Snow Service Changes 25/02/18 onwards.

[tsr]

Southern are now having some issues getting crew to work at the “non-residential” inner London depots (ie. locations where staff are not expected to live nearby or drive in). Quite a lot of their crew travel from Kent, which has been getting progressively more chaotic all morning, both on railways and roads.

There’s also a power supply gone up in smoke near Angmering, meaning you can’t head west of West Worthing from Brighton or Hove. EDIT: Temporary fix just applied.

 

[gavin]

ECML north of Darlington blocked southbound not sure of the exact issue at present

Broken down freight train north of Darlington no estimate for when the southbound line will reopen

 

[adrock1976]

NRE report that (i) TPE are unable to run between Stockport and Sheffield; (ii) EMT are running the normal timetable on the Liverpool - Nottingham route

These trains could be routed from Stockport via Stoke-on-Trent, Uttoxeter, Stenson Junction, Trent Sheet Stores Junction, and Bestow to Nottingham subject to weather conditions and the routes being open.

 

[PHILIPE]

Broken down freight train north of Darlington no estimate for when the southbound line will reopen

Not weather related

 

[gavin]

Not weather related

Whats not to say the cold weather has caused the issue?

 

[Class 466]

A band of freezing rain ran across the whole of Kent/south London this morning and had left a nice layer of ice on the third rail. My train struggled between Orpington & Sevenoaks with some phenomenal arcing. Southeastern are now advising passengers to get home as soon as possible or not to travel at all. Many metro routes are shut and the Chatham mainline has been reduced to a Strood - Gillingham Shuttle as a 375 got rather stuck earlier: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/J06371/2018/03/02/advanced

And a 395 welded itself to the third rail near Sittingbourne amongst many other units failing in the area.

 

[Mugby]

EMT's site says that Norwich - Liverpool service is operating to the normal timetable but with fewer carriages than usual.

Why would that be, if the units are available? Are they fearful of joining/splitting in this weather?

 

[class387]

We've been let out of school after a notice was received saying that Great Northern will start to reduce service from 15:00.

 

[ChathillMan]

On delayed 1419 London Bridge to Caterham. Ground to a halt just after Kenley. Its just about moving now. Some interesting sights and sounds coming from beneath the train as we limp towards Whyteleaf. Driver not hopeful ..

 

[LowLevel]

These trains could be routed from Stockport via Stoke-on-Trent, Uttoxeter, Stenson Junction, Trent Sheet Stores Junction, and Bestow to Nottingham subject to weather conditions and the routes being open.

No, they couldnt, as no EMT train crew sign the route from Stockport to Stoke and few via Castle Donington, and I don't imagine anyone else is falling over spare crews to route conduct.

EMT's site says that Norwich - Liverpool service is operating to the normal timetable but with fewer carriages than usual.

Why would that be, if the units are available? Are they fearful of joining/splitting in this weather?

Because the class 153s are by and large stopped and a number of other units are suffering snow and ice damage some Liverpools are short formed to avoid total cancellation elsewhere. It's also the reason for the withdrawal of the xx55 Nottingham to Mansfield Woodhouse trains.

 

[theageofthetra]

Situation deteriorating rapidly in South London. Can honestly say (having not been alive in 62/63) that I have never seen aything like this in 47 years in London.

 

[Bromley boy]

Situation deteriorating rapidly in South London. Can honestly say (having not been alive in 62/63) that I have never seen aything like this in 47 years in London.

Certainly puts posts like this into perspective. I note he’s now gone rather quiet:

.... by preparing and running a train service in what are basically normal Winter conditions - this is a standard European Winter NOT 1963 - if you cannot prepare for normal Winter then you aren't fit for the role quite simply.

 

[GB]

Hmm, I have to be at Dagenham at 2100 and then Harwich at 0300. Should be fun!

 

[DanTrain]

Certainly puts posts like this into perspective. I note he’s now gone rather quiet:

In all fairness, in Sheffield this is just another winter, there's not much now that doesn't happen every few years, last had this much in 2015/6 I think, so not that rare.

However, I can completely see that both the sheer quantity of snow in Scotland and the rarity in the south makes it much harder. It does feel completely over-the-top until you look into it and realise just how bad it is in some places!

