Flooding and Weather Disruption (Nov 2012)

[tsr]

I dont, FGW twitter simply said Looe station closed for the next few days. I should imagine it will be completely closed though

Yep, I'd think so, although I don't know of any technical reason why they can't turn back at any intermediate station.

(Metro-frequency services between Liskeard and Coombe Junction Halt only, anyone? )

 

[Birdbrain]

I have just returned from a Return trip from Southampton to Falmouth. Left Sou on Friday and took the train to salisbury and then onto Yeovil. Swift change onto the bus which took 2 hrs and 30 mins to reach Exeter. Caught what was probably the most empty HST i have ever been on leaving exeter for Truro then onto Falmouth.

Returned today, left Falmouth by public bus at 1045 as the branch train was cancelled and there was nothing about replacement buses advertised. Caught the 1243 XC from Truro to Liskeard which ran very slowly, the guard said it was due to poor rail conditions. Switched onto the bus at Liskeard and got to Plymouth at around 1445. On arrival at Plymouth the FGW staff had put up a board saying ' Our best advice is not to travel. SWT rail replacement not running, M5 down to one lane and all trains west of reading reduced to 50mph' I thought this was a weird thing to be saying? But I ignored it and boarded the 1458 to Exeter. I sat in the Volo TV Coach and noted us doing 97mph between starcross and Exeter! Got to Exeter to find the Yeovil coach was running but decided to get the Tiverton Coach which took us along a fully open M5! At tiverton the 1616 to pad had been held and that was boarded to Bristol for a 158 back to Southampton. Eventful weekend just about managed!

 

[YorkshireBear]

I have just returned from a Return trip from Southampton to Falmouth. Left Sou on Friday and took the train to salisbury and then onto Yeovil. Swift change onto the bus which took 2 hrs and 30 mins to reach Exeter. Caught what was probably the most empty HST i have ever been on leaving exeter for Truro then onto Falmouth.

Returned today, left Falmouth by public bus at 1045 as the branch train was cancelled and there was nothing about replacement buses advertised. Caught the 1243 XC from Truro to Liskeard which ran very slowly, the guard said it was due to poor rail conditions. Switched onto the bus at Liskeard and got to Plymouth at around 1445. On arrival at Plymouth the FGW staff had put up a board saying ' Our best advice is not to travel. SWT rail replacement not running, M5 down to one lane and all trains west of reading reduced to 50mph' I thought this was a weird thing to be saying? But I ignored it and boarded the 1458 to Exeter. I sat in the Volo TV Coach and noted us doing 97mph between starcross and Exeter! Got to Exeter to find the Yeovil coach was running but decided to get the Tiverton Coach which took us along a fully open M5! At tiverton the 1616 to pad had been held and that was boarded to Bristol for a 158 back to Southampton. Eventful weekend just about managed!

Basically that was the information when the sign was written. They didnt want people stranded if weather took a turn for worst, so their advice is perfectly reasonable.

 

[Birdbrain]

Yeah, i knew that was the situation earlier in the day. I think I must have got really lucky passing through when I did.

 

[Donny Dave]

Could be a problem in North Lincolnshire tomorrow, as there is now a flood warning in the River Ancholme from Brandy Wharf to South Ferriby.

It's raining here, and it's not expect to stop until about 12 tomorrow lunchtime, with yet more expected Monday night and Tuesday morning.

 

[sheff'd victoria]

Picture of the flooding at Rotherham posted on Twitter.

I never knew this location was prone to flooding in Rotherham, however looking at the signaling equipment box on stilts I'm proved otherwise

 

[12CSVT]

Picture of the flooding at Rotherham posted on Twitter.

I never knew this location was prone to flooding in Rotherham, however looking at the signaling equipment box on stilts I'm proved otherwise

In the floods of June 2007, the M1 came dangerously close to being flooded not far from here.

 

[Ferret]

There seems to be a lot of flooding in the South Midlands and Oxfordshire. I fear one more deluge could tip things over the edge there too! Can't beat the good old British weather

 

[ushawk]

Lots of problems this morning, theres flooding at Church Stretton, Bangor/Holyhead, Long Eaton and the same places as before in the SW (Exeter, Axminster, Looe). Landslides at Dorking, Honiton and Nailsea and an obstruction on the line, which a train has hit and caused it to fail at Coulsdon South (this combined with a signalling problem at Balcombe is causing major problems across the Southern area.

Then you have cable theft at Water Orton and signalling problems at Bulwell, Hatfield & Stainforth and Tulse Hill.

Its all happening this morning !!

 

[Martin_1981]

My old man has cancelled his Leicester-Exeter trip today amid the disruption and has managed to get a full refund from XC for the outward and return advance tickets. XC are accepting today's advance tickets on services tomorrow.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Looks like the line between Plymouth and Penzance has now reopened, following yesterday's landslip at Saltash. Services through Dawlish also appear to be ok now.

