Scotrail Severe Weather Alert

[michael769]

We are urging the travelling public to check the latest travel advice and information following weather warnings of gales reaching wind speeds of up to 90mph tomorrow.

We are also advising commuters that because the initial high winds are expected to peak during late afternoon, it would be a sensible step to leave work earlier where this is practical to help avoid rush-hour delays.

If the weather is as bad as forecast, Network Rail will apply speed restrictions of 50mph from 1000 tomorrow for safety reasons, including the potential for fallen trees and other debris on lines. We will be reviewing the weather warnings throughout tomorrow, including one before 1000 and contingency plans will be amended accordingly.

More: http://www.scotrail.co.uk/weatherwarning

Methinks I'll be leaving work early tomorrow!

 

[amcluesent]

Dissappointing to hear the Scots have gone as soft as Londoners when there's a snow flurry

 

[dk1]

XC have withdrawn all tommorows trains Glasgow Central-Edinburgh 10.00-18.00.

 

[90019]

Dissappointing to hear the Scots have gone as soft as Londoners when there's a snow flurry

But this isn't about snow, it's gales up to 90mph that will be the problem.

 

[Aictos]

But this isn't about snow, it's gales up to 90mph that will be the problem.

Very true but if the poster you quoted had read the opening post correctly, They would have realised that First Scotrail has made no mention of snow but rather gales of up to 90mph and thus made them look a right fool.

I support the move to warn passengers about potential disruption these gales can cause and it's not something to laugh at.

I'm sure if the poster you kindly quoted were to have their train delayed with no information from the TOC involved why this was then they would soon complain.

 

[michael769]

I support the move to warn passengers about potential disruption these gales can cause and it's not something to laugh at.

Indeed it is very welcome to see Scotrail being so proactive and getting info of their contingency out in enough time so that people can plan their journeys around it. It is a quite remarkable change in attitude from even as little as 6 months ago.

But for me this is feeling more and more like the May wind event again, and I fear that we may still see a similar controlled shutdown of the network right in the heart of the rush hour when the winds are expected to peak.

I personally plan to follow the advice and leave for home at lunchtime, but even with that I am seriously considering taking the car just in case!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
From Network Rail

NRE_ScotRail National Rail
RT @NetworkRailSCOT: More than 350 fast response engineers out tomorrow including 34 chainsaw teams to clear trees blown onto the tracks #fb

 

[ushawk]

Revised services on East Coast and TPE now as the poor weather is expected to also hit Northern England. Latest NRE update is below -

ScotRail

ScotRail may need to amend their service depending on the severity of the weather. Regular reviews of weather warnings will take place throughout Thursday 8 December.
Speed restrictions may apply, and a temporary timetable will be introduced, from mid-morning if necessary. Passengers are being advised to check the latest travel advice.

CrossCountry

Between 10:00 and 18:00 there will be no CrossCountry services running between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh. During this time customers travelling to and from Glasgow will be able to complete their journeys using ScotRail services.

East Coast

London Kings Cross - Edinburgh: Hourly service expected, departing at 00 minutes past the hour from London, 30 minutes past the hour from Edinburgh.

London Kings Cross - Newcastle: Normal service planned, with some extended running times expected due to speed restrictions north of Northallerton.

London Kings Cross - Hull, Brough and Selby: Services will start from and terminate at Doncaster.

London Kings Cross - Harrogate and Horsforth: Services will start from and terminate at Leeds. Passengers travelling to or from these stations can use connecting local trains to start or complete their journeys.

London Kings Cross - Leeds: Normal service is expected.

First TransPennine Express

Manchester Airport - Preston - Carlisle - Glasgow Central: Between 10:00 and 22:00, services will only run between Manchester Airport and Carlisle. Passengers travelling to / from Glasgow Central may use Virgin Trains services where available.

Manchester Airport - Preston - Carlisle - Edinburgh: Services will operate at reduced speeds, leading to extended journey times.

Services to / from Windermere / Barrow-in-Furness: Services will operate at reduced speeds, leading to extended journey times.

Virgin Trains
Services between London / Birmingham, North West England and Scotland may be delayed. This is due to emergency speed restrictions that may be required. Journey times may be extended.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Revised services on East Coast and TPE now as the poor weather is expected to also hit Northern England. Latest NRE update is below -

jeez, that isnt going to be fun, carlisle scotland just lost quite a bit of capacity :/

 

[michael769]

Scotrail's website had gone down (as of 0930). I guess they didn't get the low bandwidth version up in time.

Well done Scotrail!

 

[DarloRich]

It is working fine (0948) for me! i need to get the train from Lochwinnoch to Paisley then bus to the airport so i am trying to sort out whihc train is actually going to run!

 

[michael769]

And it begins....

Train services between Yoker and Dalmuir are being disrupted due to overhead wire problems.See http://scotrail.co.uk/disruption for info

Train services between Lanark and Dalmuir are being disrupted due to poor weather conditions.

