ECML problems

[OMGitsDAVE]

Many Trains delayed Some Running 267mins Late!

Last nights GC (16:50 off the Cross) arrived in to Hartlepool at 00:26, some 4 hours and 25 minutes late.

 

[sonic2009]

Yeah I heard that Too.. I think trains coming from KGX towards Doncaster. Were getting more delays than Trains Going South..

 

[Metroman62]

Was on 20:03 from Kings X to Leeds on Friday night (15th). Not heavily loaded. Guard warned there could be delays.

All OK until left Grantham when we came to a stop. Guard announced we were in a queue of 6 trains waiting to get through signal problem area between where we were and Retford and that it was taking 30 minutes per train, thus we should expect a three hour wait. As it turned out, we had 4.5 hour wait, finally arrived Leeds at 2:50 AM. No help with us getting home as obviously last bus had gone!

Free drinks and food offered by buffet, most passengers seemed good hearted about huge delay. What no one could understand was why it took so long for each train to get through. I assume manual signalling was being used, but no explanation to passengers abut why it was so slow.

So, what was the problem and why did it take to long to fix?

 

[amcluesent]

ECML has collapsed again! Now trundling along Hertfordshire loop due to points failure. Looks like some EC and FCC are stuck on the main line...

Doh! Looks like the diverted services are going to have the longest delay.

 

[Skimble19]

I wonder what will happen with regards to diverting over the Hertford Loop when Network Rail convert 5.5 miles of one of the tracks into the ERTMS test facility..

 

[amcluesent]

ANother journey to forget!

Looks like the 18:00 EC from KGX developed a fault and was put into the slow running track to limp into PBO. My FCC service had to trundle along behind at 40mph, at one point it looked like we'd dip under 30 mins delay but we waited for a platform at PBO and I reckon the clock stopped at 33 mins late so a D-R claim at least!

Peeps were being bundled off the failed EC service onto the next Newcastle train and told to change there for a connection to Berwick etc. Probably not too clever having lost your booked seating at this time of year!

 

[ainsworth74]

Looks like the 18:00 EC from KGX developed a fault and was put into the slow running track to limp into PBO.

I was on the 18:30 EC to Newcastle and we stopped off next to the 18:00 to transfer a fitter across just south of Peterborough, we we're also going to stop a PBO (normally 18:30 runs non-stop through PBO) but that idea got nixed shortly after we delivered the fitter. Made us 15 minutes late for the rest of the journey northbound!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

There's an unusually frank and accusatory message on the EC website today (Thurs 21st)

East Coast Travel Information

A fatality occurred on the East Coast Main Line near Biggleswade, north of Stevenage early in the afternoon, on Friday 15 April. Upon arrival, The British Transport Police detained the train and as a consequence all traffic on the line, including East Coast services were severely delayed. The situation was cleared at 15.42, although the backlog of trains took more time to clear.

Separately, a Network Rail signal cable failed at Retford at 16.52, and whilst a temporary working was established for all services on the East Coast Main Line, there was widespread disruption. Many trains were unable to move for over two hours, having queued to pass the temporary block.

East Coast would like to sincerely apologise for the delays that occurred to our services during the afternoon and evening of 15 April as a result of Network Rail's signalling problems. Infrastructure failures on the East Coast Main Line have been all too frequent of late - causing massive delays and inconvenience for our customers, and Network Rail has to improve its performance measurably.

As a result of yesterday's issues, some cancellations are expected today, and there is the likelihood of some further disruption to services. Please check here before you travel.

The tone of phrases "Infrastructure failures on the East Coast Main Line have been all too frequent of late" and "Network Rail has to improve its performance measurably" were unexpected.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Evidently EC are just as annoyed about it as the passengers.

 

[ainsworth74]

Evidently EC are just as annoyed about it as the passengers.

As well they should be, the ECML has been having a pretty terrible time of it over the past several weeks, and EC as the main TOC are probably getting an earful from their passengers over problems that aren't EC's fault. As well as the fact that this won't be doing their attempts to raise their PPM out of the doldrums that it currently resides in any good whatsoever.

It would be nice to see TOC hold NR to account over infrastructure failures, properly take NR to task over it. The odd signalling failure it to be expected but it does seem that the ECML is suffering a real spate of problems recently, more than you might expect.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

As well they should be, the ECML has been having a pretty terrible time of it over the past several weeks, . . . .

. . . .

The odd signalling failure it to be expected but it does seem that the ECML is suffering a real spate of problems recently, more than you might expect.

Indeed.
And there's more today: "signalling problems at York" (though with just a few early morning cancellations today's services have been generally delayed by only a few minutes at their destination).

 

[Yorkswatcher]

I got this email the other day from EC

We would like to sincerely apologise for the delay and disruption to your journey when travelling with East Coast on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 April. Regrettably this was due to both a fatality on the East Coast Main Line and a result of Network Rail's signalling problems.

As you were delayed you may be entitled to claim compensation under our Delay Repay scheme. Please visit our website for full details and to make a claim.

By way of an apology, we would like to offer you 20%* off your next purchase with us. Book online by 13 May, for travel up to and including 23 July and you will get 20% off our lowest East Coast Standard and First Advance fares.

 

[junglejames]

I got this email the other day from EC

We would like to sincerely apologise for the delay and disruption to your journey when travelling with East Coast on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 April. Regrettably this was due to both a fatality on the East Coast Main Line and a result of Network Rail's signalling problems.

As you were delayed you may be entitled to claim compensation under our Delay Repay scheme. Please visit our website for full details and to make a claim.

By way of an apology, we would like to offer you 20%* off your next purchase with us. Book online by 13 May, for travel up to and including 23 July and you will get 20% off our lowest East Coast Standard and First Advance fares.

Off the advance fares? Thats hardly a fair apology is it. What if you dont want an advance fare?
EC are meant to be a nationalised company, but they are still acting like a privatised company. Only ever in it for themselves. God forbid that part of the money from the booking could end up in another companies' hands.

Time for their privatisation hero Ms Holt to go.

 

[Sapphire Blue]

Off the advance fares? Thats hardly a fair apology is it. What if you dont want an advance fare?
EC are meant to be a nationalised company, but they are still acting like a privatised company. Only ever in it for themselves. God forbid that part of the money from the booking could end up in another companies' hands.

Time for their privatisation hero Ms Holt to go.

They point the customer to a way of re-claiming 100% of the fare paid for the journey AND offer 20% off another journey.
Well done EC
They go further than they need to and its still not good enough for you!

 

[ralphchadkirk]

They point the customer to a way of re-claiming 100% of the fare paid for the journey AND offer 20% off another journey.
Well done EC
They go further than they need to and its still not good enough for you!

Especially since it's not their fault!

 

[Mainliner]

I was on the 18:30 EC to Newcastle and we stopped off next to the 18:00 to transfer a fitter across just south of Peterborough, we we're also going to stop a PBO (normally 18:30 runs non-stop through PBO) but that idea got nixed shortly after we delivered the fitter. Made us 15 minutes late for the rest of the journey northbound!

Ah, I was on the 18:19 and at the time I wondered why we slowed down and went on the slow line to let what I assumed must have been the 18:30 pass us!

Afterwards there was an announcement that an earlier train had problems...