And the Chaos is underway!

[boing_uk]

If its the same story, then it was a branch that fell on her from a poplar tree while she was sat on a bench.

And we have discussed trees many times before. They are bad on slopes like cuttings as they do NOT hold the soil together, but put a strain on it and thus increasing the likelihood of a slip. In wet weather this is even more likely, particularly in soils with poor cohesive properties.

Carefully chosen grasses do much the same job in protecting a slope from water erosion. What trees are good at in rainfall is increasing the amount of time it takes for rainwater to soak away: although not really useful in storms they do have their uses in managing rain water.

Cutting them down near buildings is likely to cause ground heave. Conversely, too many trees near a building are likely to cause ground shrinkage as they extract the water from it.

For most trees the root ball isn't that large, or really that strong and if the ground is saturated or of poor strength the tree will be more likely to topple in strong winds.

 

[pendolino]

If its the same story, then it was a branch that fell on her from a poplar tree while she was sat on a bench.

And we have discussed trees many times before. They are bad on slopes like cuttings as they do NOT hold the soil together, but put a strain on it and thus increasing the likelihood of a slip. In wet weather this is even more likely, particularly in soils with poor cohesive properties.

Carefully chosen grasses do much the same job in protecting a slope from water erosion. What trees are good at in rainfall is increasing the amount of time it takes for rainwater to soak away: although not really useful in storms they do have their uses in managing rain water.

Cutting them down near buildings is likely to cause ground heave. Conversely, too many trees near a building are likely to cause ground shrinkage as they extract the water from it.

For most trees the root ball isn't that large, or really that strong and if the ground is saturated or of poor strength the tree will be more likely to topple in strong winds.

Sources? You're generalising somewhat. For instance, the heave/subsidence you mention will only occur on shrinkable clay soils.

 

[ushawk]

Well I got home fine. I was not too delayed in the end. The driver apparently got out of the cab and moved the tree! How does that work? Considering this part of the world is 3rd rail land? I'm due on VT to Manchester Piccadilly tomorrow so I wonder what the morning will bring

I assume he would of had permission to do that do it must of only been a branch, Southern website now reporting an obstruction on the line at Woldingham.

 

[TheJRB]

I can't really remember wind like it here, at least not recently and it's rather disconcerting. I wonder if something will end up on the Marshlink; there are a lot of trees around the line near Ham Street.

 

[ushawk]

Im expecting quite a bit of disruption to early morning services tomorrow as no doubt some more trees will come down, might even go into the morning peak - conditions should start improving tomorrow though.

 

[boing_uk]

Sources?

Look for the other thread on trees. Sources are in there. And yes I generalised because I really couldn't be bothered, once again, explaining why trees aren't - in general - the mythical gods of soil stabilisation that some seem to think they are.

 

[pendolino]

Look for the other thread on trees. Sources are in there. And yes I generalised because I really couldn't be bothered, once again, explaining why trees aren't - in general - the mythical gods of soil stabilisation that some seem to think they are.

Yes, but the 'sources' in the other thread, if it's the one I'm thinking of, tend to consist largely of anecdotal evidence from various posters on here, which is not really the sort of rigorous experimental evidence which would give a valid insight into the subject in question.

 

[Thomas6187]

VT's 1H75 20:40 Euston to Manchester Piccadilly has been a stand near Weedon (between MK and Rugby) since about 21:15 this evening after losing it's pantograph.

Finally came into Piccadilly at 03:03, 255 mintues late

 

[nr_signaller]

Disruption continues this morning on wcml. Line blocked near weedon due to fallen tree damaging OLE and subsequently ripping the pantograph off of VT 1H75 last night.
All trains diverted via northampton

 

[The Planner]

Back to normal now and running via Weedon

 

[merlodlliw]

Interesting reading, I live next to what is known as Coed Llandegla forest,a national mountain bike site, the forest is huge with millions of trees,all soft wood pine etc, they don't have deep routes & last year a gale(trade name windblow) brought down 20K of them. They are being replaced by broadleaved trees,deeper routes but heavy with leaves.

The experience trees exploding,(earlier thread) was explained to me when I was invited on a lantra five day chain saw course at Clawyd Newydd, thanks to "Keep Wales Tidy"

I am allowed to cut down so many meters of trees on my own land per annum without permission from the Council. Unless the tree is protected.

Bob

 

[marks87]

Disruption in Scotland again.

East Coast
Trains between Edinburgh and Dundee are being diverted via Stirling due to high winds (the Tay Rail bridge is closed). Journey times will be extended by up to 35 minutes.
Trains between Glasgow / Edinburgh and Dundee / Aberdeen / Inverness will have journey times extended because of speed restrictions having been imposed.

