Weather related disruption, 19/09 (Storm Ali)

[gavin]

Seen this video going around on twitter showing the moment a train hit a tree a few miles south of Durham causing major damage which still isn't fixed

https://twitter.com/KevinGroves3/status/1043496999981666310

 

[greyman42]

Seen this video going around on twitter showing the moment a train hit a tree a few miles south of Durham causing major damage which still isn't fixed

https://twitter.com/KevinGroves3/status/1043496999981666310

How fast would it of been going?

 

[tsr]

OLE also down at Abington on the WCML due to the sleepers somehow knocking them down. Single line working in progress between Abington and Symington Crossovers.

Some of the OHLE issues may well have been nothing to do with the Sleepers, based on current info... that’s all I shall say for now!

 

[6Z09]

The problem is that cutting all the trees back means the roots are no longer holding embankments together...

Agree with that but recent years have seen vegetation growing up to the sleeper ends, no cess, impossible to walk along the outside of the train in some locations, sidings overgrown but still in use ,bramble bushes causing trip hazards to groundstaff and any driver unfortunate enough to have to change ends!

 

[snail]

Got caught up in that last night . 2 hours late at Glasgow Central . 10 car Voyager vice Pendo . Many had connections north from Glasgow though there was TPE for Edinburgh from Carlisle it was behind us . Liverpool to Glasgow ticket , so dont think its delay repay

Why not? It's based on your journey time so if you arrived at Glasgow 2 hours later than the originally scheduled time you are entitled to 100% refund.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Agree with that but recent years have seen vegetation growing up to the sleeper ends, no cess, impossible to walk along the outside of the train in some locations, sidings overgrown but still in use ,bramble bushes causing trip hazards to groundstaff and any driver unfortunate enough to have to change ends!

That does sound like the strimmer and chainsaw are needed!

 

[gavin]

How fast would it of been going?

That section over the bridge is just before a speed change down to 80mph

 

[route101]

Why not? It's based on your journey time so if you arrived at Glasgow 2 hours later than the originally scheduled time you are entitled to 100% refund.

Sorry delay repay but not automatic delay repay . I sent my claim yesterday .

 

[Traintripper]

Well credit where it’s due..
I’ve submitted a delay repay claim this morning for a Fort William to Mallaig service which was cancelled last Wednesday. I have already, within an hour, had the money back. I’m very impressed with how quickly this has been processed.
As a final question, I also have the receipt for the bus I had to take instead, as there were no rail replacement buses on, I am eligible to claim for that too? Or am I pushing my luck just a bit too far?

 

[FQTV]

The problem is that cutting all the trees back means the roots are no longer holding embankments together...

I think that this notion is verging (no pun intended) on being one of those that is approaching urban myth status - probably because it conveniently suggests that saving money on tree control is somehow a win-win.

From the British Railways Board The Management of Lineside Vegetation Group Standard GC/ZH0001 Issue 1 Revision A April 1993:

Contrary to popular belief trees do not always help to stabilise cuttings or embankments
because:

they usually abstract water only during spring and summer whereas most instability
problems occur during autumn and winter.

main tree roots are shallow and do not bind the surface soil together. Currently most
cutting and embankment slips have trees on them.

the tree canopy often prevents other plants such as grasses growing beneath them so
the earth is bare. Unfortunately the heaviest rainfall occurs when most deciduous
trees have lost their leaves and there is then no protection to prevent surface erosion.

The best protection to prevent erosion are grasses.

mature trees with inadequate or decaying roots and subject to prevailing winds will
tend to testable [sic] slopes.

Just to the North of the point where the train hit the tree at Durham last week, there are much larger trees in close proximity to not only the line and overhead equipment, but also to the approaches to the viaduct which crosses a populated area of the city. A tree fall, say, from the Wharton Park embankment, fouling the line at the London end of the station platforms, could reasonably be hit by a non-stop service at up to 40mph immediately prior to the 100 foot high viaduct over fairly major roads, two pubs, and densely-packed terraced housing.