West Ealing station partial closure - Paddington bound platform unsafe

[itfcfan]

Since yesterday (Wednesday, 16th March) Paddington (Eastbound) trains have been passing through West Ealing station without stopping. A note on Tiger (https://tiger.worldline.global/WEALING/ciss) says "Trains towards Paddington will not be stopping at West Ealing due to an unstable wall near the platforms".

This is confirmed on the TfL website:

West Ealing: trains travelling towards Paddington are not calling at this station due to a damaged platform. TfL Rail services towards Heathrow and GWR services to/from Greenford are unaffected.

West Ealing Rail Station

Live arrivals for West Ealing Rail Station stop.

tfl.gov.uk

A local news website includes a statement from a local MP:

"After seeing the closure this morning, I spoke to TfL who confirmed this was the result of a potentially dangerous situation with the retaining wall. TfL said that after they were alerted last night, an inspector visited the site and decided that no trains would stop at West Ealing on the Paddington-bound line."

West Ealing trains to Paddington cancelled for 2 days over 'damaged platform'

TfL closed the platform on Wednesday over fears it wasn't safe for commuters

www.mylondon.news

Has anyone heard any ideas on how long the platform is likely to be closed?

 

[pdeaves]

Since yesterday (Wednesday, 16th March) Paddington (Eastbound) trains have been passing through West Ealing station without stopping. A note on Tiger (https://tiger.worldline.global/WEALING/ciss) says "Trains towards Paddington will not be stopping at West Ealing due to an unstable wall near the platforms".

This is confirmed on the TfL website:

West Ealing Rail Station

Live arrivals for West Ealing Rail Station stop.

tfl.gov.uk

A local news website includes a statement from a local MP:

West Ealing trains to Paddington cancelled for 2 days over 'damaged platform'

TfL closed the platform on Wednesday over fears it wasn't safe for commuters

www.mylondon.news

Has anyone heard any ideas on how long the platform is likely to be closed?

Info I have suggests that Network Rail will deal with it overnight (Thursday) for normal working tomorrow (Friday). Of course, it may turn out to be more complex than thought!

 

[swt_passenger]

Greenford services “unaffected” according to an earlier post, so presumably it’s a fault at the London end? No possibility of short trains stopping alongside the bay?

 

[ChrisHogan]

Greenford services “unaffected” according to an earlier post, so presumably it’s a fault at the London end? No possibility of short trains stopping alongside the bay?

TfL 345s are nearly all 9 cars. No possibility of "short trains"

 

[swt_passenger]

TfL 345s are nearly all 9 cars. No possibility of "short trains"

I was thinking about GWR really?

 

[Starmill]

I was thinking about GWR really?

Would there only be room for a 4 car though? And most are at least 8?

 

[swt_passenger]

Would there only be room for a 4 car though? And most are at least 8?

I suppose most are 8 now you mention it, and any temporary solution with only half the doors opening would probably be too difficult to arrange with modern rules and regs…

 

[itfcfan]

Info I have suggests that Network Rail will deal with it overnight (Thursday) for normal working tomorrow (Friday). Of course, it may turn out to be more complex than thought!

That's interesting - thanks for sharing. It looks like the problem still persists (no trains to Paddington today), so I guess attempts to resolve it didn't go to plan!

 

[TFN]

Seen some scaffolding and a gap on the Platform wall. Looks like the work is happening tonight instead.

 

[itfcfan]

An update from a local news website:

“Network Rail confirmed late yesterday that works had begun to remove the wall, and that they are working to get the station reopened as soon as possible.”

TfL is reporting that the eastbound platform remains closed and no indication is being given as to when it will reopen. Network Rail said on Thursday that services would be suspended at least until the weekend.

Ealing's Local Web site

Online resource for Ealing, the site for property , restaurants , shops and information on the Ealing Community

www.ealingtoday.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Mar 2022 ==

It looks like the station fully re-opened this (Monday) morning:

✅CLEARED: #WestEaling - Trains are no longer affected by this disruption

https://twitter.com/nationalrailenq/status/1505724984005648384

 

[Mojo]

It looks like something has happened again going by the status page on the TfL website, advising that all services to Paddington will not be stopping at West Ealing until Wednesday. Presumably some kind of planned works to do a permanent repair?

 

[Snow1964]

Whilst it wouldn’t be possible during the peak, it is a shame couldn’t manage to divert at least one train per hour via the fast line platform during the quieter midday and evening period.

