Flooding and Weather Disruption (Nov 2012)

[ushawk]

I see XC are now running a limited service between Exeter and Plymouth now - every 2 hours and some buses are extended to/from Bristol - so it seems XC is linked up now.

 

[cambsy]

Looked at NRES disruption pages, and it shows the bus replacements from Exeter on the Tiverton Parkway line, when extended to Bristol, calling at Exeter,Taunton,Tiverton Parkway, Bristol Temple Meads, why are they doing Taunton then Tiverton, seems totally stupid, what is the logic behind this?

 

[Goatboy]

I see XC are now running a limited service between Exeter and Plymouth now - every 2 hours and some buses are extended to/from Bristol - so it seems XC is linked up now.

As I said it seems some of the buses arrive literally a few minutes after the train departs so you've then got almost an hour wait at Exeter St Davids which is a shame.

Edit: Actually thats only the 20:45 from Bristol that does that, the others have a half hour wait which is probably pretty sensible given variable traffic conditions.

I notice none of the XC services from Exeter to Plymouth are advertised as having First Class accomodation. NRES says Standard Only. Are they declassifying First?

 

[ushawk]

As I said it seems some of the buses arrive literally a few minutes after the train departs so you've then got almost an hour wait at Exeter St Davids which is a shame.

Edit: Actually thats only the 20:45 from Bristol that does that, the others have a half hour wait which is probably pretty sensible given variable traffic conditions.

I notice none of the XC services from Exeter to Plymouth are advertised as having First Class accomodation. NRES says Standard Only. Are they declassifying First?

Would have thought the train would be held for the bus arrive, would be very unfair on the passengers if it isnt and i doubt that XC would want to fund taxis.

 

[HSTEd]

So, short of rebuilding the entire network to be entirely in sealed concrete tunnels or on viaducts... is there anything that can be done to prevent this?

 

[tsr]

Looking towards the weekend, do indeed expect much disruption if the low-pressure system intensifies and tracks over land. SW parts are quite likely to get some nasty heavy-ish rain, and everywhere on the South Coast may as well be prepared for some pretty strong winds.

There may be quite a "calm before the storm" - take this opportunity to get home if you can if the conventional forecasts worsen!

Next week/weekend could be an altogether different scenario in various parts from a cold-weather point of view (ice and snow on high ground looks quite possible).

 

[WelshBluebird]

Answers in bold.

I think that is being a bit harsh on those who use trains to get to work.
Certainly from my point of view, travelling to and from work is essential. If I dont travel, I get sacked! (unless there is literally no transport at all).

 

[jon0844]

I'm wondering how easy it will be to get to Stansted airport tomorrow morning (5am) and the chances of a nice non-delayed flight now! I'm driving to the airport, however.

 

[xtradj]

To be fair, the lines will have been inspected regularly, with them opening and closing to traffic as water levels altered. Also train crews end up misplaced etc.

We provide the best information we have available at the time, as time goes on that information will change and better plans are put in place where ever possible.

As staff we can't win, we provide an answer that is honest at the time and people moan when it turns out to be slightly inaccurate. If we shrug our shoulder and say "I don't know mate, listen to announcements on the platform or go and see the information desk", people moan staff are useless and don't provide any information.

to be fair the driver of the 12.15 Southampton central - Piccadilly did take time to travel through the carrigages and explain, however it was frustrating once id arrived back in reading that the 13.15 was able to go straight to oxford and beyond. it seemed like a cover up that the 12.15 was so delayed that they wanted to keep it at reading ready to travel back ontime to bournemouth

 

[Kali]

So, short of rebuilding the entire network to be entirely in sealed concrete tunnels or on viaducts... is there anything that can be done to prevent this?

You can blame the Bristol & Exeter railway co. for going the wrong route between Exeter & Taunton - if they'd gone via Tiverton and the Exe valley instead of sending a branch that way, it'd be somewhat less flood-prone. But no, don't think there's much you can do there - a lot of the Culm valley towns are also cut off or flooded. Cowley Bridge would still be a problem, but the rest of the route is usually flooded way before it gets that high.

Perhaps we can rebuild some of the more vulnerable embankment sections with stone cores & layers of net, or something, borrowing techniques from cliff erosion prevention? that way they'd be a little more robust.

 

[Goatboy]

Interestingly FGW have just announced an additional 23:13 Westbound departure from Exeter for tonight. I wonder if they will do the same tommorrow.

 

[tsr]

I'm wondering how easy it will be to get to Stansted airport tomorrow morning (5am) and the chances of a nice non-delayed flight now! I'm driving to the airport, however.

Hopefully it won't be too bad if you are heading there from anywhere within the Southeast. (It sounds like a drive from Hatfield should, in theory, be OK.)

My advice would, as always, be the generic "check travel news and weather updates before you set off". What else can I say? The forecast isn't too bad, but that and travel news can change really quickly, as you know.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Some amusing timetables in there though, there are apparently cancelled buses showing which would have gone from Bristol to Taunton in 6 minutes

Wouldn't have been this bus would it?! http://www.thepetrolstop.com/2011/07/cyclops-big-bus.html

 

[Oliver]

Looked at NRES disruption pages, and it shows the bus replacements from Exeter on the Tiverton Parkway line, when extended to Bristol, calling at Exeter,Taunton,Tiverton Parkway, Bristol Temple Meads, why are they doing Taunton then Tiverton, seems totally stupid, what is the logic behind this?

