High winds in Scotland 3/1

[Blindtraveler]

wind dying down a bit but stil gunna be problems I guess

 

[ushawk]

The signalling problem between Retford and Newark is now causing 90 minute delays, so bailing at PBO would be a good idea.

 

[philjo]

FCC site is now reporting OHLE problems on the fast lines between Hitchin & Biggleswade - northbound services using the slow line adding 10 minutes to journey times.

Also 10 minute delays due to speed restrictions imposed at Stevenage.

All hell was let loose outside a while back in the Potters Bar area. calming down now.

 

[tsr]

There's some sort of problem (tree fallen over?) on the North Downs Line - down about 60 - and SN services are disrupted by about 50 mins on some routes:
"Between Horsham and Barnham in both directions
Between Havant and Southampton in both directions
Between Purley and Caterham in both directions
Between Rye and Ashford in both directions
Between Haywards Heath and Lewes via Plumpton in both directions"

 

[ushawk]

Southern's Twitter is reporting trees on the line at Swanwick and Portchester and a London-bound train has hit a tree on the line at Amberley, so thats why they are being delayed.

Also flooding at Plumpton, signalling problem at Cooksbridge, tree on the line at Ham Street and a tree on the line between Purley and Caterham. The tree on the line at Brockenhurst has now been cut up and removed according to Network Rails Twitter.

 

[TheJRB]

There's some sort of problem (tree fallen over?) on the North Downs Line - down about 60 - and SN services are disrupted by about 50 mins on some routes:
"Between Horsham and Barnham in both directions
Between Havant and Southampton in both directions
Between Purley and Caterham in both directions
Between Rye and Ashford in both directions
Between Haywards Heath and Lewes via Plumpton in both directions"

As I live near to the stretch that I highlighted there, I can vouch for how bad it's been. It's settled down now though thankfully. Not a good day by the look of it!

 

[tsr]

I'm a few miles from the tree that came down between Caterham and Purley and I am completely unsurprised by that, too! The line has now opened at that location.

 

[michael769]

Winds dropped significantly about 11AM. And while it is still windy it is by no means out of the ordinary.

I'd be surprised if inspections and proving runs are not underway by now - though I suspect given the amount of downed trees and damaged building out my way there will be a lot needing done to get some lines open again.


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I should say that the Met Office warnings really failed to give any indication it was going to be this bad. Yes they predicted high winds but the red alert was not released until 9AM this morning when you only needed to look outside.

I don't think I have ever seen this much structural damage. Around my bit I would estimate 1:5 homes have dislodged tiles and I saw one poor unfortunate whoose ridge had been reduced to bits of broken tiles. This was probably the most severe storm I have experienced in years - so not surprising they seem to be struggling to restore services.

I hope they do get some going though - the trains were running this morning so lots of folks will be stuck at work - and telling people not to travel is not much use if they have to get back home to pick their kids from a nursery before it closed.

 

[ushawk]

Just a slight breeze here now with the sun out, completely different to an hour ago.

 

[Olympian]

I'm currently on the late-running 1157 Newcastle to Kings Cross and guard has recently announced that signalling problems between Doncaster and Peterborough have apparently been sorted which is great news.

Apart from loads of confusion at Newcastle over when exactly the train was leaving, and then inserting extra stops at Doncaster and Peterborough after we'd left Newcastle which really confused people already expecting to have to change at York, this service has been fine so far. Quite busy in standard, lightly loaded in First but plenty of complimentary refreshments being served.

Made me chuckle when guard had just boarded at Newcastle (we were waiting for him and a driver) and he announced something along the lines of "I've just got on this train myself and we're ready to go. I know we're going to London Kings Cross but I've not yet worked out exactly which train we are and where we're stopping but let's get going anyway and I'll let you know as soon as I do. There have been lots of problems on East Coast today, I've been caught up in them too but I'll do my best to keep you all informed about what's happening". And he has done so throughout the journey. He's even managed two full ticket checks so far and still very cheerful and happy to answer any questions. Top bloke!

 

[LCC106]

Boarded a train to Reading at 1:5something at York. Need to get off at Sheffield to go to Alfreton. Took this decision as I'd booked on to a CC train from platform 9 but there were still trains waiting to go North through there. Have to say the C2C? Guard on the train before I got on was obnoxiouz, unfriendly and quite frankly downright rude to people wanting to get on at his carriage. He wouldn't let them and told them to go further down the platform then locked the doors and set off anyway. MOST displeased as someone about to enter the rail industry!

 

[phil8715]

Looks like WCML is closed north of Carlisle. All Forth bridges closed road & rail as has Glasgow Airport so everyone is in the same boat. Plenty of warning on the weather forecast all yesterday so anybody with any common sense would not expect it to be an easy ride.

I knew Glasgow airport was shut. I've just flown from Belfast International to Liverpool John Lennon and there was a flight to Glasgow that was cancelled but there was a flight to Edinburgh that left shortly before mine. I'm surprised Belfast International wasn't closed.


