ECML Signalling Failure Between Newcastle and Durham

[Jozhua]

Hey,
Currently sat on an LNER train (11:30 from Newcastle to Kings Cross) and it's not leaving due to signalling failure between Newcastle and Durham.

Looks like no trains are going at all and there has been a raft of cancellations.

Anyone who knows more, I'd be very happy for your input/updates!

Cheers,
Josh

 

[afc75]

Hey,
Currently sat on an LNER train (11:30 from Newcastle to Kings Cross) and it's not leaving due to signalling failure between Newcastle and Durham.

Looks like no trains are going at all and there has been a raft of cancellations.

Anyone who knows more, I'd be very happy for your input/updates!

Cheers,
Josh

I'm in a queue 4 rail replacement to York. Last of 3 coaches booked have left though!

 

[Jozhua]

I'm in a queue 4 rail replacement to York. Last of 3 coaches booked have left though!

At Newcastle?

I'm on the 11:30 - no mention of buses on here though...

 

[afc75]

At Newcastle?

I'm on the 11:30 - no mention of buses on here though...

Yes. Queue outside the station. 3 buses left, i'm at the front of the queue. They are trying to book more, will be 2hr 30m journey to York though (if any more turn up).

 

[zwk500]

Hey,
Currently sat on an LNER train (11:30 from Newcastle to Kings Cross) and it's not leaving due to signalling failure between Newcastle and Durham.

Looks like no trains are going at all and there has been a raft of cancellations.

Anyone who knows more, I'd be very happy for your input/updates!

Cheers,
Josh

Both lines around Chester-Le-Street are showing Blank or OpenTrainTimes. https://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/newcastle#LINK_1, which I don't think is normal (although Signalmaps seems to have the data). This also prevents bi-do working. Durham and Darlington are both all to danger with only limited moves going on, presumably while plans are being worked out. Trains are still running from York towards Middlesbrough and on the Hartlepool Line so diversions are possible although it will depend on Driver route knowledge and stock type.

It will all depend on whether signalling can be restored in a reasonable time frame. I hope you weren't going anywhere time-critical.

 

[afc75]

Yes. Queue outside the station. 3 buses left, i'm at the front of the queue. They are trying to book more, will be 2hr 30m journey to York though (if any more turn up).

On a coach now.

 

[Jozhua]

Yes. Queue outside the station. 3 buses left, i'm at the front of the queue. They are trying to book more, will be 2hr 30m journey to York though (if any more turn up).

I'm on a train that is apparently diverting via the coast. People standing at ends of carriages, although there is a limited selection of seats still available.

Still not left Newcastle yet.

 

[randyrippley]

besides the signal problem, LNER twitter has posted this

#LNERUpdate Due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time 05/11/23 The 10:00 #Newcastle to #LondonKingsCross due 12:55 will be cancelled Customers are advised that tickets are valid on the LNER service directly before or after this train.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Nov 2023 ==

from the LNER website

Travel Alerts for your Train Journey | LNER

Stay updated with the latest LNER train information and sign up for travel alerts here.

www.lner.co.uk

Major disruption between Durham and Darlington expected until 15:00​

Due to afault with the signalling system between Durham and Darlington all lines are currently closed. As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised.
Major disruption is expected until 15:00.
Customer Advice:
CrossCountry
Grand Central, LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express are conveying passengers via any reasonable route. However, these companies are also affected by this disruption.
LNER
To assist you with your journey your ticket will be accepted on the following alternatives (these companies are also affected by this disruption):

• TransPennine Express between Edinburgh and York in both directions.
• CrossCountry via any reasonable route.
• Northern via any reasonable route.

Rail replacement transport is in operation between Newcastle and York.
Northern
Replacement road transport has been requested to run between Middlesbrough and Bishop Auckland in both directions.
TransPennine Express
TransPennine Express tickets will be accepted on LNER services between York and Edinburgh and on CrossCountry services between Leeds and Edinburgh (however, these companies are also affected by this disruption).
Check before you travel:
You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-timeJourney Planner
For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility information, please usethis page.
You can find the location of your replacement bus by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our stationinformation pages.
Compensation:
You may be entitled tocompensationif you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.

