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Twyford lightning strike
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RailUK Forums
During the main issues there were the odd Paddington-Maidenhead shuttle plus other trains from the west terminating at Reading. Nothing went through for about 2 hours or something. Heathrow Express running more or less fine, Heathrow Connect delayed slightly. It even resulted in a few HSTs stopping at Ealing Broadway, one such was ex-Bristol normally due to pass 1604 but stopped at 1750 (last door just 1ft onto end slope so last coach doors didn't open).
How it affected me:
1627 from Heathrow was cancelled so nothing towards Paddington at Southall for an hour (that is normally sure 1636 but got stuck showing 1641). A 166 arriving at Southall at 1710 was so full the driver had to push some doors closed. The previously on time 1657 departure from Heathrow (normally 1706 but arrived 1717 or something) was put behind this, and was wedged, which is most unusual for a HC at this time!
How it affected me:
1627 from Heathrow was cancelled so nothing towards Paddington at Southall for an hour (that is normally sure 1636 but got stuck showing 1641). A 166 arriving at Southall at 1710 was so full the driver had to push some doors closed. The previously on time 1657 departure from Heathrow (normally 1706 but arrived 1717 or something) was put behind this, and was wedged, which is most unusual for a HC at this time!
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
I'm pleased to see a Post on this Forum as we hardly ever see any coverage here re the far too frequent interruptions between Paddington and Reading due to the signalling failures (lightning strike in this case, though) and the extensive delays and cancellations that result. Of course, information is sparse though. It has got to the stage that commuters going home in the evening are now arriving at Paddington with their fingers crossed.
Captain Chaos
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Yeah, this was a bad one. Apparently a bolt of lightning hit a train, fed into the tracks and ruined the signalling. Really, really bad stroke of luck.
bengolding
Member
Got to Paddington at 5pm intending to go to Windsor. Never seen the First Class lounge so busy - many seemed to be drowning their sorrows with a few glasses of wine. In the end, I got a HEX to T5 and was met there. Thankfully, I got a ride in the assistance buggy - navigating through the masses on the footbridge was hellish.
STEVIEBOY1
Established Member
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I think Southwest train were also affected in their area by similar problems although more trains did seem to be running.
ollyrogers
Member
First EMT and now lightning. Is anything not on strike in this country!?
Elecman
Established Member
No the passengers wouldn't notice the train being struck as it forms a perfect Faraday cage, just a bright flash and an extremely instantaneous loud bang
Anyone in contact with any metal fixtures and fittings bolted to the skin or frame of the carriages may well have noticed.
RJ
Established Member
As I said the other day, one in two of my trips on the FGW High Speed network is delayed by at least 30 minutes.
Thursday was no exception - I left London at 7am and had a jolly day on First's trains - I went to do the Looe branch, changing trains at East Croydon, Brighton, Westbury and Plymouth. The train to Plymouth only arrived 15 minutes late, it seemed to be picking up delay for no apparent reason other than insufficient scheduled time for passengers to board and alight. The auto announcer at Westbury was going into overdrive about the advertised catering facilities and hot drinks being unavailable.
What I saw of Looe was beautiful and I successfully managed to avoid a single drop of rail all day - blue skies everywhere I went, even the sunset was clear. Given the journey from Westbury wasn't delayed, I expected that no matter what, my journey back to London would somehow be delayed by at least 45 minutes - 1 trip in 2 isn't an exaggeration and I did get fed up with the reliability of the service when I was travelling between London and the South Wales Valleys!
I boarded the 1803 from Plymouth, which departed bang on time. The train was supposed to have a travelling chef on it between Plymouth and Taunton, so I was looking to a bit of grub. They weren't on the train, but I was told by the buffet staff they'd be boarding at Taunton. They didn't and another member of staff commented that there hadn't been any travelling chefs on their trains all week. Needless to say, the train was delayed and it arrived into London 57 minutes late. It was over 60 minutes late at Slough, but these trains have a tendency to reach their destination just in time to avoid any delay compensation liabilities.
All in all, I had a nice, relaxed day, which was the purpose of the trip. This particular part of the network seems to be bedevilled by signalling problems - this has always been the cause of delay to my journeys. Add in the high incidence of suicides east of Slough and it's enough to put me off ever wanting to commute on the line!
Thursday was no exception - I left London at 7am and had a jolly day on First's trains - I went to do the Looe branch, changing trains at East Croydon, Brighton, Westbury and Plymouth. The train to Plymouth only arrived 15 minutes late, it seemed to be picking up delay for no apparent reason other than insufficient scheduled time for passengers to board and alight. The auto announcer at Westbury was going into overdrive about the advertised catering facilities and hot drinks being unavailable.
