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Over-running engineering work in Hitchin area
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FCC services were being replaced by buses this morning between Letchworth & Stevenage. (in a snowstorm)
At least I didn't have to wait very long for a train at Stevenage - a train was running every 20 minutes from SVG to Kings Cross plus a few 12 car services were coming through from Peterborough.
The train I got connected well with a stopper at Welwyn Garden City so was only about 35 minutes late at Potters bar.
I think that the line has now reopened (at about 9:30).
At least I didn't have to wait very long for a train at Stevenage - a train was running every 20 minutes from SVG to Kings Cross plus a few 12 car services were coming through from Peterborough.
The train I got connected well with a stopper at Welwyn Garden City so was only about 35 minutes late at Potters bar.
I think that the line has now reopened (at about 9:30).
SAC_Commuter
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I think this may be something to do with it
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8527758.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8527758.stm
The website made it quite clear there were problems, saying there was a shuttle service running (although, it didn't say when).
I got a number of SMS alerts telling me which services were cancelled and which were running, followed by an SMS at 0930 saying the train service was back to normal.
I think they did fairly well, unlike when they operated the snow timetable but didn't update the system properly so it looked like EVERY train for an entire day was cancelled!
If you use FCC a lot, set up the free text alert service - it works pretty well and gives you a heads-up on things.
I got a number of SMS alerts telling me which services were cancelled and which were running, followed by an SMS at 0930 saying the train service was back to normal.
I think they did fairly well, unlike when they operated the snow timetable but didn't update the system properly so it looked like EVERY train for an entire day was cancelled!
If you use FCC a lot, set up the free text alert service - it works pretty well and gives you a heads-up on things.
The problem was if you were further north than Stevenage there was nothing on their "live update" part of the website to tell you what was happening.
The main message on their site was very muddled with one part saying that trains were running from Peterborough to London, and further on saying that it was a bus replacement service between Biggleswade to Stevenage. So which was it?
The main message gave details of the expected departure times from Peterborough, but not from the subsequent stations. They said that they were running two trains an hour, but these appeared to be leaving Peterborough at 55 minutes to the hour and on the hour (?). If this was the case, you could have a long wait if you just missed one.
The text message service (which I use) gave details of some services that it said were cancelled, but didn't mention others. However those 'not-cancelled' services didn't fit into the rough 55 minutes to the hour and on the hour timetable. So were they running and the website wrong, or had someone forgotten to cancel them on the text message service?
So yes, there were a lot of words on the website, but not in a format that was very useful.
The main message on their site was very muddled with one part saying that trains were running from Peterborough to London, and further on saying that it was a bus replacement service between Biggleswade to Stevenage. So which was it?
The main message gave details of the expected departure times from Peterborough, but not from the subsequent stations. They said that they were running two trains an hour, but these appeared to be leaving Peterborough at 55 minutes to the hour and on the hour (?). If this was the case, you could have a long wait if you just missed one.
The text message service (which I use) gave details of some services that it said were cancelled, but didn't mention others. However those 'not-cancelled' services didn't fit into the rough 55 minutes to the hour and on the hour timetable. So were they running and the website wrong, or had someone forgotten to cancel them on the text message service?
So yes, there were a lot of words on the website, but not in a format that was very useful.
dk1
Veteran Member
The worker apparently fell off a wagon & is nursing a broken hip. Lack of available drivers when the possession fell behind time didnt help.
Our local radio station was very helpful as was the FCC spokesman.
Our local radio station was very helpful as was the FCC spokesman.
At 0905 (at Hatfield) an 8-car train came through on the slow line, followed by an East Coast train on the fast - so some trains must have been running through Hitchin, as against buses (unless EC trains were starting/terminating at Stevenage?).
I must admit, I don't know the situation north of Stevenage - but nor did I actually look! I simply got on a slow train towards Moorgate.
I must admit, I don't know the situation north of Stevenage - but nor did I actually look! I simply got on a slow train towards Moorgate.