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[chris89]

Still quite windy in Armadale and having a mixture of sleety snow as well. Havent a clue if the Helensburgh/ milgilve/ trains to Edinburgh are running atm.

 

[LCC106]

Oops - may have been East Coast. Still a Guard that couldn't seem to cope with pressure!

 

[ushawk]

Virgin are now running a reduced service between Carlisle and Glasgow/Haymarket.

 

[michael769]

Still quite windy in Armadale and having a mixture of sleety snow as well. Havent a clue if the Helensburgh/ milgilve/ trains to Edinburgh are running atm.

According to Live departure boards services will recommence with the 15:07 Edinburgh to Milngavie is set to be the first train to leave Waverley.

The Edinburgh to Glasgow shuttle will recommence with the 15:15 departure.

Most services should be leaving as normal from 15:30.

Having said that the 15:07 does not seem to have actually left yet - weather that is the usual post disruption chaos at Waverley or someone has forgotten to update the cancellations remains to be seen.

EDIT: the 15:07 is now AWOL - surprise surprise.
According to National Rail Virgin are now running out of Haymarket. Waverley remains closed according to NRE even though Scotrail's journeycheck is now reporting services set to depart normally.

Great how in time of major disruption Scotrail cannot be bothered to provide accurate and reliable cancellation.

 

[Blindtraveler]

cant see why waverley would stil be shut anyway unless dammaged

 

[michael769]

According to NRE Glasgow stations are now open but few services are running.

Waverley remains closed - with most of the services supposedly due to leave coming up AWOL shortly afterwards. They really need to update journeycheck to reflect reality before the evening comutters descend on them.

 

[142094]

cant see why waverley would stil be shut anyway unless dammaged

Only thing I can think of is that the high winds were posing some sort of safety risk - might be due to the building work going on - but doesn't explain why Glasgow Central/Queen Street were shut as well.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
All East Coast services now cancelled north of Newcastle. However NRE is showing that TPE are now running to Edinburgh (but stiull saying that Waverley is shut).

 

[marks87]

A lorry overturned on the Kingston bridge, so presumably there were concerns over services crossing the railway bridge into GLC.

 

[OuterDistant]

Buses replacing trains between Stoke and Derby due to obstruction on the line at Tutbury. Hope it doesn't give EMT any more ideas on how to run down the service

 

[michael769]

First signs of recovery....

East Kilbride and Barrhead services will run as booked commencing with the 15:18 from Glasgow Central and 15:27 from Barrhead.

 

[tsr]

A lorry overturned on the Kingston bridge, so presumably there were concerns over services crossing the railway bridge into GLC.

I believe there were actually two overturned lorries at one point. I would imagine either or both of those may have damaged the bridge - perhaps the safety fencing, which is obviously critically important, or something else.

 

[marks87]

I believe there were actually two overturned lorries at one point. I would imagine either or both of those may have damaged the bridge - perhaps the safety fencing, which is obviously critically important, or something else.

Any damage to the Kingston Bridge wouldn't effect rail services in and out of GLC. But the fact that vehicles were blown over on it could, if it's thought that a similar fate could befell anything crossing the rail bridge.

 

[michael769]

Further limited recovery in the west:

Scotland weather update - Shuttle trains between Anderston and Motherwell & between Motherwell and Lanark

Still virtually nothing in the East though.

 

[tsr]

Still virtually nothing in the East though.

To be fair on the operators, the storm was moving West-East, although for most people in Scotland it would have been feeling pretty wild!

 

[Waverley21]

This afternoon's information on Waverley via East Coast:

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/travel-information/live-travel-information/

 

[michael769]

This afternoon's information on Waverley via East Coast:

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/travel-information/live-travel-information/

Network Rail, which manages Edinburgh Waverley station, has closed the building to trains and passengers for safety reasons. Engineers are hoping to assess the condition of the building this afternoon when conditions allow.

That explains a lot - presumably it will be related to the scaffolding and roof works. But why don't Scotrail share that with their passengers? The high winds excuse is getting difficult to take when the worst of the winds died down over here just after noon!

 

[bengolding]

Abandoned my Haymarket to Rugby via ECML til tomorrow morning. Waverley staff validated my FOS for travel tomorrow. Here's hoping the 05:40 to Newcastle runs to get an early EC breakfast. Thankfully got a room at the Balmoral tonight so not far to walk. When do "Waverley Steps" re-open? The current detour to Princes St is via Princes Mall is annoying.

 

[michael769]

Waverley now open, no services as yet!

Edinburgh Waverley station has reopened but not all services are running. Please check before you travel=

And something on the scale of their problems:

Rail services in the central belt are suspended due to trees and garden debris blocking the track.

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Hundreds of trees down across the network - like these at Markinch:http://t.co/mAGkzury

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We're clearing debris from the network as quickly we can but some is so large we'll need to bring in cranes.