Ideally the ones that meet Greenford branch trains, otherwise it forces a double change on connecting passengers

I guess the crossovers are poorly spaced to allow this scenario, and the old technique of extending the Greenford branch to the reversing siding just beyond Ealing Broadway is now out of favour too.

 

[nlt]

This caught me out and I had to double back at Ealing Broadway to get back to West Ealing for the Greenford train. it puzzles me though as to why eastbound TFL trains can't stop for this work, as all trains are still using the platform to pass through and passengers are allowed on to the platform to get to the Greenford trains. If there's any danger then surely there should be a stop on the line completely.

 

[JN114]

Whilst it wouldn’t be possible during the peak, it is a shame couldn’t manage to divert at least one train per hour via the fast line platform during the quieter midday and evening period.

Ideally the ones that meet Greenford branch trains, otherwise it forces a double change on connecting passengers

I guess the crossovers are poorly spaced to allow this scenario, and the old technique of extending the Greenford branch to the reversing siding just beyond Ealing Broadway is now out of favour too.

There is neither a “fast line” platform at West Ealing, nor a Turnback siding at Ealing Broadway - both were abolished the better part of 30 years ago!

It looks like something has happened again going by the status page on the TfL website, advising that all services to Paddington will not be stopping at West Ealing until Wednesday. Presumably some kind of planned works to do a permanent repair?

The temporary repair has degraded, and thus the wall is again unsafe. The scaffold has/is being re-erected with more remedial works taking place overnights this week.

This caught me out and I had to double back at Ealing Broadway to get back to West Ealing for the Greenford train. it puzzles me though as to why eastbound TFL trains can't stop for this work, as all trains are still using the platform to pass through and passengers are allowed on to the platform to get to the Greenford trains. If there's any danger then surely there should be a stop on the line completely.

As I understand it the “dangerous” part of the platform should be fenced off, it’s at the very London End. The Greenford question was raised with the initial damage closure and it was confirmed by all concerned that passengers could access the station building, and Platform 5 safely, but the London End of Platform 4 would be fenced off for safety reasons.

 

[matt_world2004]

They are working on the London end of the platform there is insufficient space for them to work and for passengers to board or alight trains it's already quite narrow there

 

[T-Karmel]

it puzzles me though as to why eastbound TFL trains can't stop for this work, as all trains are still using the platform to pass through and passengers are allowed on to the platform to get to the Greenford trains. If there's any danger then surely there should be a stop on the line completely.

Eastbound trains take up nearly entire length of the platform. For trains to stop there safely, they'd need to stop as normal, lock out doors at the front 2-3-4-whatever number of carriages, make announcements for people to walk back the train to get off both before stopping as well as after stopping, that way delaying every service that stops there.

However I think more than delays it's a matter of safety - train driver could forget to do that and open all of the doors, and passengers not being prepared to walk back the carriage or two, would be egressing doors on the unsafe part of the platform.

That's just few examples of why this is not good idea to stop there until the problem is resolved.

And as you know, Greenford train is at completely opposite end of the platform and opposite side of the stairs, hence not affected by the problem.

 

[matt_world2004]

I wonder if network rail/TFL/ MTR are planning on taking legal action against the property developer for this

MTR are probably still getting fined for failing to call at West Ealing in the eastbound direction.

 

[Taunton]

Of course, in olden times long train at a short platform would stop first with the front part of the train at the platform, passengers in/out, then pull forward for the rear part to do so. Known as Drawing Up, it was standard practice; there were specific dmu buzzer signals for it.

Presumably modern super high-tech stock is now incapable of doing anything like this.

 

[Mojo]

Of course, in olden times long train at a short platform would stop first with the front part of the train at the platform, passengers in/out, then pull forward for the rear part to do so. Known as Drawing Up, it was standard practice; there were specific dmu buzzer signals for it.

Presumably modern super high-tech stock is now incapable of doing anything like this.

It’s more of the case on a modern railway there simply isn’t the time to mess around doing this.

 

[The Quincunx]

Very grateful for the update to this thread, as I live in Northfields and use West Ealing when going to work. E2 bus to Ealing Broadway this morning.

 

[Horizon22]

It’s more of the case on a modern railway there simply isn’t the time to mess around doing this.

It was all rather short notice too - I think Network Rail gave about 48 hours to the operators before the work was to take place, so the wall must have really degraded or new issues found. All should be back to normal for Thursday morning.

As for stopping, opening doors and conducting dispatchno risk assessment was in place as to a safe method of operation, given the short notice and the extremely limited space at the end of the platform with the scaffolding works. Better to just get this (finally) resolved once and for all.

 

[Cowley]

There’s a thread on the historical practice of drawing forward here now.