150222
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Like the title says. What is going on in the Halifax/Brighouse area? I heard something about a points failure. How are services affected?
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What's going on in the Halifax area?
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MidnightFlyer
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Looks like most of the West Yorkshire locals (Selby-Wakefield-Leeds) have been cancelled. I can also see buses on to Huddersfield. Most of the longer-distance services to Blackpool and Manchester etc seem OK at the minute, but this may change when they near Halifax. Having said that, the delays are actually down to signalling issues at Mirfield, so many Halifax trains will be OK, however North TPE services will be affected.
ValleyLines142
Established Member
A signalling problem is causing disruption at Mirfield and buses are replacing trains between Huddersfield and Leeds/Halifax, with journey times extended by up to 30 minutes. This will continue until further notice. First TransPennine Express customers may use CrossCountry services between Leeds and York.
Chapeltom
Established Member
Chaos at Manchester Picc. I arrived there at 1330 and the next train to Huddersfield/Leeds was the 1442 to Hull, which ran as a double 170 after the 1342 was cancelled. Loads of unhappy people. 4 RPIs on Platform 2/3 whod been told hardly anything.
The 1357 to Middlesbrough arrived in at 1410 but didn't depart until gone 1448 because there was no guard. I got off it once that was said at 1415 and went fo wait for a train home.
ValleyLines142
Established Member
Oh heavens, you haven't had the best of days then in terms of travelling! Still, at least it's not Friday the 13th!!
I also heard a signalling problem at Mirfield this morning - will have caused chaos as with that you can't even run services from Leeds to Huddersfield via Wakefield Kirkgate (unlike when there has been problems at Batley/Morley)
Looks like things are returning to normal now. Just been to collect some tickets from Dewsbury station and the boards looked OK apart from a couple of delays now. The coaches were still sat in the car park (the one at the opposite side to the West Riding) but evidently now stood down (in fact, they are still sat there) and a Northern stopper to Leeds just called as I arrived at the station.
On leaving a TPE service arrived at Dewsbury towards Manchester and a TPE sped non-stop through in the Leeds direction. Just before I headed to the station (sorry, this is a bit out of order :P) a freight sped through in the Huddersfield direction as well (which is fairly unusual in itself) so I'd consider the problem is most likely sorted now
Looks like things are returning to normal now. Just been to collect some tickets from Dewsbury station and the boards looked OK apart from a couple of delays now. The coaches were still sat in the car park (the one at the opposite side to the West Riding) but evidently now stood down (in fact, they are still sat there) and a Northern stopper to Leeds just called as I arrived at the station.
On leaving a TPE service arrived at Dewsbury towards Manchester and a TPE sped non-stop through in the Leeds direction. Just before I headed to the station (sorry, this is a bit out of order :P) a freight sped through in the Huddersfield direction as well (which is fairly unusual in itself) so I'd consider the problem is most likely sorted now
Was sat outside Huddersfield on the stopper rail ale train from Victoria for about 30 mins. Lots of Huddersfield FC fans on there starting to get worried they were going to miss the game. Could have got serious if things had dragged on much further. Announcements were of an acceptable standard, but moving forward 200 yards and then stopping for 10 mins, repeated for 3 times, is not a good sign and infuriates passengers. Not a good day in Yorkshire for the trains.
Rounds of applause each time the train got moving.
Rounds of applause each time the train got moving.
200 yards might be a bit of an exaggeration - when there is signalling problems the train might only be able to move between one signal at a time (which does seem stop-start), but there is nothing much that the driver can do until they can get permission to go through the problem area and clear the blockage.
I'm sure everyone would rather get there safely but slowly rather than not at all.
150222
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To be fair they'd probably be better off if they got a bus from the previous stop. (Is that Slaithwaite?)
Of course but also if people were told at Slaithwaite that it would be 40 mins to get to Huddersfield, people may have got taxis in order not to miss the kick off. ****ed up football fans need to be treated with care rather than shunted on to something they are effectively prisoners onto. As ever, more information please.
MidnightFlyer
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It would be but you have to think of the further complications this would case - setting trains behind back several signals, and then the cost and time of laying on buses.
Slaithwaite is the next stop west of Huddersfield. However detemining the length of delays is very difficult until someone can get to the area and see what has happened - I've been on a few trains where we were only supposed to be slightly delayed but when it turned out that cable had been nicked, then it took a lot longer (and conversely I've been on trains where we've been told to expect the worst but then have been able to get through quite quickly).
The issue of replacement buses is also a difficult one - trying to arrange buses to be at a station, to get a driver out on it and also get other staff to help is nothing short of a nightmare at short notice.
150222
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No, I mean if they got off the train at Slaithwaite then got a 181(?) bus into Huddersfield.
It depends on where the train was held - if it is past a station then there isn't much you can do about it. As I've also said just dumping people on route at an unmanned station to wait for a replacement bus that make take time to organise is not the best course of action.
Taking your point about football fans - they are no different to any other pasenger on the train. Also, in this situation the delays were happening since 09.00 this morning, so they have had plenty of time to arrnage either going by bus or taxi.
