Weather related disruption 31/10

[londonmidland]

Various lines affected today following heavy rain and strong winds.

The most noticeable disruption is on the ECML and WCML, due to damage to the overhead wires, subsequently caused by downed trees. Both LNER and Avanti are issuing a DO NOT TRAVEL message.

Usual travel info available here

Update: London Euston is now EXIT ONLY due to severe overcrowding at the station.

 

[Saint66]

Tickets for LNER and Avanti valid for travel tomorrow. No estimated time for the resumption of service on either line as of yet.

 

[The Planner]

There is a certain horrible irony with COP26 starting today and now a do not travel message from Euston.

 

[sammyg901]

Chiltern were blocked between Bicester and Banbury earlier, passengers directed to travel via Oxford. The 11.12 was full and standing so I took the next one instead. Now blocked further south whilst they remove another tree

 

[Blinkbonny]

Yes, my son is trying to travel home from Euston. Just been told to leave the station!

Is it a given that tickets will be valid from St Pancras?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

ECML appears to have reopened at 1410 (NRE).
Ironically ticket acceptance was available on Avanti...

Is the WCML blockage on the main line via Weedon?
If so the Northampton route might still be available, unless the blockage is south of Hanslope with all power off.
NRE just says "between MKC and Rugby".

 

[gnolife]

Some service has now resumed on the WCML - I'm on the 1415 from Warrington, which started from Rugby.

 

[philosopher]

Chiltern were blocked between Bicester and Banbury earlier, passengers directed to travel via Oxford. The 11.12 was full and standing so I took the next one instead. Now blocked further south whilst they remove another tree

National Rail enquiries still says a ‘good service’ for Chiltern. Very generous definition of good service.

 

[gazzaa2]

There is a certain horrible irony with COP26 starting today and now a do not travel message from Euston.

True, but I wouldn't say the weather was particularly extreme around London (it's been bad in Scotland this week). Wind and rain will always happen, it hasn't been that strong.

 

[voyagerdude220]

ECML appears to have reopened at 1410 (NRE).
Ironically ticket acceptance was available on Avanti...

Is the WCML blockage on the main line via Weedon?
If so the Northampton route might still be available, unless the blockage is south of Hanslope with all power off.
NRE just says "between MKC and Rugby".

Network Rail were able to end the scheduled engineering work which had blocked the Northampton lines earlier than planned.

I think the Weedon lines are both blocked until further notice, with Avanti running a limited service via Northampton.

 

[Blinkbonny]

Seems to have been a triple whammy with trees down on three separate routes out of London. Possibly four!

 

[Kite159]

National Rail enquiries still says a ‘good service’ for Chiltern. Very generous definition of good service.

And it's saying "Minor delays on some routes" for LNER. Somewhat minor

 

[liam456]

Nothing able to pass northbound over Tallington level crossing, delay minutes racking up.

For the sake of a tree on the OHLE and signalling trains over one level crossing manually, I'm quite surprised at the time it's taken. Unless of course there's more going on.

 

[Bletchleyite]

True, but I wouldn't say the weather was particularly extreme around London (it's been bad in Scotland this week). Wind and rain will always happen, it hasn't been that strong.

There are some trees down around here which is unusual, so i think it was stronger than you think.

Edit: heavy rain also means soft ground so it takes less wind to uproot a tree. Two down between Buckingham and MK, for example, one half blocking the road.

 

[800001]

Nothing able to pass northbound over Tallington level crossing, delay minutes racking up.

For the sake of a tree on the OHLE and signalling trains over one level crossing manually, I'm quite surprised at the time it's taken. Unless of course there's more going on.

Multiple trees over a large area around Tallington, more have come down since the line was reopened, hence trains all stuck again.
Bbc reporting a mini tornado struck Long Buckby area with a tweet from Earl Spencer showing multiple trees down at Althorpe near Long Buckby.

 

[TheBigD]

Nothing able to pass northbound over Tallington level crossing, delay minutes racking up.

