Flooding at Farringdon

[Saint66]

Bit of bad luck for Thameslink today, a burst water main has caused flooding in the tunnels between Farringdon and St Pancras, severely restricting the service.

A picture here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/posters/flooding.JPG

Impacts on service: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/90379.aspx

Flooding in the tunnel between London St Pancras and Farringdon caused by a burst water main is disrupting Thameslink services. It is not yet clear now long this disruption will last, but is likely to be until the end of service. You can see a picture of the flooding here.

Only a limited number of services will be able to run through the affected area.

Some trains north of central London will only run between Bedford / Luton and West Hampstead Thameslink and some trains south of central London will only run between City Thameslink and Brighton / the Wimbledon Loop.
Alternative travel options
Passengers may use:

London Buses in the Wimbledon area
London Underground on any reasonable route
Southern services on any reasonable route
Gatwick Express on any reasonable route

You can follow this incident using the hashtag #FarringdonTrains

To check your journey, please use the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner

Could last for the rest of the day.

Could a Mod fix my title... Missed out an r!

 

[tsr]

Services are moving very slowly through the affected area (of course, there's not much that can be done about that!), but performance does not seem to be getting immediately worse at the moment in the location of the flooding. Obviously the effects either side of the incident are of equal or greater concern, with upcoming Friday evening peak traffic experiencing a lot of delays and alterations.

 

[westcoaster]

Its not a burst main, been getting worse all week, started last sunday.running not affected until this morning (posa's in both directions all week).

 

[Murph]

Its not a burst main, been getting worse all week, started last sunday.running not affected until this morning (posa's in both directions all week).

Why is it not a burst main, when that's the official statement from National Rail? A burst main doesn't have to be a huge eruption, it could start slow and gradually get worse.

 

[Mikey C]

I guess it's lucky that's not in the third rail section...

 

[Murph]

I guess it's lucky that's not in the third rail section...

Yes, that would have been shocking! *gets coat*

 

[HarleyDavidson]

Yes, that would have been shocking! *gets coat*

No it would have been a steam bath. I know of several locations where the juice rail goes under water during heavy rainfall and all it does if NR doesn't shut the power off is boils the water & subsequently loads of steam!

 

[AM9]

Interesting view of the 25kV rail-type OHLE.

 

[Class377/5]

Its not a burst main, been getting worse all week, started last sunday.running not affected until this morning (posa's in both directions all week).

Its a burst water main. Confirmed in internal messages. I suspect it's been leaking for awhile. Problem is the main supplies a hospital so can't just be switched off.

 

[philjo]

There were announcements at Welwyn GC this evening saying that there were buses running from the stop below the Howard Centre to St Albans (& also form Hitchin to Luton) when I passed through on the GN route about an hour ago.
FCC always used to run the buses from Hatfield so I wonder why WGC is being used instead?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Good job they have the POSA signals - credit for running through it - the driver of my train made a good PA announcement that "we are about to do a submarine experience" .....of course the service is very restricted. Course the Twitter feed has large numbers of unhelpful and cynical comments....

 

[westcoaster]

Its a burst water main. Confirmed in internal messages. I suspect it's been leaking for awhile. Problem is the main supplies a hospital so can't just be switched off.

ok thanks was unsure as its been getting worse since sunday.
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There were announcements at Welwyn GC this evening saying that there were buses running from the stop below the Howard Centre to St Albans (& also form Hitchin to Luton) when I passed through on the GN route about an hour ago.
FCC always used to run the buses from Hatfield so I wonder why WGC is being used instead?

Lots of road works and associated traffic jams was mentioned.

 

[jon0844]

There were announcements at Welwyn GC this evening saying that there were buses running from the stop below the Howard Centre to St Albans (& also form Hitchin to Luton) when I passed through on the GN route about an hour ago.
FCC always used to run the buses from Hatfield so I wonder why WGC is being used instead?

This;



And that photo isn't from today (about a week or so ago). Now there's major road works and narrowed lanes on the main road, as they fill in the subway, alter the road, and construct a new bus station.

It will be like this, more or less, for another 20 weeks or so.

 

[westcoaster]

Good job they have the POSA signals - credit for running through it - the driver of my train made a good PA announcement that "we are about to do a submarine experience" .....of course the service is very restricted. Course the Twitter feed has large numbers of unhelpful and cynical comments....

2 of the posa's have been in use since sunday, even the posa on the down failed this morning due to water issues. At one point i believe they went to one train through at a time due to bow waves and wash/wake.

https://vine.co/v/OIP3dEhPpPx

 

[The Box Photter]

Had to make alternative arrangements via EMT this evening.

This morning our driver into London was exemplary in his announcements. We were informed of the flood as we were moving quite slowly past Cricklewood and he gave further updates each time we were brought to a stand.

He even gave us a running commentary as we passed through the water, explaining that it was up to the top of the rail.

Full marks to the driver and to the signaller who seemed to be ensuring that we were held for as short at time as possible.

