WCML issues-21 August

[Polarbear]

Currently sat north of Wolverton on the 06:43 Liverpool-Euston in a queue of trains. Appears to be something caught in the overhead wires ahead.

Conductor is keeping us updated-get the impression this has only just happened as Traksy shows a lot of trains queued at present.

 

[Omnishambles]

On 0710 ex Lichfield (1R12), literally no movement since 0800 except briefly 5mins ago when 4M45 was allowed.
1U25 and growing queue sit Bletchley and behind, 1W12 and growing queue sit MK and behind

 

[Polarbear]

Now on the move, with copious updates from the conductor. Object removed from the overhead wires-commendably fast in my view!

May take a while for things to settle down.

 

[185143]

I'm just about to set off heading for London. Are trains moving again or just yours?

 

[zwk500]

May take a while for things to settle down.

Yes, there's quite the queue of trains. I wonder how many 1Rxx trains there'll be in order!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Aug 2026 ==

I'm just about to set off heading for London. Are trains moving again or just yours?

Moving again, but the congestion will take a while to clear as trains were moved from Fast to Slow lines north of MKC so need weaving back.

 

[jfollows]

I'm just about to set off heading for London. Are trains moving again or just yours?

A good source is https://www.journeycheck.com/avantiwestcoast/

Following an object being caught on the overhead electric wires between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction all lines are now open.

 

[Omnishambles]

Yes, there's quite the queue of trains. I wonder how many 1Rxx trains there'll be in order!

Currently 11,17,18,14,19 with 12,15 jockeying

 

[oic]

For some reason the signallers routed 1U25 towards p5 at MKC at 08:50ish where an Avanti Liverpool service (1F14) was occupying until 0915, starting short. Resulting in an additional 20 minute wait . Was this ARS or just an oversight during a busy time?

Extra annoying due to 1U23 cancelled at Euston due to a door fault.

Edited missing station

 

[jfollows]

For some reason the signallers routed 1U25 towards p5 at 08:50ish where an Avanti Liverpool service (1F14) was occupying until 0915, starting short. Resulting in an additional 20 minute wait . Was this ARS or just an oversight during a busy time?

Extra annoying due to 1U23 cancelled at Euston due to a door fault.

p5 where? 0746 Euston-Crewe at Milton Keynes?

 

[oic]

p5 where?

Fixed, sorry. Was Mkc

 

[speciallygreen]

It looks like trains keep being held on the approach to/at Wembley and preceding stations. Doesn't look like it's because of platform congestion at Euston - anyone know why?

 

[zwk500]

It looks like trains keep being held on the approach to/at Wembley and preceding stations. Doesn't look like it's because of platform congestion at Euston - anyone know why?

Conversely, I'd say it looks very much like platform congestion at Euston - Only 11 and 3 are currently free.

 

[speciallygreen]

But there's nothing approaching. Why not use those two available platforms?

Edit: My bad, there are a couple of trains approaching on the slow lines.

 

[zwk500]

But there's nothing approaching. Why not use those two available platforms?

There's at least 3 LNR trains approaching on the Slow Lines.

Edit to add (1053): The sleeper loco has now shunted from P1 to P15 which has released another platform, and when the CS Empty is taken away to Wembley that'll free up another which will help a bit. But trains on the fast lines are still being held back in platforms and released forward 1 station at a time as platforms become available so it's going to take time to clear the queue. LNR Birmingham services that usually run FL ledburn to Euston are seemingly being moved to the Up slow line to get around the Avanti parade.

 

[Omnishambles]

For some reason the signallers routed 1U25 towards p5 at MKC at 08:50ish where an Avanti Liverpool service (1F14) was occupying until 0915, starting short. Resulting in an additional 20 minute wait . Was this ARS or just an oversight during a busy time?

Extra annoying due to 1U23 cancelled at Euston due to a door fault.

Edited missing station

seemed a strange move to me when I saw it and then F14 didn’t move for an age. As for ARS I would be surprised if it was on as trains were being manually routed from the up slow to up fast via platform 3 at that time

 

[zwk500]

seemed a strange move to me when I saw it and then F14 didn’t move for an age. As for ARS I would be surprised if it was on as trains were being manually routed from the up slow to up fast via platform 3 at that time

AIUI Rugby SCC doesn't have ARS on the MK Desk.

 

[Tilting007]

AIUI Rugby SCC doesn't have ARS on the MK Desk.

It does… all workstations in the SCC do.

 

[zwk500]

It does… all workstations in the SCC do.

Fair enough, it's been nearly 10 years since I was last inside the SCC, so either my memory is faulty or things have changed in that time, probably both!

 

[MarkWi72]

A lot going via Northampton this evening. Anyone know why?

 

[Merle Haggard]

A lot going via Northampton this evening. Anyone know why?

Looking at Open Train Times - Maps, iH73 has been standing at Hillmorton for a while. Up trains still seem to be going Old road.

Earlier today there was a 'fire near to the railway between Coventry and Birmingham Internationa' but seemed to be just N of canleyl which stopped everything as well

 

[D1511]

Looks like a problem with the UF between Hanslope & Rugby. There's a bit of a NB queue forming at Hanslope. DF appears ok though

 

[D1537]

Looks like northbound trains are still going via Northampton. Do Lumo drivers know that route? If not, 1P04 is going to have an issue. Currently at MKC.

 

[D1511]

Looks like northbound trains are still going via Northampton. Do Lumo drivers know that route? If not, 1P04 is going to have an issue. Currently at MKC.

Ah, so it is......I guess we'll find out if they're signed shortly!

Well.....it has departed MK on the DF.....

 

[Merle Haggard]

Looks like northbound trains are still going via Northampton. Do Lumo drivers know that route? If not, 1P04 is going to have an issue. Currently at MKC.

I think Lumo do; I've seen 222005 on a training run here.
But probably just the Up Middle road and platform 2 on the down, so Rugby TOC mustn't do anything creative if there's congestion..

Edit PS The important thing to remember is the 20 at the bottom of the bank

 

[D1537]

Well it's left MKC, so we can assume it's either going old road or the route knowledge via Northampton is indeed there.

 

[D1511]

It has greens to Hanslope, and then we'll see what happens.....
1A74 seems to be making good progress along the UF though, so the problem seems to be only in one direction

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Monday at 20:11 ==

We have our answer......it's going via Northampton!

 

[Merle Haggard]

It's always entertaining to look at OTT Maps - Northampton when there's diverts.
Looks like the down is on the verge of gridlock ...

 

[185143]

It's always entertaining to look at OTT Maps - Northampton when there's diverts.
Looks like the down is on the verge of gridlock ...

Fantastic. I'm in the Euston Tap.

 

[D1537]

I'm sure there's a reason that Rugby have thrown Heavy Haul 6D23 from Northampton sidings into the queue but it's not helping.

Fantastic. I'm in the Euston Tap.

I'd stay there for a bit.

 

[Merle Haggard]

My guess is is 4M24's rear end is blocking the lead to platform 2.