Severe disruption near Lancaster (27/07)

[GRALISTAIR]

Preston are terrible at handling disruption in my experience.

But there are more hotels, taxis, platforms, waiting room etc.

 

[Lg_]

I also was surprised at this. At first all services were platformed before they were released and sat in the worst congestion I’ve seen at Lancaster, even in similar circumstances over the years for over an hour. It’s a policy that this is to be avoided, especially in this weather and even more so on pendos because of just how poorly they are dealing with the summer weather this year (more so than previous years)

The only thing I can think of is that they thought it would not take as long for trains to clear the one signal that needed to be talked by on the up main into platform 4.

What was strange was that northbound services were occupying platform 3 for about 45 minutes ish a time as well despite the line being un affected.

So I’m wondering if they kept taking line blocks to investigate/ fix the issue in the hope they could get the points fully working again. Which did work in the end, just several hours later.

There were two separate issues one after the other last night. The first issue was points failure at Carnforth junction and just as they sorted that there was a second points failure at Lancaster North.

They released the Southbound trains after Carnforth was sorted but before Lancaster became an issue.

 

[etr221]

A question that occurs to me - what is the position of a passenger whose ticket does not permit break of journey, if the railway shuts up shop, and tosses them out onto the street, effectively forcing them to break their journey?

 

[Lg_]

A question that occurs to me - what is the position of a passenger whose ticket does not permit break of journey, if the railway shuts up shop, and tosses them out onto the street, effectively forcing them to break their journey?

I'd like to think TM's and revenue teams would be aware of the issues and behave accordingly. I know Avanti did send out comms Sunday for staff to allow travel on tickets dated 27/7 due to the issues.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It is what it is. Can you ever have enough?

This situation would have required two. One at Birmingham New St, one at Watford Junction. Perhaps a third at Euston, but of all places I'd certainly expect a London based one.

If they don't have two (i.e. one covering each area who can be there within, say, an hour and a half of being called - so half an hour to respond and an hour driving time) then no, there aren't enough. Noting of course that the problem was known well in advance of the train reaching New St.