Like this:

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/ldbdetails/I+8AAcsAw93SZ#xlbj7W8A==

I guess someone typed the stations in the wrong order and the buses are calling at Tiverton before Taunton.

 

[YorkshireBear]

So, short of rebuilding the entire network to be entirely in sealed concrete tunnels or on viaducts... is there anything that can be done to prevent this?

I shall send you my Masters disseration in april 2014 :P

 

[Martin_1981]

Cross Country are now running a limited train service between Bristol TM and Taunton in addition to buses between BTM and Exeter. Also, it looks as if some Paddington-Bristol services are extended to Tivvy P. With all the rain forecast for today (peeing down in Exeter as I type!), I doubt the line will be open by Monday when my old man travels from Leicester to Exeter- he is booked on 9.42 from Brum NS to Exeter which will no doubt be terminated at BTM.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Cross Country are now running a limited train service between Bristol TM and Taunton in addition to buses between BTM and Exeter. Also, it looks as if some Paddington-Bristol services are extended to Tivvy P. With all the rain forecast for today (peeing down in Exeter as I type!), I doubt the line will be open by Monday when my old man travels from Leicester to Exeter- he is booked on 9.42 from Brum NS to Exeter which will no doubt be terminated at BTM.

Saw you ask em them on facebook about that.

The rain is awful and is set to continue till at least tuesday according to met office. Yorkshire is dry... Don't quite know how.

 

[Goatboy]

It all started so well, very well organised at Exeter.

However for some reason they are now busing to Tiverton and running an hourly service to London.

3 rail replacement buses containing everyone from the Penzance train rolled up outside Tivrton exactly as the HST pulled away. lots of very irritated people here now!

Why have they stopped busing to Taunton, Tiverton cannot cope with all these people.

 

[Westboy]

It all started so well, very well organised at Exeter.

However for some reason they are now busing to Tiverton and running an hourly service to London.

3 rail replacement buses containing everyone from the Penzance train rolled up outside Tivrton exactly as the HST pulled away. lots of very irritated people here now!

Why have they stopped busing to Taunton, Tiverton cannot cope with all these people.

Taunton traffic perhaps? Taunton is congested at the best of times, yesterday was apocalyptic in the afternoon and evening, absolutely solid right acorss town from Motorway to Silk Mills.

They may have decided it is easier to keep a somewhat consistent service by avoiding that and dropping people at Tiverton.

 

[tsr]

...(peeing down in Exeter as I type!)...

That's probably not the worst of it, I'm afraid.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Taunton traffic perhaps? Taunton is congested at the best of times, yesterday was apocalyptic in the afternoon and evening, absolutely solid right acorss town from Motorway to Silk Mills.

Oh dear. Quite as one might expect, though.

 

[CC 72100]

Taunton traffic perhaps? Taunton is congested at the best of times, yesterday was apocalyptic in the afternoon and evening, absolutely solid right acorss town from Motorway to Silk Mills.

They may have decided it is easier to keep a somewhat consistent service by avoiding that and dropping people at Tiverton.

Can vouch for that. Off the motorway at 5 to 3, on the platform at just gone half past. Tiverton's location is much, much better.

 

[Kali]

Yep, TPW is on a motorway junction ( well almost - have to go a mile up the link road and then a mile back again... ) Taunton is a nice maze of streets several miles away from the M5.

Pouring down here. Would think there won't be any SWT service to Exeter for quite a while.

 

[tsr]

A landslip occurred at Dawlish sometime before 2120hrs this evening. I believe the lines are blocked.

Delays of up to 60 minutes can be expected at this stage. These may increase in duration.

EDIT: A number of Twitter users are highlighting the severity of the flooding in the Dawlish and Dawlish Warren areas.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Also a report of a landslip between Plymouth and Liskeard near Wivelscombe Tunnel

 

[ushawk]

Excuse the expression, but it never rains but it pours...literally !!! Landslide now near Saltash, doesn't look like the line will be opening anytime soon !!

 

[tsr]

Also a report of a landslip between Plymouth and Liskeard near Wivelscombe Tunnel

Excuse the expression, but it never rains but it pours...literally !!! Landslide now near Saltash, doesn't look like the line will be opening anytime soon !!

Things are indeed looking pretty darn calamitous out there right now, both on the travel and weather fronts!

 

[marky7890]

I wonder how many trains will run tomorrow now then, Exeter is now blocked off in all directions except the exmouth branch!

 

[Temple Meads]

This is reaching biblical proportions now, and I wouldn't be surprised if roads critical to rail replacement bus services get closed as well, which would totally finish us off down here in the South West.

 

[tsr]

This is reaching biblical proportions now

Arks are currently replacing trains on all routes West of Exeter. FGW has been renamed "First Great Wet".

 

[221129]

arks are currently replacing trains on all routes west of exeter. Fgw has been renamed "first great wet".

like!"!