Weather Disruption caused by storm Ciara (February 9th, 10th and 11th)

[Belperpete]

As a commuter on the Reading-Newbury line this morning, I'm interested in how cancelled trains are communicated to customers. I checked the live times before I left for the station, discovered that the 0734 and 0803 were cancelled, but that the 0834 was still listed as running. Before I left, that too was listed as cancelled, but the 0849 was still apparently running. I arrived at the station to find that had been cancelled in the intervening ten minute window, but the 0911 was running. At 0900, that was listed cancelled and I gave up.

As this was apparently a fallen tree and damage to the OHLE, wouldn't it be apparent to schedulers that none of these trains would be running? The idea that no one knew they would be cancelled until ten minutes before their scheduled time is somewhat incredible, but that's the impression the information boards give.

Did you check the GWR website or journey check? This currently shows:
Due to a tree blocking the railway between Reading and Newbury the line towards Reading is blocked.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled, delayed by up to 120 minutes or suspended between Theale and Reading West. Disruption is expected until 13:30 10/02.
Customer Advice:
Limited Rail Replacement Transport in operation.

This was by far from being the only disruption on GW today, and I imagine that the schedulers would have been stretched keeping up with all the changes, particularly as situations changed. I suspect that many of the trains did actually run, just not between Reading and Newbury, being started or terminated short. Each train would have been shown as running up until the point that it was decided to cut it short, and the schedulers had time to input the revised running details. They would want to re-open the line as soon as they were advised it was clear, so would not want to revise the running details too far in advance, only to have to unrevise them.

 

[edwin_m]

No, as you'd change to the ones that are still serving New St?

According to the quoted text trains are running from New St to Piccadilly but not vice versa. Anyone going from Stafford-Manchester stations to beyond Birmingham can probably do it by making a second change at Tamworth or Nuneaton, but the guidance doesn't mention it.

 

[6Gman]

Are you sure it wasn't from Captain Haddock's? Supplies there are not weather affected.

My nomination for Post of the Year !

 

[Hadrian]

No, as you'd change to the ones that are still serving New St?

Which ones are still serving Birmingham New Street? The Manchester to Southwest trains are shown as starting from Birmingham New Street.

 

[miami]

Which ones are still serving Birmingham New Street? The Manchester to Southwest trains are shown as starting from Birmingham New Street.

You have to change at Nuneaton and Birmingham

 

[londonmidland]

Early stages, but there is the potential for more disruption next weekend.

Storm Dennis is currently being modelled, featuring a deep low sweeping close to the NW of the UK on Saturday.

This will bring strong winds and rain.

 

[Meerkat]

This is what SWR currently have on their website:

Current obstructions on the SWR network:
- 13:53 A precarious tree has been reported at Holton Heath. Trains are running under caution.

Previous obstructions on the SWR network today that have impacted train services:
- 07:53 A tree was blocking the railway at Bursledon. CLEARED 08:13
- 07:42 A tree was blocking the railway at Gillingham (Dorset). CLEARED 08:34
- 08:45 A tree was precarious between Virginia Water and Ascot. CLEARED 10:01
- 08:04 A tree was blocking the railway between Guiildford and Effingham Junction. CLEARED 09:12
- 09:23 A tree was blocking the railway at Mortimer, affecting our West of England services to/from Reading. CLEARED 11:03
- 10:33 A tree was blocking the railway at Ashford (Surrey). CLEARED 10:46
- 10:57 A tree was blocking the railway at Martins Heron. CLEARED 11:23
- 11:35 A tree was blocking the railway at Bracknell. CLEARED 11:52
- 11:45 A tree was blocking the railway at Hamble. CLEARED 11:56
- 10:06 The trees affecting replacement bus routes between Salisbury and Mottisfont & Dunbridge/Dean have been cleared. CLEARED 12:18
- 11:35 A tree was blocking the railway between Virginia Water and Ascot. CLEARED 12:19
- 12:25 A tree was blocking the railway at Gillingham (Dorset). CLEARED 12:29
- 12:33 A tree was blocking the line at Holton Heath. CLEARED 12:41
- 08:39 A tree was precarious between Basingstoke and Micheldever. CLEARED 12:22
- 09:30 A tree was precarious between Basingstoke and Micheldever. CLEARED 13:16
- 13:52 A tree was blocking the railway at Botley. CLEARED 13:56
- 13:47 A tree was blocking the railway at Surbiton. CLEARED 14:19.
- 14:24 A tree was blocking the railway at Horsley. CLEARED 14:35.

I do hope NR creates a full list of tree incidents to send to the Woodland Trust etc when they whinge about tree clearance....
Whilst they had the chainsaws out maybe they should have whipped a few more down!!

totally trivial question for Intercity drivers - how boring and hard to maintain concentration is it to do a long main line trip at just 50mph?

 

[dk1]

Made it from Brundall to Wolverhampton via Peterborough without a hitch. All trains within a few minutes of time and no doubt because of yesterday, very busy indeed.

 

[Right Away]

Expect severe disruption in Cornwall. Par signal box has been struck by lightning. The signalling has been lost and the signaller has been evacuated.

 

[Right Away]

Expect severe disruption in Cornwall. Par signal box has been struck by lightning. The signalling has been lost and the signaller has been evacuated.

The main line and Newquay branch line are on stop. The St Ives and Looe branch lines are also affected by subsequent crew displacement.

