Arriva Trains Wales in meltdown 11 December

[PHILIPE]

Many delays and cancellations throughout the day, some delays in 3 figures, starting originally from the weather conditions yesterday but aggravated by further incidents, the Marches route being the prime sufferer.

The line was closed firstly between Newport and Abergavenny and then between Abergavenny and Hereford due to trees either blocking the line or overhanging over it due to the weight of snow. Bustitution difficult due to road conditions. but when the line re-opened late morning a points failure at Craven Arms occurred causing further disruption. Fresh trains were started from Cardiff to maintain normal working towards West Wales.

Also suffering badly was the Heart of Wales line between Llandovery and Llandrindod which is likely to remain closed until Wednesday after Network Rail are expected to work during the day tomorrow, their resources being stretched and difficulty in reaching sites where trees had come down. The route difficulties were further aggravated by a 1201 Llandrindod Wells to Shrewsbury which failed between Knighton and Craven Arms and has having to be rescued by a 1Z99 DMU from Shrewsbury due to a major systems failure, 1Z99 also conveying Maintenance technicians to enable the train to be moved and ETA Shrewsbury is 390L.

Further to this a lorry has struck a bridge at Aberbeeg causing damage but following inspections, trains are allowed to travel at slow speed but severely delaying and cancelling Ebbw Vale services.

Due to these problems there has been a disastrous knock on effect at Cardiff apart from on the Cardiff Valley lines. Will add a little more shortly after seeking further info.

ADD:- 2T08 ex Llandrindod now arrived Shrewsbury at 2032 420L. Not all due failure as 139L departing.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Points onto the Cambrian at Sutton Bridge froze/blocked by snow as well this afternoon.

 

[PHILIPE]

Points onto the Cambrian at Sutton Bridge froze/blocked by snow as well this afternoon.

1831 Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth started 93L. I though it was at Welshpool the points were frozen.

 

[Gareth Marston]

1831 Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth started 93L. I though it was at Welshpool the points were frozen.

No definitely Sutton bridge UP and DOWN Main unaffected only UP & DOWN Welshpool.

We've got heated points on the Cambrian when they re did the turnouts for etcs ( but not Sutton bridge) imtold you could cook an egg on Newtowns even in this weather.

 

[sw1ller]

1J27 Birmingham to Shrewsbury was early into Shrewsbury. There was some good in the day.

 

[Envoy]

I can’t understand why Network Rail don’t fell all the trees that are posing a risk to the railway. Why wait for strong winds / snow to bring them down? Goodness knows why Sutton Bridge points are not heated?

 

[daikilo]

I can’t understand why Network Rail don’t fell all the trees that are posing a risk to the railway. Why wait for strong winds / snow to bring them down? Goodness knows why Sutton Bridge points are not heated?

In Britain we tend to like nature. In addition, felling big trees, digging out the roots and carting the lot away is an expensive business and requires access, probably often trackside. Some are anyway protected like silver birch.

As for Sutton Bridge points, when did they last freeze up? They are also relatively easy to access if a crew still exists to do it.

 

[DelW]

Not sure if the title was intentionally ironic, but I'd have thought a meltdown might have come in handy in the present conditions?

 

[daikilo]

Not sure if the title was intentionally ironic, but I'd have thought a meltdown might have come in handy in the present conditions?

Nah, then there would be flooding. That said, the title is a gross exageration and they actually did a good job, but it does rather show that wet snow can be destructive to a tight operation.

 

[Phil from Mon]

I can’t understand why Network Rail don’t fell all the trees that are posing a risk to the railway. Why wait for strong winds / snow to bring them down?

There is also a problem that the soil soon becomes less stable and more likely to slip due to a lack of living roots holding it all together

 

[All Line Rover]

Was felling not a contributory factor to the - almost fatal - landslip near one of the Watford tunnels portals which affected a class 350?

 

[philthetube]

The problem with trees began after the days of steam, linesmen kept embankments clear because of the fire risk, when diesels came in this stopped happening and trees grew on the embankments and cuttings. Now the roots go into the embankments to remove the trees would destabilise them as the roots rotted away, this would ofter not be an immediate effect and would cause long term problems.

 

[Envoy]

Surely, you fell the trees but leave the roots in place to stabilise the ground. As they gradually rot down, new less invasive vegetation would hopefully grow to help keep the land stable? Of course, by leaving the roots in place, there is the risk that the trees are simply ‘pollarded’ and new multiple stemmed branches start appearing.

 

[infobleep]

Surely, you fell the trees but leave the roots in place to stabilise the ground. As they gradually rot down, new less invasive vegetation would hopefully grow to help keep the land stable? Of course, by leaving the roots in place, there is the risk that the trees are simply ‘pollarded’ and new multiple stemmed branches start appearing.

Would the roots survive if most of the top part of the tree with leaves was removed?

 

[Llanigraham]

Would the roots survive if most of the top part of the tree with leaves was removed?

No, they rot and leave holes in the ground, that then fills by either the upper surface dropping into it or unstable out-wash filling them. Both results in instability.

 

[Phil from Mon]

More trouble yesterday morning. 0706 Bangor to Cardiff cancelled due to signaller illness

 

[6Gman]

I can’t understand why Network Rail don’t fell all the trees that are posing a risk to the railway. Why wait for strong winds / snow to bring them down?

Because there are rather a lot of them?

And because people would object?

And because - in many cases - they form visual and aural screening?

As well as the other reasons given.

 

[Llanigraham]

What has been happening in many places along the Cambrian is that the trees have been thinned out, especially near the track, so still leaving a band of vegetation along the boundary fence line.