WCML problems 11/01/15

[Saint66]

Overhead wire problem near MK causing delays of over an hour it seems.

 

[parkender102]

Supposed to be heading to London tonight on 18:10 to Chester to Euston - it's not vitally important I need to be there tonight so could travel in the morning. However I'm on an Off Peak Return Ticket (Virgin) with the Outward portion only valid till today. I assume they are encouraging people not to travel if they don't have to - will they allow me to use the Outward Portion tomorrow instead?

 

[Boodiggy]

Supposed to be heading to London tonight on 18:10 to Chester to Euston - it's not vitally important I need to be there tonight so could travel in the morning. However I'm on an Off Peak Return Ticket (Virgin) with the Outward portion only valid till today. I assume they are encouraging people not to travel if they don't have to - will they allow me to use the Outward Portion tomorrow instead?

You will be ok. There will be a 20 speed restriction on so you will be a few minutes late, however the trains are in quite a mess so I doubt your train will be leaving on time. May be worth checking beforehand.

 

[parkender102]

You will be ok. There will be a 20 speed restriction on so you will be a few minutes late, however the trains are in quite a mess so I doubt your train will be leaving on time. May be worth checking beforehand.

Cheers - only problem is the Arriving Euston to Chester is cancelled - which forms the 18:35 Chester to Euston. I can wing it and head to the station and pick up next service to Crewe and see if I can pick up a London Service from there - fingers crossed!

 

[Boodiggy]

You should be able to, there is ticket acceptance across various TOCS due to the problems.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

You will be ok. There will be a 20 speed restriction on so you will be a few minutes late, however the trains are in quite a mess so I doubt your train will be leaving on time. May be worth checking beforehand.

The NRE detail and NR tweets of the problem are very vague: "Overhead wire problems between Rugby and Wolverton".
Is it in an awkward spot which affects both the main line and the Northampton loop?
Like Hanslope Jn?
Can't blame headspan wiring on the WCML.

 

[Boodiggy]

The problem is near Stowe Hill tunnel on the old lines (via Weedon), the Northampton loop is under an Engineering possession and couldn't be given up to run trains due to the works being undertaken.

 

[plastictaffy]

This problem is a bent register arm on the OHLE - spotted by 1H10. Just turned the work Blackberry on to have a look to see if I had any work tomorrow or Tuesday, and it was on there. I'm sure it said Blisworth.

 

[Boodiggy]

This problem is a bent register arm on the OHLE - spotted by 1H10. Just turned the work Blackberry on to have a look to see if I had any work tomorrow or Tuesday, and it was on there. I'm sure it said Blisworth.

The actual location is just North of Banbury lane, about 3 miles north of Blisworth. 1H10 was the examining train on the down. The incident involved 1A20 / 390104 on the up.

 

[LeylandLen]

I'm not sure what a 'bent register arm ' is ; not that it matters as its obviously an important thing. Would it have been caused by the wind (its been very windy here in Lancashire) or a passing train ? Or vandalism ?

 

[najaB]

I'm not sure what a 'bent register arm ' is ; not that it matters as its obviously an important thing.

It's part of the mechanism to keep the overhead line up. If it's badly bent then it can cause the wires to come down, or cause shorting/arcing of the traction current.

Would it have been caused by the wind (its been very windy here in Lancashire) or a passing train ? Or vandalism ?

More than likely a combination of wind (along with debris) plus a passing train.

 

[Ianmel1969]

I was on the 0938 Glasgow Central to Euston. Stopped at Nuneaton for half an hour, was told by train manager there was a broken down train causing problems but it was being moved. Then after getting underway again we ground to a halt in the countryside, a Manchester to Euston train kept us company for a good 50 mins or so. Then told about the overhead wire problem caused by storm damage (?). Eventually both trains were stopped at Rugby along with a Midland Mainline train. The MM and Glasgow passengers then boarded the Manchester-Euston train which continued to London. We got in at 1649, 2hours 24 minutes late. Glad to see Virgin staff waiting as we came off the train with delay/repay forms for us.

 

[BurtonM]

Was doing London-Wolves today and got caught up in this.
Went to Marylebone as I thought I'd go up the Chiltern for a change. Arrive off the Tube 15:50, and there are more people than I've ever seen in Marylebone waiting for the Snow Hill train. When the platform was put up there was a mass rush for the gates - less than 10 minutes before the train was leaving! So I left, and tubed over to Euston, which I dislike on a good day. 16:30 - across the board cancellations, and absolutely rammed with bewildered passengers. Delays of up to 2 hours expected until 2000...
Back to Marylebone, and it's now 17:15... and everything is back to normal? Got on a Snow Hill train, took a seat, and had a lovely relaxing journey, complete with free wifi. First impressions of Chiltern (and 168s) are very good!