Well this is exactly what their website said at 7am this morning. Can you work out if they are running 1, 2 or 3 trains an hour, and what time to go to the station to catch a train south of Peterborough, and will that train take you all the way to Kings Cross without involving a bus at Biggleswade -
Peterborough route:
Update: From 0555 services will depart Peterborough at 55 minutes past each hour calling at Huntingdon, St Neots, Hitchin, Stevenage and London Kings Cross.
From 0600 services will also depart Peterborough on the hour calling at all stations to Hitchin, then Stevenage, Finsbury Park and London Kings Cross.
Additionally from 0412 services will operate at 12 and 30 minutes past each hour from Peterborough calling at all stations to Biggleswade.
A replacement bus service will then run calling all stations to Stevenage.
2 East Coast trains will also run each hour from approximately 0600.
Tickets routed "First Capital Connect only" will be accepted on East Coast Services between London King's Cross and Peterborough this morning.
Peterborough route:
Update: From 0555 services will depart Peterborough at 55 minutes past each hour calling at Huntingdon, St Neots, Hitchin, Stevenage and London Kings Cross.
From 0600 services will also depart Peterborough on the hour calling at all stations to Hitchin, then Stevenage, Finsbury Park and London Kings Cross.
Additionally from 0412 services will operate at 12 and 30 minutes past each hour from Peterborough calling at all stations to Biggleswade.
A replacement bus service will then run calling all stations to Stevenage.
2 East Coast trains will also run each hour from approximately 0600.
Tickets routed "First Capital Connect only" will be accepted on East Coast Services between London King's Cross and Peterborough this morning.
If all of that was correct, it seems quite clear - but I'd always be worried one bit contradicted something else, or superseded it.
It does seem odd to run the trains so close together, but I presume this is down to the different timings that will exist further along the line - and you also had the use of EC trains from Peterborough.
A bit of a mess, but I presume that one or two lines were blocked around Hitchin and they had a massively reduced capacity - hence buses running part of the route as well (and in the snow; I bet that caused a few upsets!).
Lack of information would, on this occasion, not be something FCC or EC could be accused of. Sadly, this isn't always the case.
It does seem odd to run the trains so close together, but I presume this is down to the different timings that will exist further along the line - and you also had the use of EC trains from Peterborough.
A bit of a mess, but I presume that one or two lines were blocked around Hitchin and they had a massively reduced capacity - hence buses running part of the route as well (and in the snow; I bet that caused a few upsets!).
Lack of information would, on this occasion, not be something FCC or EC could be accused of. Sadly, this isn't always the case.
I'd guess that until the blockade was finally lifted, trains were continuing to use the fast lines through Hitchin, coasting pan down (as they had been all weekend)- meaning rush hour buses or cramming on to the Liverpool Street line for Cambridge commuters.
As I understand it, the FCC services which were working through from Peterborough to London were operating as 12-cars, so could only call at those stations with sufficiently long platforms - i.e. Peterborough, Huntingdon, St Neots, (Hitchin?), Stevenage & Kings Cross.
one 8-car service per hour was running through calling at the other stations(e.g. Biggleswade & Arlesey).
a half-hourly 8-coach service was also running Peterborough-Biggleswade where buses were substituting to Stevenage.
Likewise, all Cambridge services were terminating at Letchworth with buses running to Stevenage (though most buses seemed to run via Hitchin - on the coach I was on only one person got off there so only one more could get on at Hitchin so it would have been better for most buses to go direct to Stevenage with a separate bus running via Hitchin).
At Stevenge, there was a service every 20 minutes calling Knebworth, welwyn north, Welwyn Gc, Finsbury Park & Kings cross. (The FCC website did not mention this service pattern but it was evident from the screens as soon as I arrived at Stevenage.) These were starting from platform 2. (Northbound services had terminated in platform 3 & then reversed on the trailing crossover north of the station)
There were regular announcements which proved to be accurate.
