WCML Bad Weather and Disruption 10/12/14

[Crossover]

However those block sections have become shorter in recent years. Whilst Ribblehead viaduct is indeed single track there is no reason why freight cannot be held in the loop at Blea Moor. Or for that matter use the loops further down the line at Hellifield.

However it is much easier and more practical to cancel services when bad weather strikes.

Is there not an element of some of the loops not being long enough to accommodate some of the freight?

 

[FQ]

High winds, heavy rain / snow and high tides in Scotland and the north west of England are causing disruption to journeys today, Wednesday 10 December.
All Train Operators affected by today's poor weather are planning to run a full service on Thursday 11 December.
The following changes are currently in place today, Wednesday 10 December.

Inverness - Wick / Kyle of Lochalsh
Trains will not run all day to and from Wick / Kyle of Lochalsh. A shuttle train is running between Inverness and Dingwall, and will depart at the following times:
Inverness at 17:13 and 17:54
Dingwall at 15:56, and 20:16
Buses are also running.

Glasgow Queen Street - Oban / Fort William / Mallaig
Trains will not run between Glasgow Queen Street and Oban / Fort William / Mallaig. Because of the poor road conditions, replacement buses are unable to run.

Dumbarton Central - Helensburgh Central
Buses are replacing trains between Dumbarton Central and Helensburgh Central. Passengers may also use their tickets on First Buses between Helensburgh and Dumbarton Central.

Glasgow Central - Largs / Ardrossan Harbour
Buses are replacing trains between Kilwinning and Largs / Ardrossan Harbour.

Glasgow Central / Kilmarnock - Ayr / Stranraer
Buses are replacing replace trains between Ayr and Girvan / Stranraer.

ScotRail Sleeper Services
The 19:50 Fort William to Edinburgh is cancelled and there is no replacement road transport available.

Carlisle - Barrow-in-Furness - Lancaster
Speed restrictions are in place extending journey times by up to 20 minutes.

Carlisle / Morecambe - Lancaster
Trains cannot run between Oxenholme Lake District / Morecambe and Lancaster because of a tree on the overhead wires. There is currently no estimate as to when the line will re-open.
Buses are running between Preston / Morecambe and Lancaster.
Alternative travel options
F
irst TransPennine Express and Virgin Trains have mutual ticket acceptance on each others services and passengers may also use:
CrossCountry services between Edinburgh and Birmingham.
East Coast services between Edinburgh and London Kings Cross.
Virgin Trains passengers may use ScotRail services on any reasonable route.

ScotRail passengers with tickets dated Wednesday 10 December may travel tomorrow, Thursday 11 December 2014.

From NRE at 19:09.

Link here.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/87966.aspx

 

[RichmondCommu]

Is there not an element of some of the loops not being long enough to accommodate some of the freight?

That's certainly not the issue with the Blea Moor loop and the up loop at Hellifield. Both of these seem to hold freight on a fairly regular basis.

 

[Zoidberg]

Has there been any official announcements of any services that are going to be cancelled tomorrow or likely to be cancelled?

From the NRE website at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.aspx

Under: Poor weather conditions in Scotland and north west England on Wednesday 10 December 2014

Thursday 11 December

All Train Operators affected by today's poor weather are planning to run a full service on Thursday 11 December.

You can follow this incident using the hashtag #UKStorm

And under Poor weather may affect services in southern parts of England on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 December

High winds and heavy rain are expected over night on Thursday 11 December, continuing into the morning of Friday 12 December. This will affect parts of the Sussex coast and inland areas towards south London and may lead to disruption to Southern and Thameslink services.

The affected routes will be continually checked over night and again on Friday morning to ensure that it is safe for trains to operate. Speed restrictions may need to be imposed on some routes meaning that journey times will be extended.

Details of the impact of the weather on train services will be provided as and when they are known.

It is suggested that you check your journey before travelling late on Thursday 11 December and early on Friday 12 December.

EDIT: I see fishquinn posted similarly as I was composing.

 

[harz99]

The diesel working via the S&C is running well ahead of schedule and will very soon reach Carlisle, wonder how many happy pax are onboard?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O54846/2014/12/10/advanced

 

[Carlisle]

Is there not an element of some of the loops not being long enough to accommodate some of the freight?

I've seen those (DB) EWS branded coal trains using the loop at Blea Moor quite a few times

 

[harz99]

The 1706 from Glasgow to Manchester Airport looks to be the first service southbound over WCML for some time, I guess that'll be one busy train.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G34274/2014/12/10/advanced

 

[sd0733]

9M62 18:52 Edinburgh-Birmingham formed of 390049 is also shown as being loco hauled Carlisle-Preston and diverted via S&C

 

[RichmondCommu]

9M62 18:52 Edinburgh-Birmingham formed of 390049 is also shown as being loco hauled Carlisle-Preston and diverted via S&C

The S&C signalmen will be kept busy tonight. Lets hope there is no snow over the high fells!

 

[voyagerdude220]

post deleted

 

[harz99]

9M62 18:52 Edinburgh-Birmingham formed of 390049 is also shown as being loco hauled Carlisle-Preston and diverted via S&C

Not according to this:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y81767/2014/12/10/advanced

 

[Chrism20]

9M62 18:52 Edinburgh-Birmingham formed of 390049 is also shown as being loco hauled Carlisle-Preston and diverted via S&C

6L at Gretna and 91L at Carlisle

Ouch!

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y81767/2014/12/10/advanced

 

[harz99]

6L at Gretna and 91L at Carlisle

Ouch!

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y81767/2014/12/10/advanced

Yeah, but most of that time was spent in the platform at Carlisle as it arrived 8/9 late.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And that's by no means the worst. This ones still plowing it's way north:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y81956/2014/12/10/advanced.

 

[Chrism20]

Yeah, but most of that time was spent in the platform at Carlisle as it arrived 8/9 late.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And that's by no means the worst. This ones still plowing it's way north:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y81956/2014/12/10/advanced.

Never as bad if it's on the platform, I always feel a bit eerie sitting in the dark for ages.

At least it's moving which is good.

 

[sd0733]

Not according to this:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y81767/2014/12/10/advanced

The staff messages VT have been sending out even now show it as diverted and loco hauled but if the points it tracked at on RTT are correct then it obviously ran booked route. Maybe the situation changed during the long wait at Carlisle and the messages coming through are out of date information then.

 

[Francis]

I was at Wigan NW waiting for the 1809 south to Euston (1758 ex-Preston - should have been the 1540 from Glasgow which was stuck). Those originating from Glasgow were delayed by one or two hours or cancelled. I was lucky. The 1809, having started from Preston, ran only about 10 late and made an extra stop at Crewe for Midlands passengers.
Northbound passengers were held for about an hour in the platform at Wigan, because there was no space at Preston where they were turning trains round. Then I think one was cancelled (maybe the 15.37 Glasgow and the passengers detrained and put on a following service.
From the departure boards it looked as if Transpennine had cancelled most of their Manchester Airport - Glasgow or Edinburgh services.
A security guard came into the station waiting room to urge us just to get any train south. He said all ticket restrictions had been lifted. Just get moving in case Virgin cease all services due to the bad weather. There was the Oxenholme incident and another near Carlisle. We got into Euston about 15 late but as I say I was very lucky.