 

[ainsworth74]

Looks like the ECML is finally succumbing with delays between Durham - York and York - Doncaster due to flooding. See here.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Lots of problems this morning, theres flooding at Church Stretton, Bangor/Holyhead, Long Eaton and the same places as before in the SW (Exeter, Axminster, Looe). Landslides at Dorking, Honiton and Nailsea and an obstruction on the line, which a train has hit and caused it to fail at Coulsdon South (this combined with a signalling problem at Balcombe is causing major problems across the Southern area.

Then you have cable theft at Water Orton and signalling problems at Bulwell, Hatfield & Stainforth and Tulse Hill.

Its all happening this morning !!

I agree! Just had a look at the disruptions page on NRE, bit of a nightmare!

Managed to get from Cardiff to Bristol okay this morning, although the fields in Monmouthshire are very watery! Not enough to cause major disruption, but a very large area is covered in water!!

FGW services from London to Wales are experiencing +30 minute delays this morning. 0527 London to Swansea was 25 mins late, also 0645 London to Swansea was about half hour down at Bristol Parkway because of diverted route.

 

[Max]

East Coast Mainline now closed between Doncaster and York due to very high river levels in the River Aire. Just came south from Selby and the river was pretty much at the level of the line so I'm not surprised at the closure. Hull Trains northbound was just diverted via Thorne. All York trains currently held at Doncaster.

 

[ainsworth74]

Platforms are going to become and issue soon at Doncaster methinks.

 

[Max]

They've managed to solve this problem by sending the 1119 XC Newcastle train back south, presumably ECS? Although NR thinks it was in service I'm pretty sure it wasn't. Things were quite well organised, all York passengers were put on a Leeds service and told to change there to keep things moving.

 

[ainsworth74]

I bear that in mind. I'm travelling from Edinburgh to Darlington today with a friend who's going onto Doncaster so I'll let him know that he'll probably be changing at York (though I'm still holding out hope things will clear up!).

 

[tsr]

Safety checks are taking place on the Leatherhead-Dorking line.

Alterations and delays of (provisionally) 25 minutes are expected.

JourneyCheck says this started at 1230hrs.

As mentioned above, there have been really bad problems on the BML - at about 5am, a 442 failed on the Down Quarry just South of Purley. NR are repairing track damage - it struck some sort of obstruction. My train was 56 mins late earlier at VIC (0953 ECR>VIC ex. BTN). Lots of chaos and delays/cancellations.

 

[DarloRich]

ECML is closed at Doncaster due to an issue with a river bridge. Does anyone have any news. Job stopped both ways. No trains Doncaster - York/Selby

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.html

 

[jon0844]

http://t.co/Aa1YxZAA

 

[DarloRich]

is that twitter? I cant view twitter on my work computer

 

[jon0844]

Yes. The Network Rail account.

 

[DarloRich]

Yes. The Network Rail account.

will switch to mobile

 

[The Planner]

TRUST 261191 for those that have it. Issue with Daw Lane bridge.

 

[Smethwickian]

Not weather related, I know, but just to add to the woes of passengers and rail staff this afternoon, services between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stourbridge Junction are currently suspended because of a chemical factory fire, being fought by 70-odd firefighters, near the line at Langley Green.

I really feel for rail staff battling to do their best for passengers today and hope when people see the kind of pictures posted on this site and carried on the news media they realise just how much damage water can cause. Trains can't just plough merrily on regardless, on submerged rails, no matter what people may think.

 

[ainsworth74]

The information that the guard on my service (1400 ex Edinburgh) has is that a reduced number of trains are running between Newcastle and York due to reduced linespeeds. So less capacity but they are keeping people moving. Between York and Doncaster the route is totally closed and the choices are either an EC shuttle via Leeds worked by HSTs, buses (as long as the roads stay open) or take another service to Leeds and change there for Doncaster. If only the wires were already strung between York and Leeds!

 

[balne-wonderer]

River Aire is almost on the ECML in Yorkshire!

Never ever seen it that high.

 

[Searle]

National Rail ‏@NRE_EastCoast

#Doncaster - East Coast Main Line river bridge (Daw Lane) has reopened with a speed restriction as water levels monitored.

Seems like a quick change from the earlier 'no trains all day', which is good as my parents are trying to get home today

Also, they're running through with whopping delays of two hours!

 

[ainsworth74]

Correction to my above the 1400 ex Edinburgh which is the 1527 from Newcastle will now be running through to Kings Cross which hopefully means that the situation is improving however we are being advised that we will not be travelling at linespeed due to flooding.

 

[DarloRich]

Passing the area now on v late 1405 service - left york c.1540 - brought to a stand 5 miles north of doncaster - held for 5 minutes at shaftholme? Box while an ht unit crossed the bridge northbound river almost to deck level we ran under caution at say 20 mph through the area and slow all the way to doncaster held at moat lane l/c for a crossing ec service from Leeds then held centre road at donny due to congestion

 

[Martin_1981]

Taunton to Exeter line now closed tomorrow as well due to major infrastructure damage. Also Taunton-Castle Cary closed, with Taunton-Paddington trains diverted via Bristol.