Standedge Tunnel Fire 25/1

[M60lad]

Not to sure what's caused it but National Rail are reporting of a fire inside Standedge Tunnel with all lines between Manchester and Huddersfield closed at the moment, National Rail are saying disruption until at least 16:00.

Incident: Stalybridge | National Rail

Major disruption between Huddersfield and Manchester Victoria . Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

 

[Fokx]

Not to sure what's caused it but National Rail are reporting of a fire inside Standedge Tunnel with all lines between Manchester and Huddersfield closed at the moment, National Rail are saying disruption until at least 16:00.

Incident: Stalybridge | National Rail

Major disruption between Huddersfield and Manchester Victoria . Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

RRV (Road-Rail Vehicle) caught fire.

 

[Narrowgauge725]

My old patch 37 years since I was I’m checking West Yorkshire Fire Service’s response plan to fires inside the tunnel.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Trains appear to be diverting via the Calder Valley this morning.

Edit: Closure of Marsden-Stalybridge extended to 2000 today.

Incident: Stalybridge | National Rail

Major disruption between Huddersfield and Manchester Victoria . Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

 

[Angmering1974]

.

 

[D1537]

As per last Saturday with the bridge strike at Greenfield, TPE are maintaining a semblance of a service between Dewsbury and Marsden by sending every other xx58 York-Man Picc that way, and spinning it at Marsden.

 

[QueensCurve]

My old patch 37 years since I was I’m checking West Yorkshire Fire Service’s response plan to fires inside the tunnel.

Was that in response to the Summit Tunnel fire?

 

[far]

Disruption expected until the end of the day which is unsurprising but hardly ideal when I need to get across to NLW. Hopefully not as much disruption as that infamous 1984 Summit fire though. Surely acceptance with LNER from YRK to DON will have to continue past 1700?

 

[Bow Fell]

TPE yet again downplaying disruption in their titles: "Cancellations to services between Marsden and Stalybridge". Cool, so nothing affected between Slaithwaite and eastwards then? Oh wait, read on:

All lines?? OK too much in the other direction now

Ah finally getting there.

They couldn't accurately describe disruption if their lives depended on it.

As has been explained many times before, the description and building of such disruption messages is from a pre-selection of drop down boxes on Tyrell, you’re basically building a story from a pre-selection of words and phrases. Unfortunately, sometimes it doesn’t make sense because of the wording or accurate to the disruption but they are the tools and confines we have to work with.

For example one such drop down is “some lines” are blocked, “the line” is blocked or “all lines” are blocked.

There is the option of freeform text in Tyrell but you can’t do this without building a disruption message like the one above as well.

 

[Angmering1974]

.

 

[D1537]

Disruption expected until the end of the day which is unsurprising but hardly ideal when I need to get across to NLW. Hopefully not as much disruption as that infamous 1984 Summit fire though. Surely acceptance with LNER from YRK to DON will have to continue past 1700?

To be honest, I'm not sure why that acceptance is, or was, even there considering there are still 2tph each way between York and Manchester that are only losing 10-15 minutes going via the Calder Valley.

 

[Bow Fell]

Well leaving aside the assumption that someone has read every single existing post on this ancient forum, what is the excuse for selecting Stalybridge and Marsden in the title when there were more stations effected? The hand of god literally reaching down and forcing your mouse?

Because you can only select two stations, I know it’s pointless me explaining it, because from other threads you've contributed to, it just must be staff incompetence then.

I try to explain some of the systems, control staff like myself use to give a better understanding of how we do things, one because I’m passionate and give a toss about my job, and two to clear up any misunderstanding or assumptions. I use Tyrell daily and it’s far from perfect but thats what we are given.

But I guess I’m just another incompetent, lazy member of staff when it comes to this. Nevermind.

 

[ruaival]

Because you can only select two stations, I know it’s pointless me explaining it, because from other threads you've contributed to, it just must be staff incompetence then.

I try to explain some of the systems, control staff like myself use to give a better understanding of how we do things, one because I’m passionate and give a toss about my job, and two to clear up any misunderstanding or assumptions. I use Tyrell daily and it’s far from perfect but thats what we are given.

But I guess I’m just another incompetent, lazy member of staff when it comes to this. Nevermind.

No.

Your post was really helpful to understand why the "free form" text message does not naturally appear in these circumstances.

Your words suggest that "a controlling big brother" or TOC attempt to "manage the messaging" are not what's going on ... just helpful people constrained by digital systems pee-loaded text options.

Thank you, for sharing.

 

[M60lad]

Could we actually see the tunnel shut into tomorrow? Just wondering what damage could have been done due to the fire

 

[Ballyheigue]

To be honest, I'm not sure why that acceptance is, or was, even there considering there are still 2tph each way between York and Manchester that are only losing 10-15 minutes going via the Calder Valley.

Helps with over crowding on Calder Valley trains which are busy enough without all the additional displaced passengers, the more options the better.

 

[tpfx89]

Could we actually see the tunnel shut into tomorrow? Just wondering what damage could have been done due to the fire

Hoping not, planning on traversing it tomorrow as part of my journey into the depot! But not seeing a reopening time as of yet.

 

[thenorthern]

According to a post on X from TPExpress the tunnel won't open until at least 9am tomorrow.

@TPEassist

Staff have been working throughout the day to carry out repairs; however, work will need to continue overnight, and the line is not expected to reopen until 26/01/2026 at 09:00. https://x.com/TPEassist/status/2015540551509008685

 

[Cell2025]

According to a post on X from TPExpress the tunnel won't open until at least 9am tomorrow.

