 from the south, or depart 'wrong' direction from 3 to the south.

Aha - now I understand - thanks.