How long to remove trees from line?

[AndrewE]

Network Rail info site currently says

Due to a number of unsafe trees on the line between Clarbeston Road and Fishguard Harbour, Network Rail has closed the line between the stations.
Buses will replace trains between Carmarthen and Fishguard Harbour until at least the end of the day on Monday 18 November.

That is a fortnight away... How many trees can there be across the track?

 

[eastdyke]

Network Rail info site currently says
That is a fortnight away... How many trees can there be across the track?

Perhaps the trees that pose the threat are on an embankment, possibly also unstable, or even on land not owned by the railway?
And maybe rather a lot of them?
In which case a better explanation would have helped.

 

[pdeaves]

Perhaps the trees that pose the threat are on an embankment, possibly also unstable, or even on land not owned by the railway?
And maybe rather a lot of them?
In which case a better explanation would have helped.

I don't know all the ins and outs but I do know that the fallen tree(s) is/are external to the railway and multiple others need to be checked.

 

[MotorcycleAlan]

Probably just the fact that the professionals who deal with such things know what they are doing, so just let them get on with it. Better to perhaps be pessimistic and allow for delays, than quote an earlier date, find that more bad weather intervenes, and they have to extend the closure.

 

[AndrewE]

Probably just the fact that the professionals who deal with such things know what they are doing, so just let them get on with it. Better to perhaps be pessimistic and allow for delays, than quote an earlier date, find that more bad weather intervenes, and they have to extend the closure.

The "professionals" obviously price a job they are given (and hence resource it) depending on the remit they are given, and then spend the money at the appropriate rate. No double shifts, let alone night work, here obviously.
How important is the rail connection to Fishguard Harbour? Shall we see permanent bustitution? How many trees can there be? NR still says fallen trees, no mention of embankment stability or problems on neighbour's property

 

[thejuggler]

Some have just been chopped near me and in order to gain access to the site three stretches of dry stone wall had to be demolished. Trees were down in a day, stone walls took a week and are now back in place.

 

[AndrewE]

Some have just been chopped near me and in order to gain access to the site three stretches of dry stone wall had to be demolished. Trees were down in a day, stone walls took a week and are now back in place.

Can you not run occasional trains while a dry-stone wall or three is being re-built - and they away from the railway, given that they were only demolished to allow access?

 

[30907]

Can you not run occasional trains while a dry-stone wall or three is being re-built - and they away from the railway, given that they were only demolished to allow access?

You can, provided alternative fencing is provided which keeps the railway secure and allows the work to be done on the non-railway side. Worth it on a busy main line, perhaps, but may be not on a secondary route.

 

[AndrewE]

You can, provided alternative fencing is provided which keeps the railway secure and allows the work to be done on the non-railway side. Worth it on a busy main line, perhaps, but may be not on a secondary route.

Sorry, I was under the impression that the London to Fishguard route was used by the Irish Boat Trains. I know that Holyhead route is crap compared to the convenience it used to offer, but I thought the GWR one still worked as the man in seat 61 still says

"There is a regular fully-integrated train & ferry service from London, Bristol & Cardiff to Rosslare in Southern Ireland via Fishguard."

 

[pdeaves]

Sorry, I was under the impression that the London to Fishguard route was used by the Irish Boat Trains. I know that Holyhead route is crap compared to the convenience it used to offer, but I thought the GWR one still worked as the man in seat 61 still says

It's a very long time since GWR (or any other operator) linked Fishguard with London.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It's never been the same since red petticoats went out of fashion.

 

[AndrewE]

Maybe no boat trains any more then, but don't you think it's a viable route? from the man in seat 21's comment

There is a regular fully-integrated train & ferry service from London, Bristol & Cardiff to Rosslare in Southern Ireland via Fishguard

it sounds a lot better than Holyhead these days. I used it a long time ago, when it was served by through trains that connected with the boats, but I hadn't looked at the details of the current timetable..

 

[RichA]

Not sure I have seen it reported elsewhere but unit 150245 was considerably damaged when it hit a fallen tree at 275m 39c between Clarbeston road and Fishguard on the evening of the 17th October. During a daylight inspection the following day a considerable amount of trees in the area were identified as in a precarious state and in danger of falling across the line, it is this work that continues to affect train services.

 

[Clip]

Shall we see permanent bustitution?

Why would this go permanent? Whats the issue with just accepting that there is more work to be done than just what you think needs to be done and let them get on with it?

 

[AndrewE]

Not sure I have seen it reported elsewhere but unit 150245 was considerably damaged when it hit a fallen tree at 275m 39c between Clarbeston road and Fishguard on the evening of the 17th October. During a daylight inspection the following day a considerable amount of trees in the area were identified as in a precarious state and in danger of falling across the line, it is this work that continues to affect train services.

Thanks for that info, it makes a lot more sense now.

 

[AndrewE]

Why would this go permanent? Whats the issue with just accepting that there is more work to be done than just what you think needs to be done and let them get on with it?

A fortnight seemed a long time to deal with trees down, so I think it was a fair question (especially seeing as minor lines have been abandoned by stealth elsewhere) and clearly some other people do too.
The scale of the problem and the underlying reason (i.e. neglect of the issue over some time) were not hinted at until yesterday: given that it was posted on Monday and it's an exceptionally long closure for that particular reason it was worth asking.

 

[DarloRich]

A fortnight seemed a long time to deal with trees down, so I think it was a fair question (especially seeing as minor lines have been abandoned by stealth elsewhere) and clearly some other people do too.

Not everything is a conspiracy.

 

[james60059]

Having been along the line a fair few times, let's just say there's quite a lot of trees especially on the approaches to Spittal Tunnel, also there's several just by FGW which give the train a good whack as they pass by.

 

[james60059]

It's a very long time since GWR (or any other operator) linked Fishguard with London.

2003 I believe was the last through service (night time one)