Salisbury to Romsey blocked by a land slip.

[fgwrich]

Consideration within that is that most Portsmouth services are now 165/166s, which while technically can couple mechanically to a 159, they’re not compatible electrically.

That’s true, I was thinking more on the lines of using the 158s. (More so as SWR Drivers would be able to sign them as well, requiring just the co-operation of both TOCs to get them out of service down to Portsmouth).

Would they (as in Turbos) still be able to couple to 158s given the ride height modifications?

 

[fgwrich]

They’re also not cleared for the mainline route between Salisbury and Basingstoke (not sure about Basingstoke to Reading, which would be an alternative.....a long winded one).

They certainly are cleared Between Basingstoke and Reading, as they were until fairly recently (166s) and still are (165) used on the Bas - Reading services daily. Shouldn’t be any issue with any of the platforms either, I’ve had a few turbos (and the sprinters) off of all the platforms at Basingstoke over the years.

 

[theironroad]

I would imagine that for maintenance swaps they’ll pilot work over single line a 3/4/5 unit mash up, or send them up via Reading with a SWR/GBRF/Freight driver provided between Eastleigh and Basingstoke to provide route knowledge.

it appears XC are running via Laverstock this weekend, with pathing taken into account. The only direct trains to London from Southampton however is Southern via Horsham. Everything else is bus Southampton to Winchester, which in itself is unusual as usually they’ll divert via Havant.

I'm beginning to think that swr are just giving up. As you'll know, Saturday's crew diagrams are due out until 1200 today, (about now)so they've had a couple of days to amend the service and get crews in place.

No direct trains from Weymouth/Bomo/Southampton to London and back on swr is really not acceptable when there is a route open that is regularly used fro diversions.

 

[Matt Taylor]

By some miracle I've moved from off my running turn to spare, no doubt something will come up.

I cannot remember a time when the SWML was blocked and there were no diversions via Havant, it's quite extraordinary.

 

[Kite159]

Even an hourly service towards Weymouth via Havant, similar to when Eastleigh was blocked will be better than buses.

---------

As for Chandlers Ford not being served by trains, they are playing into the hands of BlueStar buses.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

That’s true, I was thinking more on the lines of using the 158s. (More so as SWR Drivers would be able to sign them as well, requiring just the co-operation of both TOCs to get them out of service down to Portsmouth).

SWR drivers will not drive GWR class 158s, this has been an issue since NSE days as the 158s have no cab door and no ability to lock out the front passenger vestibule as happens on SWR 158/159/442 stock.

 

[greaterwest]

By some miracle I've moved from off my running turn to spare, no doubt something will come up.

I cannot remember a time when the SWML was blocked and there were no diversions via Havant, it's quite extraordinary.

I believe they only announced the additional Saturday engineering work at Eastleigh yesterday morning, so I'm hardly surprised they haven't had time to come up with proper diagrams for London Waterloo to Weymouth via Havant services. Originally the plan was to run booked services this Saturday, via Winchester.

 

[pompeyfan]

SWR drivers will not drive GWR class 158s, this has been an issue since NSE days as the 158s have no cab door and no ability to lock out the front passenger vestibule as happens on SWR 158/159/442 stock.

but they will drive them ECS, there’s been a few times where they’ve needed to be stabled in Eastleigh DCS and Arlington and SWR drivers have moved them.

 

[Kite159]

SWR drivers will not drive GWR class 158s, this has been an issue since NSE days as the 158s have no cab door and no ability to lock out the front passenger vestibule as happens on SWR 158/159/442 stock.

When GWR was on strike back in 2015 time, SWT borrowed 158961 to run Salisbury - Romsey rounders (with the other two sets doubled up) as GWR were only running to Salisbury. So SWT/SWR drivers have driven GWR 158s in service in the past.

I believe they only announced the additional Saturday engineering work at Eastleigh yesterday morning, so I'm hardly surprised they haven't had time to come up with proper diagrams for London Waterloo to Weymouth via Havant services. Originally the plan was to run booked services this Saturday, via Winchester.

Wasn't it a case of Southampton Airport area being closed on Saturday with the SWR services only running to Eastleigh for buses onward, hence why XC were diverting via Laverstock?

