Storm Darragh - 6/7th Dec

[bib]

Amber wind warnings now issued by the Met Office, would expect some disruption if it plays out as forecast. Fortunately it doesn't look too wet, apart from in the welsh highlands.

Gusts of 70 to 80 mph are likely around exposed coasts and headlands, where some very large waves are likely, whilst gusts of 60 to 70 mph are likely inland. The strongest winds will ease from the west through the afternoon.

National rail has a page up already - https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/storm-darragh-20241203/

 

[cheekybifta]

I'm worried about the wind with the UKV model predicting 80+mph gusts on Saturday morning, and 60-70mph gusts from Friday evening right through to Sunday.

It's not just the wind speed itself but the direction - I don't think we've had strong winds hitting from the north since Storm Arwen in November 2021.
Caused chaos, "wind blowing the wrong way" might sound silly to some but it'll bring down loads more trees, rooftops and trampolines than the 'routine' battering from the west.

Personally hoping the North Wales Coast remains open at reduced speed, as it's usually surprisingly resilient, but I'd not be surprised to see the northern WCML more or less closed for the most of the weekend.

Conwy Valley line and Borderlands line already dealing with flooding today and the valley line preemptively closed for Saturday.

 

[yorksrob]

I notice these damned storms always seem to turn up at the weekend.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Services being delayed/at a stand and/or cancelled on services through Central Lancashire, by the look of it.

One example below...

Realtime Trains | 1556 Blackpool North to Manchester Oxford Road | 05/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 1556 departure from Blackpool North to Manchester Oxford Road on 05/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Saint66]

The line is blocked between by a tree between Leeds and Doncaster.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Wigan Wallgate is absolute chaos
No-one knows what's going on, the only two staff visible are at a crowded gate line and the 17:49 (with no guard or lights) has been sat here for 20 minutes

Edit 18:07: The 17:49 just left (empty)


Edit 18:15:
18:20 has shown up and lots of people have gotten on.
At least I'll get my delay repay

 

[route101]

I notice these damned storms always seem to turn up at the weekend.

Yes, always the case. Remember one winter most weekends like this.

 

[dk1]

Very unusually Greater Anglia are issuing a warning. Quite rare for us to get these here in the East.

 

[GuyGibsonVC]

Overhead wires are down near Wakefield with a couple of trains trapped. Looks to be a tree blown down on the wires.

Thunderbird on its way from Newark.

 

[londonmidland]

As mentioned earlier, the strong winds will be coming from a northerly direction, which is unusual as we usually get this from westerly or south westerly winds.

Unfortunately, due to the already very saturated ground, I’m expecting many trees to fall over this weekend.

 

[High Dyke]

I notice these damned storms always seem to turn up at the weekend.

Indeed. It makes a nightmare for football, let alone any travel disruption. Then again that happens most days weather or not.

 

[startingaparty]

Flooding at Adlington (Lancs). I'd boarded the 1633 from Manchester Piccadilly and we were held at Bolton for about 45 minutes before being told the railway was impassable. I abandoned my journey and got the Stagecoach 125 bus from Bolton Interchange to complete my journey.

I wouldn't have wanted to have been stuck in Manchester, at least I'm only an hour away on the bus from Bolton!

 

[Intercity_225]

1A41 (16:45 Leeds - London Kings Cross, I225) has just got on the move back into Leeds, now 130 down.

 

[JordR]

The line is blocked between by a tree between Leeds and Doncaster.

On 1D23, diverted at Doncaster to York. Advised to take onwards trains to Leeds then from there it may be buses to Wakefield.

Seemed to be a decision quickly made and well communicated. Now just to see how 9 cars of LNER peak loading fit on the various 2 or 3 car Northerns and TPEs in the next half hour or so!

 

[Intercity_225]

331006 is still in Wakefield Westgate Platform 2, currently around 129 down on 2B26 (16:27 Doncaster - Leeds)

 

[LancasterRed]

Adlington and MIA both up the tubes, currently on a nonstop diverted service from DGT to PRE

 

[Intercity_225]

1A46 (17:36 Harrogate - London Kings Cross, 800202) diverted between Donny & Leeds, now running 20 down

Also, any idea what is going on at York right now? Multiple trains queued outside according to SignalMaps

Signal Maps

View live signal maps for train lines across the UK

signalmaps.co.uk

 

[800001]

Looks like lines towards Skipton are currently blocked.

 

[Sleepy]

Overhead line damage between Luton and Radlett affecting EMR and Thameslink

 

[Howardh]

Wigan Wallgate is absolute chaos
No-one knows what's going on, the only two staff visible are at a crowded gate line and the 17:49 (with no guard or lights) has been sat here for 20 minutes

Edit 18:07: The 17:49 just left (empty)


Edit 18:15:
18:20 has shown up and lots of people have gotten on.
At least I'll get my delay repay

Would have thought the sensible option would be for the buses (to be forced to) accept train tickets for those who could use them? Would clear some of the station and make running trains less full?

