Storm Amy Travel Disruption (03/10 onwards)

[londonmidland]

Avanti West Coast have just announced a 'Do not travel north of Preston' message, for passengers travelling tomorrow, Friday the 3rd, after 17:00, as well as all-day on Saturday the 4th.

No further information apart from a banner at the top of Avanti's website, at the time of this thread creation.

"Storm Amy: Customers advised not to travel north of Preston after 17.00 on Friday 3 and all-day Saturday 4 October
With Storm Amy expected to bring high winds and heavy rainfall across the North West and into Scotland this weekend, we are advising customers not to travel north of Preston after 17.00 on Friday 3 and all-day Saturday 4 October.

Tickets for travel on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 October will be valid throughout Friday to encourage travel earlier in the day.

If you are due to travel on these days between London and Scotland, and decide not to travel, you can claim a fee-free refund from where you bought your ticket."

 

[trainophile]

What a surprise.

 

[hexagon789]

Avanti West Coast have just announced a 'Do not travel north of Preston' message, for passengers travelling tomorrow, Friday the 3rd, after 17:00, as well as all-day on Saturday the 4th.

No further information apart from a banner at the top of Avanti's website, at the time of this thread creation.

No trains north of Preston.

What a surprise.

Given the state of the railway the last time, with damage to the OLE and trees down - last time round that proved to be sensible withdrawing trains north of Preston.

The alternative is trains stranded in the middle of nowhere, which is invariably where the trees/OLE damage is.

 

[GW43125]

Scotrail shutting down north of Perth from 18.00 tomorrow: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/about-scotrail/news/scotrail-warns-travel-disruption-storm-amy-approaches

Latest forecasts suggest that high winds and heavy rain will affect parts of the country from Friday evening, with the potential for widespread disruption to rail services. An amber weather warning is in place from 17.00 tomorrow until 09.00 on Saturday, and across some areas after Saturday.

Network Rail’s specialist weather team is closely monitoring the storm’s path and working with ScotRail to confirm which routes are most likely to be impacted.

The following lines will close from 18.00 on Friday due to forecast wind gusts and heavy rain:

• Mallaig - Fort William.
• Fort William – Crianlarich.
• Inverness – Aberdeen.
• Inverness – Wick / Thurso.
• Inverness – Kyle of Lochalsh.
• Perth – Inverness.

Customers will not be able to travel on these routes and there will be no replacement transport available. ScotRail is encouraging customers who need to travel to do so earlier in the day tomorrow, or on Thursday evening.

On all other routes, speed restrictions will be introduced from 19.00 until the end of service, to ensure the safety of customers and staff. This may extend journey times and result in some service alterations.

Have also seen West Coast post on their Facebook that the Jacobite is cancelled tomorrow & Saturday.

 

[M!T]

I've had a trip on Saturday 4 October booked for a while...

Leeds-London, arriving 12:00
Lunch in London booked for 12:30
Theatre booked for 14:30
London-Leeds train, departing 19:00

Forecast wind speeds:
Leeds - 50mph
Grantham - 40mph
Peterboroough - 40mph

I've no idea what the implications of these wind speeds are for trains and infrastructure. Am I stuffed?

 

[D1511]

I've had a trip on Saturday 4 October booked for a while...

Leeds-London, arriving 12:00
Lunch in London booked for 12:30
Theatre booked for 14:30
London-Leeds train, departing 19:00

Forecast wind speeds:
Leeds - 50mph
Grantham - 40mph
Peterboroough - 40mph

I've no idea what the implications of these wind speeds are for trains and infrastructure. Am I stuffed?

Should be fine..... you're hundreds of miles away from the weather warning area

 

[M!T]

Should be fine..... you're hundreds of miles away from the weather warning area

Yes, aware that Northern Ireland, North West England and Scotland are getting the worse of it, but wondered what sort of issue 40mph winds can cause and also if LNER trains to Edinburgh are affected could that cause trains further south to be disrupted?

 

[D1511]

Yes, aware that Northern Ireland, North West England and Scotland are getting the worse of it, but wondered what sort of issue 40mph winds can cause and also if LNER trains to Edinburgh are affected could that cause trains further south to be disrupted?

I think the Leeds services should be fine. There might be some issues on the anglo scottish services, with the chance of trains starting and terminating in Newcastle, but the ECML always seems to fare better.....not just because of the topography but also the TOC involved....

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes, aware that Northern Ireland, North West England and Scotland are getting the worse of it, but wondered what sort of issue 40mph winds can cause and also if LNER trains to Edinburgh are affected could that cause trains further south to be disrupted?

Unless the forecast changes much I wouldn't be worrying too much about your trip to be honest. The ECML has been through worse and run a service. The biggest risk is the possibility of speed restrictions due to the weather but I reckon that's more likely to take effect on the northern end of the route.

 

[800001]

I've had a trip on Saturday 4 October booked for a while...

Leeds-London, arriving 12:00
Lunch in London booked for 12:30
Theatre booked for 14:30
London-Leeds train, departing 19:00

Forecast wind speeds:
Leeds - 50mph
Grantham - 40mph
Peterboroough - 40mph

I've no idea what the implications of these wind speeds are for trains and infrastructure. Am I stuffed?

From the LNER travel update page on there website

Updated 13:10 on Thursday 2 October

Storm Amy is forecast to bring heavy rain and strong winds across much of western Scotland and northwestern England over the next few days, especially from Friday, 3 October, through the weekend.

Please be aware that between Friday, 3 October and Sunday, 5 October our timetable may be subject to changes, with some delays expected, specifically north of Edinburgh. We strongly advise you to check your entire journey in advance, including any connections with other operators, before travelling.