 

[DanNCL]

Had a look at the opentraintimes maps. A 5N96 is currently showing on the up line just north of Low Fell Junction. However a look at realtimetrains suggests that the unit from the most recent 5N96, 180114, is currently on this working and therefore not at the signal suggested by the track map.

Both lines around Chester-Le-Street are showing Blank or OpenTrainTimes. https://www.opentraintimes.com/maps/signalling/newcastle#LINK_1, which I don't think is normal. This also prevents bi-do working. Durham and Darlington are both all to danger with only limited moves going on, presumably while plans are being worked out.

Signals between 293 and 283 on the down line north of Durham and 286 to 292 on the up line are showing blank on the Newcastle page, but green on the Darlington page.

Signals between Aycliffe and Darlington are all red including the automatics which isn't normal. The signals between Aycliffe and Durham appear to my non-expert eyes to be normal.

Unsure if this is connected but the platform line at North Road is marked as "SHUT" on the track map too.

 

[Gaelan]

Had a look at the opentraintimes maps. A 5N96 is currently showing on the up line just north of Low Fell Junction. However a look at realtimetrains suggests that the unit from the most recent 5N96, 180114, is currently on this working and therefore not at the signal suggested by the track map.


Signals between 293 and 283 on the down line north of Durham and 286 to 292 on the up line are showing blank on the Newcastle page, but green on the Darlington page.

Signals between Aycliffe and Darlington are all red including the automatics which isn't normal. The signals between Aycliffe and Durham appear to my non-expert eyes to be normal.

Unsure if this is connected but the platform line at North Road is marked as "SHUT" on the track map too.

The OTT map of the Fife Circle has been frozen for about a week now; sounds like you might be seeing the same thing.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The ECML seems, due to one various reason or another, to have been something of a sh*tshow in recent weeks but it's not usually the same location. Certainly not good for anyone that relies on using the line for longer distance rail journeys.

 

[zwk500]

Had a look at the opentraintimes maps. A 5N96 is currently showing on the up line just north of Low Fell Junction. However a look at realtimetrains suggests that the unit from the most recent 5N96, 180114, is currently on this working and therefore not at the signal suggested by the track map.

The Berths get stuck quite often on OTT, I wouldn't put too much on that.

Signals between 293 and 283 on the down line north of Durham and 286 to 292 on the up line are showing blank on the Newcastle page, but green on the Darlington page.

Signals between Aycliffe and Darlington are all red including the automatics which isn't normal. The signals between Aycliffe and Durham appear to my non-expert eyes to be normal.

Yes Aycliffe-Durham seems OK.

 

[800001]

The issue is between Aycliffe and Darlington on mainline and towards Heighington on the branch line. Red spread across the area.

Emergency special working over a 6 mile stretch, is being introduced which will allow 3 trains per hour in each direction to operate.

 

[endecotp]

A friend is booked on the 1355 Edinburgh - Newcastle LUMO. It looks like the northbound service is stuck at York! Could be interesting.

 

[zwk500]

1E08 Edinburgh-KX (1027 dep Newcastle) now got the green towards Durham.

 

[YorkshireBear]

The ECML seems, due to one various reason or another, to have been something of a sh*tshow in recent weeks but it's not usually the same location. Certainly not good for anyone that relies on using the line for longer distance rail journeys.

I was thinking that, everyday something has happened and like you say somewhere and something different every single time.

 

[zwk500]

I was thinking that, everyday something has happened and like you say somewhere and something different every single time.

Mind you bad luck seems to run together, there's been times when the WCML and GWML have had repeated incidents in short order.

 

[Jozhua]

First southbound train left Newcastle around 12:30.

Now running along the 'normal' line rather than the coast. We seem to be going at Normal speed, although haven't reached Darlington yet.

 

[zwk500]

First southbound train left Newcastle around 12:30.

Now running along the 'normal' line rather than the coast. We seem to be going at Normal speed, although haven't reached Darlington yet.

@800001 has clarified the problem above. You are just approaching the problem area now.

 

[endecotp]

A friend is booked on the 1355 Edinburgh - Newcastle LUMO. It looks like the northbound service is stuck at York! Could be interesting.