Maybe if we ever had an integrated public transport system?

 

[JordR]

Quick question: Attempting to travel London to Leeds I was diverted to York and then was unable to board the next two services to Leeds as they were too busy. I'm now travelling via Harrogate and actually live closer to Headingley station but my ticket is to Leeds. Do I need to continue through to Leeds for my delay repay claim to be valid?

 

[dk1]

Looks like lines towards Skipton are currently blocked.

Flooding apparently.

 

[Pete_uk]

I notice these damned storms always seem to turn up at the weekend.

And, at the risk of sounding like conspiracy theorist, they always arrive in alphabetical order.

 

[cheekybifta]

TfW have now cancelled a load of late evening services on Friday night.

Looks like nothing moving west of Carmarthen after about 9pm.
Final run from Shrewsbury to Llandrindod and back also gone.

The final train along the North Wales Coast on Friday night has also been cancelled, along with the first train on Saturday morning.
The 2320 Manchester Airport to Holyhead will terminate short at Chester, while the 0425 Holyhead to Cardiff will start from Chester.

Without a lot of good luck, probably a lot more cancellations on the board by this time tomorrow.

 

[Shepley]

Rail replacement services running from Leeds and Wakefield to Doncaster tomorrow morning which seems to imply they are going to turn services at Doncaster. Even if some run the back route or turn at York they will still be first stop Doncaster.

I have just cancelled my Uber to Wakefield in the morning and replaced it with one to Doncaster. I have a torn meniscus in my left knee, am on crutches and don’t fancy a bus. My wife who is with me walks permanently with a stick.

Hopefully we can negotiate seats on a southbound service at some point. Standing all the way isn’t an option.

Any tips and tricks welcome.

 

[far]

Seems there's flooding at Horsforth too which has caused major disruption. 2105 Harrogate to York was cancelled and we just got on 2205 which left Harrogate at 2315. Looks like my stack of free Northern tickets is about to get even bigger....

 

[Sheffcaster202]

Rail replacement services running from Leeds and Wakefield to Doncaster tomorrow morning which seems to imply they are going to turn services at Doncaster. Even if some run the back route or turn at York they will still be first stop Doncaster.

I have just cancelled my Uber to Wakefield in the morning and replaced it with one to Doncaster. I have a torn meniscus in my left knee, am on crutches and don’t fancy a bus. My wife who is with me walks permanently with a stick.

Hopefully we can negotiate seats on a southbound service at some point. Standing all the way isn’t an option.

Any tips and tricks welcome.

Where are you travelling onward to?

LNER offer seat reservations up to 5 minutes before departure although this tends to go out the window during disruption and potentially tomorrows plan is very last minute so may be hard for you to reserve

Given your current medical situation and your wife’s ongoing use of a stick, perhaps book yourself some assistance or approach staff/ticket office/information office and request assistance boarding, coach C is usually your best bet for an unreserved seat but given the disruption this may not be as usual

Id hope the obvious use of crutches and your wife with a stick would allow some common sense to take place and others would allow you to sit but with a member of staff to assist it could be helpful for you

 

[800001]

Rail replacement services running from Leeds and Wakefield to Doncaster tomorrow morning which seems to imply they are going to turn services at Doncaster. Even if some run the back route or turn at York they will still be first stop Doncaster.

I have just cancelled my Uber to Wakefield in the morning and replaced it with one to Doncaster. I have a torn meniscus in my left knee, am on crutches and don’t fancy a bus. My wife who is with me walks permanently with a stick.

Hopefully we can negotiate seats on a southbound service at some point. Standing all the way isn’t an option.

Any tips and tricks welcome.

I would suggest going on the LNER app now to receive some seats from Doncaster, at least that way the reservations will show on the screens.

 

[D6130]

The Calder Valley line has once again been closed for most of this afternoon and evening due to flooding at Walsden and Copy Pit. However - as with the previous closure the weekend before last due to Storm Bert - Northern and Network Rail have been publicising the delays and cancellations as having been caused by fallen trees. Why is this?

 

[philthetube]

Rail replacement services running from Leeds and Wakefield to Doncaster tomorrow morning which seems to imply they are going to turn services at Doncaster. Even if some run the back route or turn at York they will still be first stop Doncaster.

I have just cancelled my Uber to Wakefield in the morning and replaced it with one to Doncaster. I have a torn meniscus in my left knee, am on crutches and don’t fancy a bus. My wife who is with me walks permanently with a stick.

Hopefully we can negotiate seats on a southbound service at some point. Standing all the way isn’t an option.

Any tips and tricks welcome.

Book passenger assistance if possible