Power Failure Bath-Bristol Sat 26 Nov

[LNW-GW Joint]

It seems GWR services have been disrupted through Bath today after a signalling power failure.
London-Bristol services have been diverted via Badminton, with little impact (except for Bath and Chippenham), but Westbury services are not running.
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.aspx

A signalling problem between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads is causing disruption to journeys between the stations.
Services may be delayed by up to 60 minutes, cancelled or diverted via alternative routes.
Trains are currently not serving Bath Spa, Keynsham, Oldfield Park, Bradford-On-Avon, Trowbridge and Chippenham.
This disruption is expected to continue until approximately 16:00

I thought it was very helpful of the BBC to illustrate the problems with a picture of a Class 800 train at Reading.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-38117848
"Hundreds left stranded" apparently.

 

[PHILIPE]

Read on Facebook due to morons nicking cable. Some trains already cancelled due shorhage of traincrew.

 

[HowardGWR]

Read on Facebook due to morons nicking cable. Some trains already cancelled due shorhage of traincrew.

If true (if) then amazing that GWR /NR don't say so on the various media instead of the whole day just putting out 'signalling failure' excuses. Pax will have more sympathy if they know their inconvenience is due to criminals, as opposed to what they will otherwise likely think is 'more incompetence'.

 

[HSTFan57]

I was on a Bristol to Bath train (with no working toilets) that suddenly braked to a halt at an unexpected red signal just west of Oldfield Park this morning around 0845. The conductor reported over the PA that all signals between Bristol and Swindon were now red. Things were looking grim, until it was announced that the broken toilet was now working again. We moved slowly into Oldfield Park after waiting about 30 minutes. If cable theft was to blame, I guess it either took place in daylight, or the effects did not become apparent until around 0845.

The disruption was ongoing at 1300, with replacement buses from Bath to Bristol Temple Meads, a journey which I now know takes ages in a bus.

 

[pdeaves]

If true (if) then amazing that GWR /NR don't say so on the various media instead of the whole day just putting out 'signalling failure' excuses.

External power supply problem. The backups 'worked', except that they didn't power the signalling!

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Got on the first train that ran since the morning, the 1416 from Trowbridge, funnily enough it was advertised as delayed 14:19, and then just 'Delayed' staff initially had no idea where it was yet I could see it courtesy of Open Train Times Live Map

158960 turned up and was seriously crammed.

Tried to get back, ended up on another busy 158 (not as busy as though) 17:10 departure from Bath (late running Pompey) which was all shacks to Westbury.

Also whoever was doing manual PA's at Bath this evening didn't seem to know the network. Cardiff train for example (advertised as Newport on the screens though):

"...Calling at at Bristol Temple Meads, Filton Abbey Wood, Severn Tunnel Junction and Cardiff Central..."

EH? non-stop Newport!?

"...That's the next train on Platform 1 calling at at Bristol Temple Meads, Filton Abbey Wood, Newport, Cardiff Central."

So, where does it not stop then!? Confusing!!
Then my train:

"...Calling at at Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge, Westbury, Warminster, Salisbury, Southampton and stations to Portsmouth..."

No Romsey?

"...That's the next train on Platform 2 calling at at Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge, Westbury, Warminster, Salisbury, Romsey, Southampton and stations to Portsmouth..."

Kept altering patterns and I wonder if he ever noticed. And yet got on my train and also called at Freshford AND Avoncliff yet he didn't announce that!

I did wonder what today's delays were about, marking it as 'signal fault' seemed odd, as usually there's some delays rather than loads of cancellations, I thought well if a signal has failed you just get talked past it by the signaler then carry on

Not what you need on Bath Xmas market day!

 

[robbeech]

If true (if) then amazing that GWR /NR don't say so on the various media instead of the whole day just putting out 'signalling failure' excuses. Pax will have more sympathy if they know their inconvenience is due to criminals, as opposed to what they will otherwise likely think is 'more incompetence'.

Agree fully with this. A couple of years ago i was heavily delayed getting from Retford to London one cold evening. There had been a fatality at potters bar hours earlier and they were using that as an excuse for the delay so passengers were annoyed but had some sympathy. The train arrived with a 67 on the front and of course everyones attitude changes as they realise that the potters bar thing was merely an excuse and actually the train had broken.
In yet another twist of fate on closer inspection the front of the train was badly damaged and it turns out that the reason the 67 was on the front was because rocks and other things had been thrown at the train earlier in the journey, once again the passengers seemed to calm down and have more sympathy, its very odd that VTEC would use the wrong excuse for the delay when infact the truth was that it wasn't their fault anyway.

Rob

 

[PHILIPE]

External power supply problem. The backups 'worked', except that they didn't power the signalling!

Believe lights went out in Keynsham. Still no further reports of cable theft though to back up Facebook report, so not placing too much credence on that.

 

[HowardGWR]

I did wonder how many pax were advised to travel via Taunton (for Westbury) or Exeter (for Salisbury and south coast) and vice versa from those destinations. I can only think that Bath and Chippenham pax would be consigned to buses on that stretch.

I noted that trains between Swindon and Bristol (diverted via Badminton) were arriving early at TM and also in the reverse direction at Swindon!!

 

[Johncleesefan]

Signal failure is between st annes amd bathampton junc, that's a long old section. Temp block work was introduced and London pads calling attitionally at keynsham/oldfield and pompy calling at freshford/avoncliff. No other service going though the affected area

 

[Hellzapoppin]

It wasn't cable theft .

 

[PHILIPE]

It wasn't cable theft .

Thanks for confirming that, eliminates the suspicion. Yahoo group reporting big bang heard at sub-station feeding signals when everything went down

 

[Hellzapoppin]

There seems to have been a power surge that travelled up 2 lineside cables, blew all the primary and secondary fuses and fried some of the equipment. No idea how it happened although there was an incident with a power line in the Bristol area at the time.

 

[PHILIPE]

As a result of the chaos, 1925 Cardiff Cen to Portsmouth Hbr left Westbury with 10 carriages, the front 5 only in use. I don't know what the unit were but I suspect 2 x 158/9+150 combo.

 

[pompeyfan]

As a result of the chaos, 1925 Cardiff Cen to Portsmouth Hbr left Westbury with 10 carriages, the front 5 only in use. I don't know what the unit were but I suspect 2 x 158/9+150 combo.

A friend text me last night and saw it arriving at the Harbour, he reported it as having 12 on but had been drinking.

In actual fact however, it was a 158/9, a 3 car 150 and 2 150/2.

 

[PHILIPE]

A friend text me last night and saw it arriving at the Harbour, he reported it as having 12 on but had been drinking.

In actual fact however, it was a 158/9, a 3 car 150 and 2 150/2.

Not far out - 150/9 substituting for 158/9

 

[father_jack]

There seems to have been a power surge that travelled up 2 lineside cables, blew all the primary and secondary fuses and fried some of the equipment. No idea how it happened although there was an incident with a power line in the Bristol area at the time.

An RTA at Westerleigh road near Yate was the start of the debacle. A pole was damaged.

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