Coventry Fire

[andyjhatton]

As per the title, family tell me that the WCML has suffered another (literal) meltdown due to a fire at Coventry.

They've been diverted to Tamworth to try and intercept a XC service to New Street

 

[jfollows]

Alterations to services between Coventry and Birmingham International


Due to a fire next to the track between Coventry and Birmingham International all lines are blocked.
Impact
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 30 minutes or diverted. Birmingham International and Coventry will not be served. Disruption is expected until 18:00 24/08.
Customer Advice
Your ticket can be used at no extra cost on Chiltern Railways services between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street in both directions until further notice.

Your ticket can be used at no extra cost on Transport for Wales services between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton in both directions until further notice.

Your ticket can be used at no extra cost on CrossCountry services between Stafford and Birmingham New Street in both directions until further notice.

Your ticket can be used at no extra cost on CrossCountry services between Nuneaton and Birmingham New Street in both directions until further notice.

Your ticket can be used at no extra cost on London Northwestern Railway services between Stafford and Birmingham New Street in both directions until further notice.

Your ticket can be used at no extra cost on West Midlands Railway services between Birmingham International and Birmingham New Street in both directions until further notice.

Your ticket can be used at no extra cost on West Midlands Railway services between Coventry and Nuneaton in both directions until further notice.

See https://www.journeycheck.com/avantiwestcoast/

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The Avanti journey check (weblink) now looks to be saying that the line has re-opened? No doubt there'll be some residual delays.

Extract...

Delays to services between Coventry and Birmingham International

Following a fire next to the track between Coventry and Birmingham International all lines have now reopened.

Impact
Train services running through these stations are returning to normal.

Disruption is expected until 18:30 24/08.

 

[Russel]

Station, lineside or train fire?

 

[AndrewE]

See https://www.journeycheck.com/avantiwestcoast/

Given that we (almost) have a re-unified railway now, why don't they just say "travel by any reasonable or practicable route?"

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Station, lineside or train fire?

Trackside fire in the Canley area (between Coventry and Birmingham International).

 

[Russel]

Trackside fire in the Canley area (between Coventry and Birmingham International).

Thanks, just spotted the information was in post #2!

 

[skyhigh]

Given that we (almost) have a re-unified railway now, why don't they just say "travel by any reasonable or practicable route?"

That's coming. There is reciprocal acceptance between all of the DfT operators, and as new operators get transferred across they get added to the acceptance.

Why the DfT can't arrange that any sooner I have no idea.

 

[Russel]

That's coming. There is reciprocal acceptance between all of the DfT operators, and as new operators get transferred across they get added to the acceptance.

Why the DfT can't arrange that any sooner I have no idea.

Given that even the TOCs that don't yet come under the GBR/DFT umbrella are managed in all but name by the DFT, it's a poor show that blanket ticket acceptance isn't put in place already.

 

[AndrewE]

That's coming. There is reciprocal acceptance between all of the DfT operators, and as new operators get transferred across they get added to the acceptance.
Why the DfT can't arrange that any sooner I have no idea.

Yes. A lot of the travelling public's stress will be coming from the constant warnings and harassment of "If you don't have a ticket for this operator you will have to buy a full-price single for this journey if you want to complete it."

They (the travelling public) are understandably worried about the potential financial consequences of trying to get home by whatever train seems to be running, whereas it should be One Railway that says "Take whatever seems to be the best option just now, we will get you there somehow. We are sorry you will be late, but don't worry about these TOC-specific routings or train-specific tickets."

 

[zwk500]

Yes. A lot of the travelling public's stress will be coming from the constant warnings and harassment of "If you don't have a ticket for this operator you will have to buy a full-price single for this journey if you want to complete it."

They (the travelling public) are understandably worried about the potential financial consequences of trying to get home by whatever train seems to be running, whereas it should be One Railway that says "Take whatever seems to be the best option just now, we will get you there somehow. We are sorry you will be late, but don't worry about these TOC-specific routings or train-specific tickets."

In this instance, LnWR were very quick and proactive to advertise acceptance via 2 reasonable routes - XC to Leamington or local service busses between Birmingham and Coventry (X1 and 9).

However the organisation of the queue at Birmingham international was non existent (although very calm and relatively good natured) and there is only so much room on a service bus in the evening peak so I ended up just waiting in the bus queue until the first eastbound train was advertised.
Replacement coaches were provided between Coventry and Northampton thst were ready and waiting when the first XC and Avanti trains did get through to Coventry.

 

[Russel]

Yes. A lot of the travelling public's stress will be coming from the constant warnings and harassment of "If you don't have a ticket for this operator you will have to buy a full-price single for this journey if you want to complete it."

They (the travelling public) are understandably worried about the potential financial consequences of trying to get home by whatever train seems to be running, whereas it should be One Railway that says "Take whatever seems to be the best option just now, we will get you there somehow. We are sorry you will be late, but don't worry about these TOC-specific routings or train-specific tickets."

Indeed, the guilty until proven innocent mentality to ticketing and revenue protection has never sat right with me.

I can't think of another industry that will threaten customers with prosecution for making genuine mistakes as a result of a ticketing/pricing structure that is so complex that even the people selling the product and enforcing the rules don't always understand it...

But at least GBR will come along and fix it!