ECML disruption 20/09/22

[Saint66]

Reports of some major disruption on the ECML in the Stevenage area. Wires down and Network Rail and emergency services responding.

 

[MrJeeves]

Reports of some major disruption on the ECML in the Stevenage area. Wires down and Network Rail and emergency services responding.

Probably best not to speculate until we've heard more officially.

 

[bramling]

Reports of some major disruption on the ECML in the Stevenage area. Wires down and Network Rail and emergency services responding.

That will be Horsham-Peterborough and Brighton-Cambridge screwed til close, then.

 

[LCC106]

Not speculation at this point, just information sharing thankfully.

 

[MrJeeves]

NRE is starting to show BTN-CBG cancellations as trespass, and HRH-PBO as OHEL failure.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Is this official enough? NRE says:

Damage to the overhead wires at Stevenage means that all lines are blocked. Trains running through this station may be cancelled or delayed.
This is expected until 20:00.

Find details of current incidents | National Rail

A portal into UK rail travel, including information on ticket purchase and promotions, train times and delays, and more.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

 

[James H]

Hertfordshire Police:

Officers are currently at the scene of an incident in Broadhall Way, #Stevenage this afternoon (20 Sep). Road closures are in place.

https://twitter.com/HertsPolice/status/1572255984919392257

 

[bramling]

Hertfordshire Police:

https://twitter.com/HertsPolice/status/1572255984919392257

Looks like half of Stevenage is gridlocked. Lots of deep red showing on Google road maps, and possibly blocking back onto the A1M too (though the section from Welwyn to Stevenage is often congested at this time of day).

 

[Robski]

There has been an RTC on the A602 above the ECML. Possibly related.

Edit - source: https://one.network

 

[Failed Unit]

Nothing moving out of London. I see the 1627 and 1630 services out of King’s Cross are at WGC. Passengers advised to head to MML stations and try and get home from those.

 

[Banham7]

Doesn't seem a good day for the ECML again, a few delays earlier due to the barriers failing in the down position at Bullpit Ln near Newark NG.

 

[Hadders]

I’m caught up in this as was planning to get the 18:12 from KGX to SVG.

I was wondering why Hertford loop services were caught up in this but understand why now, given that the bridge in question crosses over all the main line and loop tracks.

I’m retreating to the pub for a couple of hours….

 

[uglymonkey]

I'm stranded at London Bridge, they say all 4 lines blocked Stevenage due to Overhead line damage. Supposed to last till 20:00 ( not hopeful!)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Sep 2022 ==

So is it Poluce incident on the bridge, or overhead line damage, I suppose we will never know

 

[johnnychips]

They seemed to have detrained an Azuma and at Doncaster and everyone crowding on the 3-car 158 1822 to Sheffield. Platform staff asking passengers to wait for the 1842 TPE if they can’t get on.

Edit: passengers for Peterborough asked to get EMR via Lincoln.

 

[JonathanH]

That will be Horsham-Peterborough and Brighton-Cambridge screwed til close, then.

Yes, got to Redhill to see 1830 to Peterborough cancelled due to overhead line damage. 1819 to Bedford picking up the extra stops at Merstham and Coulsdon South. Possibly putting in a Horsham to Redhill shuttle.

 

[Ediswan]

As best as I can tell from some local reports, the traffic problems started before the RTC on the A602 bridge.

 

[skyhigh]

They seemed to have detrained an Avanti at Doncaster

Must have been a bit lost...

 

[MrJeeves]

Someone's got video driving past the incident on the bridge. Not too easy to tell what's gone on, other than the RTC.

May be as simple as debris taking down the OHEL.

https://twitter.com/Dayr_Tdd/status/1572273119771103234

 

[Failed Unit]

I’m caught up in this as was planning to get the 18:12 from KGX to SVG.

I was wondering why Hertford loop services were caught up in this but understand why now, given that the bridge in question crosses over all the main line and loop tracks.

I’m retreating to the pub for a couple of hours….

