GWR website still says Taunton -Exeter closed until at least 16.00
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Storm Ciarán: Weather related disruption 1/2 November
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GWR website still says Taunton -Exeter closed until at least 16.00
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RailUK Forums
State the worse case and hope for earlier
Calm and a typical autumn day here at the moment, though looks like we're going to get quite a lot of rain over the next 12 hours or so (and lots more again on Saturday).
Trains seem to be running normally around here, at least for now, but I suspect localised flooding may cause issues later.
Credit where it is due to the Met Office - they seem to have got the severity and location of this one pretty accurate, when quite a few of the models even at close-range were calling a more northerly path and/or much more severe gusts on mainland UK.
Trains seem to be running normally around here, at least for now, but I suspect localised flooding may cause issues later.
Credit where it is due to the Met Office - they seem to have got the severity and location of this one pretty accurate, when quite a few of the models even at close-range were calling a more northerly path and/or much more severe gusts on mainland UK.
Deepgreen
Established Member
It appears that the North Downs line has been closed all morning so far, according to NRE because of "severe weather". This smacks of a planned closure 'just in case'. However, the forecast severe winds have not materialised because the storm is slightly further south than predicted. So, we have had fairly light winds and heavy rain overnight and so far today. I feel this is another example of the creeping trend towards shutting down in case something happens, rather than dealing with it. Of course, there MAY have been an obstruction on the line, but that doesn't appear to be the case, and it is also stated that services will resume from around 1200, which suggests a planned closure.
Ironically, having avoided the strong winds so far, the afternoon is now far more likely to see them! The RHTT run was also cancelled "at the request of the train operator" - too many leaves?!
Ironically, having avoided the strong winds so far, the afternoon is now far more likely to see them! The RHTT run was also cancelled "at the request of the train operator" - too many leaves?!
martin2345uk
Established Member
Greater Anglia reporting flooding between Chelmsford and ingatestone on the GEML, lines currently blocked
Is that at Cowley Bridge again? I thought there was a multi-million project only a few years ago to put a much bigger culvert beneath the tracks whcih was going to solve the problem for all time.
Deepgreen
Established Member
It's a shame that some of the TOCs don't seem to have used the Met Office, as they might not have panicked and shut up shop so readily. The problem is that, with trains cancelled all over the place because of possible severe weather, many take to the roads, which is a far more dangerous mode in these conditions. Parochial risk-aversion at its worst.
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I was on the sleeper last night to Plymouth which got through, aswell as an RHTT set and also the 950 unit this morning without issue.
Went to go to work this morning (Portland to Weymouth) but it turns out that the beach road off the isle had just been closed, waited on a bus for a bit but ended up getting a lift back to the top of the island and went home, this was at about 9:30. Coastguard personnel who were about said initially that it might re-open at around 11am but it's still seems to not be open going by traffic information/Dorset Council/Dorset Echo. Still raining and very windy here and I wonder if the road will open when the tide gets lower, waves were going over the pebbles when I was down at Victoria Square earlier (around 9am) and they were stopping people walking up the pebbles to have a look. They were also advising people not to walk over the beach road so it must be bad.
It's annoying missing a day of work when I haven't got long left but I suppose it's better than getting stranded, although there could be a free caravan if I couldn't have got home!
Interestingly the first wessex website has a list of storm related travel disruption that was last updated on the 31st so it shows the number 1 as running normally, which it isn't. No buses running on the island at all, with two buses parked up at Victoria Square waiting.
It's annoying missing a day of work when I haven't got long left but I suppose it's better than getting stranded, although there could be a free caravan if I couldn't have got home!
Interestingly the first wessex website has a list of storm related travel disruption that was last updated on the 31st so it shows the number 1 as running normally, which it isn't. No buses running on the island at all, with two buses parked up at Victoria Square waiting.
