Severn Tunnel Shut

[Ferret]

The Severn Tunnel is shut after 1B15 became disabled due to striking an object. Sounds like a long job too as coaches have been requested already. Oops.

 

[OxtedL]

Are they likely to be doing diversions?

 

[Rich McLean]

Swansea and beyond trains going via Gloucester, all other trains into wales terminating and starting from BPW with bustitutions from there into Cardiff.

 

[Ferret]

Swansea and beyond trains going via Gloucester, all other trains into wales terminating and starting from BPW with bustitutions from there into Cardiff.

Looks like 1B15 is out of the tunnel now so maybe problem solved. My thanks and apologies to whichever mod corrected my faux pas with the title...!

 

[anthony263]

A large metal sheet is what was hit by the train:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...ers-trapped-for-several-hours-91466-30337296/

 

[Royston Vasey]

Vandalism or debris from a freight/another train?

 

[ushawk]

NRE was saying it hit a rock on Twitter

EDIT - looking at the news article, that easy to be taken as a rock.

 

[louis97]

1B15 struck sheets of metal which appear to have came off 6V81 which passed through on Tuesday morning at 0051, CCTV has been examined at Severn Tunnel Jun and they believe this train was overloaded at the rear. 2C71 also struck a sheet of metal inside the tunnel.

 

[142094]

Not good for whoever is supposed to check the wagons before departure.

 

[83G/84D]

Following this and other similar incidents uncovered scrap wagons are BANNED from travelling through the Severn Tunnel.

 

[DaveHarries]

Thanks to Anthony and others who provided further info as to what had gone on here. I had been en-route to South Wales that day so was wondering what the train had hit and hoping that no-one had been seriously hurt.

I had been sent to Gowerton on the day this happend in order to pick up a vehicle for my employer. I had got on the 1054hrs Bristol TM to Cardiff, only to be diverted to Bristol Parkway and kicked off on arrival at 1117hrs before being transferred to the 1107 Bristol Parkway -> Swansea service and taken for a detour round through Yate, Gloucester and down the banks of the River Severn through Lydney. Actually I quite enjoyed the detour. The train to Swansea, which should have arrived at Swansea at 1238 finally got in at 1355 which was 77mins late.

Having Googled the train codes, the trains were:

1B15 = 0845hrs Paddington -> Swansea
2C71 = 1000hrs Cardiff Central -> Taunton
6V81 = 2022hrs Doncaster Belmont -> Severn Tunnel Junction

In consideration of what has been posted above:

1. I am glad that such trains are now banned from the Severn Tunnel.

2. How come the pieces of metal were not struck earlier in the day? Surely the earlier trains in each direction could also have easily struck the metal.

3. It seems to me that whoever checked the wagons should shortly be (if they aren't already) in extremely hot water for failure to spot the overloading of the wagon(s)? If the person in question isn't already in hot water then presumably if the CCTV footage is supplied to the right people then the [....] will hit the fan for the person who should have done the checks.

4. If 6V81 was only going as far as the sidings at STJ, and in view of where it had come from, how come it couldn't have been routed via. Gloucester and Lydney instead of being send through the Severn Tunnel?

Dave

 

[causton]

2. How come the pieces of metal were not struck earlier in the day? Surely the earlier trains in each direction could also have easily struck the metal.

Probably wind and/or the train's gauge. Trains moving create a lot of wind so the sheet could start off lying against a wall but blow over onto the track after some time, and the corner of the train could hit it after the wind blew it a little bit towards the tracks etc

 

[The Planner]

Are there any sidings left at Severn Tunnel Jn ?? I thought they were ripped out years ago. Seems a very odd place to terminate.