Heat Related Disruption - 13 Aug 2026

[GraphitProjekt]

I wouldn't fancy a bumpy ride in the back carriage, thank you... but I suppose out in the Fens one takes what is on offer!

It often try it because you get to sit in the declassified first class (if it's a 170) and then face the front exit for Norwich once the service reverses at Ely

 

[MikeWM]

I've done about 6 trips over the Ely-Cambridge line in recent weeks and it is a seriously bumpy ride, mostly I've been in the back carriage as well.

It's been pretty poor for years between Ely and Waterbeach. Though it does seem to be quite a bit worse still over the last couple of months.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

There was also an evacuation onto track at Hayes and Harlington caused by a power failure and passengers subsequently trapped without air. Heathrow-bound customers carrying suitcases along the tracks.

Elizabeth line suspended into Heathrow/Reading only running to Paddington in the core.

 

[londonmidland]

I've done about 6 trips over the Ely-Cambridge line in recent weeks and it is a seriously bumpy ride, mostly I've been in the back carriage as well.

This section of the line gets mentioned a lot regarding bumpy rides. I've been told its been reported multiple times by train crew, however Network Rail say its within safe tolerances.

 

[Bikeman78]

And also, some stock was not nearly 40 years old, 40 years ago.
(General comment to the room).

The almost as old 150s around Cardiff plod up and down to Ebbw Vale and Rhymney all day. In fact I think that the engines revert to idle far less than they did a few years ago. Improved cooler groups perhaps? Maybe the Northern fleet didn't get the upgrade.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

This section of the line gets mentioned a lot regarding bumpy rides. I've been told its been reported multiple times by train crew, however Network Rail say its within safe tolerances.

The track monitoring trains are set up to automatically report exceedances in lateral and vertical tolerances. These are graded in terms of severity and how quickly they need to be investigated by track team. Above a certain threshold it would be an automatic block the line. Only problem is how frequently they run along that section could be only once every 13 weeks. The back up is from drivers although known troublesome areas will be under constant monitoring with void meters.

 

[Bikeman78]

We didn't have temperatures of nearly 40 degrees in the 1990s and 2000s. Even a day just over 30 was unusual.

"80 degrees" - 27 Celsius - was something to write home about.

They certainly did in Belgium. Their 1950s and 1960s trains kept going. I nearly didn't; it was unbearably hot. I'd dive onto an AM96 occasionally to cool down. I've mentioned before getting on the 05:56 from Gent Sint Pieters and it was 26 degrees!

 

[timtjtim]

I've done about 6 trips over the Ely-Cambridge line in recent weeks and it is a seriously bumpy ride, mostly I've been in the back carriage as well.

The Ely - Peterborough line seems to be even worse, although I don't know if that's due to the class 158 rollingstock? Especially going towards Peterborough there's a couple of really aggressive side-to-side movements.

 

[Intercity_225]

The Ely - Peterborough line seems to be even worse, although I don't know if that's due to the class 158 rollingstock? Especially going towards Peterborough there's a couple of really aggressive side-to-side movements.

It certainly isn't just 158s, the ride quality is bad on 170s and even 755s..

 

[Jimini]

I'm not massively surprised by that, as in that location the train I was on on Wednesday evening lurched very hard side to side indicating some sort of developing defect. In retrospect I should probably have reported it (though I would imagine the driver probably also did), but this is far harder now I no longer partake in "X".

I noticed that on Sunday as well. Fairly sure we’d slowed down a bit at that point; maybe a TSR / ESR is in place over it?

 

[timtjtim]

This is an increasingly popular public perception. It's especially true for people I talk to up in here in EMR-land where we have both the current everyday-shambles of reduced timetables, cancellations. over-full trains and high ticket prices coupled with what seem to be relatively frequent omnishambles events where things disintegrate entirely - e.g. yesterday.

And they don't help themselves - ordering everyone off a train onto the platform, saying it will be at least 1h delayed, just to order them back on 15 minutes later doesn't inspire confidence.

Obviously it's a fast moving situation when train crews and sets are in the wrong places, but it's pretty tiresome.

After being ordered off I took the NOT->SKG, and changed at GRA to try and continue my journey - just to find the original train rocking up (having been running slow behind the SKG service!).

 

[londonmidland]

EMR's 'Connect' service is now completely suspended, due to multiple unit failures. EMR Intercity services making additional calls at Northants stations.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Polegate to Hampden Park Jcn lines closed due to track defect services being spun at Polegate. At least they can still run to Hastings so can get the visitors to the airshow back

 

[GraphitProjekt]

The Ely - Peterborough line seems to be even worse, although I don't know if that's due to the class 158 rollingstock? Especially going towards Peterborough there's a couple of really aggressive side-to-side movements.

just realised! I actually meant to say Ely-Peterborough line but wrote cambridge by accident.

 

[Joliver]

There was also an evacuation onto track at Hayes and Harlington caused by a power failure and passengers subsequently trapped without air. Heathrow-bound customers carrying suitcases along the tracks.

Another one today in the same location due to power supply failure

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Another one today in the same location due to power supply failure

I guess it never started working. I assume this is both supplies unavailable at Kensal Rise ATFS

 

[timtjtim]

just realised! I actually meant to say Ely-Peterborough line but wrote cambridge by accident.