For the sake of a tree on the OHLE and signalling trains over one level crossing manually, I'm quite surprised at the time it's taken. Unless of course there's more going on.

It's more than 1 tree... At least 4 separate trees down in the area.

 

[liam456]

Fair enough, now just wishing I'd bailed at Peterborough and gone northwards via Leicester, Sheffield, Leeds and Carlisle.

Not enough rubber gloves and suits to go around for more than one tree?

EDIT: Lines back open through Tallington

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

On RTT, several Avanti trains seem to have left Euston and vanished at Roade, presumably rerouted via Northampton, but still have to reappear at Rugby.
The first was the 1437 Euston-Manchester.

 

[Beebman]

On RTT, several Avanti trains seem to have left Euston and vanished at Roade, presumably rerouted via Northampton, but still have to reappear at Rugby.
The first was the 1437 Euston-Manchester.

Journalist Paul Waugh from 'i' News has tweeted that he's on the 1528 Euston-Glasgow which has been held at Northampton "behind a train in front with a fault":
https://twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/1454849728106147848

Looking at Open Train Times maps, as of 1700 the train (1S78) is still there with 1H69 (1454 Euston-Manchester) stationary in the Long Buckby area while nearby in the opposite direction 9M54 (1051 Edinburgh-Euston) is also not moving. The route via Weedon remains closed.

Mr Waugh has just tweeted an update:
https://twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/1454856563508891651

"Train in front will take 30 mins for repair staff to arrive. And there's no food or drink on my train, cos shop closed."

 

[Beebman]

Paul Waugh has just tweeted an update that there's been an announcement that his train (1S78) will return to Euston:
https://twitter.com/paulwaugh/status/1454868958528614403

It just got even worse. Told that if the engineers can't fix the line north of MKeynes, we are, wait for it ..heading back to London Euston.

 

[westcoaster]

might want to remove that post voyagerdude

 

[londonmidland]

I’ve got to say the lack of updates/travel advice on National Rail Enquiries, regarding the significant disruption on the WCML, has been really poor today.

Often slow to update details and is still very vague about the locations affected.

 

[gazzaa2]

Glad i'm not traveling today. Sounds horrendous.

 

[Horizon22]

GWR was also affected by flooding near Woodborough affecting all services to the West of England. What didn’t help was unrelated to the weather several incidences of a complete lack of signalling in the Swindon area.

 

[nanstallon]

When there are problems, they want the customers to just go away!

 

[Horizon22]

I’ve got to say the lack of updates/travel advice on National Rail Enquiries, regarding the significant disruption on the WCML, has been really poor today.

Often slow to update details and is still very vague about the locations affected.

I agree - at one point the only NRE “red” alert was for SWR, despite over companies giving out “do not travel messaging”. Not sure how much staff NRE has on a Sunday to update information or if they were overwhelmed. Several areas of the network seem to have gone into meltdown simultaneously.

 

[gazzaa2]

Is there no contingency to have some buses running in situations like this? For the whole of the WCML to be screwed it's not enough to say just get a hotel.

Tomorrow will be a nightmare as well.

 

[Horizon22]

When there are problems, they want the customers to just go away!

It is indertandabale to a point - if you cannot guarantee the service someone expects for a sustained period of time and a substantial number of passengers will be impacted for those whose travel is discretionary, it is best to ask people to postpone. Unfortunately on Sunday evenings many people are returning to their “usual” locations (be that home / university etc.) so having no alternative is very difficult.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Oct 2021 ==

Is there no contingency for buses in situations like this? For the whole of the WCML to be screwed it's not enough to say just get a hotel.

Rail replacement bus shortages have been very well documented since the summer on these forums.

 

[800001]

Is there no contingency to have some buses running in situations like this? For the whole of the WCML to be screwed it's not enough to say just get a hotel.

Tomorrow will be a nightmare as well.

Ahhh, that magic supply of hundreds of busses and drivers available at the drip of a hat

 

[gazzaa2]

Ahhh, that magic supply of hundreds of busses and drivers available at the drip of a hat

Hundreds, no, but some? Any at all?