I often think that in disruption, East to say in the comfort of my bus from St Albans, but I can't see any reason why Moorgate - WGC / Hertford North can run. Platform 4 at WGC looks available.

 

[londonmidland]

Not officially confirmed yet but something/someone has come into contact with the OLE from the over bridge, bringing them down.

I don’t think I need to spell out what may have possibly happened.

 

[Saint66]

Someone's got video driving past the incident on the bridge. Not too easy to tell what's gone on, other than the RTC.

May be as simple as debris taking down the OHEL.

https://twitter.com/Dayr_Tdd/status/1572273119771103234

Sadly, looking at this footage, I fear someone or something has come into contact with the overheads below.

 

[Failed Unit]

Someone's got video driving past the incident on the bridge. Not too easy to tell what's gone on, other than the RTC.

May be as simple as debris taking down the OHEL.

https://twitter.com/Dayr_Tdd/status/1572273119771103234

Seems to be looking like "3rd party" rather then the railway for a change - but I am sure that all will become clear.

 

[johnnychips]

Must have been a bit lost...

Oops, edited.

 

[bramling]

I often think that in disruption, East to say in the comfort of my bus from St Albans, but I can't see any reason why Moorgate - WGC / Hertford North can run. Platform 4 at WGC looks available.

Part of the issue will of course be all the 12-car Thameslinks as well as LNER trains. There’s only so many opportunities to get them out the way. Unclear why Moorgate-Hertford would be affected, but do the Stevenage via Hertford services have crew reliefs at Stevenage involving Hitchin drivers?

GTR has a funny setup where drivers are based at Hitchin but then often travel “pass” elsewhere to pick up their train. This seems to be one of the numerous reasons why the route falls apart during disruption. I get why there’s a crew depot at Hitchin as there are sidings at Letchworth, however the location of Hitchin doesn’t suit the post 2018 service pattern.

 

[skyhigh]

Someone's got video driving past the incident on the bridge. Not too easy to tell what's gone on, other than the RTC.

I think it's pretty obvious from that.

 

[bramling]

Seems to be looking like "3rd party" rather then the railway for a change - but I am sure that all will become clear.

There is stuff floating around on social media that people stuck on trains have been told of a “derailment at Stevenage”. It would appear more likely perhaps that a driver has announced a “dewirement”, which is of course a term many regular passengers wouldn’t understand.

 

[Ediswan]

Someone's got video driving past the incident on the bridge. Not too easy to tell what's gone on, other than the RTC.

May be as simple as debris taking down the OHEL.

https://twitter.com/Dayr_Tdd/status/1572273119771103234

You can see in that video that the cycle/foot path has been taped off where it crosses the bridge. (Edit) immediately adjacent to the parapet.

 

[Failed Unit]

If you look at the track maps in the area, you have a couple of "2C" on the platform at Stevenage and another train at Welwyn North. All announcements at Blackfriars were power issues. We will see (along with if they start running the Moorgate service again as it really shouldn't be impacted - unless the power is off for a long distance.)

 

[bramling]

If you look at the track maps in the area, you have a couple of "2C" on the platform at Stevenage and another train at Welwyn North. All announcements at Blackfriars were power issues. We will see (along with if they start running the Moorgate service again as it really shouldn't be impacted - unless the power is off for a long distance.)

The isolation ought to be just Langley Junction - Corey’s Mill I think. So quite fortunate really. The 387s stuck on the up approaching Stevenage are likely to be stranded though.

The 9J seen at Welwyn North has I think been moved back as a wrong direction move to facilitate detrainment at Welwyn North, it originally came to a stand at Woolmer Green. There will no doubt be a train load of passengers at Welwyn North as a result.

 

[woodend01]

They seemed to have detrained an Azuma and at Doncaster and everyone crowding on the 3-car 158 1822 to Sheffield. Platform staff asking passengers to wait for the 1842 TPE if they can’t get on.

Edit: passengers for Peterborough asked to get EMR via Lincoln.

Also passengers for Retford, Newark and Grantham have been ferried into taxis. I’m in one right now.