Fen Line - Not a good week so far

[cjohnson]

Yet more issues on the line - wire problems at Downham Market meaning there's "no estimate for a normal train service to resume"

 

[jon0844]

I don't think there's been a normal train service there for years!

 

[Aictos]

I don't know what initially caused the disruption other then it's due to the overhead dewirement at Downham Market with the repair work expected to take until 20:30 to complete with the disruption lasting until 22:00.

Replacement buses are in operation between Kings Lynn and Ely in both directions.

 

[jopsuk]

This morning, trains running fine Kings Lynn-Cambridge- but then there was a train broken down between Cambroidge and Foxton! Got to Cambridge to catch my usually quiet train to Whittlesford, the 0715 (a 12 car, usually full, Kings Cross train) was still sat there. It was cancelled, as was the 0745 (also 12 cars and standing). The 0748 to Liverpool Street was rather packed, and I belive it usually gets very full further south (it becomes 12 car and loses a couple of stops in December). That'll have been fun.

 

[philjo]

I assume it was the 06:45 from Cambridge to Kings Cross that broke down. That is the 07:09 from Letchworth which was shown on the screens as running 20 minutes late when I arrived on the platform & was getting 2 minutes later with every announcement.
the 07:02 had already been through. The next train starts out of the sidings at Letchworth (which I was on) & the next 3 start at Royston fortunately which would help to minimise the delays from Royston southwards. I did see that a couple of the later stoppers were starting from Foxton instead of Cambridge.

 

[jopsuk]

Aye, I looked at the departure boards once I got to work- looked like they were turning the trains around at Foxton and Royston. Must have been just east of Foxton that the train broke down- and by that time there isn't actually, barring the carriages for the 12 car services, much left in the sidings at Cambridge, so stock for short-terminating/starting services wouldn't be an issue.

"why can't they just go around the broken down train?" was said on my rather packed train- I said it's a bit more complicated than that and said no more.

 

[eMeS]

..."why can't they just go around the broken down train?" was said on my rather packed train...

Sounds like a pretty good idea to me!

It's one of the fundamental weaknesses of a rail based system, and if only we had foresight as to where passing loops would be necessary, much annoyance would be prevented.

 

[jopsuk]

but loops, crossovers etc add extra maintenance costs due to the pointwork especially- more to go wrong!

 

[RichW1]

True but a railway should be a railway. We've already removed too many passing loops and sidings meaning bottlenecks that need not be there at all

 

[HH]

As far as I am aware both 365s involved in recent accidents on the Fen line are both out of use until further notice - I don't know what replacing them if anything or when they will be back, I do know both will have to go to the works to be repaired especially the Kings Lynn one as it needs a new cab.

The other needs a new bogie, which they're having delivery problems with last I heard.

Meanwhile on TL there's been problems with 319 motors blowing - possibly a bit of deja vu for those who recall the problems NXEA had with their 321s last winter.