Derailment near Watford Junction (16 September 2016)

[Varney]

Looking at the BBC images is there defoliage/deforestation work taking place above that location presently?

Certainly looks that way. There is lighting equipment above the tunnel mouth and fabric/netting visible. Looks like the bit the has fallen has been cleared but is yet to be netted.

 

[XCTurbostar]

As Mentioned above. This could have turned into something very horrible, especially at that time of day..
Thanks,
Ross

 

[strawbrick]

If you look at the picture you will note that there are no trees and no undergrowth whatsover. This is because Network Rail have spent the summer cutting down all line-side growth to ground level, from at least Berkhamsted to the Watford tunnels.
You can possible just make out the galvanised netting that has been fixed to the face of the steep embankment to stop falling debris.
Those who are aware of the effects of a sudden reduction in the water uptake / retention of slopes might say that the slip was an accident waiting to happen ...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Very lucky the unit stayed upright! With the mouth wall of the tunnel there it could have been much much worse! Recovery will be awkward with both trains inside the tunnel though.

If only 2 were injured, and those were minor injuries, I imagine the unit will be able to be re-railed and rolled out.

 

[45669]

The pictures on BBC News show a Virgin train. Is this the rescue train that they are talking about and, if so, how to they 'transfer' passengers from one train to the other?

 

[Bletchleyite]

The pictures on BBC News show a Virgin train. Is this the rescue train that they are talking about and, if so, how to they 'transfer' passengers from one train to the other?

I'd imagine it might well be, because it's diesel and the wires may be isolated - LM wouldn't have any diesel units nearby other than the two for the Marston Vale which would be inadequate for a busy commuter train. It's also running wrong road.

Ladder down to track, along the track, ladder back up, I'd expect.

 

[theageofthetra]

Regarding ticket acceptance I am on the 10.10 Chiltern from Marylebone and am surprised by how few are on it given the level of disruption on Midland & Virgin. Guard giving excellent, frequent and clear instructions to any displaced passengers who do happen to be on board.

Network Rail do seem to be in a can't win situation over vegetation clearance. I presume that rapidly clearing vegetation followed by heavy rain is no different to what caused devasting landdlides in Sri Lanka and China early this year?

 

[A0]

LM's day keeps getting better.

Problems on the Abbey flyer due to signalling.

And one of the Marston Vale units has decided it needs some time out as well......

 

[mikestone1952]

There was a 5R03 showing on the maps earlier and now a 2R03 on its way to Northampton so it looks as though 1R03 06.20 Rugby-Euston was commandeered.

 

[parkender102]

I'm due to do St Neots - Kings X - Euston - Chester today on a 'via London Only' Off Peak Return. I'm assuming that the National Rail advice will allow me to use the St Neots - Peterborough - Doncaster - Stockport - Crewe - Chester route using Virgin East Coast and Trans Pennine Express? The connections at Stockport - Crewe - Chester will probably be affected as they are Virgin West Coast but I can always take the Manchester to Chester via Altincham route although I think this is a peak service.

 

[45669]

I'd imagine it might well be, because it's diesel and the wires may be isolated - LM wouldn't have any diesel units nearby other than the two for the Marston Vale which would be inadequate for a busy commuter train. It's also running wrong road.

Ladder down to track, along the track, ladder back up, I'd expect.

That's what I assumed.

 

[Bald Rick]

I'm due to do St Neots - Kings X - Euston - Chester today on a 'via London Only' Off Peak Return. I'm assuming that the National Rail advice will allow me to use the St Neots - Peterborough - Doncaster - Stockport - Crewe - Chester route using Virgin East Coast and Trans Pennine Express? The connections at Stockport - Crewe - Chester will probably be affected as they are Virgin West Coast but I can always take the Manchester to Chester via Altincham route although I think this is a peak service.

The Chesters are still running. Albeit with delays.

 

[sd0733]

There was a 5R03 showing on the maps earlier and now a 2R03 on its way to Northampton so it looks as though 1R03 06.20 Rugby-Euston was commandeered.

Yes, that's correct that one was terminated and rescued the passengers, dropping off at Kings Langley for a passenger with chest pains requiring an ambulance, also to Hemel, Milton keynes and Northampton. Approx 250 passengers were evacuated onto this train.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The Chesters are still running. Albeit with delays.

Unusual - the standard 2-track timetable is to can them south of Crewe.

For anyone wanting LIV-MKC who might be being sent via Chester the LIV-EUS services appear, according to NRE (but not yet RTT), to be stopping at MKC - this may save you some time

 

[Taunton]

That looks a very competent tunnel rescue with the diesel unit, and shows the railway can still turn to it when required. So well done to those involved. Is there a procedure for such a tunnel incident like this or did Control devise it on the spot?

I wonder how long the emergency lighting lasted on the stranded trains.

Regarding the signs of recent vegetation clearance on such a substantial steep slope, if this has happened then someone needs to be sent back to first year civil engineering class at college.

