Southeastern Snow Disruption - 11/12

[williamn]

Looks like the first down train on the Hastings line in about 24hrs is on its way - 1Z38 just left Tonbridge 10L, despite SE saying nothing until 4pm

Don't think this lasted long, only a few trains got through before the line was closed again. While I am sure it was a tricky situation, having almost no service all day the day before a two day strike is really not great and very inconvenient. I note that Southern ran fine through to nearby Uckfield all day - presumably because of it being diesel.

 

[Mojo]

Maybe but were the deicers (ice inhibitors) out all day given the cold weather irrespective of the snow forecast as they are key enabler to keep trains moving and then you have a fighting chance of avoiding snow accumulation that can't be swept clear by the shoegear.

I cannot speak for Southeastern, but our trains were running with the de-icers on and sleet brushes down, however despite this a number of trains still got stuck requiring manual ice scraping and de-icing.

 

[Class 466]

A little bit of disruption (well a lot) and now Highspeed services are being delayed through Ashford (They can only use Platforms 5&6) - 5L66 was 1L66 but is missing crew...

 

[ComUtoR]

I cannot speak for Southeastern, but our trains were running with the de-icers on and sleet brushes down, however despite this a number of trains still got stuck requiring manual ice scraping and de-icing.

They have been in Ice mode and De-Icing for more than a week now.

 

[JonathanH]

From memory some of the sub-types of 375s when in “ice mode” can also dispense anti icing fluid onto shoes.

Think it is the 375/8s that are set up to do de-icing.

 

[brad465]

Just thinking about coming days. With temperatures unlikely to get above freezing for much of the week, and only marginally above if they do, seems to me that there is a pretty decent chance of service being ruined until Sunday afternoon - effectively nothing today, strikes Tues & Weds, Thurs likely to be a mess with nothing having run to clear snow/ice for 3 days, strikes again Fri & Sat...

If they can get something done on Thursday regarding clearing the lines then Saturday looks decent for melting stuff, potentially giving Sunday morning a head start. There is no snow forecast from here, so it's just the ice they have to worry about:

Maidstone - BBC Weather

14-day weather forecast for Maidstone.

www.bbc.co.uk

(Forecast in Maidstone showing sunny with 6C high.)

 

[43066]

Think it is the 375/8s that are set up to do de-icing.

That sounds right - I honestly can’t remember. Ice mode is on all Electrostars, including 376s, not sure about 707s. As above, on the majority that are not equipped with de icing kit, its function is merely to prevent electrical surges affecting signalling equipment. It isn’t present at all on the Networkers due to their simpler/older electrical equipment.

If they can get something done on Thursday regarding clearing the lines then Saturday looks decent for melting stuff, potentially giving Sunday morning a head start. There is no snow forecast from here, so it's just the ice they have to worry about:

Maidstone - BBC Weather

14-day weather forecast for Maidstone.

www.bbc.co.uk

View attachment 125161
(Forecast in Maidstone showing sunny with 6C high.)

Indeed. Of course the late start and limited traffic due to strikes won’t help matters, albeit what service does run will be fairly concentrated on a few key routes, so hopefully going forward those will prove more robust than today.