WCML disruption north of Preston - 8 October

[JamieL]

All trains heading north out of Preston are now held/cancelled UFN. Fatality on the line apparently.

Does anyone know if it would be worth trying to get to Lancaster? Are trains able to reverse route from there? And will Avanti move staff by road from Preston?

 

[CW2]

Looks like an incident at Bay Horse.
Yes, it is possible for trains to turn back and return north from Lancaster. It may be dependent on train crews being ferried by road from Preston.

 

[yorkie]

All trains heading north out of Preston are now held/cancelled UFN. Fatality on the line apparently.

Does anyone know if it would be worth trying to get to Lancaster? Are trains able to reverse route from there? And will Avanti move staff by road from Preston?

Where are you trying to get to?

 

[JamieL]

Where are you trying to get to?

Glasgow. Been crammed loaded onto a coach at Preston at present. Credit to Avanti fir arranging a coach albeit only one coach for a 9 car Pendalino. Everything in perspective of course, given the fatality.

 

[amywok]

Lots of RBBs queuing outside Lancaster station.

 

[43066]

Glasgow. Been crammed loaded onto a coach at Preston at present. Credit to Avanti fir arranging a coach albeit only one coach for a 9 car Pendalino. Everything in perspective of course, given the fatality.

Lots of RBBs queuing outside Lancaster station.

Good to hear, especially given the discussion taking place elsewhere about difficulties sourcing RRBs.

 

[JamieL]

Yes, we had to sit on the coach for 5mins outside the station for H&S purposes. Now on a TPE train at Lancaster station labelled "Manchester Picadilly" that is allegedly going to Glasgow although the train crew haven't been told anything.

EDIT: Now been kicked off TPE train as it is going back to Preston! Chaos!

EDIT2: This is ridiculous. There is one train at Lancaster station. The station is full to bursting with passengers wanting to go north (all southbound passengershave been bused to Preston). The line to Preston is closed. So the train has been assigned to go South when the line opens...

EDIT3: No passenger trains running from Lancaster but a southbound freight train has run through the station!

EDIT4: Southbound passenger service now leaving Lancaster. Absolutely nothing northbound.

EDIT5: Finally on the move north - a single 9 coach Pendalino has been allocated for the task. Full and standing to say the least!

 

[Oxfordblues]

Coincidentally an overturned trailer on the northbound fast lane of the M6 near Lancaster Services caused significant delay to the RRBs.

 

[JamieL]

Ultimately arrived at Glasgow Central about 2.5hrs late. Not too bad given what happened and credit to Avanti for getting the RRB in place and to the platform staff at Lancaster who remained helpful and polite even though they had limited info.

More broadly, the plan as articulated at Preston, to have trains from the North turned around at Lancaster didn't really happen. The soundbound trains were held at stations further north meaning everyone was bused to Lancaster to stand on empty platforms. When trains did start running from Lancaster, it was clear southbound was the priority. Also, the use of a 9 car Pendalino for the first northbound wasn't great. Had to stand all the way to Glasgow (which wasn't great as I have a back injury) but better than being left in Lancaster.

 

[Toby268]

Ultimately arrived at Glasgow Central about 2.5hrs late. Not too bad given what happened and credit to Avanti for getting the RRB in place and to the platform staff at Lancaster who remained helpful and polite even though they had limited info.

More broadly, the plan as articulated at Preston, to have trains from the North turned around at Lancaster didn't really happen. The soundbound trains were held at stations further north meaning everyone was bused to Lancaster to stand on empty platforms. When trains did start running from Lancaster, it was clear southbound was the priority. Also, the use of a 9 car Pendalino for the first northbound wasn't great. Had to stand all the way to Glasgow (which wasn't great as I have a back injury) but better than being left in Lancaster.

Unfortunately the first train through that was a 9 car was already in Euston awaiting departure when the initial incident happened, and when information would’ve still been coming through. At that point it wouldn’t of been known if it would even get past Preston and info would’ve been limited. Crews were probably already on the unit so it would’ve been to late to swap it to an 11 car.

The turnbacks at lancaster were done very quikly at the start of the incident before anyone had time to get from Preston to Lancaster, and would’ve been done more for operational reasons, getting sets back up north to origin stations to form as close to on time departures when the line eventually opened up. They then started turning sets back at Carlisle towards Scotland. From a customer point of view, not great for those awaiting services at Lancaster. But saved a lot of extra hassle later in the afternoon.

 

[JamieL]

Interesting, thanks Toby.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

I was on one of the trains involved - Manchester Airport train to Windemere - over 3 hours delay.
The Southbound Avanti train hit something and then it went under the second 3 car dmu of our train.
There was talk of going back to Preston, but luckily we eventually continued to Lancaster. BT police etc arrived to inspect train and ambulances.
The crew on the train were very professional and helpful, and kept everyone up to date.