 

[fgwrich]

When GWR was on strike back in 2015 time, SWT borrowed 158961 to run Salisbury - Romsey rounders (with the other two sets doubled up) as GWR were only running to Salisbury. So SWT/SWR drivers have driven GWR 158s in service in the past.

Indeed, there has also been a FGW 158 moved by SWT in the past. I can't remember how it reached Basingstoke, but was then trip worked down with a SWT 158 to Portsmouth on the 22:15. The FGW unit left locked out of use. This was certainly sometime around 2010-2012.

 

[PTR 444]

So as far as I understand, the Salisbury - Romsey Line is partially blocked by a landslip while engineering work is taking place at Eastleigh this weekend. SWR’s usual diversion route via Havant isn’t affected by any of this so I am a bit puzzled as to why they are cancelling direct London - Weymouth trains.

 

[swt_passenger]

So as far as I understand, the Salisbury - Romsey Line is partially blocked by a landslip while engineering work is taking place at Eastleigh this weekend. SWR’s usual diversion route via Havant isn’t affected by any of this so I am a bit puzzled as to why they are cancelling direct London - Weymouth trains.

Saturday not sure, but on Sunday it’s because Southampton Central is already shut all day for previously planned works. Running 10 car Weymouth trains as far as Woolston wouldn't help much...

 

[PTR 444]

Saturday not sure, but on Sunday it’s because Southampton Central is already shut all day for previously planned works. Running 10 car Weymouth trains as far as Woolston wouldn't help much...

That seems contradictory to this post earlier in the thread though

The only direct trains to London from Southampton however is Southern via Horsham. Everything else is bus Southampton to Winchester, which in itself is unusual as usually they’ll divert via Havant

If Southern are able to run to Soton Central after Woolston, surely SWR must be able to do so too.

 

[greaterwest]

Wasn't it a case of Southampton Airport area being closed on Saturday with the SWR services only running to Eastleigh for buses onward, hence why XC were diverting via Laverstock?

I could be wrong then but I heard an additional PA announcement yesterday at stations about extra engineering works in the Eastleigh area.

https://twitter.com/SW_Help/status/1230523260632289286/

The photo in the above tweet would also suggest there was only a closure planned for Sunday.

 

[swt_passenger]

That seems contradictory to this post earlier in the thread though


If Southern are able to run to Soton Central after Woolston, surely SWR must be able to do so too.

That was about Saturday, Southern don’t run that service on Sundays. At the time pompeyfan was posting, RTT had not been updated for the whole weekend.

 

[pompeyfan]

To clarify, Sunday was planned to be closed between Eastleigh and Bournemouth, but that has been extended to Winchester now. Saturday when I looked on RTT was showing XC via Laverstock, SWR terminating at SOU, and SN running as booked, we now know that was incorrect. Hopefully that clears up

 

[swt_passenger]

To clarify, Sunday was planned to be closed between Eastleigh and Bournemouth, but that has been extended to Winchester now. Saturday when I looked on RTT was showing XC via Laverstock, SWR terminating at SOU, and SN running as booked, we now know that was incorrect. Hopefully that clears up

Indeed RTT is still incorrect (as at 1930) for this Saturday for XC services. XC’s own website has a note about changes though.

 

[181]

I believe they only announced the additional Saturday engineering work at Eastleigh yesterday morning, so I'm hardly surprised they haven't had time to come up with proper diagrams for London Waterloo to Weymouth via Havant services. Originally the plan was to run booked services this Saturday, via Winchester.

XC knew about the extra Saturday closure at Eastleigh by last Sunday evening, and had arranged diversions, updated their schedules for journey planners, and updated the engineering work page on their website -- see my thread here. (Of course the landslip later put paid to those plans). One would assume that SWR also knew about Eastleigh by Sunday, but they don't seem to have told the public about it for some days, or (as discussed above) arranged diversions.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I had a nose at this on the planner and it seems they have no easement for a rail-only route which is actually quicker than train-bus-train (forget what it was but it was 10 minutes quicker). Madness...

 

[swt_passenger]

I had a nose at this on the planner and it seems they have no easement for a rail-only route which is actually quicker than train-bus-train (forget what it was but it was 10 minutes quicker). Madness...

