Storm Ciarán: Weather related disruption 1/2 November

[Class172]

Overheard earlier from a XC and GW Highspeed driver at Exeter St Davids that IET's and Voyagers are to be completely barred along the Sea Wall this time, with Castle's and 150/158's and Turbo's picking up all. It certainly seems to be this way, with all services being operated by 150's and Castles currently.

Appears to be this which died unfortunately...

Realtime Trains | 1A98 1904 Paignton to Exeter St Davids | 01/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 1A98 1904 departure from Paignton to Exeter St Davids on 01/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Let’s hope that when Operation Churchward finally gets around to being implemented that any ordered trains are specified to be ‘Dawlish-proof’, as otherwise there won’t be any stock to run in these scenarios!

 

[30907]

They dont seem to have an answer to this failing, and I dont think a Yellow warning of rain is justification to scrap the service. - Amber or Red then fair enough. I did a quick check just now and LNER were happy to offer to sell me tickets for services that are not going to run.

Very odd - from tomorrow afternoon until close Friday there is a severe speed restriction north of Newcastle which implies an Amber for wind not a Yellow for rain! That fits with the last BBC weather I saw at 1830 but not with current Met Office warnings.

There's also an Avoid Travel for the whole LNER on Friday which is also odd....

They finally caught up with the weather forecast sometime this afternoon

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Really wouldn't want to be a regional television presenter expected to do numerous 'pieces to camera' for TV news programmes during the height of this storm.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the IET could already run along the seawall in bad weather without failing or was that either a figment I have my imagination or a case of they've tried it and it didn't work

 

[Class172]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the IET could already run along the seawall in bad weather without failing or was that either a figment I have my imagination or a case of they've tried it and it didn't work

IETs on a number of occasions have been knocked out by adverse conditions along the Dawlish Sea Wall. This thread documents some recent shenanigans where multiple broke down – https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/disruption-due-to-an-issue-at-dawlish-18-10.256327

 

[Wivenswold]

Storm in a teacup? Meteorologist James Peacock has confirmed that the unusually low pressure over the south of England could affect your morning cuppa as water will boil at 98.3oC in the middle of the storm. A temperature, he says, is "sub-optimal for the steeping process" tea needs for that fuller flavour.

 

[Dan G]

Isnt west of St Austell closed anyway for resignalling work?

No

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Nov 2023 ==

Overheard earlier from a XC and GW Highspeed driver at Exeter St Davids that IET's and Voyagers are to be completely barred along the Sea Wall this time, with Castle's and 150/158's and Turbo's picking up all. It certainly seems to be this way, with all services being operated by 150's and Castles currently.

Appears to be this which died unfortunately...

Realtime Trains | 1A98 1904 Paignton to Exeter St Davids | 01/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 1A98 1904 departure from Paignton to Exeter St Davids on 01/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

A Voyager passed through Dawlish at 2331.

 

[irp]

No

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Nov 2023 ==


A Voyager passed through Dawlish at 2331.

Passed through on the up line, then switched back to the down at teignmouth. Further away from the sea wall, so folks being cautious would be my guess. High tide has passed, heading toward low tide. Looks much calmer there right now. Expect situation to worsen again tomorrow, esp as high tide tomorrow

 

[Blindtraveler]

IETs on a number of occasions have been knocked out by adverse conditions along the Dawlish Sea Wall. This thread documents some recent shenanigans where multiple broke down – https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/disruption-due-to-an-issue-at-dawlish-18-10.256327

Many thanks, both an interesting read and another reason for me to hate these trains

 

[Snow1964]

Apparently a heatwave in Hampshire, 05:33 Southampton-Bristol is cancelled due to Heat related speed restrictions

Realtime Trains | 2V52 0533 Southampton Central to Bristol Temple Meads | 02/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 2V52 0533 departure from Southampton Central to Bristol Temple Meads on 02/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[87015]

Apparently a heatwave in Hampshire, 05:33 Southampton-Bristol is cancelled due to Heat related speed restrictions

Realtime Trains | 2V52 0533 Southampton Central to Bristol Temple Meads | 02/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 2V52 0533 departure from Southampton Central to Bristol Temple Meads on 02/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

X4 doesn’t mean heat, that’s more RTT playing politics in its wording

 

[dk1]

A few early ‘proving’ trips sent out and apart from some slight delays to first services things are looking okay here in East Anglia. Most of this region was only on a yellow warning anyway.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Nov 2023 ==

Looks like some disruption now across the East Suffolk line but by the nature of that route this is to be expected.

 

[Snow1964]

Seems worst of the winds are over Channel Isles and Northern France

Windy on south coast but not exceptional. Generally just gusty breezes once few miles inland. Not 60+ mph winds inland

Rain is widespread, but not unusual levels for November.

Here in Wiltshire, winds less than forecast, and showers, not intense rain, trains seem to be running normally.

 

[Lost property]

Really wouldn't want to be a regional television presenter expected to do numerous 'pieces to camera' for TV news programmes during the height of this storm.

Quite. It must be immensely frustrating to attempt to repeat your inner Oscar nominee performance, with the hope of enhancing it, several times with the level of melodrama / histrionics involved.

Why they insist on standing in the pouring rain / blizzard / gale to state the proverbial obvious only they know given the UK public will already be aware of the conditions . Last nights BBC report from Jersey illustrates the point with the reporter stood there, exposed to the elements....and clearly drenched. Why not have something useful, like an umbrella perhaps, or, film from a shelter with the camera panning to show the conditions...which, I know, lacks the "dramatic effect ! ".