If your LNER service north of Edinburgh has been cancelled, due to Storm Amy, and you're unable to travel on an alternative service on the same day, you can;

• Travel on an alternative LNER service anytime up to and including the 07 October. We highly recommend making a new seat reservation for your journey which can be done here.
• If you no longer wish to travel, you'll be entitled to a full refund from your point of purchase. If you booked direct on the LNER App or Website then please log in to your LNER Account and claim a refund from within the booking itself.

 

[Sleepy]

All Caledonian Sleeper highland services cancelled Friday night & lowland fully booked both directions. Source - Cal Sleeper website.

 

[M60lad]

To be honest I've been keeping track of this weekend's forecast and I'm not entirely surprised that Avanti have decided against running North of Preston, it does seem from the latest weather output that Scotland is due to get the worse of the weather over the next couple of days with the stronger wind gusts and severe gales so in my opinion Avanti have made a wise decision.

 

[D1511]

To be honest I've been keeping track of this weekend's forecast and I'm not entirely surprised that Avanti have decided against running North of Preston, it does seem from the latest weather output that Scotland is due to get the worse of the weather over the next couple of days with the stronger wind gusts and severe gales so in my opinion Avanti have made a wise decision.

So Caledonian Sleeper and the FOCs (because the Felixstowe - Euro Central will certainly be running) have made an unwise one? I'm not sure I agree.

 

[M!T]

As much as anything it's to curb my other half's anxiety. She's currently googling to see what wind speed trees are uprooted at!

 

[800001]

So Caledonian Sleeper and the FOCs (because the Felixstowe - Euro Central will certainly be running) have made an unwise one? I'm not sure I agree.

Where is Euro central?

 

[D1511]

Coatbridge

 

[JamesT]

Where is Euro central?

Just off the M8, near Glasgow.

 

[800001]

Just off the M8, near Glasgow.

Oh, Mossend/Coatbridge?
Never heard of Euro Central.

 

[D1511]

Oh, Mossend/Coatbridge?
Never heard of Euro Central.

It's the name of the giant logistics and industrial park where Coatbridge FLT is located. Malcolm's HQ is there.

 

[sot]

Seems that the remarks are for any AWC train on their website which is good

 

[D1511]

Anyway, back on topic after our North Lanarkshire diversion, it's getting wet and windy up here already. However, the reason I'm reasonably confident about 4S88 running, as it nearly always does, is that I had a similar issue with Avanti last year, when I was dumped in Preston due to high winds. Rather than get a dodgy Uber up the M6 to Edinburgh with random strangers and a driver half asleep, I opted for a hotel, which was conveniently located by the WCML north of the station. 4S88 rumbled through behind a pair of skodas right on time.

 

[Jimini]

It's the name of the giant logistics and industrial park where Coatbridge FLT is located. Malcolm's HQ is there.

Uncle Rupert's print site is also there.

(O/T, sorry.)

 

[Trainguy34]

Here's hoping it should be okay getting up to Newton Aycliffe for the Hitachi thing on Saturday, hopefully trains would be turned at Newcastle if it all goes downhill but you never know. If not I've only got to get back to York that night so oh well.

 

[londonmidland]

Alterations are now being put in internally for AWC's Friday afternoon and evening services, with several services terminating/restarting at Preston. Looks like there will be a 'cut-off' period for services heading north of Preston after a certain time.

No doubt specific service alterations will be published publicly by AWC once finalised.

 

[800001]

Various LNER alterations for tomorrow and Saturday involving Aberdeen and Inverness services now showing on there website.

 

[Banham7]

Here's hoping it should be okay getting up to Newton Aycliffe for the Hitachi thing on Saturday, hopefully trains would be turned at Newcastle if it all goes downhill but you never know. If not I've only got to get back to York that night so oh well.

Fingers crossed, saw the wind gusts at Newton Aycliffe could reach 45mph so I'm hoping it still goes ahead, but no email yet thankfully!

I think the worst case scenario would be the closure of north of Newcastle but at this stage it seems unlikely. I did see wind gusts in the Dunbar area could reach up to 60mph, but it has been way worse previously. Just need to watch out for speed restrictions which will delay services.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Alterations are now being put in internally for AWC's Friday afternoon and evening services, with several services terminating/restarting at Preston. Looks like there will be a 'cut-off' period for services heading north of Preston after a certain time.

No doubt specific service alterations will be published publicly by AWC once finalised.

Avanti's X now seems to be saying that they overreacted and have backed down - there will be trains on Saturday. They are however saying refunds will be honoured for those who have changed their plans because there is the possibility of severe disruption. More than a bit sloppy, that.

This is the "root" post:

https://x.com/AvantiWestCoast/status/1973812010812125652

Have a read at the bin fire unfolding beneath it

Update: With Storm Amy expected to bring high winds and heavy rainfall across the North West and into Scotland, we are advising customers to travel as early as possible on Friday 3 October. Tickets for travel on Friday 3 October will be valid throughout Friday to encourage travel earlier in the day. Customers travelling later in the day may experience disruption due to adverse weather conditions. Please check your journey before you travel here: https://avantiwestcoast.co.uk/travel-information/live-train-status

 

[LAX54]

What a surprise.

Sensible move, better to cancel in advance than do it suddenly on the day, and find you have a train or 3 stranded with a blocked line.

 

[Kite159]

The storm is changing considering earlier this morning it was suggesting Manchester would remain dry most of the day with now heavy rain expected in the next hour.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Sensible move, better to cancel in advance than do it suddenly on the day, and find you have a train or 3 stranded with a blocked line.

They've backed down; trains will now run on Saturday. Grossly unprofessional as usual