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Bridge Strike between Fenchurch Street and West Ham High Level No C2C on all lines. (24/07/26)
- Thread starter Kenny G
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RailUK Forums
zwk500
Veteran Member
From the live data maps it looks like services are starting to run again east of Barking. I would guess that given the location of the strike, control needed a brief time to work out what services could be operated, noting usefulness to passengers, Crew hours and so on.
Fair enough. I can see the dilemma as a couple of weeks back in the high temperatures they were trying to be extra hopeful and kept West Ham platform open as people experienced repeat cancellations/ delays. Today they closed the West Ham platform and posted online that all was closed for rush hour period. At least it meant I could make the decision to take an alternative non c2c route but it did feel different.
Ashley Hill
Established Member
Seems to be a bridge on Manor Road West Ham. It’s been hit by a scaffolding lorry. LU are cautioning their own trains.
Fortunately the district line is still flowing as really didn't fancy having yet another 3 hour commute in current heat levels.
Mattplans
Member
1B64 1600 London Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness was diverted via Stratford
zwk500
Veteran Member
As has 2B98 1607 LONDON FENCHURCH STREET - SHOEBURYNESS, and it looks like 2D46 1610 London Fenchurch Street to Pitsea will also do so. Up trains are beginning to divert via Stratford as well, so this bridge bash is very likely going to cause some huge consequentials.
2R09 1540 Grays to London Fenchurch Street is in West Ham up platform, presumably will either recover to West Ham depot wrong-road or just wait it out as passengers will have gone for the LU services.
Ashley Hill
Established Member
Couldn’t resist posting this clip of Lee from the band Madness driving a scaffolding lorry and hitting a bridge.
StephenHunter
Established Member
Good job I had the day off then!
zwk500
Veteran Member
2R09 has now stepped forward from West Ham towards Fenchurch Street.
Mattplans
Member
A bit puzzled about how the same bridge strike at West Ham has decimated c2c but LU is running through with only minor delays.
Reminds me of a couple weeks back to the fire at New Cross, and Southeastern threw in the towel while London Overground trains which run much closer to the site of the fire were running through fine (for the first few hours that was).
Reminds me of a couple weeks back to the fire at New Cross, and Southeastern threw in the towel while London Overground trains which run much closer to the site of the fire were running through fine (for the first few hours that was).
I'm only guessing, but I wonder if it's a weight issue - are the c2c trains heavier than the District Line trains? It could also purely be different TOCs having different rules on how they react to the same situation.
(edited to add) It's also struck me that Network Rail may have put a line block in place, but London Underground didn't.
Expression357
Member
This is quite simple.
Manor Road bridge at West Ham station is effectively 3 separate structures - so depending on what line has been struck and from what side, will dictate a certain impact.
Whether the vehicle was still stuck underneath the bridge will also prompt a different operational response.
And, underpinning all of that, each bridge will have a dispensation categorisation ranging from Green, Amber, Double Amber and Red. This will be determined by engineers based on the structure of the bridge and the level of mitigation in place.
If the bridge involved is categorised Red, then traffic over it has to be stopped until the bridge and the track is examined by a Bridge Strike Examiner (normally a MOM) who can reopen the line.
RUK
Member
Perhaps they had some trains trapped between Fenchurch Street and West Ham that they had to work out how they could replacements in place for?
It will all come down to each company’s rules and procedures and the risk and robustness of their assets, and this would differ by infrastructure manager (so Network Rail or LUL) as opposed to train operating company.
In the case of NR, they have assessed each bridge’s robustness is assessed and they have given it a classification, in this case the bridge is given a red (stop trains classification). In comparison, LU has not assessed any of its bridges as requiring trains to be stopped, however for all bridges they will impose a 15mph (or 24km/h) TSR until assessed by civils, this is unless there is a sacrificial beam fitted in which case normal line speed applies.
They are different bridges. Bridges also have a variety of classifications by NR. If it’s “red” that’s a job stopper until someone can be brought out to inspect as opposed to other classifications which might allow trains to initially run at reduced speed.
Luckily it wasn’t too long and although there were a few diversions via Stratford / Woodgrange Park sending too many would also have decimated the Elizabeth line service during the peak considering its 12tph.
I'm impressed there is enough capacity on the Stratford section at that time of day to squeeze additional C2C trains in. If they could include some Stratford trains into usual weekday peak operations it would definitely help with Elizabeth line and GA connections.
StephenHunter
Established Member
That might happen with GBR Anglia; the 720s from GA have just been cleared for LTS.
There isn’t, really. The diversions caused some delay to Elizabeth Line services.
I can guarantee it won’t happen in normal circumstances.
That's just to simplify unit diagrams and maintenance. It probably won't have any effect on service except to cover LTS when multiple units need repairs.
There isn't. Hence only a few went through and even then Elizabeth line services were slightly delayed. Services have to cross over onto the Down road at Gas Factory Junction which is not as bad, but crossing both the Down and then Up again to go towards Barking is what hurts, as well as the cautionary aspects with a C2C service running through.
It's a balancing act though; it would be difficult to justify sending nothing from Fenchurch St in the evening peak. As I said, it was lucky it wasn't prolonged or Elizabeth line services probably would have been reduced slightly to accommodate more diversions.
It definitely can't be part of the regular peak operations.
Class 170101
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It will also depends who sign the chord between Gas Factory and Bow Jns. It wasn't core route knowledge (and believe it still isn't) for c2c drivers. Newer drivers don't sign that route and Barking to Liverpool Street to start with.
Service down the pan again this evening. 20 mph speed restriction all the way from Fen St to Campbell Rd junction in both directions, so 5+ min delays. Which sounds trivial but seemed to cause chaos.
No actual explanation why but presumably 1949 OHLE related.
No actual explanation why but presumably 1949 OHLE related.
Is the LTS route out of Fenchurch not the more modern Furrer+Frey equipment now, similar to that installed via the GEFF project on the Great Eastern?
A symptom of failing to build a C2C/Elizabeth line interchange.
RUK
Member
Yes, they apparently finished replacing the Mk1 OLE in February 2024.
StephenHunter
Established Member
C2C and Elizabeth line use the same platforms at Stratford though.
Yes. The E line platforms, but only at weekends, and then only those weekends where engineering work doesn’t prevent C2C running to Liv Street.
Monday to Friday there are usually no C2C trains at Stratford.
I think they more meant building an interchange station, like at Limehouse (very close to the Elizabeth line route).