ScotRail
The following services are wholly or partially withdrawn:
Trains between Inverness and Wick, and between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh are suspended because of an obstruction on the line.
Trains between Glasgow Queen Street and Oban / Mallaig have been suspended because of snow. Replacement transport is being arranged where road conditions allow. Customers are advised not to travel on these routes.
Trains between Dalmuir and Springburn have been suspended because of overhead wire problems.
Trains between Dalmuir and Motherwell / Lanark via Yoker will not run between Dalmuir and Garscadden. Some trains may be diverted via Singer.
Trains to and from Helensburgh Central are suspended between Dumbarton Central and Helensburgh Central. Replacement transport is being arranged to run between these stations.
Trains between Glasgow Central and Ardrossan / Largs are replaced by buses between Kilwinning and Largs.

The following services are also being disrupted:
Trains between Inverness and Aberdeen are being delayed by an obstruction on the line at Insch. Alternative transport is being arranged at Insch, Inverurie and Aberdeen.
Trains between Inverness and Perth are being delayed by the poor weather conditions.
Trains between Edinburgh and Dundee may be cancelled, or diverted via Stirling / Perth due to high winds (the Tay Rail bridge is closed). Customers for Springfield, Cupar or Leuchars should make alternative travel arrangements.
Trains between Glasgow / Edinburgh / Perth and Dundee / Aberdeen / Inverness will have journey times extended because of speed restrictions having been imposed.

According to a signaller on another forum I post on, there's a blanket 50mph speed restriction on all services that are still running.

 

[philjo]

Not weather related but FCC reporting that the lines towards Brighton are closed near East Croydon due to a fatality.

 

[wintonian]

Signaling issues around Waterloo today (not what SWT need after last week), havnt heard of any fallen trees yet but I do know its F9 out in the Solent and rather bouncing.

Sent from my HTC Desire S

 

[marks87]

A 158 from Wick-Inverness with a gash out the side of it thanks to a fallen tree!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16162338

 

[wintonian]

A 158 from Wick-Inverness with a gash out the side of it thanks to a fallen tree!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16162338

That must of hit with some force.

 

[DarloRich]

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.html

Not looking good in Scotland!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

That must of hit with some force.

nah - that will polish out!

 

[Donny Dave]

That must of hit with some force.

Bit of polyfiller and t-cut, and it will be as good as new, or there is the good old standby for such damage ....

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Bit of polyfiller and t-cut, and it will be as good as new, or there is the good old standby for such damage ....

(commonly found on a Thandi bus)

 

[Bald Rick]

Probably not so useful for the poor lady who was sat in the adjacent seat when the branch made an unannounced entry. Apparently she's okay.

 

[amcluesent]

ECML collapsing...

 

[Donny Dave]

Have you thought that the arrivals from Scotland could be disrupted due to the wether conditions again?

The Tay Bridge is once again closed, so the Aberdeen service is having to go via Perth and Stirling.

 

[ushawk]

East Coast
Trains between Edinburgh and Dundee are being diverted via Perth due to high winds (the Tay Rail bridge is closed). Journey times will be extended by up to 60 minutes.

Looks as if it is down to this. The Fort William London-bound Sleeper tonight has been cancelled, the Northbound is running at present but maybe disrupted when it gets towards Fort William.

 

[HSTEd]

I suppose this is one of the advantages that tunnels have over bridges, but then again we have maintenance nightmares on the Severn Bridge.

 

[Minilad]

Tyseley Tape. The single most amazing piece of railway engineering ever. Take a broken train to Tyseley and within minutes it is as good as new after a liberal dose of this wonderfully versatile material

 

[ushawk]

http://twitpic.com/7t3qcs

This was posted on the Network Rail Twitter earlier today at Corrour (between Fort William and Mallaig).

 

[iron oxide]

Looks as if it is down to this. The Fort William London-bound Sleeper tonight has been cancelled, the Northbound is running at present but maybe disrupted when it gets towards Fort William.

I was booked on this sleeper (a bargain berth, no less) - was in fact at Mallaig, sat on the 16.05 departure to Fort William that wasn't, when the West Highland routes were suspended.

The staff on that train weren't especially helpful to begin with - after a few phone calls, told us that we'd have to sort ourselves out with accommodation for the night at our own expense, and that there might be some trains in the morning. We went off to a local B&B to try and find a room - it was only on the way to the next one that we met up with some other stranded passengers, who told us that we'd been recommended to wait in a pub and ScotRail would try and get something sorted sorted for us. After that, we didn't see them again - left in the dark in a pub (at times literally, owing to powercuts). It was all pretty stressful, the free tea and coffee was small consolation.

After two hours, and a couple of unsuccessful attempts to order taxis of our own, a minibus turned up and whisked us to Fort William, where there was a coach waiting to take us to Glasgow, where we were transferred on to the Lowland Sleeper with time to spare. Only five people took the coach, and only us for the sleeper - ScotRail had telephoned us at about 5.30 to tell us of the Fort William sleeper's cancellation, I expect that put people off from even going down to the station. Incidentally, the bus didn't make any intermediate station calls.

The lowland sleeper was decent - despite, or perhaps because of, the cancellations, it was very lightly loaded and not at all difficult to get a seat in the lounge car. We in fact arrived in Euston earlier than we would have done by the Highland sleeper!

tl;dr - Initial stress and confusion at Mallaig marred an otherwise exemplary response from ScotRail.