 

[21C101]

THAMESLINK, the modern successor to this (link below). How apt that it goes to Brighton.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brighton_and_Rottingdean_Seashore_Electric_Railway

Kudos though to them for keeping it going. I noticed this week that things were a couple of minutes late at times, didn't realise they were running on POSA, which has really earned its crust this week. Wasn't paying much attention but the trains don't seem to have been running any slower (although speed limit is 30 anyway)

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Strict 5mph through the flood - passed one main aspect at danger and applied the rule - good effort all round.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

2 of the posa's have been in use since sunday, even the posa on the down failed this morning due to water issues. At one point i believe they went to one train through at a time due to bow waves and wash/wake.

https://vine.co/v/OIP3dEhPpPx

They were regulating so no 2 trains passed in the flood - on the TLK Twitter feed is a good video , if anyone has the skills to cut and paste it on here - it would show graphically what is happening.

 

[21C101]

Strict 5mph through the flood - passed one main aspect at danger and applied the rule - good effort all round.

The trains don't do much faster than that there anyway. Come to think of it, it was a bit sluggish from St P to Farringdon this morning. Just assumed it was congestion.

 

[bicbasher]

Catford Loop services are diverted to Victoria.

 

[Bald Rick]

Great announcements on 1W11 this morning too, our (lady) driver started the announcement when West Hampstead Panel 2 did a GSM-r general call, so she had to wait a bit

Train home was rammed though, left people behind at STP. General chat on the train from punters was understanding though, many had seen the pictures.

Compounded this evening by a Southbound train failing on approach to Farringdon, ie before it got there. Damn 387s and their comfy seats.

 

[Class 170101]

Good job they have the POSA signals

POSA signals?

 

[Bald Rick]

Interesting view of the 25kV rail-type OHLE.

It would be a very interesting view from that point, as you'd need an exceptional telephoto lens that sees round corners. The nearest OLE bar conductor is at the old KX TL station. At least for the next 3 years, when it will be in a tunnel about 20 metres below.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

POSA signals?

Proceed on sight aspects. Double white flashing 'cats eyes' that permit a driver to pass a signal at danger. Avoids the need to stop and caution services.

Used throughout the core (and ELL) and in the core has saved several thousand PPM failures since 2011.

 

[DelayRepay]

Great announcements on 1W11 this morning too, our (lady) driver started the announcement when West Hampstead Panel 2 did a GSM-r general call, so she had to wait a bit

Train home was rammed though, left people behind at STP. General chat on the train from punters was understanding though, many had seen the pictures.

I didn't bother with St Pancras. In my experience when they accept tickets on the GN side, it's usually better to go that way and get the bus, rather than try to get on a train at St Pancras.

I was surprised they were using Welwyn Garden City for the coaches but assumed it was due to the works at Hatfield as mentioned earlier. When I got to Welwyn Garden City I was the only person who wanted the bus. We waited til the next train arrived then I got a whole coach to myself to St Albans. The driver said the coach before had only taken four passengers.

At St Albans station there was a minor traffic jam due to there being about four coaches parked up, but people were still coming out of the station so I guess most didn't bother using the alternative route.

If this has been a problem all week, how long is it likely to take to fix it? Are we likely to have trouble on Monday?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

The trains don't do much faster than that there anyway. Come to think of it, it was a bit sluggish from St P to Farringdon this morning. Just assumed it was congestion.

Not so sure - on a clear aspect they tend to go for it down the hill from Farringdon and the curve at SPX is a bit of a restraint going south .

Certainly more than 5mph for sure !

Again - some bad journeys for a lot of people - but without this good signalling (and some great staff out there on both TLK and NR) , we would have had 2 tph maximum - hand signals and ticket working. (and a lot more grief)

The pick up shoes are getting an involuntary wash !!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Catford Loop services are diverted to Victoria.

So the training of TLK drivers into Victoria Eastern (going on since last April) has paid dividends (though a good number of trains are worked by SE drivers on contract hire)

 

[Bald Rick]

.

If this has been a problem all week, how long is it likely to take to fix it? Are we likely to have trouble on Monday?

Water main is now off, and to quote Morgan Freeman 'the waters have subsided' (or they will have soon). Then there's the signalling to repair which should be done tonight or tomorrow.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

So the training of TLK drivers into Victoria Eastern (going on since last April) has paid dividends (though a good number of trains are worked by SE drivers on contract hire)

The insurance policy paid off. I owe madam a drink

 

[DelayRepay]

Water main is now off, and to quote Morgan Freeman 'the waters have subsided' (or they will have soon). Then there's the signalling to repair which should be done tonight or tomorrow.

Great news - I'll not bother wearing my waders for Monday's commute then!

Is there any truth in the rumour that these vehicles were on standby for rail replacement duty?

 

[transmanche]

Is there any truth in the rumour that these vehicles were on standby for rail replacement duty?

I do hope not:

 

[The Box Photter]

I do hope not:

Those orange floating "seats" look quite comfy

 

[DelayRepay]

Those orange floating "seats" look quite comfy

And nobody will be tweeting to complain that the heating isn't turned on!

 

[jon0844]

Those orange floating "seats" look quite comfy

I suggest you bring that up in the 387 thread....