Around 1945 when I got to Birmingham New Street, some southbound services were also experiencing delays, the reason stated was 'flooding'.

 

[tsr]

There was flooding further North on the WCML - a 5mph restriction was put in place due to this between Carstairs and Lockerbie.

 

[Dave1954]

Worked out fine for you BurtonM , well done

 

[MidnightFlyer]

a 5mph restriction was put in place due to this between Carstairs and Lockerbie.

That's an awful long way at 5mph

 

[tsr]

That's an awful long way at 5mph

Sorry, I'm a bit tired but you know what I mean!

 

[Kristofferson]

Right then, I'll kick off the discussion about today!

Many cancellations on the south end of the line due to "a problem with infrastructure/safety checks being made at Watford jct".

What have Network Rail broken this time?

 

[gordonthemoron]

my northbound service, Euston-Glasgow (dep 5:30) was ontime between MKC and Crewe

 

[Geezertronic]

Eventually both trains were stopped at Rugby along with a Midland Mainline train.

Blimey, was it lost?

 

[carriageline]

Luckily(?) I think it was one of the new pendos with the pantograph CCTV!

 

[Tetchytyke]

Many cancellations on the south end of the line due to "a problem with infrastructure/safety checks being made at Watford jct".

What have Network Rail broken this time?

They tell me they broke "part of the tunnel" of the fast lines tunnel just north of Watford Junction.

 

[The Planner]

Good try but nothing to do with the Watford works, loose bricks were found on a routine inspection and needed to be fixed.

 

[tsr]

Yep, a problem with the tunnel structure was initially reported in one of the Watford Tunnels. Safety checks resulted in a block in what I believed was the Slow Tunnel but, as above, may have been the Fast one (unsure - haven't looked it up properly yet) until repairs were made, which now appear to have been done. Attempts to ease congestion were the usual measures - turning back Southern at North Pole and reducing Tring services, etc. Pretty widespread ticket acceptance on the WCML has been available.

 

[Kristofferson]

Ah fair enough Better safe than sorry of course.

 

[oversteer]

Broken down train at Cheddington now

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Was doing London-Wolves today and got caught up in this.
Went to Marylebone as I thought I'd go up the Chiltern for a change. Arrive off the Tube 15:50, and there are more people than I've ever seen in Marylebone waiting for the Snow Hill train. When the platform was put up there was a mass rush for the gates - less than 10 minutes before the train was leaving! So I left, and tubed over to Euston, which I dislike on a good day. 16:30 - across the board cancellations, and absolutely rammed with bewildered passengers. Delays of up to 2 hours expected until 2000...
Back to Marylebone, and it's now 17:15... and everything is back to normal? Got on a Snow Hill train, took a seat, and had a lovely relaxing journey, complete with free wifi. First impressions of Chiltern (and 168s) are very good!

I know I'm only an ignorant armchair controller, but if it was a Sunday, and VT habitually run Voyager services from Birmingham/Coventry via the Chiltern line on Sundays when the WCML is closed, how come nothing went that way?
North Wales services for instance?
And what was so special about the Northampton loop possession that it could not be given up early?
These would be the questions the MPs would ask if they were not preoccupied with the King's Cross event.
Weekend passengers get a very raw deal sometimes.

 

[TSR :D]

I know I'm only an ignorant armchair controller, but if it was a Sunday, and VT habitually run Voyager services from Birmingham/Coventry via the Chiltern line on Sundays when the WCML is closed, how come nothing went that way?
North Wales services for instance?
And what was so special about the Northampton loop possession that it could not be given up early?
These would be the questions the MPs would ask if they were not preoccupied with the King's Cross event.
Weekend passengers get a very raw deal sometimes.

I think VT only goes via the Chiltern if the disruption is planned due to booked engineering works.

 

[The Planner]

And only if its a 4 line block, they dont if its a 2 track timetable.

 

[DarloRich]

I know I'm only an ignorant armchair controller, but if it was a Sunday, and VT habitually run Voyager services from Birmingham/Coventry via the Chiltern line on Sundays when the WCML is closed, how come nothing went that way?
North Wales services for instance?
And what was so special about the Northampton loop possession that it could not be given up early?
These would be the questions the MPs would ask if they were not preoccupied with the King's Cross event.
Weekend passengers get a very raw deal sometimes.

you have a job giving up a possession early with, say, track or signalling missing or something out of gauge fouling the line