1v62 1100 Glasgow - Penzance seems to be stuck near Widdrington. Anyone got any ideas? That train is now well over 3 hours late
says there are a few incidents marked up 'SEV SNOW' (Code X9)
1v62 1100 Glasgow - Penzance seems to be stuck near Widdrington. Anyone got any ideas? That train is now well over 3 hours late
1E17 1330 Edinburgh-London seems to be having some trouble- been at a stand at Berwick since 15:42.
I know what arrangements are made, I was involved with them for a number of years. I also know that a culture of "give up" when it snows, or many other types of disruption occurs, developed on the railways when it was seen as a rump industry only fit for closure. Those days are, hopefully, behind us, but it seems that the industry has still a way to go to regain that reliability that was once the norm.They do. NR sent out many teams yesterday before the snow started falling to inspect point heaters. They also have teams of snowmen who go out and try and sort any issues that come up.
However even point heaters can get overwhelmed with enough snow and given the very low temperatures, this can affect the lubrication and contribute to points failures....can also affect the wires to mechanically operated points.
The biggest problem at Scotrail tonight is the roads. Hundreds of backshift staff have been unable to get to work due appalling road conditions. Things were better earlier as most early shift staff arrived before it alll kicked off. All the advice is don't travel, risk to life etc yet rail staff need to get there somehow. Many roads impassable, buses off, taxis off what are we do do? Fly?I know what arrangements are made, I was involved with them for a number of years. I also know that a culture of "give up" when it snows, or many other types of disruption occurs, developed on the railways when it was seen as a rump industry only fit for closure. Those days are, hopefully, behind us, but it seems that the industry has still a way to go to regain that reliability that was once the norm.
I expect 3" of snow to give roads a problem. I do not expect that of a railway.
If point heaters are overwhelmed then they are not fit for purpose. What equipment do they use in other countries? I am not talking about purchasing fleets of rotary snow ploughs, which even in the Sierra Nevada in the US do not see service every year.
If we have a once in 10 year event so be it, but the UK seems to get once in 10 year events nearly every year.
I suppose the old rule that you report to the nearest station, to be allocated whatever duties they had available, has now gone.The biggest problem at Scotrail tonight is the roads. Hundreds of backshift staff have been unable to get to work due appalling road conditions. Things were better earlier as most early shift staff arrived before it alll kicked off. All the advice is don't travel, risk to life etc yet rail staff need to get there somehow. Many roads impassable, buses off, taxis off what are we do do? Fly?
It still exists, in various guises.I suppose the old rule that you report to the nearest station, to be allocated whatever duties they had available, has now gone.
I also think that part of the problem is that as others have said often the bad weather plans are not implemented just like other contingency plans until after the effects of bad weather . By this time enough units and crews are already displaced for it to be difficult to then manage ongoing incidents whilst trying to implement an amended train plan .A thought... I'm sure the rail companies regularly review their bad weather plans. Thing is, they don't need to implement them very often. Hence, they tend to be different each time they are used. Which means commuters, and their employers, don't know in advance what to expect.
About 50 railway stations in Kent and East Sussex will be shut on Thursday because of the cold and snowy weather, the Southeastern rail firm has said.
Some lines, including those between Dover and Ramsgate - serving Deal and Sandwich - and Sittingbourne and Sheerness will be closed.
Other services will be operating to a revised timetable on Thursday, the rail company said
Southeastern is advising passengers to avoid travelling if possible.
The line between Paddock Wood and Strood will be closed, as well as the lines from Dover Priory to Faversham and to Ramsgate.
Some stations between Ramsgate and Sittingbourne, between Paddock Wood and Folkestone West, and between Tunbridge Wells and St Leonards will also be closed.
Knockolt, Sole Street, Farningham Road. Higham and Strood stations will also be closed, together with those on the line between Ashford International and Canterbury West.
There will be no trains between Sittingbourne and Sheerness
In general a sensible point, but Scotrail had already reduced the number of services operating today, so pressure on stock and staff should have been reduced. Surely most of the backshift could have walked to their nearest station and got the train to work. Have the sleeper carriages linked up to power near Haymarket as accommodation for those who couldn't get home, run down the service so trains finish deliberately near where staff live or do Network rail have some Land Rovers they could use to drop off the staff on the last service. Even in the worst parts of the Scottish rail network there isn't more than a foot of snow, if they keep the trains running, the lines will stay clear. There is always a way of keeping it going, I'm not convinced there is always a will.I also think that part of the problem is that as others have said often the bad weather plans are not implemented just like other contingency plans until after the effects of bad weather . By this time enough units and crews are already displaced for it to be difficult to then manage ongoing incidents whilst trying to implement an amended train plan .
A lot of people hark back to BR days . But for starters train crew diagrams never used to be as intensive as now , you had a greater ratio of spare train crew and units , in the earlier days people could work 15 hour days.
In general a sensible point, but Scotrail had already reduced the number of services operating today, so pressure on stock and staff should have been reduced. Surely most of the backshift could have walked to their nearest station and got the train to work. Have the sleeper carriages linked up to power near Haymarket as accommodation for those who couldn't get home, run down the service so trains finish deliberately near where staff live or do Network rail have some Land Rovers they could use to drop off the staff on the last service. Even in the worst parts of the Scottish rail network there isn't more than a foot of snow, if they keep the trains running, the lines will stay clear. There is always a way of keeping it going, I'm not convinced there is always a will.
Any good ploughing videos from Scotrail?
They also have teams of snowmen who go out and try and sort any issues that come up.
1v62 1100 Glasgow - Penzance seems to be stuck near Widdrington. Anyone got any ideas? That train is now well over 3 hours late
Is the power off just north of Newcastle?
Have the sleeper carriages linked up to power near Haymarket as accommodation for those who couldn't get home, run down the service so trains finish deliberately near where staff live
GWR have just announced that there will be no Cornish branch line services tomorrow. It is on their twitter feed
There is now a red weather warning for the central belt of Scotland meaning that people are advised not to travel unless their journey is essential . As much as plenty of people have their employer tell them that attending work is essential the world wont end tomorrow if the majority of staff did not turn up . Is guarding or driving a train so essential that its worth ignoring a red weather warning ? when the majority of people shouldn't be travelling anyway .
Come on, it's (almost) an emergency! Far better than a shop doorway or trying to find a seat that will allow you to stretch out inside a station. I would give a commendation to any operator/manager who had the wit to offer such accommodation to essential staff.On your first suggestion - not sure that dossing down overnight in a SLEP represents the necessary period of rest.
A few greater than 4 hours on east coast.
0540 Edinburgh- Kings Cross only made it to Stevenage. Not sure what happened to prevent it going all the way after a long wait outside York.
Come on, it's (almost) an emergency! Far better than a shop doorway or trying to find a seat that will allow you to stretch out inside a station. I would give a commendation to any operator/manager who had the wit to offer such accommodation to essential staff.
I (and family) were allowed to kip in a stationary couchette train at Hendaye once during a French rail strike and was very grateful for it.