Why so many delays on the WCML every day?

[pnepaul]

For those interested: as I type this - 23.50, only platform 1 available. Meanwhile, 4 heavily delayed southbound trains 1M19 ( 18.40 Glasgow - Euston) 9M62 ( 1852 Edinburgh - Euston) 1N25 ( Carlisle to Preston) and 1M20 ( 20.05 Glasgow to Crewe) are stuck outside Preston. As for 9S97 (17.43 Euston to Glasgow) and 1S98 (19.30 Euston to Glasgow ) still waiting to go north...

Typical, as I type, 2 platforms became available lol.

 

[Carlisle]

Had delays travelling on the 0652 Edinburgh- Crewe Pendolino on Tuesday.

Realtime Trains | 9M50 0652 Edinburgh to London Euston | 24/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 9M50 0652 departure from Edinburgh to London Euston on 24/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Firstly, for some unknown reason the signaller let the 6K10 engineers train to Carlisle out right in front of us at Slateford!

Edinburgh-Carstairs is usually a very reliable line particularly since last year’s remodelling. Aside from occasional level crossing issues.
Either a train or infrastructure failure occurred in the Cobbinshaw area as things were on time at Slateford.

 

[QueensCurve]

You can add derailment if you on the WCML South today

I have never been through platform 3 at Penrith.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I have never been through platform 3 at Penrith.

It's usually only used for looping freight.

 

[NSEWonderer]

Looks like good progress is being made ahead of monday on the damaged points near Bletchley:

https://x.com/networkrailwcml/status/1939317823806865769?s=46

West Coast Main Line:
Work to repair & replace damaged track equipment is progressing well
We’re testing everything ahead of reopening the affected lines through Bletchley - we expect this to be later today

At 18:12PM all lines are re-opened but the affected points remain locked till repairs to the points equipment can be done:

West Coast Main Line:
Update: All lines have now reopened at Bletchley Follow up repair work is being planned on points, which allow trains to move from one track to another

 

[londonmidland]

Significant OLE damage at Beattock. All lines blocked for the rest of the day.

Picture attached shows significant OLE damage caused by a fallen tree.

 

[Falcon1200]

Another day, yet more disruption. 4M27 0533 Coatbridge-Daventry failed between Kirtlebridge and Quintinshill, just assisted forward. 1M08 0736 Glasgow C-Euston 125 late from Carstairs, for some reason now behind 9M51 0800 Glasgow C-Euston. 1M08 shown terminating at Preston.

 

[Falcon1200]

In the end 9M51 terminated at Preston and 1M08 ran through to Euston, arriving there 134 minutes late. The incident did show why, yet again, bidirectional signalling would save so much delay, as not many trains passed on the Down line while the Up was at a stand.

It was 66426 that failed on 4M27, assisted forward (quite efficiently, in the circumstances) by 57309.

 

[Falcon1200]

Another day, another shambles on the WCML. Today, 4S50 0605 Basford Hall=Coatbridge FLT is in trouble between Beat tock Summit and Abington. Northbound passenger trains being held back as far south as Warrington.

 

[pnepaul]

I am curious as to why nothing is going south as the line Up main is clear at the moment.

 

[hexagon789]

Another day, another shambles on the WCML. Today, 4S50 0605 Basford Hall=Coatbridge FLT is in trouble between Beat tock Summit and Abington. Northbound passenger trains being held back as far south as Warrington.

Broken coupling rather than a loco failure I understand, which makes a change!

 

[hexagon789]

I am curious as to why nothing is going south as the line Up main is clear at the moment.

0M51 is going to haul the other half of the stricken train south into Beattock loop to clear the line AIUI, so presumably keeping the southbound clear to facilitate that?

 

[pnepaul]

0M51 is going to haul the other half of the stricken train south into Beattock loop to clear the line AIUI, so presumably keeping the southbound clear to facilitate that?

I think it's on the move, just passed Lammington - northbound passenger trains getting going as well.

 

[hexagon789]

I think it's on the move, just passed Lammington - northbound passenger trains getting going as well.

Indeed, though it seems 1Z50 (the recovered part of 4S50) is heading south towards Carlisle rather than only to the nearest loops.

The front part of 4S50 does seem to just be proceeding otherwise as normal just very late.

 

[Class15]

Indeed, though it seems 1Z50 (the recovered part of 4S50) is heading south towards Carlisle rather than only to the nearest loops.

The front part of 4S50 does seem to just be proceeding otherwise as normal just very late.

Just seen 4S50 on the Railcam Thankerton camera, there were only a few wagons behind the pair of 90s. Maybe 3 or 4.

 

[Peter0124]

9S55 was held at Wolverhampton for half an hour, I assume due to the same issue