Am I right in thinking that the 1355 Lumo 1E84 is supposed to be formed from the 1S91 that has now been terminated at York?

RTT is not showing 1E84 as cancelled yet. What are the ticket acceptance rules for Lumo Edinburgh to Newcastle in this situation?

 

[Jozhua]

Train currently stopped at curve near Newton Aycliffe.

Cant is very steep here!

 

[AndrewE]

I am wondering whether we are already seeing the downsides of "efficiencies?" I downloaded the attached document from somewhere in June

and am seeing ""a loss of performance" in areas "where assets have strong safety controls!"
With staff reductions, how is the "extra maintenance" to mitigate the "safety impacts of asset degredation" to be achieved? Of course all signals turning red is a strong safety control...

 

[zwk500]

Am I right in thinking that the 1355 Lumo 1E84 is supposed to be formed from the 1S91 that has now been terminated at York?

RTT is not showing 1E84 as cancelled yet. What are the ticket acceptance rules for Lumo Edinburgh to Newcastle in this situation?

The southbound Lumo was also cancelled short at Newcastle and is now forming a return working to Edinburgh, according to the realtime websites. Ticket acceptance rules should be on the national rail and TOC website pages for the disruption, but given everybody's equally as affected there may still be restrictions.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Nov 2023 ==

I am wondering whether we are already seeing the downsides of "efficiencies?" I downloaded the attached document from somewhere in June

and am seeing ""a loss of performance" in areas "where assets have strong safety controls!"
With staff reductions, how is the "extra maintenance" to mitigate the "safety impacts of asset degredation" to be achieved? Of course all signals turning red is a strong safety control...

It's difficult to be sure exactly as these sort of bouts of bad incidents happened before COVID as well. For sure the concerns highlighted in that slide will come back to bite at some point, it's just hard to say wither this precise incident is the result of them or if it would have happened anyway all other things being equal.

 

[Freightmaster]

The OTT map of the Fife Circle has been frozen for about a week now;

That's due to a signalling upgrade which took place at Edinburgh ROC last weekend.


Railcam and Freightmaster maps of the area have been updated and are working fine...



MARK

 

[Jozhua]

Trains are incredibly overcrowded, moved closer to the door at York. Bathrooms filled with standing passengers. People are moving down Aisles.

Luggage blocking Aisles and doors, due to no space.

My train is struggling to leave York presently, potentially as a result of extreme overcrowding.

 

[endecotp]

A friend is booked on the 1355 Edinburgh - Newcastle LUMO. It looks like the northbound service is stuck at York! Could be interesting.

The 1355 Lumo was cancelled, with the screens at Waverley saying “book a seat on the 1420 LNER”.

LNER person on the concourse sent us to the ticket office.

After 10 a min queue in the ticket office, LNER person there said they couldn’t reserve seats. “Yes the screen often says that, it’s wrong”. But did usefully tell us that there was an earlier XC that he could use. Now on his way.

 

[Trainguy34]

That's due to a signalling upgrade which took place at Edinburgh ROC last weekend.


Railcam and Freightmaster maps of the area have been updated and are working fine...



MARK

Traksy is working fine aswell.

 

[endecotp]

The 1355 Lumo was cancelled, with the screens at Waverley saying “book a seat on the 1420 LNER”.

1420 LNER cancelled. 1453 does seem to have run - I bet it was packed!

 

[HSTEd]

I am wondering whether we are already seeing the downsides of "efficiencies?" I downloaded the attached document from somewhere in June
View attachment 146037
and am seeing ""a loss of performance" in areas "where assets have strong safety controls!"
With staff reductions, how is the "extra maintenance" to mitigate the "safety impacts of asset degredation" to be achieved? Of course all signals turning red is a strong safety control...

No, ultimately we are seeing the results of the collapse of the signalling replacement programme.
ETCS has been delayed repeatedly and the industry simply does not have the capability to perform all signalling replacements necessary otherwise.

All the maintenance in the world can't stop end of life signalling crumbling.

 

[takno]

Traksy is working fine aswell.

It is, but I only fixed it an hour before you tested it.