What I saw of Looe was beautiful and I successfully managed to avoid a single drop of rail all day - blue skies everywhere I went, even the sunset was clear. Given the journey from Westbury wasn't delayed, I expected that no matter what, my journey back to London would somehow be delayed by at least 45 minutes - 1 trip in 2 isn't an exaggeration and I did get fed up with the reliability of the service when I was travelling between London and the South Wales Valleys!
I boarded the 1803 from Plymouth, which departed bang on time. The train was supposed to have a travelling chef on it between Plymouth and Taunton, so I was looking to a bit of grub. They weren't on the train, but I was told by the buffet staff they'd be boarding at Taunton. They didn't and another member of staff commented that there hadn't been any travelling chefs on their trains all week. Needless to say, the train was delayed and it arrived into London 57 minutes late. It was over 60 minutes late at Slough, but these trains have a tendency to reach their destination just in time to avoid any delay compensation liabilities.
All in all, I had a nice, relaxed day, which was the purpose of the trip. This particular part of the network seems to be bedevilled by signalling problems - this has always been the cause of delay to my journeys. Add in the high incidence of suicides east of Slough and it's enough to put me off ever wanting to commute on the line!
I arrived at Paddington at about 4pm, and did wonder why the place was already fairly busy. I needed to get my ticket excessed anyway so went to the ticket office, totally on autopilot, and only really realised something was wrong when the ticket seller said "you don't need to, all restrictions have been lifted" - even though I'd been staring at the departure board only showing trains to Heathrow and Greenford for 10 minutes.
Ended up going to platform 8/9 and hoping for the best as those seem to be where Penzance/Plymouth trains go from. Had to swiftly jump off of a train on 9 to its opposite on 8, but fortunately got a seat and we only left 10 minutes late in the end. Ended up waiting for over an hour at Twyford, though.
bb21
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FGW controls were holding all trains indefinitely at one stage on Friday.
The 1555 Cardiff to London was delayed at Newport, and it was still waiting there after I returned from checking into my Travelodge.
The 1655 was held in Cardiff, holding up movements through Platform 1 and causing knock-on delays to many other services. The WAG express ended up an hour late at Chester after missing its path at Shrewsbury. The 1655 was then told to go forward to Newport and terminate there. Pax were being advised to take the Portsmouth Harbour and Taunton services and change at Bristol.
The 1555 Cardiff to London was delayed at Newport, and it was still waiting there after I returned from checking into my Travelodge.
The 1655 was held in Cardiff, holding up movements through Platform 1 and causing knock-on delays to many other services. The WAG express ended up an hour late at Chester after missing its path at Shrewsbury. The 1655 was then told to go forward to Newport and terminate there. Pax were being advised to take the Portsmouth Harbour and Taunton services and change at Bristol.
Elecman
Established Member
only if they were outside the train making good contact with earth better than metal to metal , inside the train they are perfectly safe as the power is dissapated around teh outer skin surface
I'd probably be more worried about the risk of any diesel, other flammable engine fluids, or wiring catching fire in the event of a direct lightning hit to a train rather than damage to signalling, unless maybe if there was a wrong-side failure :?
brad465
Veteran Member
What gets me is that there seems to be strike issues like this every year on a few occasions, I know for example the GWML near Slough was severly disrupted for the same reason in March from memory, where I fortunately traveled to Bath and back from London the day before.
Would it therefore make sense to install protection on all substations and vulnerable lineside equipment to stop disruption from this force of nature?
Would it therefore make sense to install protection on all substations and vulnerable lineside equipment to stop disruption from this force of nature?
What gets me is that there seems to be strike issues like this every year on a few occasions, I know for example the GWML near Slough was severly disrupted for the same reason in March from memory, where I fortunately traveled to Bath and back from London the day before.
Would it therefore make sense to install protection on all substations and vulnerable lineside equipment to stop disruption from this force of nature?
Sigh.
There is lightning protection.
Without getting too technical, rails are made of metal, which makes them pretty good lightning conductors. Rails are connected to most signalling and electrification systems. Therefore if the lightning hits the rails (or very nearby) then the signalling and/or electrification will get it also.
The lightning protection stops the lightning spreading through the system damaging the kit over a wider area. However the protection itself will burn out and need replacing.
Also there's not much you can do if a signalling equipment box / room takes a direct hit.
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