Signalling fault/cable theft (?) at Newark (eve 21 March)

[bluenoxid]

It is now moving into the westbound Holmes? loop (1N31 is in the way). 0Z99 has just been generated off the now rear of the train according to OpenTrainTimes map

 

[D1537]

It's been said that one of the 67s was smoking underneath near Doncaster. Unsure which one though.

There's was a photo of it on Facebook earlier, it was the rear one (now presumably the front one).

Edit: although a comment on the same FB post says the rear one (67005) was removed in the loop at Doncaster earlier, so now I have no idea!

 

[sh24]

It's been said that one of the 67s was smoking underneath near Doncaster. Unsure which one though.

Now in the loops outside Lincoln and I can see 0Z99 so maybe the Thunderbird was called to assist. 3 x 67's in one day for those onboard. Great consolation for the 3 hours and counting delay!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Mar 2026 ==

There's was a photo of it on Facebook earlier, it was the rear one (now presumably the front one).

Edit: although a comment on the same FB post says the rear one (67005) was removed in the loop at Doncaster earlier, so now I have no idea!

That would make sense. Rear 67 removed earlier, Thunderbird used to drag the train backwards round the triangle so the front loco was again at the front. 1Z94 now passing through Lincoln.

 

[Bayum]

Carnage at York. Trains occupying platforms. Terminating services struggling for platforms.

 

[bluenoxid]

1Z94 signalled away through Lincoln. I wonder if they’ve decided to leave the rear loco behind.

Edit. 0Z99 heading back towards Newark

 

[Russel]

If cable theft in the Newark area is as prolific as has been suggested in this thread, I assume that naturally, the BTP will be all over it?

 

[D1537]

1Z94 signalled away through Lincoln. I wonder if they’ve decided to leave the rear loco behind.

Edit. 0Z99 heading back towards Newark

I am guessing that since the rear loco was removed at Doncaster and it needed to reverse, the Newark thunderbird was put on the back at Northgate and hauled it to the point where it could do that, and now it is heading south with the remaining 67.

 

[Intercity_225]

Trains seem to have stopped again, everything alright?

 

[sh24]

Trains seem to have stopped again, everything alright?

We've just been cleared into Newark, and I can the preceding ex York service has disappeared into the black hole between Newark and Peascliff crossovers. Assume each train is being talked though...which must take some time.

 

[Steve Harris]

We've just been cleared into Newark, and I can the preceding ex York service has disappeared into the black hole between Newark and Peascliff crossovers. Assume each train is being talked though...which must take some time.

Indeed. Looking at RTT it's adding anything between 40 and 75 mins extra to the normal travelling time.

Plus delayed southbound trains will pick up even more delay due to there being an engineering possession on the fasts between Huntingdon and Biggleswade.

 

[sh24]

Just 235 mins late into the Cross. Night tube will get me most of the way home so it saves dealing with LNER’s Byzantine cab marshalling process.

 

[renegademaster]

What is LNER like for claiming cab money back?
I had to get a Nottingham to Grantham cab for £70 as their was no staff at the station

 

[LowLevel]

What is LNER like for claiming cab money back?
I had to get a Nottingham to Grantham cab for £70 as their was no staff at the station

No staff at Nottingham? That would be a first, it's 24/7 staffed with cleaners and drivers all over the place all night servicing trains as well as security guards and 2 station supervisors on nights locking up and dispatching trains. Even at 3am there's people bustling about.

 

[renegademaster]

No staff at Nottingham? That would be a first, it's 24/7 staffed with cleaners and drivers all over the place all night servicing trains as well as security guards and 2 station supervisors on nights locking up and dispatching trains. Even at 3am there's people bustling about.

As in no visible staff other than dispatchers who I figured I shouldn't really be bothering at the time. I couldn't exactly ask a cleaner to book onward travel could I?

 

[LowLevel]

As in no visible staff other than dispatchers who I figured I shouldn't really be bothering at the time. I couldn't exactly ask a cleaner to book onward travel could I?