Oxfordblues
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What is it about all these trampolines? I would have thought that if your back garden adjoins an overhead-electrified railway the last thing you would leave unsecured on the lawn as a storm approaches is a trampoline!
irish_rail
Established Member
It takes several hours for the rain to trickle down the rivers from Exmoor and Dartmoor,and therefore with most of the rain in the southwest occurring overnight, its reasonable to expect the river levels to peak around Cowley bridge, Staffords bridge etc late morning, and early afternoon.
Deepgreen
Established Member
One would hope so, but, no - the great British public doesn't think like that. Any line, OHLE or not, is vulnerable to the dreaded trampolines.
Yes, Devon/Cornwall and Kent and lines along the south coast, required caution and sensible messaging.
But I was a bit confused by the apocalyptic-sounding warnings issued by LNER yesterday, in particular, given what the Met Office was saying and the areas that had warnings.
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
Clearly not in the minds of many people...
I laid my (empty) wheelie bins flat last night with a couple of bricks inside to reduce the risk of them getting blown around.
Line blocked Ash - Wanborough due flooding.
Dont think so, as that was open.
The usual spot tends to be Hele & Bradninch rather than Cowley Bridge Junction now as a think the new culvert near the latter has vastly improved things.
Maybe Stafford Bridge just north of Cowley Bridge might also be a concern when things start to get high though?
Well GWR states the North Downs Line would open at 12:00. Now they say 16:00. So if they were stating the worst, they got their prediction wrong.
The closure wasn't announced yesterday so it can't have been planned.
There is a tree down between Guildford Gomshall and also flooding between Ash and Wanborough but that is all I have heard about.
A BBC news report has a photo of the fallen tree and has this to say:
Surrey: Flooding and power outages amid Storm Ciarán
High winds and heavy rain causes flooding, park closures and power outages across Surrey.
www.bbc.co.uk
No idea if any issues exist between Reading and Ash or North Camp. I use those stations as during engineering works trains terminate at those stations before heading back to Reading. Obviously, if all trains are stabled in Reading then nothing can get past the flood between Ash and Wanborough. But what is stopping them getting as far as North Camp? That I don't know.
Govia Thameslink Railway had stronger warnings on not traveling than the South Western Railway did.
Snow1964
Established Member
Households normally have public liability insurance as part of their buildings and contents insurance, so perhaps a few high profile claims against the trampoline owners would remind people to get them anchored down
Ashley Hill
Established Member
Just to clarify this was a 5 car IET that was already running on two engines and then lost another so was caped at Exeter. So not necessarily salt water related.
Sun Chariot
Established Member
Much as I absolutely love that idea, I rather suspect the lack of people coming forward to admit the trampoline is theirs...
National Rail Enquiries showing all NDL services up to just after 20'00 not running today now but the disruption notice still says 16:00 so must be a recent change.
It's trains to Readubg that are running from around 20:40 but no trains running from Reading to Guildford so something wrong with the data changes. Probably in a state of being revised as I speak.
In contrast, SWR is now running trains to Farnham from Guildford so I don't know what issues remain for GWR.
It's trains to Readubg that are running from around 20:40 but no trains running from Reading to Guildford so something wrong with the data changes. Probably in a state of being revised as I speak.
In contrast, SWR is now running trains to Farnham from Guildford so I don't know what issues remain for GWR.
Deepgreen
Established Member
NRE now says no North Downs line trains at all today and no buses either. Actually it says no buses for "onward travel", whatever that means! What a shambolic failure by GWR cowering behind the excuse of high winds, which have been well within normal strength for November. NRE also says you are advised not to travel on the route - well, with no trains or buses there's no choice is there!
If this trend continues we will only have trains on sunny days in June!
If this trend continues we will only have trains on sunny days in June!
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I notice that at least 3 trains from Haywards Heath were cancelled today, not due to the bad weather but in two cases more trains needing repairs than usual and one due to a shortage of staff.
It's unfortunate that it was t possible make the services that had this issue, ones were were not running south of Three Bridges anyway.
Other train operating companies have.
It's unfortunate that it was t possible make the services that had this issue, ones were were not running south of Three Bridges anyway.
Whilst I appreciate why they might not be able to run trains, for transparency, it would be useful for them to explain why in more depth than just severe weather.
