Storm Darragh - 6/7th Dec

[Taunton]

Here in London, probably not the worst, but a combination of breathless panic-stricken advance notices and various disruptions, as ever on the Elizabeth Line, has meant few venturing onto trains. Meanwhile, while out and about all morning, it was quite apparent on the roads that traffic was very substantial, more than normal, and nobody planning to go Christmas shopping by car had been deterred, or found any difficulty. It was just a typical gloomy winter day, windy and wet. But nowadays seemingly one where we can't use the train.

In the usual BBC weather forecast way of any 'extreme event', windspeeds in London of 50mph+ from two days ago were progressively downgraded as the time approached, through 40 yesterday, and today looking at a reliable actual weather site in London the maximum recorded is 28.5mph.

 

[Broseley man]

Here in London, probably not the worst, but a combination of breathless panic-stricken advance notices and various disruptions, as ever on the Elizabeth Line, has meant few venturing onto trains. Meanwhile, while out and about all morning, it was quite apparent on the roads that traffic was very substantial, more than normal, and nobody planning to go Christmas shopping by car had been deterred, or found any difficulty. It was just a typical gloomy winter day, windy and wet. But nowadays seemingly one where we can't use the train.

In the usual BBC weather forecast way of any 'extreme event', windspeeds in London of 50mph+ from two days ago were progressively downgraded as the time approached, through 40 yesterday, and today looking at a reliable actual weather site in London the maximum recorded is 28.5mph.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Dec 2024 ==

This service was cancelled between Cardiff Central and Pontypridd due to a bridge being open for river traffic(XQ)


16:29 from Cardiff today. What does this mean?

 

[JN114]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Dec 2024 ==

This service was cancelled between Cardiff Central and Pontypridd due to a bridge being open for river traffic(XQ)


16:29 from Cardiff today. What does this mean?

Someone has input the wrong delay code for a delay/cancellation

Obstruction on the line is code XO

 

[Wivenswold]

Yes, you'll find that London is a climate island. Warmer than surrounding counties, usually less windy than surrounding counties and therefore an island of calm from a meteorological point of view. Meanwhile 25 miles away from the M25 people are starting to see trees blow over and a growing number of small communities are without power already and the worst is yet to come for some.

So while I can't speak for TfL services today (I know there are some vulnerable spots on their network), please remember this isn't all about London, most of the National Rail services serve the counties around London too and they aren't in your calm island. Many of the crews that drive those trains live outside of the M25 too.

I appreciate this may seem like overkill from within London (my birthplace and a city I love) there's greater context to the cancellation of National Rail services that happen to venture into London

 

[londonmidland]

Major delays to all services through Birmingham New Street due to multiple weather related incidents.

Diversionary line via Kidderminster is now closed.

 

[Banham7]

Disruption in the Lincoln area after multiple trees fell at roughly the same time between Lincoln-Newark and Lincoln-Gainsborough. Trees now cleared but blocked everything going East for an hour and a bit with quite a few services out of place now.

 

[Ploughman]

Major delays to all services through Birmingham New Street due to multiple weather related incidents.

Diversionary line via Kidderminster is now closed.

Would it be reasonable to guess that there will be many delays through New st on Sunday?
I am meant to be in Solihull around midday.

 

[Wivenswold]

Would it be reasonable to guess that there will be many delays through New st on Sunday?
I am meant to be in Solihull around midday.

It really depends on what the scale of the issues is. I don't think anyone will know what New Street services will be like tomorrow because the wind will remain strong for most of the night.

Solihull must be fairly easy to get to on a bus, might be your best bet and possibly cheaper.

 

[londonmidland]

It looks like Cross Country have now activated CSL2 Code Black, which means widespread disruption across their network.

Multiple routes are blocked and they have advised no alternatives are available.

DISRUPTION:

DO NOT TRAVEL!

We have no routes between the following locations:

Bristol and Birmingham
Manchester and Birmingham
Winchester and Bournemouth
Cardiff and Birmingham

There are no alternatives. Please do not travel.