For future reference - please do ask the dispatcher for help with this kind of thing as it is exactly what they're there for, albeit perhaps not at a second they are seeing the train off. If you're stranded late at night approach any member of staff and they'll at least try and start helping. The dispatchers work for the station supervisors who are the ones who will book your taxi.

And yes, if you explain the problem to the cleaners the cleaning gangs are also in touch with the supervisors by radio.

Even a passing conductor or similar can phone them.

Being stuck is important, don't be selective about who working for the railway you ask for help especially late at night.

 

[LickeyIncliner]

The timing of the disruption seems to imply that the cable theft, if that's what it was, took place near an operating main line in broad daylight. Is that common? I'd always assumed it was the kind of crime usually committed at night or when the line in question is closed, to reduce the chance of being caught in the act.

NB as far as I can see there's no confirmation that it was theft, except in post #27 which - with respect - doesn't give a source.

 

[dk1]

Apparently with the Eid celebrations taking place, taxis in some locations are few and far between.

 

[harz99]

In delay terms, I note that Grand Central's 1A69, the 2125 arrival at Kings Cross from Sunderland, eventually arrived just 4 minutes short of 4 hours late according to Real Time Trains, although much of that was due to the train being held at York for slightly over 2.5 hours.

Of course, as the crew lodge overnight, that has a knock on effect in that the 1000 departure from King's Cross to Sunderland this morning will likely be cancelled.

 

[dk1]

Of course, as the crew lodge overnight, that has a knock on effect in that the 1000 departure from King's Cross to Sunderland this morning will likely be cancelled.

Yes, both Hull Trains & Grand Central have caped their first departures from Kings Cross this morning as expected.

 

[D1537]

NB as far as I can see there's no confirmation that it was theft, except in post #27 which - with respect - doesn't give a source.

The LNER travel updates page says "Theft of signalling cables between Grantham and Newark North Gate on Saturday 21 March"

LNER

 

[LickeyIncliner]

The LNER travel updates page says "Theft of signalling cables between Grantham and Newark North Gate on Saturday 21 March"

LNER

Sorry, so it does. I missed that update - I unwisely assumed that the phone app would show current alerts before those from several days ago !

 

[D1537]

Yes, both Hull Trains & Grand Central have caped their first departures from Kings Cross this morning as expected.

The Hull Trains service is cancelled because there is no unit (or possibly crew as well) as 1A96 never made it to Kings Cross last night.

I suspect LNER's 1S11 is starting at Doncaster for the same reason as it needs to be a bimode and the issues last night will have left them short - at least one Edinburgh train didn't make it south and a northbound electric diagram was sent out with a bimode as it needed to go via Lincoln.

 

[dk1]

The Hull Trains service is cancelled because there is no unit (or possibly crew as well) as 1A96 never made it to Kings Cross last night.

I suspect LNER's 1S11 is starting at Doncaster for the same reason as it needs to be a bimode and the issues last night will have left them short - at least one Edinburgh train didn't make it south and a northbound electric diagram was sent out with a bimode as it needed to go via Lincoln.

Yes all relevant and to be expected. The diversions north of York don’t help with unit allocations either but all in all it’s not too bad this morning.

 

[WesternLancer]

For future reference - please do ask the dispatcher for help with this kind of thing as it is exactly what they're there for, albeit perhaps not at a second they are seeing the train off. If you're stranded late at night approach any member of staff and they'll at least try and start helping. The dispatchers work for the station supervisors who are the ones who will book your taxi.

And yes, if you explain the problem to the cleaners the cleaning gangs are also in touch with the supervisors by radio.

Even a passing conductor or similar can phone them.

Being stuck is important, don't be selective about who working for the railway you ask for help especially late at night.

Helpful to read this. I encountered passenger caught up in this who had been advised (so they said) to get to Nottingham in the hope of onward travel options.
I didn’t think any such options by train would exist as it was late, so directed them to the supervisors office in the hope they could get some help.

