Is the Chiltern Mainline particularly vulnerable to flooding?

[philosopher]

In the last 18 months, I have used or have intended to use this line between London and Birmingham four times. For two of those four times my journey has either been disrupted or I have had to travel from Euston due to flooding somewhere on the Chiltern line. On the Sunday before Christmas in 2019, when I used this route, flooding on the southern end of the line meant all the morning trains were heavily delayed and subsequently very overcrowded. Today the line seems to be completely blocked around Dorridge, again due to flooding. So is the Chiltern Mainline particularly prone to disruption from flooding, or have I just been unluckly recently?

 

[Nova1]

Might just have been a bit unlucky. The rainfall around Dorridge was exceptional yesterday.

 

[The Planner]

One off, the M42 was closed last night due to the flooding too.

 

[Nova1]

Didn’t realise there was that much rain though! https://twitter.com/networkrailcml/status/1408776320482426885?s=21

 

[cambran]

Complete chaos at Dorridge this morning. CIS still showing 09.09 and 09.27 Kidderminster as on time until departure time and no general announcements even though the line had been blocked since the previous evening. I had to go on realtime trains and inform other passengers myself . Surely there is no excuse for this.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

TOCs don't always seem to communicate well at stations when disruption hits.

 

[philosopher]

National Rail Enquiries has got a red banner saying trains are unable to call at London Marylebone until 11 am due to a fault with the signalling system. Chiltern are clearly not having a good weekend!

 

[t_star2001uk]

Power supply problems have caused black signals between Marylebone and Neasden South junction. Looks like the problem may be a faulty relay stopping the backup generator from supplying power.....

 

[apinnard]

Very much off topic, the Chiltern wasn’t the only line affected by over 30mm of rain within a few hours this week. Chadwell Heath to Gidea Park (including Romford) on the GEML was deluged, causing loss of signalling, drivers being talked past signals etc etc.

 

[Mark24]

I used the service as far north as Banbury yesterday. Banbury station was very busy with what appeared to be all trains terminating there.
There appears to be a lot of work happening alongside most of the Chiltern line. I wondered if that might have caused the disruption?

 

[Nova1]

I used the service as far north as Banbury yesterday. Banbury station was very busy with what appeared to be all trains terminating there.
There appears to be a lot of work happening alongside most of the Chiltern line. I wondered if that might have caused the disruption?

Most chiltern services heading north have been terminating at Banbury because the line was blocked by flooding around Dorridge.

Must be a reason why Chiltern terminated most trains at Banbury and not Leamington Spa?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Must be a reason why Chiltern terminated most trains at Banbury and not Leamington Spa?

Four platforms accessible for trains coming in (and terminating) from the South at Banbury, so operationally more flexible for turning trains around? Possibly?!

Also had there been any non-Chiltern trains still running through the area, or was Banbury to/from Coventry via Kenilworth also affected?

 

[t_star2001uk]

Four platforms accessible for trains coming in (and terminating) from the South at Banbury, so operationally more flexible for turning trains around? Possibly?!

Also had there been any non-Chiltern trains still running through the area, or was Banbury to/from Coventry via Kenilworth also affected?

!00% Correct about Banbury. Terminating trains can just reverse in the platform whereas Leamington has to have a shunt to return to London. There were indeed other trains running via Kenilworth , with Cross Country taking Chiltern passengers north from Banbury.

 

[cambran]

While it is true that Banbury is easier than Leamington as a place for Chiltern to terminate why was one train per hour not run to Dorridge? There were no other trains there and it would have benefited Leamington passengers and provided a service south from Dorridge, which had no trains atall.

 

[Watershed]

While it is true that Banbury is easier than Leamington as a place for Chiltern to terminate why was one train per hour not run to Dorridge? There were no other trains there and it would have benefited Leamington passengers and provided a service south from Dorridge, which had no trains atall.

I don't think there's a signalled move to reverse at Dorridge, when running to/from the south. It would require a shunt (possibly several).

Also there is a traincrew depot at Banbury, so terminating there makes it easier and quicker to recover from disruption vs. if you have to taxi out traincrew from Birmingham.

 

[t_star2001uk]

Trains could not run up to Dorridge during the flood so a replacement bus was put in place to serve Warwick, Warwick Parkway, Dorridge, and Solihull. I believe there was some flood water affecting the axle counters at the north end of the station. Terminating at Banbury got rid of the need for shunts at Leamington also services terminating at Banbury have no need for a train manager either making Banmbury the logical choice.

 

[cambran]

Platform 3 at Dorridge is signalled for movements in either direction so it could have been used to turn back without going north of the station. Would it not have been better for Warwick Parkway and Dorridge passengers to have a through train rather than change to a bus, and Leamington passengers not having to change to cross country? Surely some train crew were available at Banbury as there would have been no other work for the train managers, or drivers booked to go north.

 

[t_star2001uk]

Axle counters and other equipment at Dorridge was affected by floodwater.......

 

[david1212]

To my knowledge Dorridge is not a regular trouble spot for flooding. Last Friday as already stated exceptionally heavy rainfall there. I was not aware of this intense rain also extending to the Warwick or Leamington area or missing these but hitting somewhere between Leamington and Banbury though.

As to terminating at Banbury not Leamington Spa or Warwick Parkway much easier for Chiltern regardless of best customer service. Sadly Chiltern is now pure Arriva. Back in the era of Adrian Shooter trains may well have run to Warwick Parkway then a bus to Solihull with trains reversing at Hatton.

 

[The Planner]

To my knowledge Dorridge is not a regular trouble spot for flooding. Last Friday as already stated exceptionally heavy rainfall there. I was not aware of this intense rain also extending to the Warwick or Leamington area or missing these but hitting somewhere between Leamington and Banbury though.

As to terminating at Banbury not Leamington Spa or Warwick Parkway much easier for Chiltern regardless of best customer service. Sadly Chiltern is now pure Arriva. Back in the era of Adrian Shooter trains may well have run to Warwick Parkway then a bus to Solihull with trains reversing at Hatton.

Planned disruption they do exactly that.