Picture below shows a ‘tweet’ from Cross Country advising passengers not to travel due to severe disruption

 

[Intercity_225]

Not sure whether this is related to the weather, but there's a points failure blocking the line near Oxenholme Lake District. No trains running through at the moment with delays of 75+ according to National Rail.

Incident: Penrith | National Rail

Lines reopened: disruption between Oxenholme Lake District and Penrith . Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

A points failure between Oxenholme Lake District & Penrith means all lines are blocked. Trains running between these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 75 minutes or revised.
Disruption is expected until 18:30.

Customer advice

TransPennine Express

You may use your ticket on the following services to complete your journey:

• Northern services between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield
• East Midlands Railway services between Liverpool Lime Street and Sheffield

Please be aware that the other operators services are also likely to be busy.

Please allow extra time for your journey and check before you travel.

 

[55002]

deleted

 

[AndrewE]

Not sure whether this is related to the weather, but there's a points failure blocking the line near Oxenholme Lake District. No trains running through at the moment with delays of 75+ according to National Rail.

Incident: Penrith | National Rail

Lines reopened: disruption between Oxenholme Lake District and Penrith . Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

That's a shame, I had just prepared a complement to the TOCs on the WCML for today's performance. Not many cancelllations really - even N of Preston - and lateness is excusable in the circumstances! Pic shows screenshot of RTT Carlisle to Preston 0600 to 2000 with just 7 cancellations - which is pretty good by Avanti's usual standards!

 

[Donny Dave]

So far in Doncaster, it hasn't been too bad, but the wind has been getting worse for a little while now. When I walked into town earlier, I passed through the station, and was surprised about how few delays there was at the time. What delays that were recorded I assume from blanket speed restrictions elsewhere, such as between Edinburgh and Newcastle.

However, having just looked at Traksy and RTT, things are going downhill quite a bit. Eastbound TPE services are running late, as are the Scarborough to Sheffield services. LNER are starting to lose time in all directions, some of which I believe is a knock on effect from earlier delays.

Definitely a good evening to stay at home.

 

[driver9000]

Not sure whether this is related to the weather, but there's a points failure blocking the line near Oxenholme Lake District. No trains running through at the moment with delays of 75+ according to National Rail.

Incident: Penrith | National Rail

Lines reopened: disruption between Oxenholme Lake District and Penrith . Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

It's the crossover at Shap Hardendale Quarry but I don't know if it's weather related. A Manchester to Edinburgh TPE has been sent back south from Shap Summit.

 

[sh24]

Wind has picked up quite a bit in the last 30mins in London (Zone 1). Up to the wheelie bins blowing down the street level.

I went out earlier and it felt quieter than a normal Saturday.

 

[Liam L]

Whole cross city line between Redditch / Bromsgrove to Lichfield now suspended to end of the day

 

[Wivenswold]

Greater Anglia mostly running well at the moment, few delays around the Cambridge/Ely area.

 

[dk1]

That’s an interesting thought in terms of fuel diagraming miles. Did you have to report to your fleet team so they could adjust the numbers to ensure your unit didn’t run out of go-go juice?

No we don’t have to do that. They are rarely allowed to go below 40-45% before refuelling.

 

[Broseley man]

Someone has input the wrong delay code for a delay/cancellation

Obstruction on the line is code XO

Thanks JB114. The wrong delay code lead to an interesting possibility!

 

[dk1]

Greater Anglia mostly running well at the moment, few delays around the Cambridge/Ely area.

Yes that’s only down to the 40mph blanket speed limit Cambridge North-Ely North Jcn. Everything else running to time. I’ve been to Cromer & back and arrived back into Norwich 4 early. East Mids no surprise is a totally different story.

 

[Belperpete]

Here in Nth Wales, the wind died down about mid day, as forecast, but picked up again in the afternoon to frightening levels. My outside light has been ripped off the wall, and several fence panels have totally disappeared. Not that I am minded to go and search for them. Widespread power outages locally, and mobile phone signal gone. All buses cancelled for the day, as well as trains. Roads very quiet. Unlike the wind.