The delays started very early on, around 9a.m. This incident was around 1:30pm. The effects should have been clear.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I accept that customers should be treated no differently to each other.
However there must be a realisation that certain trains have a loading that have a more relevant time of arrival and need to be treated accordingly. As it happens the train arrived with enough time for fans to get to the game but if it had got to 14:30 it might have got "interesting".
Also passengers were given notice that there were problems in the Huddersfield area, but no indication that there would be a 40 minute wait to get a platform in Huddersfield. It's the lack of information. Regular punters do not know the impact of a large-scale signalling problem or how to circumvent it.
The last time I heard a round of applause upon arrival was on a plane in 2001 after a landing during a thunderstorm.
I agree that the lack of information is the biggest problem - and this is across the industry. However it is no doubt impossible to predict what a problem like this will have on services. My point is that if people knew that there were delays to services from this morning, then turning up at Slaithwaite for the hourly service right before the football match is unwise. Certainly in this situation looksing at or ringing National Rail Enquiries/Traveline/Metro travel centre for info would have been my first action.
Going to your point about football fans again - yes I'm sure Northern know that this train is likely to have football fans but that is not going to shift it any faster and get them there quicker. They are no different to any other passenger and would have to wait their turn.
Going to your point about football fans again - yes I'm sure Northern know that this train is likely to have football fans but that is not going to shift it any faster and get them there quicker. They are no different to any other passenger and would have to wait their turn.
People turn up at the station and expect normality, then expect information if things aren't going to plan - if everyone phoned before rolling up there'd be engaged lines all the time.
The football fans were very well behaved but I think they were 10 mins from not being. It was also a trolley-less service which meant people were going thirsty
There was no ticket check, unsurprisingly..
How realistic this is I don't know as I can only comment for myself - if I knew there were going to be delays then I'd plan accordingly. If I'm setting out for a long trip in the car then I'll check to see if there are any accidents/roadworks/delays near to where I am. I also mostly will check the live departure boards online if I'm going on a train journey long distance before I set out for the station (force of habit due to being stuck somewhere when I didn't check, and delays happened).
It's a good point. How many people do check to see if there's any train problems? I suspect fewer than the percentage of road-goers who check likewise.
Probably not many - they are more likely to check for info there and then when they realise the extent of the problems. Even though info/communication could be much better at times when you think about it you can check for delays on BBC red button, the internet, on your phone or by calling several different numbers, and most people will know at least one of these methods. Plus delays are normally announced on radio and local news on TV.
Tbh, I checked online and was also listening out on the train, and still got snarled up in it. I don't know what more I could have done as an experienced traveller to avoid spending 30 mins stuck in a tunnel near Huddersfield.
tsr
Established Member
Yes, it's not really fair for those who haven't checked before they travelled to complain about poor communications by TOCs/NR when they could have planned a different route or at least predicted a delay to their journey before they left. It's entirely different when there's no information about a problem that starts whilst you're en route, of course, because that's what announcements are for (partly!).
As far as I see it, there are four main problems: firstly, many people assume that since public transport works pretty smoothly for the majority of their journeys, it will run OK for any journey (it's surprising how quickly people's "anger" can subside and they forget about a lengthy delay that they experienced any more than a week ago). Secondly, many people are pretty bored even at the idea of reading a LDB on the internet - bizarre, since it takes all of 60 seconds to do. Thirdly, and most importantly, in a major disruption situation, some people will be put off by the fact that there is often a great deal of conflicting information from various sources - websites, announcements, phone lines, staff, etc. Fourthly, a lot of people are lazy and just don't think to check.
Slight rant over
. We've become really lucky with the station pubs that have opened in the last 5 years.
londonmidland
Established Member
I'm surprised no one made a thread about the delays on the MML! 
Nym
Established Member
Midland Main Line
St Pancras to Sheffeild via Leicster, Derby and Nottingham...
St Pancras to Sheffeild via Leicster, Derby and Nottingham...
As far as I see it, there are four main problems: firstly, many people assume that since public transport works pretty smoothly for the majority of their journeys, it will run OK for any journey (it's surprising how quickly people's "anger" can subside and they forget about a lengthy delay that they experienced any more than a week ago). Secondly, many people are pretty bored even at the idea of reading a LDB on the internet - bizarre, since it takes all of 60 seconds to do. Thirdly, and most importantly, in a major disruption situation, some people will be put off by the fact that there is often a great deal of conflicting information from various sources - websites, announcements, phone lines, staff, etc. Fourthly, a lot of people are lazy and just don't think to check.
Slight rant over
Seeing as this is the information age, 24 news etc people want the information and the correct information straight away. This is probably the biggest problem where front line staff often get limited information, and indeed sometimes you can get better info by looking at the web rather than asking someone. The railway doesn't help itself in these cases - although on the other hand passengers should realise that it is hard to tell how long a delay will actually be.
Sometimes I do wonder if some staff are trained in dealing with the public, as some are useless. However the majority cope well under pressure and give out information that is clear and concise, which is all that needs to be done.
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