 

[CHAPS2034]

Expect severe disruption in Cornwall. Par signal box has been struck by lightning. The signalling has been lost and the signaller has been evacuated.

Having once been in a building struck by lightning many years ago (which may explain an awful lot), I expect that the signaller had a bit of a shock and probably self-evacuated.

Hope they are OK.

 

[Meerkat]

Having once been in a building struck by lightning many years ago (which may explain an awful lot), I expect that the signaller had a bit of a shock and probably self-evacuated.

Hope they are OK.

“Self evacuated” indeed!

 

[Scotrail314209]

Need to say,

TPE and Avanti train crew are doing a really good job at informing passengers. This morning there were about 10 members of train crew helping out when needed

 

[Bletchleyite]

“Self evacuated” indeed!

"There will be a short delay to services while the signaller changes his trousers"?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Need to say,

TPE and Avanti train crew are doing a really good job at informing passengers. This morning there were about 10 members of train crew helping out when needed

Where out of interest?

 

[Meerkat]

"There will be a short delay to services while the signaller changes his trousers"?

“Specialist cleaners required at the signal box”

joking apart, a tree about thirty yards from our office window took a big lightning hit once and it was an almighty flash and explosion. Being right under a hit would be somewhat invigorating!

 

[LancasterRed]

Ciara has struck again in Lancaster, looking like the bus will need to be taken again rather than going for the train.

 

[Furrball]

Looks like the gateline staff are not covering themselves in glory though

https://twitter.com/davidoakden/status/1226887928871346177

@davidoakden
@AvantiWestCoast
despite announcing restrictions lifted on services your staff are not allowing travel at EUS. Lots of very unhappy people here.
3:17 PM · Feb 10, 2020·Twitter for Android

@AvantiWestCoast
Where are you travelling to David? ^RG

@davidoakden
EUS to MAN. At MAN yesterday they announced restrictions off today. Turns out they only meant certain tickets. Am I stick in EUS for 4 hours? I was 3 hours late arriving yesterday.


@AvantiWestCoast
If you have a ticket dates yesterday, you can travel at any time today. ^RG

@davidoakden
I have an off peak return. If they hadn't said restrictions lifted I'd have got 1500. Very confusing and inconvenienced a lot of people.

@AvantiWestCoast
Is the off-peak return dated yesterday? ^RG

@davidoakden
Yes

@AvantiWestCoast
I'm sorry to hear you've had issues, but your ticket is valid, please speak to staff again. ^RG

 

[Master29]

Expect severe disruption in Cornwall. Par signal box has been struck by lightning. The signalling has been lost and the signaller has been evacuated.

GWR journeycheck says to expect disruption until 17:00.

 

[Scotrail84]

Is the WCML completely closed between Carlisle and Edinburgh/Glasgow. Does anybody know? Map seems to show Southbound trains that have been sitting just outside Carlisle for ages.

 

[Ianno87]

Looks like the gateline staff are not covering themselves in glory though

https://twitter.com/davidoakden/status/1226887928871346177

That's atrocious and totally inexcusible.

 

[4COR]

That's atrocious and totally inexcusible.

Except if you read the rest of the thread, he was always going to use the return portion today, not yesterday, and so the ticket restriction does still apply.

Not clear at all, but for once not the EUS gateline staff at fault...

 

[RealTrains07]

Have to say. Very glad that despite the weather, LNR are still managing to run a shuttle between crewe and stafford on the reduced timetable

 

[A Challenge]

Except if you read the rest of the thread, he was always going to use the return portion today, not yesterday, and so the ticket restriction does still apply.

Not clear at all, but for once not the EUS gateline staff at fault...

Was it dated for use yesterday or today though, as it says:

Tickets dated Sunday 9 February...

https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/t...uptions/planned-engineering-works/storm-ciara
It also still says after 12:00 here, which i thought they changed yesterday?

 

[4COR]

Was it dated for use yesterday or today though

Presume it's an off peak return so outbound yesterday, return within the month (or would have had a day return).

 

[miami]

totally trivial question for Intercity drivers - how boring and hard to maintain concentration is it to do a long main line trip at just 50mph?

Be interesting to compare with doing a long motorway trip at 50mph

That's atrocious and totally inexcusible.

Normal behaviour at Euston

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ciara has struck again in Lancaster, looking like the bus will need to be taken again rather than going for the train.

I'm in Lancaster and it's little more than "a bit breezy with some light drizzle". Though the river has flooded somewhat this is nowhere near the railway. I'm guessing somewhere between there and Preston (Glasson?) has flooded?

 

[Mathew S]

Need to say,

TPE and Avanti train crew are doing a really good job at informing passengers. This morning there were about 10 members of train crew helping out when needed

Shame Northern can't do the same.
2 hours 5 mins to get from Wigan - Manchester Piccadilly this morning and not one announcement was made until we reached Deansgate... some 1 hr 55 mins in.

 

[Zooty]

I'm in Lancaster and it's little more than "a bit breezy with some light drizzle". Though the river has flooded somewhat this is nowhere near the railway. I'm guessing somewhere between there and Preston (Glasson?) has flooded?

Trains are running in both directions to/from Lancaster. I'd say the hail showers count as a bit more than "light drizzle" but it isn't persisting down.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Where out of interest?

Glasgow Central. Lots of staff on hand.

Many Avanti staff hanging around in a cluster at around half 7 this morning, presumably all displaced from the cancelled southbounds