I don’t think whoever sent them off LNER ‘territory’ was helping them at all really.

 

[KHCT]

The Hull Trains service is cancelled because there is no unit (or possibly crew as well) as 1A96 never made it to Kings Cross last night.

I suspect LNER's 1S11 is starting at Doncaster for the same reason as it needs to be a bimode and the issues last night will have left them short - at least one Edinburgh train didn't make it south and a northbound electric diagram was sent out with a bimode as it needed to go via Lincoln.

The Hull Trains 'lodge' service last night 1A96 (1850 ex Hull) terminated at Doncaster as the driver didn't sign the diversion route so no train or crew made it to London to form this morning's first northbound service.

 

[dmncf]

Grand Central's first southbound train this morning, the 10:10 from York to London Kings Cross, is also disrupted, reportedly due to a points failure at Crofton Depot. It has now left the depot 88 mins late: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:N19312/2026-03-22/detailed#allox_id=1

 

[43094]

It was indeed cable theft - quite a large amount involved....

1E21 yesterday was sent forward, to help clear a platform for a following service, which didn't have one at the time. It couldn't run via the Joint Line due to crew knowledge.

This morning the alterations are in reaction to the issue yesterday, as above.

 

[renegademaster]

Helpful to read this. I encountered passenger caught up in this who had been advised (so they said) to get to Nottingham in the hope of onward travel options.
I didn’t think any such options by train would exist as it was late, so directed them to the supervisors office in the hope they could get some help.

I don’t think whoever sent them off LNER ‘territory’ was helping them at all really.

The TM told us on 1N19 that nothing will likely leave in the next few hours towards Grantham and our best bet was head to St Pancras and try EMR.


The post about contacting the dispatchers I will remember for any future problems.

I do hope LNER don't use this as a way to be fussy and not pay the taxi fare because I wasn't more persistent at trying to find staff (only staff I saw was one dispatcher busy dispatching and a driver going into a mess room, nobody was in the ticket hall) . The EMR guard told me to just go to the rank and claim it from LNER, so did LNER customer support

 

[sh24]

For future reference - please do ask the dispatcher for help with this kind of thing as it is exactly what they're there for, albeit perhaps not at a second they are seeing the train off. If you're stranded late at night approach any member of staff and they'll at least try and start helping. The dispatchers work for the station supervisors who are the ones who will book your taxi.

And yes, if you explain the problem to the cleaners the cleaning gangs are also in touch with the supervisors by radio.

Even a passing conductor or similar can phone them.

Being stuck is important, don't be selective about who working for the railway you ask for help especially late at night.

great advice.

Reflecting on what went went well, and what didn't

* Onboard staff did a fine job of communicating, keep updated, helping passengers. The catering crew did a full run through after Doncaster and encouraged us to take as much as we needed in case the delay was long
* Taxi marshals and other staff on the platform at KX to greet people, really nice reassurance
* Auto delay repay email landed while I was on the tube home
* The online information was understandably erratic to begin with, but pretty decent later. However the National Rail guidelines make for some nonsense statements - 2 paragraphs one saying any ticket is valid for next 2 days, the next saying I can only use on 2 trains either side if mine is cancelled. Similarly the diversion info says you can use EMR from London to Sheffield...but what about the connection to Retford?
* surely every driver and train crew member should sign key diversionary routes - the joint line, Hykeham, via Ely. In a full to capacity ECML world with zero excess to absorb shocks it seems basic business continuity to me. I know the answer is money and time...but really?
* IET seats in First get really uncomfortable after 4 hours. No way am I doing Aberdeen or Inverness in one!

 

[harz99]

Grand Central's first southbound train this morning, the 10:10 from York to London Kings Cross, is also disrupted, reportedly due to a points failure at Crofton Depot. It has now left the depot 88 mins late: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:N19312/2026-03-22/detailed#allox_id=1

Which will almost certainly have a knock on effect on it's next working from Kings Cross, the 1300 to Sunderland, assuming the service actually reaches London at all.