WCML South major disruption (08/09)

[londonmidland]

Currently all Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern departures out of Euston are suspended due to major congestion in the Berkhamstead area, as a result of overhead wire damage and an axle counter failure, in the same area.

The only services which are currently leaving Euston at the London Overground Watford D.C services.

Due to a fault with the signalling system Watford Junction and Milton Keynes Central, all services in and out of London Euston are currently suspended.

Update: Some services are now being allowed to leave Euston.

 

[Toby268]

It has taken close to 7 hours for a rescue 350 to get to the failed unit - it’s still not there albeit it’s close - Utterly appalling especially since if the down slow was open the delays would be no where near as bad as they are.

 

[sansyy]

6 hours prior the overhead wires were damaged as well causing a lot of disruption between London Euston and Milton Keynes. Very unfortunate considering a lot of Sunday services are limited such as Chester which has had the last 4 services cancelled.

 

[800001]

It has taken close to 7 hours for a rescue 350 to get to the failed unit - it’s still not there albeit it’s close - Utterly appalling especially since if the down slow was open the delays would be no where near as bad as they are.

Customers were evacuated trackside at 09:00 and walked 60 yards to the access point.

And the reason it has taken time to get a rescue train to the damaged train, is because of the OHL damage!

No power to that line, OHL had to be made safe then repaired, only at that point can they get the rescue train there!

 

[Toby268]

Customers were evacuated trackside at 09:00 and walked 60 yards to the access point.

Yes. The train itself however has been sitting there blocking the line for hours waiting on another 350 to come and rescue it.

 

[800001]

Yes. The train itself however has been sitting there blocking the line for hours waiting on another 350 to come and rescue it.

Correct, have to have OHL power to move an electric train! Can’t have power when the OHL is damaged!

 

[Toby268]

Correct, have to have OHL power to move an electric train! Can’t have power when the OHL is damaged!

Correct! Which was back live at 12.30.

Of course in your original comment you neglected to mention anything about the OLE, until you went back and edited it

 

[sansyy]

Why couldn't they just of sent a locomotive to rescue the train? Coupling issue?

 

[800001]

Correct! Which was back live at 12.30.

Funny as at 12:43 there was still a further 30 minute of repairs to complete.

Isolation handed back 13:19, further time needed for staff to exit site.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Sep 2024 ==

Why couldn't they just of sent a locomotive to rescue the train? Coupling issue?

Loco and driver available?

 

[Toby268]

Funny as at 12:43 there was still a further 30 minute of repairs to complete.

Isolation handed back 13:19, further time needed for staff to exit site.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Sep 2024 ==


Loco and driver available?

And the rescue unit is still sitting at tring. Not good enough.

 

[QueensCurve]

Why couldn't they just of sent a locomotive to rescue the train? Coupling issue?

I think it is very optimistic to expect such a thing in today's railway due to lack of availability of spare stock/crews, organisational fragmention, incompatibility of couplers etc etc.

 

[sansyy]

I think it is very optimistic to expect such a thing in today's railway due to lack of availability of spare stock/crews, organisational fragmention, incompatibility of couplers etc etc.

I think you are right, my local station of Chester is an absolute mess right now. Northern is entirely cancelled all day. Merseyrail all replacement buses due to engineering works and no Avanti due to this. But unfortunately I am unphased as this is just how the railway has become.

Does anyone have a link // headcode to the broken down train and the rescue train. Thanks

 

[800001]

And the rescue unit is still sitting at tring. Not good enough.

The rescue train 1Z99 is at the same signal block of the failed train! You do realise the issue is with 2N01 immediately south of Tring?

 

[Toby268]

The rescue train 1Z99 is at the signal block immediately in front of train! You do realise the issue is with 2N01 immediately south of Trish?

Yes I am aware of that - and it only just moved there in the last few minutes.

 

[Hadders]

I’ve just walked through Euston, thankfully not travelling from there today!

Extremely busy concourse, even the new advertising screen has been switched to a message about disruption.

At the risk of going off -topic, those who advocate compulsory reservations would do well to explain how they should operate on a day like today - not just from Euston but on the alternative routes passengers are being told they can use.

 

[uglymonkey]

On a side note, looking at Euston. I read today they were planning of running West Country GWR trains into Euston when they start building old oak. Adding "15 minutes to the journey" how is that going to work? When Euston doesn't seem to work well anyway even on a good day?

 

[800001]

On a side note, looking at Euston. I read today they were planning of running West Country GWR trains into Euston when they start building old oak. Adding "15 minutes to the journey" how is that going to work? When Euston doesn't seem to work well anyway even on a good day?

It’s only 2 trains per hour isn’t it?

 

[The Planner]

It’s only 2 trains per hour isn’t it?

Yep

 

[TheSmiths82]

I’ve just walked through Euston, thankfully not travelling from there today!

Extremely busy concourse, even the new advertising screen has been switched to a message about disruption.

At the risk of going off -topic, those who advocate compulsory reservations would do well to explain how they should operate on a day like today - not just from Euston but on the alternative routes passengers are being told they can use.

I've seen it much busier than that when things have only gone mildly wrong. I suppose it might have been a quietish day, but I seem to end up there on the days when the entire world are trying to get out of London, and some points decide to stop working.

 

[Intercity_225]

The NR website is now displaying it as 'Major Disruption' once again...

 

[Merle Haggard]

One reason that Euston is quiet today might be that it's R.R.B.s Rugby - Birmingham so passengers affected may have decided to use the alternative routes by train.

 

[778]

Currently all Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern departures out of Euston are suspended due to major congestion in the Berkhamstead area, as a result of overhead wire damage and an axle counter failure, in the same area.

The only services which are currently leaving Euston at the London Overground Watford D.C services.



Update: Some services are now being allowed to leave Euston.

Was the OLE struck by lightning? There have been a lot of thunderstorms today.

 

[GordonT]

I've seen it much busier than that when things have only gone mildly wrong. I suppose it might have been a quietish day, but I seem to end up there on the days when the entire world are trying to get out of London, and some points decide to stop working.

Just as long as no-one suggests any lack of safety in case the noble lord is monitoring the thread.

 

[apinnard]

Just as long as no-one suggests any lack of safety in case the noble lord is monitoring the thread.

Who would that be?

 

[GordonT]

Who would that be?

See thread titled "Rail Minister got engineer sacked for raising safety concerns."

 

[DarloRich]

I was caught up in this at the other end of the line spending 2 hours at Manchester waiting for a an Avanti south. When one did run it was like something out of Dr Zhivago. Even when i got to MKC at c.2030 trains were still messed up with delays and canclelations all over the place.

I think there was also a trespass incident near Northampton to add to the chaos!

it wasn't a good WCML day yesterday!