 

[graham43404]

East Coast have moved all HST's to serve routes from Newcastle to Edinburgh rather than have the Mallards with a reduced speed restriction.

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/about-us...service-information-thursday-8-december-2011/

 

[Eng274]

Edinburgh - Glasgow Queen Street shuttles have a 50mph speed restriction in place, estimated journey times 70mins as a result. 1015 was cancelled as was the 1007 to milngavie.

 

[ushawk]

Guess that's why services to Hull, Harrogate and the other extensions haven't run today. NRE also showing flooding between Oxenholme and Penrith. A lot of alterations on Scotrail too - welcome to winter

 

[graham43404]

Guess that's why services to Hull, Harrogate and the other extensions haven't run today. NRE also showing flooding between Oxenholme and Penrith. A lot of alterations on Scotrail too - welcome to winter

Yeap and East Coast's Twitter who are full of self important types from Harrogate who are not happy that there train has been cancelled.

 

[marks87]

East Coast have moved all HST's to serve routes from Newcastle to Edinburgh rather than have the Mallards with a reduced speed restriction.

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/about-us...service-information-thursday-8-december-2011/

While probably not being considered an option, would a Mallard being dragged by a 67 be considered electric or diesel for the purposes of speed restrictions?

 

[graham43404]

While probably not being considered an option, would a Mallard being dragged by a 67 be considered electric or diesel for the purposes of speed restrictions?

At a guess I would say Electric still

 

[Welshman]

As I gather the issue is with pantograph contact with the OHLE during high winds and the danger of dewirements, then a diesel-hauled service[were engines/crew available], should not be affected by the speed restrictions, provided that the Cl91's pantograph is lowered.

 

[michael769]

Conditions are much worse than forecast. The Forth Road bridge and Erskine bridges have been closed, with an 84mph gust reported at the Forth Road Bridge (and the winds are not expected to peak there until 5 this afternoon).

Sadly NRE and Scotrail are back to their old tricks of issuing conflicting information with NRE claiming the Shotts line is closed but Scotrail claiming there in a hourly service running. Just what we do not need on a day like this.

 

[marks87]

...dewirements...

Is that how Jonathan Ross pronounces "derailments"?

I'm sorry...I'll fetch my coat...

 

[Eng274]

The ~1026 EDB to GLC via Shotts left on time, unless its being curtailed somewhere en route?

 

[michael769]

The ~1026 EDB to GLC via Shotts left on time, unless its being curtailed somewhere en route?

It looks like the stopping service is running and the express has been cancelled - so Scotrail have it right.

Despite updated NRE are still giving out wrong information and saying it has been withdrawn, very disappointing.

 

[autotank]

Good decision by EC in my view. I'm on the 0800 London to Edinburgh which is running more or less to time. Enjoying a the £25 1st Class Scotsman offer with the added bonus of some extra HST mileage!

 

[Crossover]

Guess that's why services to Hull, Harrogate and the other extensions haven't run today. NRE also showing flooding between Oxenholme and Penrith. A lot of alterations on Scotrail too - welcome to winter

This does explain a lot - I was wondering why it was cancelled. Makes complete sense as well to avoid the ECML speed restrictions north of Newcastle

However, the media have yet again thrown it out of proportion.
Radio Leeds and Pulse Yorkshire were making broadcasts every half hour or so this morning saying that due to weather, ALL East Coast services to Harrogate will today terminate at Leeds and to use local services for onward travel. I heard it for myself and it sounded like the end if the world was nigh! Even my parents commented about it and when I asked them how many services they thought it would affect, they reckoned numerous. All this palava for the sake of a single service...totally crazy!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

A gust approaching 130mph has been recorded off the coast at Fort William and Central Glasgow is now in the storm.

 

[philjo]

EC is now advising passengers not to travel north of Edinburgh (1pm update).
Tay Bridge is closed & 50mph limit on other routes.

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/about-us/press-release/2011/east-coast-train-service-information-updated-1300-thursday-8-december-2011/

 

[dvboy]

VT's 0930 & 1130 Euston-Glasgow terminated at Preston. The 1330 is apparently going to run through as it forms the last train south ffom Glasgow.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Further south, a train has hit a fallen tree at Albrighton according to BBC Midlands Today

 

[scotsman]

Forth Rail Bridge open with 20mph restriction

 

[ushawk]

http://twitpic.com/7q9qqw/full

The National Rail Twitter account posted this picture up a short time ago, this is the landslide which has caused services between Inverness and Kyle of Lochaish to be withdrawn.

Information about tonights sleepers will be posted on NRE later today.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I suppose that this type of weather is something to be considered when future extensions are proposed for the electrified network by OHLE. Perhaps the passage of time can possibly see some improvements in the technical part of this.