SWR don’t do temporary Routeing easements for planned engineering or emergency, in my experience. The planners usually prevent obvious rail alternatives, this isn’t new for this area. When I looked a few days ago the ongoing Eastleigh problem wasn’t showing any buses, and following the website advice to circulate via Winchester still resulted in the “multiple tickets required” warning...

 

[387star]

To confirm Cardiff trains starting from Salisbury and no GWR services from Portsmouth for up to two months or are they running to Southampton/romsey ? No romsey rounders either

They did have single line working in place presumably the whole track is now in a bad state

 

[387star]

I would imagine that for maintenance swaps they’ll pilot work over single line a 3/4/5 unit mash up, or send them up via Reading with a SWR/GBRF/Freight driver provided between Eastleigh and Basingstoke to provide route knowledge.

it appears XC are running via Laverstock this weekend, with pathing taken into account. The only direct trains to London from Southampton however is Southern via Horsham. Everything else is bus Southampton to Winchester, which in itself is unusual as usually they’ll divert via Havant.

Didn't know crosscountry drivers signed Laverstock. Can you explain the diversion ?you mean Salisbury?

 

[pompeyfan]

Has anyone happened to notice if the Chichester, Fareham or Botley stone trains have been diverted? Can’t imagine their customers are particularly happy being told sorry no stone for the next 2 months!

 

[Rich McLean]

Has anyone happened to notice if the Chichester, Fareham or Botley stone trains have been diverted? Can’t imagine their customers are particularly happy being told sorry no stone for the next 2 months!

Can any of it go via road in tippers if need be. Imagine that the FOC may need to sub-contract out to Tippers in order to keep the contract

 

[swt_passenger]

Can any of it go via road in tippers if need be. Imagine that the FOC may need to sub-contract out to Tippers in order to keep the contract

They’d probably run via Basingstoke with a reversal I expect. IIRC the 3 locations have daily Q paths but they aren’t used every day. I think the Botley trains run late night normally to keep the various shunt moves out of the way of passenger services.

 

[PhilipW]

I am surprised that anyone wishing to travel from Salisbury to either Southampton or Portsmouth going via Basingstoke will be charged a higher fare than going by bus through Romsey.
In the circumstances that seems like an entirely reasonable alternative route.

 

[northernbelle]

I understand that maintenance swaps of GWR units will be undertaken overnight using single line pilotman working on the Laverstock route. There are no plans to run via any other route.

 

[swt_passenger]

I am surprised that anyone wishing to travel from Salisbury to either Southampton or Portsmouth going via Basingstoke will be charged a higher fare than going by bus through Romsey.
In the circumstances that seems like an entirely reasonable alternative route.

It is a reasonable route but (as I posted last night), I don’t expect they’ll put temporary fares easements in place.

The thing is, on SWR’s website they say you can use your tickets on GWR on “any reasonable route“. But the nearest feasible alternative GWR operated train service is going to be at Basingstoke?

Then NRES says GWR passengers can use SWR services from Salisbury to Southampton and Portsmouth via Basingstoke, so why can’t SWR pax also do that?

Another mystery, why the heck does the NRES site suggest that SWR passengers can use SN “between Clapham Jn and Gatwick”? What has that to do with a problem between Romsey and Salisbury?

 

[pompeyfan]

It is a reasonable route but (as I posted last night), I don’t expect they’ll put temporary fares easements in place.

The thing is, on SWR’s website they say you can use your tickets on GWR on “any reasonable route“. But the nearest feasible alternative GWR operated train service is going to be at Basingstoke?

Then NRES says GWR passengers can use SWR services from Salisbury to Southampton and Portsmouth via Basingstoke, so why can’t SWR pax also do that?

Another mystery, why the heck does the NRES site suggest that SWR passengers can use SN “between Clapham Jn and Gatwick”? What has that to do with a problem between Romsey and Salisbury?

just a punt but Salisbury to Gatwick via Barnham is not currently achievable. Could This would be an easement to allow via Clapham?

 

[pompeyfan]

I understand that maintenance swaps of GWR units will be undertaken overnight using single line pilotman working on the Laverstock route. There are no plans to run via any other route.

did think that would be the case but thanks for clarifying.