Other train operating companies have.
Overheads reported as down at Edinburgh, power off between Abbeyhill Junctions and Princess Street.
Also Overheads are down on the up line at Connington south of Peterborough. With a damaged registration arm.
LNER diverting 1B87 Lincoln to Kings Cross via Cambridge.
Also Overheads are down on the up line at Connington south of Peterborough. With a damaged registration arm.
LNER diverting 1B87 Lincoln to Kings Cross via Cambridge.
Deepgreen
Established Member
I don't appreciate why they couldn't - no line blockages reported and normal winds for autumn. Some heavy rain yes, but, again, nothing exceptional. It strongly smells of giving up in the face of the excuse of severe weather. The Reading - Gatwick route is about as inland as you can get in GWR's area and the Met Office weather warning in the area was only yellow.
I've had a fairly tranquil trip and it seems that I've got off really lightly. Two disruptions and neither were to do with the weather!
It was absolutely hammering it down in Newcastle this morning and my first bus didn't show up - thankfully the one shortly after did and the driver had his foot down and was on the ball with the various part-flooded roads so I made it to the station in good time.
0743 Newcastle to York ended up stuck on the slows between Northallerton and somewhere like Pilmoor due to an LNER service briefly in distress - that was only about a 15-minute delay. The rain would come and go in vicious spits and spats.
0915 York to Sheffield was fine - guard in good spirits and reminded everyone that travel back later might be trickier with the rain. Sheffield was fine when I reached it but the heavens opened about five minutes later and it was absolutely torrential. There was a river of water flowing past the City Hall.
Midland Mainline was in distress due to broken rail at Market Harborough so I managed to get away early thanks to ticket acceptance via Doncaster to London. Nice easy trip to Doncaster then I made a slightly late 1319 down to King's Cross. Again, the sky would suddenly go black, you'd get a vicious dose of rain then all would be peaceful for another 10 minutes before the process was repeated. Arrival time at King's Cross was 14:58 - versus my scheduled 15:39 (my booked train eventually limped into St Pancras at 16:19).
Central London was very wet and windy. I'm now next to Heathrow and the rain has eased but the wind is blasting. All in all, everything seems to be doing quite well considering. Though it sounds like I used the ECML at the right time...
It was absolutely hammering it down in Newcastle this morning and my first bus didn't show up - thankfully the one shortly after did and the driver had his foot down and was on the ball with the various part-flooded roads so I made it to the station in good time.
0743 Newcastle to York ended up stuck on the slows between Northallerton and somewhere like Pilmoor due to an LNER service briefly in distress - that was only about a 15-minute delay. The rain would come and go in vicious spits and spats.
0915 York to Sheffield was fine - guard in good spirits and reminded everyone that travel back later might be trickier with the rain. Sheffield was fine when I reached it but the heavens opened about five minutes later and it was absolutely torrential. There was a river of water flowing past the City Hall.
Midland Mainline was in distress due to broken rail at Market Harborough so I managed to get away early thanks to ticket acceptance via Doncaster to London. Nice easy trip to Doncaster then I made a slightly late 1319 down to King's Cross. Again, the sky would suddenly go black, you'd get a vicious dose of rain then all would be peaceful for another 10 minutes before the process was repeated. Arrival time at King's Cross was 14:58 - versus my scheduled 15:39 (my booked train eventually limped into St Pancras at 16:19).
Central London was very wet and windy. I'm now next to Heathrow and the rain has eased but the wind is blasting. All in all, everything seems to be doing quite well considering. Though it sounds like I used the ECML at the right time...
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That can't be weather related is it? There's been a bit of rain but no wind to speak of. Perhaps a sub has been flooded?
Regards Edinburgh, believed to be a blown fuse after a national grid trip.
Regards Connington, Down line open to diesel traffic ONLY and Up line closed until further notice. There are currently 2 trapped/stranded Thameslink services.
Yeah if it’s not Cowley Bridge then I would have assumed somewhere up near Killerton, but it seems you were bang on the money…
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