Although camera panning can also be revealing. One report some time ago, ostensibly from rural Kent in heavy snow, showed the reporter dressed as if going for an evening out, rather than for sub zero temps....but, when the camera panned, there was a brief glimpse of a railway station and car park !

 

[DelW]

Just woken up and looked out in Surrey, to see broken cloud and a flat calm, with the leaves barely stirring. Eye of the storm maybe, but not what I was expecting.

 

[Bald Rick]

Just woken up and looked out in Surrey, to see broken cloud and a flat calm, with the leaves barely stirring. Eye of the storm maybe, but not what I was expecting.

It is the eye of the storm.

Meanwhile, the sea defences at Dawlish did what they were supposed to do.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Very wet here in Medway, wind doesn't really seem excessive but certainly quite sharp if you go out in it temperature wise, I've just been to the dustbin which I should have done last night

 

[Sun Chariot]

"Passengers must not cross the line, except via the trampoline"

Hampshire/ West Sussex border was violent 10pm until 2:30-3am. Calmer since then. Leas flooded than end of last week. Mostly broken branches, stripped trees - and estate agents For Sale signs strewn on minor roads.

 

[adc82140]

Not particularly windy here on the Hants/Dorset border, but the Windy app shows the eye of the storm passing bang overhead. Flooding is more a problem, of 5 routes into town, only two are passable. The local school is closed, not because of the wind, but because most of the staff can't get in.

 

[800001]

They dont seem to have an answer to this failing, and I dont think a Yellow warning of rain is justification to scrap the service. - Amber or Red then fair enough. I did a quick check just now and LNER were happy to offer to sell me tickets for services that are not going to run.

A yellow warning of rain for areas which are already saturated and prone to flooding seems a good precaution to reduce service.

Watching forecast on the bbc just now, the heavy band off rain of the Grantham area where there was flooding in the line last week could cause issue with the fields surrounding the line saturated.

Network rail have positioned water pumps in the area and sand bagged several stretches of the line near Grantham to help prevent flooding.

Do not travel message is there to mitigate the amount of people attempting to travel, if there is flooding and services become stuck it helps lower the number of people stuck or heavily delayed.

 

[Essexman]

It is the eye of the storm.

Meanwhile, the sea defences at Dawlish did what they were supposed to do.

Looks like it.
Trains still running between Exeter and Newton Abbot but not east of Exeter (Taunton) or west of Newton Abbott (Plymouth).

 

[infobleep]

Hampshire has declared a major incident, yet South Western Railway hasn't advised people not to travel as far as I am aware but has obviously issued advice on which lines or services are disrupted.

On the other hand, Govia Thameslink Railway has issued advice and advised people not to travel from the coast, yet neither East Sussex nor West Sussex have declared a major incident.

Between Reading and Gatwick Airport

All lines between Reading and Gatwick are currently closed due to severe weather. Trains running between these stations will be cancelled.

This is expected until 12:00.

Replacement road transport has been requested to run on this route but due to the current conditions is limited.

You may use your ticket on the following:

• South Western Railway services between London Waterloo and Guildford at no extra cost
• Thameslink services between Redhill and Gatwick Airport
• Compass travel bus service route 32 between Guildford and Redhill

Incident: GWRWeather | National Rail

Storm Ciarán to impact Great Western Railway services today and on Friday 3 November. Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Between Ash and Wanborough

Flooding between Ash and Wanborough means that all lines are currently blocked. Trains running between these stations will be cancelled.

Disruption on this route is expected until 11:00.

There is flooding between Wanboriugh and Ash.

Incident: SWRWeather | National Rail

Storm Ciarán to impact South Western Railway and Island Line services today. Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Does anyone know what other issues there are on the North Downs Line between Reading and Gatwick Airport?

 

[kristiang85]

Luckily it did stay south in the end - the kind of winds that hit the Channel in some of the heavily populated southern areas would be catastrophic. But, on the downside, the Channel Islands seem to have been badly battered, as have the French.

Currently calm-ish here in north Hampshire, but the next batch of winds are due soon, but certainly not as strong as predicted a few days ago.

 

[RichJF]

Other than a bit extra surface water & a few twigs down it's relatively normal & calm here in Sussex. Eye of the storm must be passing over as there's not a breath of wind!

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Dire rain on my way in this morning up from Kent but nothing out of the ordinary for this time of year. Just popped out in SE London and sun was trying to break through.... Missus was going to get train up to London but sensibly stayed at home

So is the storm coming or has north Kent and London escaped the worst...?

 

[Sun Chariot]

Hayling Island's low-laying topography, invariably means it floods.
This road is adjacent to the marshy coast and is as flooded as it was last week
Also, a more centrally located road has also flooded.

 

[Horizon22]

Why they insist on standing in the pouring rain / blizzard / gale to state the proverbial obvious only they know given the UK public will already be aware of the conditions . Last nights BBC report from Jersey illustrates the point with the reporter stood there, exposed to the elements....and clearly drenched. Why not have something useful, like an umbrella perhaps, or, film from a shelter with the camera panning to show the conditions...which, I know, lacks the "dramatic effect ! ".

Unfortunately a lot of people really don’t believe it until they see it even if it’s well reported (“just a bit of rain innit”) and adding the human element brings the story home. All a bit ridiculous but many people are like that

 

[Dan G]

What's that got to do with trains?
________

On topic, does anyone know what's blocking the line between Exeter and Taunton?

 

[adc82140]

A couple of shots from here on the Dorset/Hants border. Not my photos, copyright is with Newsquest media (I think)

 

[Bald Rick]

What's that got to do with trains?
________

On topic, does anyone know what's blocking the line between Exeter and Taunton?

Flood risk.

Opens at 1200.