LNER - DO NOT TRAVEL message | Entire ECML - 5th January

[OMGitsDAVE]

I seemed to just miss all this! 12:08 ex Edinburgh to Newcastle - departed bang on time however slightly busier than usual. The 12:00 LNER in the adjacent platform was rammed but left maybe 12:04?

Got to Newcastle around 10 down, where it was forming a Manchester service and all hell broke loose as waiting to board passengers refused to let disembarking ones off first - despite the train terminating before going onwards.

 

[tumbledown]

Literally a clean break.

Don't suppose clamping it and putting on a hefty ESR would at least keep things flowing until it can be repaired?

The southbound line between Peterborough and Stevenage has reopened at reduced speed, according to NRE.

 

[Steve Harris]

The southbound line between Peterborough and Stevenage has reopened at reduced speed, according to NRE.

That is old news.. trains have been travelling through the area at reduced speed since at least 19.00 if not before. See my post #14

 

[rower40]

Literally a clean break.

Don't suppose clamping it and putting on a hefty ESR would at least keep things flowing until it can be repaired?

As it’s an Insulated Block Joint, clamping it would electrically connect the two track circuits either side, and probably compromise the signalling.

So not only an ESR, but authorising each train to pass one or two signals at danger.

 

[Bayum]

Several trains cancelled this morning already.

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

They binned the Chathill train this morning and this evening as they didn’t want the risk of turning the points.

Nothing south bound from Morpeth from 0703 until 0824.

 

[Falcon1200]

trains have been travelling through the area at reduced speed since at least 19.00 if not before.

As per my post #22, I was on 1E07 which departed Peterborough at 1422 and passed (slowly) over the defect!

 

[Adam0984]

What is the issue at Chathill? Northern trains service seems to be blocking the line to Edinburgh with several services stuck behind it.
There are crossovers there and at Beal, which could allow wrong line running up to Beal. But nothing seemingly moving.

Northern don't sign Beal, only upto the crossover at Belford

 

[Steve Harris]

As per my post #22, I was on 1E07 which departed Peterborough at 1422 and passed (slowly) over the defect!

I knew it was way before 19:00 but I forgot you had specifically mentioned a time in your post so I only posted what I knew to be factually correct (I had been watching movements on OTT/Signalmaps). And I only responded because tumbledowns post was written in such a way that it came across that the line had just reopened when in fact the line had reopened many many hours before.

 

[Railperf]

Yesterday's delay repay bill would have been eye watering!
Lumo unit 803004 caught up in that was limited to 75mph all the way from London due to an air suspension fault.

 

[z444z]

Yesterday's delay repay bill would have been eye watering!
Lumo unit 803004 caught up in that was limited to 75mph all the way from London due to an air suspension fault.

Could you share a RTT link just out of interest?

 

[Railperf]

Could you share a RTT link just out of interest?

Here you go

Realtime Trains | 1S97 1415 London Kings Cross to Edinburgh | 05/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 1S97 1415 departure from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh on 05/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Actually reported as 803002

 

[321362]

Here you go

Realtime Trains | 1S97 1415 London Kings Cross to Edinburgh | 05/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 1S97 1415 departure from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh on 05/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

That was 803002, wasn't it?

Lumo unit 803004

I realise I'm being pedantic

 

[DesDobramento]

... but despite all the problems on Monday 5 January, Realtime Trains suggests that the first (and only) 'live' southbound train departure all that day from Montrose (ECS originating in Aberdeen) was a 13-coach triple-headed Caledonian Sleeper which, at Dundee, ran across to Perth then, somewhat later than booked, in the path of the Inverness/Edinburgh/ECML/Euston sleeper, where final arrival was actually early on the public booked time!

LNER haven't managed to get to Aberdeen since Saturday morning's departures, with drifting snow north of Montrose. However, LNER ECML services to/from Inverness have not so far been affected.

 

[harz99]

@DesDobramento was that train not top n tailed 73/9s and a 37 additionally on the leading end?

 

[DesDobramento]

@DesDobramento was that train not top n tailed 73/9s and a 37 additionally on the leading end?

Armchair perusal of the brilliant Realtime Trains site suggests 66759 + 73968 + 73970 worked Aberdeen - Montrose - Perth - Edinburgh with a single 92 Edinburgh - Wembley then double-headed 92s into Euston. Perhaps an observer of the moving train can confirm/supplement this report?

 

[Segedunum]

LNER haven't managed to get to Aberdeen since Saturday morning's departures, with drifting snow north of Montrose. However, LNER ECML services to/from Inverness have not so far been affected.

LNER are now operating on a limited basis to Aberdeen (just the 1003 off London and 1818 back to Doncaster today). Clayhills is off limits due to frozen points and heavy snow - so anything that usually turns in the platform and returns south (basically first two to Aberdeen and last two from Aberdeen) should be operating tomorrow.

 

[E27007]

As it’s an Insulated Block Joint, clamping it would electrically connect the two track circuits either side, and probably compromise the signalling.

So not only an ESR, but authorising each train to pass one or two signals at danger.

Yes,and it is a Edilon glue-bonded block joint, very strong and robust, rare to have Edilons fracture

 

[harz99]

It’s suggested that with the introduction of class 175, some class 165/6 trains in the area might be able to transfer back, based on a forum post I saw. I agree that I’ll believe it when I see it, especially since the earlier plans for three trains per hour didn’t seem very well thought out.

Armchair perusal of the brilliant Realtime Trains site suggests 66759 + 73968 + 73970 worked Aberdeen - Montrose - Perth - Edinburgh with a single 92 Edinburgh - Wembley then double-headed 92s into Euston. Perhaps an observer of the moving train can confirm/supplement this report?

Just seen a video of it, yes it was a 66 leading but with a 73/9 between it and the stock, and a further 73/9 on the rear.