 

[ChathillMan]

My driver on 2Y41 doing a grand job keeping folk informed (i will contact southern officialy). Going to try and go downhill back to Purley and making some progress at a good speed. Caterham branch is done for.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Are they fearful of joining/splitting in this weather?

Yes, couplings can and do freeze and stack up with snow, so it's best avoided. Don't know if they could run some trains as 4-car throughout rather than all on some of the route though.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Certainly puts posts like this into perspective. I note he’s now gone rather quiet:

I think it's fair to say that up until the middle of yesterday it was a normal British winter, but it has worsened substantially.

 

[GarethC]

Does anybody know what the conditions are like on the Wherry/Bittern/East Suffolk lines? The signalling map on OTT has 'Closed' at the Ipswich end of the East Suffolk. I imagine with the snow and wind there will be some drifting. This service is still suspended despite GA trying to run everything else.

Thanks,
Gareth

 

[robbeech]

Yes, couplings can and do freeze and stack up with snow, so it's best avoided. Don't know if they could run some trains as 4-car throughout rather than all on some of the route though.

Perhaps, though i doubt they have the spare stock for this, the Liverpool to Norwich trains have been short formed for a year now as it is.

 

[tsr]

Snow is falling thick and fast around parts of East Surrey and Kent, plus South London.

The Tattenham Corner branch was struggling acutely earlier, but although services are still delayed, an MPV crew have been down and kept it open for the time being.

Caterham does indeed have major problems, inc. one train currently appearing to be stranded.

East Grinstead services are delayed by multiple track circuits failing in Oxted Tunnel earlier. This includes a couple of trains diverted from the Uckfield route due to severe weather and issues with the points at Hever. The last northbound train will be freed and then the route to/from Uckfield will be closed for at least an hour or two.

East Croydon’s north end footbridge is closed. Redhill Platform 0 is intermittenly closed.

Trains are taking longer than they should to get to/from Reigate. Suspect this route will be suspended next.

North Dulwich has had problems with trains taking power. Services are on the move but delayed.

London Overground have had units fail at Honor Oak Park (moved) and outside Crystal Palace (recovery underway) with power / traction package issues. Ice suspected to be related.

 

[Trainfan344]

37 short set has been sent North from Norwich towards Sheringham so GA attempting to get the service going. No passenger trains have run between Norwich and Lowestoft since Monday evening, I've never known anything like this!

 

[tsr]

Surprisingly the Caterham branch appears to be up for another go!

 

[ChathillMan]

Surprisingly the Caterham branch appears to be up for another go!

Looked like single line working and/or a non stop shuttle Purley/Caterham was being arranged when I bailed back at Purley.

 

[tsr]

Southern have miraculously found some buses from somewhere:
Haywards Heath - Uckfield - Crowborough - Eridge
Oxted - Edenbridge Town - Ashurst

Hever & Cowden cut off - no road access.

Tickets OK on Brighton & Hove / Compass local buses.

 

[tsr]

Looked like single line working and/or a non stop shuttle Purley/Caterham was being arranged when I bailed back at Purley.

Bog standard double-track working now! Allegedly.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

No Heathrow Connect services as Heathrow Express have borrowed the 360s to run a half-hourly service.

What's the issue with the 332s?

 

[83G/84D]

The Hope Valley line was closed for a while this morning. I boarded a train at Nottingham and intended to travel to Manchester but the train terminated at Sheffield. Later a train did run through the Hope Valley albeit short formed 2 v 4and very busy.Speed restrictions were in force due to icicles in the tunnels and Manchester was reached about 25 minutes late.

No cross country trains between Birmingham and the West Country this morning and nothing from Paddington or Waterloo to the West Country either.

 

[matt_world2004]

Are any London Underground services stopping early or not running whole lines tonight? Staff shortages etc

Chesham is closed

 

[tsr]

Caterham suspended again.

Redhill-Reigate suspended.

Epsom points failure continues to cause issues.

Class 700s all getting ice in their horns, so 20mph only.

Hever Junction being worked manually - Uckfield line open - all trains delayed and/or amended.

 

[diffident]

Birmingham cross city looks like its suspended for the rest of the day. Power problems at New street apparently

https://twitter.com/WestMidRailway/status/9696213