I'm travelling on the 11.30 from Leeds to Liverpool. Touch and go that.

Also Leeds are playing at Everton tomorrow with the 22.53 a just about viable train for the return trip.

 

[noddingdonkey]

Because you can only select two stations, I know it’s pointless me explaining it, because from other threads you've contributed to, it just must be staff incompetence then.

I try to explain some of the systems, control staff like myself use to give a better understanding of how we do things, one because I’m passionate and give a toss about my job, and two to clear up any misunderstanding or assumptions. I use Tyrell daily and it’s far from perfect but thats what we are given.

But I guess I’m just another incompetent, lazy member of staff when it comes to this. Nevermind.

But it is a fair observation that selecting Huddersfield rather than Marsden as one of those two stations would have better represented the area in which services are disrupted and been much more useful to the travelling public, isn't it?

 

[driverd]

Because you can only select two stations, I know it’s pointless me explaining it, because from other threads you've contributed to, it just must be staff incompetence then.

I try to explain some of the systems, control staff like myself use to give a better understanding of how we do things, one because I’m passionate and give a toss about my job, and two to clear up any misunderstanding or assumptions. I use Tyrell daily and it’s far from perfect but thats what we are given.

But I guess I’m just another incompetent, lazy member of staff when it comes to this. Nevermind.

I'm sure there was no suggestion that anyone personally is lazy or incompetent here - and the description you have given perfectly summarises the constraints of the system used and the shortcomings of it. Certainly, insult or attack was not how I read the OPs post, though I dont know of anyone's particular posting history to comment otherwise.

For me, however, I think the key takeaway is that the system used isn't really fit for purpose and leads to confusing messaging for members of the public. I don't think anyone is calling for heads to roll or anything dramatic, or indeed, is overly interested who is personally at fault for that - but perhaps that's something that could be fed back to higher management?

As is always the case in every business, sincere end user feedback helps improve processes and shouldn't be taken as an insult - it's a chance to grow and an opportunity to deliver better in the future.

 

[Bow Fell]

Possibly, however trains were running between Marsden and Huddersfield. As I said because of the pre-selections it’s hard to be 100% fully descriptive and accurate.

Stalybridge and Huddersfield could have been used but saying all lines are blocked would then be inaccurate when trains are running on a section of that line. This is where you could use the freeform text in the “Customer Advice” or “Additional Information” section of Tyrell and write “A limited service is running between Marsden and Huddersfield” but sometimes just keeping it simple is better especially when it looks like you contradicting the above message. This isn’t something you can work hours away, control messages need to be sent out quick and updated regularly. Focussing on every detail and you’ll be writing it forever.

 

[Fokx]

Due to falling roof debris found in the early hours of this morning, the tunnel is likely to be shut for most of, if not all of today also.

Some morning services are currently diverted and will call at Rochdale and Hebden Bridge in place of Stalybridge and Huddersfield

 

[Ballyheigue]

Bearing in mind this sudden falling debris, I'd play safe, shut the tunnel for the entire week and do a full inspection just in case something serious is found, you just never know with a fire how much damage there is behind the tunnel layers.

 

[TUC]

As has been explained many times before, the description and building of such disruption messages is from a pre-selection of drop down boxes on Tyrell, you’re basically building a story from a pre-selection of words and phrases. Unfortunately, sometimes it doesn’t make sense because of the wording or accurate to the disruption but they are the tools and confines we have to work with.

For example one such drop down is “some lines” are blocked, “the line” is blocked or “all lines” are blocked.

There is the option of freeform text in Tyrell but you can’t do this without building a disruption message like the one above as well.

That may be so, but such lack of clarity really isn't good enough. I don't doubt staff are doing their best within its limitations, but it is distinctly old world in terms of technological capability.

 

[AndyHudds]

Bit chaotic at Huddersfield this morning, and not surprisingly, disappointing. 1 staff member, no trains (understandley so at the minute), no coaches well not at any reasonable frequency. Unsure why services can't call additionally at Brighouse and ship people there? The staff member said coach at 6.45 and change at Dewsbury. I jumped on the 254 and caught the 6.32 from Brighouse but many people won't know to do this. The 6.37 (Huddersfield to Bradford, the seemingly 1 a day) will connect with the 6.50 at Brighouse to Leeds too but again no direction to passengers to do so, also the Wigan service for Manchester passengers.

 

[TUC]

I recognise it is a complex situation, but I suspect many people who read the National Rail advice on arrangements this morning would str to understand the key messages on what services to use. https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/stalybridge-20260125/

 

[AndyHudds]

I recognise it is a complex situation, but I suspect many people who read the National Rail advice on arrangements this morning would str to understand the key messages on what services to use. https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/stalybridge-20260125/

How many people do you think actually know about the disruption before they tip up at the station at 6am? If they did they might have expected it to be all sorted by now and normal service resumed, as advertised yesterday? Most rail users aren't enthusiasts or totally clued up on the network as to what alternatives could be used other than slavishly following what station staff tell them.

 

[Fokx]

Standedge Tunnel is now expected to be closed now until 0600 on 27/01/26

 

[M60lad]

I'm guessing the reason for Northern cancelling some of their morning services between Victoria and Leeds is to ease capacity problems on Calder Valley, I noticed looking at Tracksy yesterday there were problems with bunching of some services causing delays some TPE services were running anything up-to 30mins late at times.

 

[Narrowgauge725]

Was that in response to the Summit Tunnel fire?

No it was just to check up that everything was as per plan which had probably been updated after Summitt. I did attend the Summit Tunnel fire fortunately I didn’t have to actually go in the tunnel whilst it was burning, there were some lucky escapes