I think on Tuesday I'll try and pay attention and track my location at each point there's a large movement + report to network rail...

 

[mickey]

Another one today in the same location due to power supply failure

Ahh, that would explain why the GWML is so screwed up! A handful of fasts with additional calls, presumably IETs on diesel, but the GWR commuter runs have been ditched completely.

 

[Foxcover]

What about crew hours and personal need breaks? Can you go into a bit more detail as to what you think would work? Are you suggesting taxis from Nottingham to Liverpool and vice versa to get the crews there?

Given that EMR send 4x158s ECS at dawn every weekday from Nottingham to Liverpool…! Sorry, couldn’t resist!

 

[IanMac]

just realised! I actually meant to say Ely-Peterborough line but wrote cambridge by accident.

Your post 149 did indeed say Peterborough!

 

[pieswick]

Appears Southeastern have enacted a network wide speed restriction due to the heat?

 

[nareik91]

I'm currently on 2C19 heading to Staines, we have stopped at St Margaret's as there is a lineside fire near Feltham and the lines are closed. The Guard says that LFB are on site at the moment. Currently trying to work out if we should wait or make other travel arrangements!

 

[Mike99]

My daughter travelled back home on Monday, Thetford to Nottingham, she was telling Mrs Mike last night that twice the driver apologised between Ely and Peterborough, for a 'bouncy' ride, (sounds a bit nice than rough ride), and there wasn't anything to worry about, she thought that was good to tell passengers that, and in turn do did I, saved her worrying.

 

[Dave61]

The railway is a service, not a business - even if some businesses are grafted into it, as a whole it is a service. Roads "operate at a loss" too. All sorts of public services do not directly make money, why should they? They have societal and economic benefits that are worth paying for.

It isnt operating at a loss. That loss is called "funding", and there isn't enough of it which is why there isn't enough maintenance done.

One could argue that roads run at an operating profit for the Government as not all the taxes collected from it (Fuel duty + vat, road tax) is plouged back into it.

 

[Horizon22]

Ahh, that would explain why the GWML is so screwed up! A handful of fasts with additional calls, presumably IETs on diesel, but the GWR commuter runs have been ditched completely.

Yep there is still a block to electric traction (BTET) on a small section of the Up Relief. Trains are making rare moves via the Dawley Goods Loop.

 

[High Dyke]

I'm currently on 2C19 heading to Staines, we have stopped at St Margaret's as there is a lineside fire near Feltham and the lines are closed. The Guard says that LFB are on site at the moment. Currently trying to work out if we should wait or make other travel arrangements!

Probably a little late for the poster, but NRE advising disruption expected until 15:00

Screenshot from National Rail Enquiries

 

[Dave61]

Polegate to Hampden Park Jcn lines closed due to track defect services being spun at Polegate. At least they can still run to Hastings so can get the visitors to the airshow back

It seemed to be just in that direction as our excusion train got back from EastBourne (via Brighton) ok but at very reduced speed, local services were reversing at Polegate back to Brighton. I guess the Hastings to Brghton could run until they ran out of trains!
And the station was very busy with the airshow having finished around 4.15 (the Tornado was LOUD)

 

[LowLevel]

My daughter travelled back home on Monday, Thetford to Nottingham, she was telling Mrs Mike last night that twice the driver apologised between Ely and Peterborough, for a 'bouncy' ride, (sounds a bit nice than rough ride), and there wasn't anything to worry about, she thought that was good to tell passengers that, and in turn do did I, saved her worrying.

Ride quality over the section is very much a concern for the traincrew working over it though the speed restrictions do help - being told something is in spec as your unit repeatedly slams into the travel limits of it's yaw dampers and suspension spilling drinks is not much fun. Being at the back of the train between Peterborough, Ely and Lakenheath is hair raising.

 

[peteb]

I'm currently on 2C19 heading to Staines, we have stopped at St Margaret's as there is a lineside fire near Feltham and the lines are closed. The Guard says that LFB are on site at the moment. Currently trying to work out if we should wait or make other travel arrangements!

Having lived near Egham I recall the sky often being lit up from third rail electrics at night. I imagine there's a big fire risk from sparking pick ups on the EMU fleet. Unless Network Rail is very vigilant over vegetation clearance (they don't seem to be in the Midlands, plenty of buddleia bushes around Birmingham scratching train sides).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Aug 2026 ==

Fortunately in this case, the SVR isn't running public services on Fridays at the moment. We'll have to wait and see if the disruption carries on into tomorrow.

West Midlands Railway website https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/live-travel-updates states trains between Stourbridge Junction, Hagley, Blakedown and Kidderminster are replaced by rail replacement buses. This is to last until Monday morning when they hope to resume services. The website also details the railway repairs being undertaken adjacent to the scene of Thursday's major fire incident, but it's easier to find on the app.

 

[davews]

Probably a little late for the poster, but NRE advising disruption expected until 15:00
View attachment 209633
Screenshot from National Rail Enquiries

His 2C17 seemed to have been allowed past the fire and was only a bit late getting to Staines:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L80611/2026-08-15/detailed#allox_id=0

But subsequently total disruption, diversions Virginia Water via Weybridge but much of the line west of there was left with no trains for several hours. Seems to have recovered now.