ECML delays - Potters Bar - 5/4/13

[philjo]

A heads up to warn you of current delays on ECML between Stevenage & London.

it was just the signalling problem at New Barnet causing 10-15 minute delays when I travelled through & got off at Potters Bar at 8am. seems that there are overhead wire problems as well now.
Looks like services are now going via Hertford North.
Potters Bar live departure board lists everything as cancelled.

National Rail 09:40:

There is a signalling problem in the New Barnet area, and an overhead wire problem near Potters Bar.

Because of this, the following changes apply until further notice:

Trains travelling from Peterborough / Cambridge towards London are unable to run between Brookmans Park and Potters Bar, and may be diverted via Hertford North
Trains travelling from London towards Peterborough / Cambridge are able to run, but are expected to be delayed
Journeys are expected to be delayed by up to 60 minutes



Ticket Acceptance

East Coast passengers may use:

First Capital Connect, First Hull Trains and Grand Central on any reasonable route
Virgin Trains between London Euston and Glasgow Central via Manchester Piccadilly
First TransPennine Express between Manchester Piccadilly and York via Leeds
East Midlands Trains between London St Pancras and Sheffield

First Capital Connect passengers may use the following via any reasonable route:

London Underground
London Buses
East Coast
Grand Central
Hull Trains

Twitter hashtag: #NewBarnet

FCC website, 09:30

Due to signalling problems at New Barnet and overhead wire problems between Welwyn Garden City and Potters Bar, First Capital Connect are currently unable to run trains to stations between Knebworth and New Southgate.

Network Rail are working hard to resolve these problems and we apologise for any inconvenience this disruption may cause. Please check National Rail enquiries and the First Capital Connect website for the most up to date service information.

 

[High Dyke]

Driver of 07:47 WGC - Moorgate has reported the OLE is down ahead of his train. Contact wire seems to be down on the Up Slow at Potters Bar.

 

[philjo]

I had a near miss then ! (I was on the 07:42 from WGC which is the train ahead of that Moorgate service) - I got off at Potters Bar. I did notice that the train I got off (a 321) was still in the platform 5-6 minutes later when I went past on the bus.

 

[Retorus]

I picked a helluva day to go to York.

 

[stut]

Think I was lucky too - was on the 0647 from BIW - we made it through New Barnet on the up slow, but it took a while...

 

[HST Power]

I was one of the unlucky ones!

I took the 0825 from Letchworth to Hitchin, intending to use the 0839 onward to Potters Bar.

Just as the train was pulling in they did an announcement. No service from Stevenage to Alexandara Palace. I went to Hitchin anyway, only to find that everything was cancelled. Hordes of people were queuing for taxis.

I could have got a cab, but I don't do queuing, so I decided to just call a friend and get a lift home to Letchworth.

 

[High Dyke]

I picked a helluva day to go to York.

I had that difficulty last year...stuck at York due to a fatality at Grantham. Still at least local knowledge of the area assisted NR Control staff.

Back to the topic in question...this is now the third OLE problem on the ECML in the last week or so. Does this suggest an underlying problem?

 

[stut]

Oh dear, looks like problems on the Thameslink route at Kentish Town now too!

 

[High Dyke]

Oh dear, looks like problems on the Thameslink route at Kentish Town now too!

Aye... Track circuit failures at both Ampthill Tunnels and Carlton Road Junc. affecting both St Pancras (Dom) and Thameslink services. :roll:

 

[HST Power]

Apparently the Barnet problem has been resolved and some of the lines are open again. Stopping trains to London will not call at Welham Green, Brookmans Park or Potters Bar. Buses remain in operation, and a revised service will run until three o'clock.

 

[jon0844]

Back to the topic in question...this is now the third OLE problem on the ECML in the last week or so. Does this suggest an underlying problem?

My son has got a cold and sneezed very early this morning. Apologies if this brought down the wires again.

 

[HST Power]

Well, I'm no engineer, but what do you tell the passengers when they ask why the equipment continues to fail, resulting in scenarios as seen today?

 

[Gemz91]

Assuming its all back to normal now with services running as normal tomorrow? Going to London and need to know if I'll need extra beers for a longer journey.

 

[yorkie]

Assuming its all back to normal now ....

Not quite, there are some alterations Southbound as they are working on the Up Slow.

Details are on the National Rail website, and have changed since the incident originally occurred (we do ask that a hyperlink is provided for such quotes, although in this case I can't find a way to link directly to the incident details - only the generic disruptions page)

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.aspx

• Trains between Peterborough / Cambridge and London Kings Cross may be delayed by up to 20 minutes
• Services from Welwyn Garden City towards London will not call at Welham Green
• Buses will run between Hatfield and New Barnet calling at all stations
• Stopping services from London will call at all stations
• Services between Cambridge / Peterborough and London will call at Potters Bar
• Buses will support the train service between Stevenage and Potters Bar

 

[43167]

I was 0915 Leeds-Cross. The Senior conductor was on the ball from the start. We made an additional stop at Peterborough to collect Passengers off the 0845 which was terminated short.

For some reason we were put on the up slow at Sandy and stayed there until Stevenage. Thought we were going to go via Hertford, but departed Stevenage down the main.

At Welham Green, there were was a pair of 313's with pans down and driver stood at cab door. Between Brookmans Park & Potters Bar was another pair with 67024 on site to drag them away.

Arrived about 20 late which wasnt too bad. Though those off the 0845 were nearly an hour late and were handed claim forms.

 

[HST Power]

Bar one service delay it appears that there are no further disruptions reported on the FCC website. Can we therefore infer that it's business as usual?

 

[ntg]

It seemed to be resolved pretty quickly by the evening rush hour. I had no trouble getting to Highbury and Islington from PB at 5pm and back again at 11pm.

 

[jon0844]

New problems today;

Incident created: 06/04/2013 20:02
Last updated: 06/04/2013 20:02
Route affected: London Kings Cross, Finsbury Park, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage & Peterborough / Cambridge

TOC(s) affected
East Coast; First Capital Connect; First Hull Trains; Grand Central;
Description

A problem with lineside equipment is causing disruption at Welwyn Garden City.

Because of this, there are delays of up to 30 minutes between London Kings Cross and StevenageThese delays will continue until further notice.

Twitter hashtag: #WelwynGC

To find out whether this will impact your journey and to get alternative options planned for you, please use the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner, or call TrainTracker on 0871 200 49 50.

For the latest rail travel news, why not follow National Rail Enquiries on Twitter, or find us on Facebook.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/servi...nre&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=disruption

NEW Delays between London Kings Cross and Stevenage until further notice #WelwynGC ow.ly/jOobx

 

[43167]

I was on the Up Chieftain in this. There were a couple of problems, one each side of Stevenage. We were put onto the Up slow at Biggleswade and stopped briefly at Hitchin & the TM said it was signal problems. Then I realised I had seen any northbound EC services for abit, so started to wonder if there were more problems down the line.

After crossing the viaduct, we went back onto the slow and just south of the station was set EC64 stopped. It had its tail lights on the front PC, with the driver walking back up to front, so I guess it had set back to go onto the slow.