Freight train chaos at Woking 27/12

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I’ve arrived at Woking to find - in the space of FIVE minutes:

A Freight train arrive on Platform 5
A Freight train arrive on Platform 2
A Freight train arrive on Platform 1, with the one on Platform 5 then departing

And now, as the one on Platform 2 pulls out, ANOTHER red 66 - from the north - is approaching Platforms 4 and 5?

SWR services are delayed by up to half an hour due to “congestion” as a result.

Why so much freight in the space of five minutes?

I’ve used Woking all my life and never seen anything like it.

 

[furnessvale]

I’ve arrived at Woking to find - in the space of FIVE minutes:

A Freight train arrive on Platform 5
A Freight train arrive on Platform 2
A Freight train arrive on Platform 1, with the one on Platform 5 then departing

And now, as the one on Platform 2 pulls out, ANOTHER red 66 - from the north - is approaching Platforms 4 and 5?

SWR services are delayed by up to half an hour due to “congestion” as a result.

Why so much freight in the space of five minutes?

I’ve used Woking all my life and never seen anything like it.

Are they freights or engineers trains?

 

[sh24]

I can see autoballasters so looks like the end of an engineering possession.

 

[fgwrich]

Are they freights or engineers trains?

Engineers trains from the Waterloo - Clapham block.

 

[30907]

Trains have been leaving CLJ around half an hour late all morning. Not sure the engineers' trains are adding to that significantly.

 

[furnessvale]

I can see autoballasters so looks like the end of an engineering possession.

So basically, a possession overruns and getting the trains out of block causes delays.

As I suspected, nothing to do with freight.

 

[Deepgreen]

Freight does run through Woking, but these are engineering trains, hence their numbers at the same time. Unfortunately, once they have finished their work, they have nowhere else to go. Very surprised that a veteran member here doesn't recognise engineering trains...

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I can see autoballasters so looks like the end of an engineering possession.

Many thanks.

 

[Class 466]

Think the thread should be changed to General SWR Chaos, its clear the planned timetable for today has not worked at all with so much terminating at Clapham Junction. At least it’s not in place for another week… oh wait.

 

[Olivine]

Think the thread should be changed to General SWR Chaos, its clear the planned timetable for today has not worked at all with so much terminating at Clapham Junction. At least it’s not in place for another week… oh wait.

Not all lines are blocked for the next week.

 

[davews]

Yesterday I caught 1C39 to Martins Heron. One of the ballast trains, 6N01 sat at Staines for 18 minutes 'for staffing reasons' holding up the Windsor, Weybridge and our train behind it. We were only five minutes late but the Windsor train lost a whole 15 minutes. And as you say, announced as 'congestion'. Maybe this pales compared with the people congestion at Clapham Junction subway and Victoria - and also at Stratford due to the Liverpool St closure.