Weather damage (16th Sept)

[SpacePhoenix]

Mod Note: For discussion of Watford Junction please use this thread.

https://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/disruptions/46E4DB9788514E378BB338A7280EEA93/

Following bad weather conditions during the night, several incidents are disrupting trains on the South West Trains network.
-A lightning strike has caused substantial damage to certain elements of our signalling equipment on the line which runs between Ascot and Guildford via Aldershot. Train services running through these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Alton to Waterloo services are may incur some delays, and may have to run fast between Woking and Waterloo, in order to avoid causing congestion and further problems. Guildford to Ascot and vice versa services are also likely to encounter some delays, and may be altered on short notice as needed.
Great Western Railway are accepting our tickets between Wokingham and Guildford via Blackwater.
-Flooding has damaged some equipment connected to a level crossing between Dorchester and Bournemouth. As a result of this, the barriers of the crossing will have to be taken under manual control, and trains will have to take additional caution to pass through the area. Train services running through this station may be delayed by up to 15 mins. Disruption is expected until 11:00
-Due to flooding damaging a large amount of railway infrastructure at Woking, fewer trains than usual may be able to run. Alternative arrangements are being explored, but it is possible that services may be delayed or revised at short notice.Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
-Due to an earlier signalling problem at Ashford Middlesex trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.Our engineers on site have now rectified an issue with the signalling equipment at Ashford. Train services running through this station are returning to normal but some services may still be delayed. Disruption is expected until 11:00
Please check before you travel with us today.
We are sorry for the disruption to your journey with us today.

Would the level crossing problems be damage to CCTV?

 

[yorksrob]

Radio 4 has mentioned flooding at Didcot Parkway.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

According the GWR web site:
The route through Newbury is closed because of flooding.
The subway at Didcot is flooded so only P1 (westbound Reading-Swindon) is in use. Eastbound passengers have to loop via Reading.

 

[Andyjs247]

BBC reports no trains from Didcot Parkway - access to platforms completely blocked.

 

[LexyBoy]

BBC reports no trains from Didcot Parkway - access to platforms completely blocked.

There's a puddle in the subway but P1 is open (as LNW-GW Joint said), with additional trains calling at Didcot. Bustitution to Oxford; other journeys have to double back via Swindon or Reading.

Rather amusing that you can't travel from Didcot to Oxford due to flooding when the line's just been expensively upgraded to alleviate flooding

 

[miami]

A couple of days ago when the rain hit the north and knocked services in Manchester for six - closing the metrolink too - I recall the headlines on the news sites as "Britain Bakes OBD Blistering Heatwave"

 

[ainsworth74]

For discussion of Watford Junction please use this thread.

 

[infobleep]

Intrestingly when I look up National Rail Enquiries App online departure board for Guildford at 6.50, the 7am Ascot service was delayed but there was no disruption notice as such. This surprised me as the storms were loud last night. Amazed how they escaped but as it turns out, they didn't. Just that the information hadn't been made available yet.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

[fgwrich]

There's a puddle in the subway but P1 is open (as LNW-GW Joint said), with additional trains calling at Didcot. Bustitution to Oxford; other journeys have to double back via Swindon or Reading.

Rather amusing that you can't travel from Didcot to Oxford due to flooding when the line's just been expensively upgraded to alleviate flooding

Little bit more than a Puddle! I presume access to platform 1 is via a side enterance?

Picture from the rail focus Facebook.

 

[FGW_DID]

There is ramp access up to Platform 1 external of the building.

 

[LexyBoy]

Little bit more than a Puddle! I presume access to platform 1 is via a side enterance?

Yes. The forecourt is also flooded; all buses are using the short stay car park.

What's wrong with people rolling their trousers up a bit? Soggy feet is a small price to pay for getting out of Didcot! *grumbles about soft southerners and elfin safety gone mad*
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Didcot now open again.

 

[theageofthetra]

What is affecting Chiltern services? To add to the WCML problems there are huge delays and cancellations on Moor St Marylebone services.

 

[PHILIPE]

What is affecting Chiltern services? To add to the WCML problems there are huge delays and cancellations on Moor St Marylebone services.

Tree on line between Leamington and Banbury, now cleared.

 

[LexyBoy]

Lightning-damaged signalling between Paddington and Reading which was fixed is now not fixed. Fairly big delays in the Thames Valley on local and IC services.

 

[FGW_DID]

Lightning-damaged signalling between Paddington and Reading which was fixed is now not fixed. Fairly big delays in the Thames Valley on local and IC services.

Big power failure at Paddington, Platforms 1-7 out of use.

Persons on non-essential journeys being advised not to travel!

 

[E_Reeves]

Big power failure at Paddington, Platforms 1-7 out of use.

Persons on non-essential journeys being advised not to travel!

Heathrow express on platforms 6 and 7 still but should've left 1h30m ago. Platforms 1-4 showing up as *TBA on OTT.

 

[60071Chris]

Couple of small floods inNewbury this morning. Platform 2 is now open so the Long distance and Bedwyns (from Reading) are running but no stoppers - assume the bay is flooded. Glad I came home early tonight rather than wait for the normal long distance, looks a nightmare on the Reading departure boards.

 

[LexyBoy]

Unspecified problems at Swindon now, nothing heading East.

Didcot subway remarkably clear and complete with wet floor sign. Rather whiffy and a lot of water still coming in but being pumped out - good work from those involved. Facilities look damaged - everything's closed and the PIS is non-funtional.

 

[Nippy]

Tree on line between Leamington and Banbury, now cleared.

Yeah I was on the train that hit the tree on the Up Line.

 

[Groningen]

Looking at Lightning Maps the area hardest hit with lightning was from Aldermaston to Slough. The larger area was from Southampton, Dorking, Luton and Donnington,

 

[PHILIPE]

Not going to be very comfortable at Paddington this evening, Friday being the busiest for long distance services. Looking at GWR Journey Check, the service is decimated.

 

[NHG66]

I was driving the 0501 from Oxford to Paddington this morning and it was dry when I left but could see the most amazing lightning show approaching Didcot. By the time I got there I was in the teeth of one of the heaviest downpours I have ever witnessed. Was told by one of our ops staff at Oxford that the big problem at Didcot would be clearing up the sewage that had also entered the tunnel as a result of overflowing sewers.

Return stopping service was also slow on yellows to Slough where I was crossed onto the down main. Overtook a couple of trains and switched back to reliefs at Maidenhead East. Between Taplow and Maidenhead, one of the signals was black, obviously down to the aforementioned lightning damage. TVSC must of been hectic today.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Lightning-damaged signalling between Paddington and Reading which was fixed is now not fixed. Fairly big delays in the Thames Valley on local and IC services.

I remember once when it was announced that trains had been cancelled "due to a lightning strike" one passenger on the platform remarked "I do wish the unions would give more notice"....