Unexplained WCML delays

[All Line Rover]

Could someone please explain what is causing delays (once again) to WCML services via Stafford this evening. No disruption is mentioned on NRE, but many Virgin Trains services from London are 30+ minutes late.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Could someone please explain what is causing delays (once again) to WCML services via Stafford this evening. No disruption is mentioned on NRE, but many Virgin Trains services from London are 30+ minutes late.

I was on a 40-minute late Voyager to Bangor tonight, from Crewe (1610 ex Euston).
Lateness said to be down to 30min late start from Euston (late arrival) and signalling problems at Stafford.
Then they let the Chester local out in front of it at Crewe (the second time this week) so we sat for another 5 minutes at Crewe Steel Works waiting a path.
There was a lot of congestion around New St also, with the Wolverhampton stoppers repeatedly getting in the way of fast services.

 

[High Dyke]

Points failure between Norton Bridge and Stafford.

 

[Eng274]

I'm on the 16:30 EUS-GLC, which was held up slightly at Stafford, due to being diverted to slow line. Now sat North of Lockerbie due to a signalling problem, no ETA for moving again yet.

 

[nj_mills]

must've just missed this then, was on the 1928 Stoke to Stafford all clear.

 

[thecrofter]

There's a major fire at a fireworks factory just south of Stafford (Trent valley line) that might be related?

 

[voyagerdude220]

I was on a 40-minute late Voyager to Bangor tonight, from Crewe (1610 ex Euston).
Lateness said to be down to 30min late start from Euston (late arrival) and signalling problems at Stafford.
Then they let the Chester local out in front of it at Crewe (the second time this week) so we sat for another 5 minutes at Crewe Steel Works waiting a path.
There was a lot of congestion around New St also, with the Wolverhampton stoppers repeatedly getting in the way of fast services.

I earlier spotted on VT's Journey Check page, a very unusual additional information explanation in regards to your 16:10. It stated that, as you correctly said before, it was delayed on its previous journey, but went on to also state that 9M53 10:00 Glasgow to Euston had been delayed by an operational incident, involving door fault/despatch incident, or words to that effect.

I just found it unusual for the website to include so much information. Whilst talking of 9M53, I noticed on Trust earlier today, it was formed of 2x221, instead of the usual 1x221. Also 05:50 Glasgow to Euston and the 06:52 Edinburgh to Euston were both 390 vice 221.

The two sets from 9M53 split upon arrival at London Euston. One formed the 16:10 to Bangor, the other, the 16:23 to Birmingham New Street.

Does anyone know why 221/390 diagrams appear to have been a little varied this week, with a few cases of 221 v 390 and vice versa? It's been mostly confined to the Scotland-Birmingham-Euston services.

 

[Atlantic loco]

There was a fire close to Polmadie Depot the other day which resulted in train sets being stabled in odd locations like Mossend Yard and the platforms at Edinburgh Waverley. This may have had a knock on effect on the normal provision of units / diagrams etc.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Thanks Atlantic Loco. Now you mention it, I do remember seeing on Real Time Trains IIRC on Tuesday morning a few unusual STP ECS movements from Carlisle to Glasgow Central, possibly Pendolinos, as they were operated by VT, so maybe they were there because of this fire you mentioned?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Does anyone know why 221/390 diagrams appear to have been a little varied this week, with a few cases of 221 v 390 and vice versa? It's been mostly confined to the Scotland-Birmingham-Euston services.

I've had a couple of disrupted journeys this week, starting with the 0901 Crewe-Birmingham-Euston on Tuesday (9M48, 0550 ex Glasgow).
It was terminated at Crewe P12 (double Voyager) with only a single Voyager found to replace it (P7).
Cue many folk arriving at P7 only to find the ATW Shrewsbury local...
I noticed it was later announced as missing stations en route as it was "full and standing". Chaos at New St as a result.
Two Voyagers down would cause significant problems. It turned out better to use the LM Liverpool-Birmingham services.
Complete bumbledom at Crewe, as passengers were switched between P5/6/11/12 and back ("in a calm manner", to note that infuriating announcement).

 

[martinsh]

I've had a couple of disrupted journeys this week, starting with the 0901 Crewe-Birmingham-Euston on Tuesday (9M48, 0550 ex Glasgow).
It was terminated at Crewe P12 (double Voyager) with only a single Voyager found to replace it (P7).
Cue many folk arriving at P7 only to find the ATW Shrewsbury local...
I noticed it was later announced as missing stations en route as it was "full and standing". Chaos at New St as a result.
Two Voyagers down would cause significant problems. It turned out better to use the LM Liverpool-Birmingham services.
Complete bumbledom at Crewe, as passengers were switched between P5/6/11/12 and back ("in a calm manner", to note that infuriating announcement).

I was there !! Though only travelling to Stafford so had choice of LM or Virgin. You didn't mention the empty double Voyager set being let out onto the main line in front everything else !!

 

[All Line Rover]

More 30+ minute delays again this evening to Virgin Trains services to/from London Euston. This time the disruption is mentioned on NRE.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Went slow line on an up Liverpool from Bourne End to Camden - (overtaken by a few other trains south of Watford as the boxes were clearly regulating in the best traditions) - P Way in action around Kings Langley on the DF. Around 25 late - not too bad.

 

[Oxfordblues]

The current WCML very-high-frequency timetable is proving to be hopelessly optimistic in terms of day-to-day performance. The slightest perturbation seems to lead to an accumulation of delays with little opportunity for recovering lost time. For example:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y81956/2014/10/31/advanced

Over-tight timings make no allowance for defensive driving, running brake tests, wheel-slip, etc. For example the 10.5 min Pendolino timing from Preston to Wigan is hardly ever achieved.

Minimal station dwell-times, sometimes of as little as 90 seconds stop-to-start, make no cognisance of the increase in the number of passenger alighting and boarding.

I believe any review of the current WCML timetable should look to the insertion of a sensible level of recovery margins and performance allowances so it bears more resemblance to the times the trains actually run in real life.

 

[The Planner]

Which trains are you taking out then? You cannot factor in items such as wheel slip and weather as otherwise people complain it is too slack. Dwells of 90 seconds are achievable easily, running brake tests are included in SRTs at journey starts. Yes there are some areas that need tweaks but in a lot of cases it is robbing Peter to pay Paul to level it out. As for recovery margins, isnt the 5 minutes added in at destinations by the TOCs hated enough as it is?

 

[455driver]

Didn't NR complain a few years ago that they wouldn't have enough time to carry out maintenance if the new timetable Virgin wanted was implemented but they were over-ruled by some Government department?