 

[Dave1987]

So two pages of people jumping to conclusions before some facts about the incident are revealed :roll:

 

[TUC]

I'd imagine it might well be, because it's diesel and the wires may be isolated - LM wouldn't have any diesel units nearby other than the two for the Marston Vale which would be inadequate for a busy commuter train. It's also running wrong road.

Ladder down to track, along the track, ladder back up, I'd expect.

How will they manage any mobity impaired passengers, particularly given the constraints of being in the tunnel?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Unusual - the standard 2-track timetable is to can them south of Crewe.

For anyone wanting LIV-MKC who might be being sent via Chester the LIV-EUS services appear, according to NRE (but not yet RTT), to be stopping at MKC - this may save you some time

Looks like the usual "emergency" timetable is being attempted, with xx00 Manchester, xx43 Scotland (as far as Birmingham) and the Tring stoppers cancelled.
LM are certainly running, fast line to Bourne End according to RTT.
Presumably a lot of LM stock is stuck north of Watford.

It looks like asking a lot for the disruption to be fixed by the start of service tomorrow.
There must be major work needed on the embankment, after they've cleared the debris and any damage in the tunnel.
Luckily the weather is set to improve considerably.

Historically, the LNWR quadrupled its route on the cheap (within the original boundary) and the line is left with numerous steep cuttings which cause repeated trouble.
The Watford tunnel route was newly constructed though, but the cuttings are still exceptionally steep.
Maybe today they would use cut and cover for the approaches.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Friends still in Hemel say the weather has been appalling overnight, with a lot of significant but localised flooding around Boxmoor especially. I'm not entirely surprised, thankfully it isn't such a high speed section (and didn't happen on the fasts) but could still have been nasty.

I hope all the injured make a full recovery.

 

[Bletchleyite]

How will they manage any mobity impaired passengers, particularly given the constraints of being in the tunnel?

With great difficulty I imagine.


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[All Line Rover]

I note that at Crewe, the 09:56, 10:22, 10:29 and 10:56 to London were all cancelled. The 09:56 (from Chester) and 10:56 (from Holyhead) 5-car Voyagers were terminated at Crewe, with the 10:22 (from Liverpool) and 10:29 (from Manchester) Pendolinos cancelled throughout.

The 09:56 is the first off-peak service (scheduled to arrive into Euston at 11:39) and very popular. The platforms at Crewe are busy enough when passengers are waiting for the 09:56 and 10:22/10:29. It must have been complete chaos with all these passengers, plus the passengers decamped from the 09:56 and 10:56, waiting for the 11:22 to Euston, which didn't depart until 11:55 and isn't expected to arrive into Euston until 14:00.

I wonder if passengers were allowed on the (peak) 09:30 departure to London, which is a quiet non-stop 11-car Pendolino from Manchester. It arrived into Euston today at 12:25, which is considerably later than the usual arrival time of the off-peak 09:56 departure.

According to realtimetrains, it looks as if it would have been quickest to direct passengers to the 10:01 via Birmingham, which departed Crewe at 10:14 and arrived into Euston at 13:15.

Irrespective of the disruption caused, however, I am very glad that no one was seriously injured by what could have been a substantially worse incident.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Update - LIV-EUS are now *no longer* shown in NRE as stopping at MKC except the late afternoon one that does anyway.

I think this may have been entered incorrectly on the assumption that the Chesters would not run south of Crewe, as it is the normal situation in this eventuality.

 

[Clip]

With great difficulty I imagine.


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Do they not have detraining boards in. Their emergency cupboards?

 

[QueensCurve]

No injuries reported on either train at Watford. Fasts just reopening, closed earlier due to emergency call and getting details etc I expect (block put on as far as Coventry on all movements)

I I was connecting at warrington at the time getting of Glasgow to Euston (07:19 ex WBQ) TO THE 07:37 (Lancaster>Birmingham>Euston) former signal at the end of the platform while the latter departed first at about 07:50.

 

[reddragon]

Getting 2 entangled trains out of an 1820m long very wet tunnel will be some task, depending on the damage, without causing more damage to the units.

There will also be the track damage to repair, could be a few hundred metres, and overheads to check and maybe signals / cabling.

I am surprised that nobody is speculating on the class or unit numbers yet!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Both 350s I think. If they were both 12-car, that's going to be quite a few short-formings for the next month or so while everything is fixed.

 

[reddragon]

Well at least there are plenty of off lease units available for emergency hire with all the 700's being delivered!

 

[DarloRich]

Well at least there are plenty of off lease units available for emergency hire with all the 700's being delivered!

not sure about that..............

 

[Bletchleyite]

During the day they will be able to use the 319s if necessary, presently a pair sits doing nothing between the peaks. But the peaks will be tight.

 

[DarloRich]

During the day they will be able to use the 319s if necessary, presently a pair sits doing nothing between the peaks. But the peaks will be tight.

surely it depends on the damage to the vehicles involved. It may only be 2 units out of traffic