The trains coming in from Peterborough & east coast services were using the slow line through Stevenage to Woolmer Green.
I was only delayed by 35 minutes (leaving Letchworth on the bus at 7:15), though I understand that people leaving later than me were more heavily delayed by an additional hour because Hitchin & Stevenage had become clogged with traffic (combination of no trains, school traffic & roadworks & the snow had got heavier by then), so they took much longer to reach Stevenage station on the bus.
The Station staff at letchworth directing people on to the buses also were giving out accurate information, e.g. saying that there were regular services to Welwyn from Stevenage. Sometimes during disruption FCC seem to ignore Knebworth & Welwyn North & run everything fast to Finsbury park - but this time they ran a decent service. I think welwyn north & Kebworth had a better service than usual yesterday.
one 8-car service per hour was running through calling at the other stations(e.g. Biggleswade & Arlesey).
a half-hourly 8-coach service was also running Peterborough-Biggleswade where buses were substituting to Stevenage.
Likewise, all Cambridge services were terminating at Letchworth with buses running to Stevenage (though most buses seemed to run via Hitchin - on the coach I was on only one person got off there so only one more could get on at Hitchin so it would have been better for most buses to go direct to Stevenage with a separate bus running via Hitchin).
At Stevenge, there was a service every 20 minutes calling Knebworth, welwyn north, Welwyn Gc, Finsbury Park & Kings cross. (The FCC website did not mention this service pattern but it was evident from the screens as soon as I arrived at Stevenage.) These were starting from platform 2. (Northbound services had terminated in platform 3 & then reversed on the trailing crossover north of the station)
There were regular announcements which proved to be accurate.
The trains coming in from Peterborough & east coast services were using the slow line through Stevenage to Woolmer Green.
I was only delayed by 35 minutes (leaving Letchworth on the bus at 7:15), though I understand that people leaving later than me were more heavily delayed by an additional hour because Hitchin & Stevenage had become clogged with traffic (combination of no trains, school traffic & roadworks & the snow had got heavier by then), so they took much longer to reach Stevenage station on the bus.
The Station staff at letchworth directing people on to the buses also were giving out accurate information, e.g. saying that there were regular services to Welwyn from Stevenage. Sometimes during disruption FCC seem to ignore Knebworth & Welwyn North & run everything fast to Finsbury park - but this time they ran a decent service. I think welwyn north & Kebworth had a better service than usual yesterday.
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That may have been the plan for BIW, but certainly wasn't the experience on the ground. That info was on the website, but not until well into the morning peak, with no texts or tweets received until nearly 9am (and given the stations serves a rural area with lots of bus and car journeys in, this is key). Information at the station was scant - "severe disruption", with me and a few others with smartphones reading out what was on the website. Departure boards have all been broken for some time. The station staff do their best as always, but there was little they could do.
I was there for an hour, and saw no Southbound trains or buses leave, before giving up and going home, as did anybody who could. I suspect that the first few trains to pass through would be too full to board, as is usually the case.
It's one thing communicating a plan, it's another communicating reality. The live departure boards were no use.
I realise it's all hands to the pump in resolving situations like this, but, from the ground yesterday, it was quite laughably bad.
I was there for an hour, and saw no Southbound trains or buses leave, before giving up and going home, as did anybody who could. I suspect that the first few trains to pass through would be too full to board, as is usually the case.
It's one thing communicating a plan, it's another communicating reality. The live departure boards were no use.
I realise it's all hands to the pump in resolving situations like this, but, from the ground yesterday, it was quite laughably bad.
dk1
Veteran Member
Was told at Cambridge station today that the rail worker has since died & that the accident involved a crane. Anybody else heard this sad news?
Old Timer
Established Member
The man concerned (Volker Stevin Rail) was attaching a beam to the crane jib, when he fell about six feet onto the track suffereing head and back injuries.
He was subsequently airlifted to hospital.
He was subsequently airlifted to hospital.
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