Thameslink weather disruption

[Skimpot flyer]

Today's weather disruption on the southern parts of the Thameslink route, causing knock-on effects even to Wimbledon loop services got me to thinking....
When the WAGN routes are joined into the Thameslink core via the Canal tunnels, presumably a fall of snow in Brighton could cause delays as far north as Peterborough & Cambridge, as trains queue awaiting a path through the core.
Has, I wonder, any thought been given to making it possible to 'separate' current WAGN services during future (post-join) disruption, so they could at least run into KX instead ?

 

[D365]

That would the GN (Great Northern) route you are referring to as the WA in WAGN stands for West Anglia (Main Line), now operated under Greater Anglia. There definitely won't be anything in the track layout stopping services being diverted back to King's Cross; indeed, numerous services will continue to. This is, as ever, subject to change, but the Peterborough semi-fasts (only stopping north of Hitchin) and Cambridge fasts/King's Lynn are some of these.

Belle Isle Junction (Canal Tunnels to/from Thameslink St Pancras lower level) will be at-grade with the existing King's Cross/ECML slow suburban lines.

 

[Bald Rick]

Has, I wonder, any thought been given to making it possible to 'separate' current WAGN services during future (post-join) disruption, so they could at least run into KX instead ?

Yes, plenty of thought. And happily we have almost 5 years to fine tune it before we need it.

 

[Searle]

Has, I wonder, any thought been given to making it possible to 'separate' current WAGN services during future (post-join) disruption, so they could at least run into KX instead ?

WAGN haven't been around for seven years now! Living in the past

 

[Skimpot flyer]

WAGN haven't been around for seven years now! Living in the past

Oops!
Although I'm sure I've seen mention of Grand Central and First Hull trains possibly making use of platforms 9-11 once most GN services are routed through the Thameslink core.
What concerns me is although the infrastructure to access KX will still, of course, be in situ, there may not be suitable platform capacity or paths for (suburban) trains to be terminated / restarted from the Cross during severe disruption south of the river.

 

[Bald Rick]

Oops!
Although I'm sure I've seen mention of Grand Central and First Hull trains possibly making use of platforms 9-11 once most GN services are routed through the Thameslink core.
What concerns me is although the infrastructure to access KX will still, of course, be in situ, there may not be suitable platform capacity or paths for (suburban) trains to be terminated / restarted from the Cross during severe disruption south of the river.

8 cars will be turned back in KX, 12 cars will tip out at Finsbury Park and turn back in the Canal Tunnels (although this is last resort due to passenger capacity at Finsbury Pk). But only in dire straits would the whole service do this, and even then only for an hour at most as part of the service will be v quickly stopped from leaving origin point.

 

[Aictos]

In any case, one would hope in the 5 years they have that every possible event could be catered for in the disruption management plans

 

[Class377/5]

In any case, one would hope in the 5 years they have that every possible event could be catered for in the disruption management plans

Yes, plenty of thought. And happily we have almost 5 years to fine tune it before we need it.

And the plans for disruption management on the 24tph were started last year. Plenty of time to get the processes ready.

However there's no such thing as a disprution plan for EVERY event. An event happening 30mins later than another period can create entirely different results. What you have is a general plan and apply it to the situation. Isn't an instant fix available.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Rough old day yesterday - some cancellations in the morning (one 319 had frozen doors at Radlett etc) - considering the cold and problems south of Croydon they ran a very credible evening peak. Credit etc ....

 

[Class377/5]

Rough old day yesterday - some cancellations in the morning (one 319 had frozen doors at Radlett etc) - considering the cold and problems south of Croydon they ran a very credible evening peak. Credit etc ....

The train you speak off started at St Albans and failed by Radlett. That's the sort of conditions being faced.

 

[Aictos]

And the plans for disruption management on the 24tph were started last year. Plenty of time to get the processes ready.

However there's no such thing as a disprution plan for EVERY event. An event happening 30mins later than another period can create entirely different results. What you have is a general plan and apply it to the situation. Isn't an instant fix available.

I know, just saying general plans are created for the most likely of scenarios and then tailored to the real time situation at the time - I know disruption plans during disruption do change on the fly as the situation insists.