Looks like TfW are already giving up on tomorrow. All Cambrian and North Wales services already cancelled. Avanti north coast services currently still shown as running, but I am not putting any money on them.

 

[12LDA28C]

Trains are running through Chippenham now, so whatever happened can't have been too serious.

Chippenham station roof has been partially blown off now, similar issue at Westbury.

 

[Wivenswold]

Yes that’s only down to the 40mph blanket speed limit Cambridge North-Ely North Jcn. Everything else running to time. I’ve been to Cromer & back and arrived back into Norwich 4 early. East Mids no surprise is a totally different story.

Haha, yes I saw the purple EM headcodes and laughed.

 

[mm333]

I think I experienced my first Class 801 under emergency diesel power on Friday night. The OHLE has been in a mess between Wakefield Westgate and Leeds since a tree came down on Thursday morning. Coming back from London, we stopped at Westgate for 10 minutes. I was in coach B towards the front and heard what I took to be some very loud revving noises, and then we dawdled towards Leeds at around 30mph through the affected area.

On arrival at Leeds, the doors wouldn't open until the train had been switched back into electric mode, but that only took about 20 seconds to happen.

 

[Intercity_225]

A tree is blocking the DF between St Albans & Radlett. Thameslink are asking passengers to 'Do not travel' due to numerous incidents between St. Pancras & Luton. https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/st-albans-20241207/

Due to a number of incidents between London St Pancras International and Luton, trains running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed.

Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Customer advice:

A number of incidents is causing significant disruption to Thameslink services between Luton and St Pancras, and you're strongly advised NOT to travel on this route.

We cannot guarantee you will be able to complete your travel plans tonight, and if you're planning on travelling to a station soon, you should abandon your trip and travel tomorrow instead.

We're unable to source alternative travel options at this time.

Thameslink services south of London and Kent routes are also heavily disrupted, and if you travel on these routes, you're likely to reach your destination at least 60 minutes later than planned.

I'm already out and due to travel back with Thameslink later, what should I do?

You will need to make your own arrangements home as we have been unable to secure alternatives between Luton and St Pancras International. If you're travelling within London, you can use your ticket with all available TfL services at no additional cost.

Can I use my ticket tomorrow instead?

You can use your Thameslink ticket dated 7 December on services tomorrow, 8 December.

What's going on?

A number of incidents has heavily impacted the Thameslink north route since early hours of this morning. Unfortunately, new incidents means we're unable to run a reliable service due to a number of operational factors, therefore you're advised not to travel.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

So Tlk still have some trains running upto St Albans but put this out. St Albans a lot nearer to Luton than St Pancras is

https://x.com/TLRailUK/status/1865475258607673522

 

[Wivenswold]

Looks as though 755 328 is going to be spending the night somewhere between Sudbury and Bures. Hopefully near the Bures Road or that could have been an adventurous evacuation.

 

[Dave W]

Blew like crazy all morning and then when I went out to Enfield with the babby at lunchtime it had calmed down almost to a breeze. I popped into the boozer on way to football and said it wasn't too bad and the landlord laughed and showed me a picture of his chimney pots on his back yard. The calm sustained through to about 4pm when the storm drew in again HARD over the non league game I was at. People were being blown over. It wasn't the best 2 hours of my life, I'll say that.

Anecdote is the enemy of fact etc but just shows how unpredictable it's been today. At times it was a bit gusty, at others it was dreadful, even in London. I hope those out west have got on alright.

 

[mtmikethom]

Greater Anglia mostly running well at the moment, few delays around the Cambridge/Ely area.

Alas until the 1901 Marks Tey to Sudbury hit a tree and suffered damage

 

[IslandLine101]

TfW have completely given up on tomorrow, which I feel is extremely poor form. Nothing Newport - Shrewsbury till Monday morning. Really frustrating personally. Anyone know why they throw in the towel at the first opportunity? Or anything else in this specific case? Cheers