West Coast Mainline:Severe Problems

[87015]

Yeah - LM staff at Hemel this afternoon were being kicked. Literally. Very angry passengers. All a little over the top. One gentleman in particular started ranting about the last few weeks of services. However valid his point, it was destroyed by his ridiculous behaviour.

Someone should be standing up and apologising for the disaster it has been recently, even Silverlink were good at getting the apology posters up the next day.

No, its not the front line staff who should take the hit, but week after week of incompetent services are going to wind people up.

 

[Pumbaa]

Someone should be standing up and apologising for the disaster it has been recently, even Silverlink were good at getting the apology posters up the next day.

No, its not the front line staff who should take the hit, but week after week of incompetent services are going to wind people up.

Yup - was it Monday? or Tuesday? Either way it doesn't matter, there was someone who looked vaguely managerial at Euston. He scarpered within 5 minutes. I feel very sorry for dispatch at Euston. They get it in the neck, particularly about lack of service to Milton Keynes. I'm quite friendly with them, and there's a smashing woman who, and I'm not kidding, had to run from the office at the ticket barriers onto P8, check the 321s were okay to go, blew the whistle twice and ran back to avoid flack.

And that's someone who in my experience has always given fantastic customer service.

 

[class 313]

This all reminds me of NSE, but I thought we were meant to be moving forward?

 

[87015]

Sadly its just not surprising they get it in the neck...

I'd love to know how much of a backlog they have for delay repay forms at the moment, Leighton has been cleaned out and has ordered a cool 4000 for Monday according to one of the berts, won't last long after todays performance!!

 

[Pumbaa]

Apparently Virgin operates 20 services an hour of Euston... on a Sunday!

 

[paul1609]

I took my first trip up the WCML to Birmingham yesterday for sometime. The Virgin train was 25 mins late by Milton Keynes having followed a stopping Desiro from Euston. The Fast Lines out of Euston were closed due to engineering works. For a rebuilt line it has an impressive collection of temporary speed restrictions. The high speed layout at Rugby was negotiated at little more than walking pace. I was surprised at the generally poor riding of the class 390.
If the ATW 15 min connection at International hadnt been cancelled I'd have missed it.
I came back by Chiltern didnt promise the Virgin journeytime but had far better seating, ride and arrived 5 mins early in to Marylebone. Shame Chiltern dont even offer a trolley at weekends but I'll be continuing to use them rather than Virgin.

 

[33056]

Still nothing moving some 7 hours after the incident :roll: IMHO would say not looking good for tomorrow morning.

One good thing though, they have managed to divert the sleepers via the ECML

 

[sven945]

Today was an experience. Three weeks into the job and We're dealing with no trains at all! Midland did get a bus service to MK running, but no intermediate stops. Most people were being sent to Marylebone (if I have to say "Victoria line southbound to Oxford circus and Bakerloo northbound to Marylebone" again then I may scream) and change at Birmingham, but as it got later then no connections would be running. After 1700 any Scotland people were screwed after the last NXEC to Edinburgh, because nobody was sure about the Sleeper (though it was eventually was announced it was going via the ECML).

I must say, I'm glad I'm not on tomorrow. Early trains will be a nightmare, even if the line is up again.

 

[Max]

Today was an experience. Three weeks into the job and We're dealing with no trains at all! Midland did get a bus service to MK running, but no intermediate stops. Most people were being sent to Marylebone (if I have to say "Victoria line southbound to Oxford circus and Bakerloo northbound to Marylebone" again then I may scream) and change at Birmingham, but as it got later then no connections would be running. After 1700 any Scotland people were screwed after the last NXEC to Edinburgh, because nobody was sure about the Sleeper (though it was eventually was announced it was going via the ECML).

I must say, I'm glad I'm not on tomorrow. Early trains will be a nightmare, even if the line is up again.

Sounds like you've been thrown in at the deep end!

 

[xtradj]

apparently trains can run through midlands valley from tommorow 6am, but all to stop at milton keynes until around 9am-midday i hear?

that besides, there is a huge amount of engineering work lately across the country, i dont remember a week in the last year, and still cant see a week in the future, where all services from either lime st or piccadilly were running to there full destination

 

[Mintona]

Still had widespread delays and cancellations this morning. I fully admit that it is not good enough, but grr! It's not my fault!

 

[me123]

Surprised no-one mentioned the serious signal failure in Glasgow this morning which only adds to Virgin's demise. I feel sorry for them; it's not been their fault over the last few days.

Signal failure in Rutherglen caused all Whifflet services to be cancelled; 2 class 156 units were stabling in Motherwell presumably from these services. Buses replaced trains all stops into Cambuslang, connecting into Glasgow and Larkhall services reduced to hourly. Further delays on all other services (mostly Argyle Line), including the cancellation of Hamilton Circle-Coatbridge services. Not a good day for Scotrail either.

On Virgin, a lot of services were and are being started/terminated at Motherwell and are running slightly late, which will add to the problems down south. Birmingham-Scotland services seem to be particularly affected for some reason.

It is a shame; VHF is not to blame for this. Just a bad combination of 3 major incidents causing problems for the TOC. It's just been a particularly bad time as it is the start of the timetable, and of course the more intense services magnify the problem for Virgin.

 

[sven945]

Surprised no-one mentioned the serious signal failure in Glasgow this morning which only adds to Virgin's demise. I feel sorry for them; it's not been their fault over the last few days.

Certainly on Sunday night at Euston it seemed like most people understood that it wasn't Virgin's fault. Obviously people were annoyed, but nobody really got angry with us doing customer service on the concourse.

It is a shame; VHF is not to blame for this. Just a bad combination of 3 major incidents causing problems for the TOC. It's just been a particularly bad time as it is the start of the timetable, and of course the more intense services magnify the problem for Virgin.

I think the Virgin PR department are glad that they didn't start the marketing drive at the start of the timetable and decided to wait a bit! Maybe they'll delay the advertising (if it's possible) for a few more weeks now too.

 

[Ascot]

Fault at Rugby today. Wonder where it will be tomorrow.

 

[Guinness]

Warrington Bank Quay 5/1
Crewe 7/1
Nuneaton 8/1
Rugby (again) 8/1
Stockport 10/1
Watford Area 12/1
Carlisle 18/1
Holyhead 30/1

Chaz's Tip of the Day:
Wolverton/Bletchley Areas (That's where the WCML usually dies for the day) Evens

More odds available at www.BetChaz.com

 

[Ascot]

£16 on Glasgow area

 

[87015]

It is a shame; VHF is not to blame for this.

It doesn't help. Emergency West Mids diversions today - London Midland and Crosscountry told to shove over and cape trains to allow all these VHF Pendos through. Cheers then.

 

[Phoenix]

Tis stupid how XC and LM have to make way for Virgin Im sure if either LM and XC asked virgin to shove over they would get all up in arms about it but then again VT have there stupid we can do what we want franchise.

 

[Mintona]

A broken rail at Hampton-in-Arden didn't help things earlier.

 

[sven945]

Tis stupid how XC and LM have to make way for Virgin Im sure if either LM and XC asked virgin to shove over they would get all up in arms about it but then again VT have there stupid we can do what we want franchise.

Does the WCML franchise give Virgin priority over other services on the tracks then?

 

[1D53]

VT PPM @ 1330 = 10%.

 

[me123]

Yikes! Glasgow Central's fun today Virgin wise, although I bet that London's worse! Up here, loads of people lare probably still waiting for a London service to finally depart; all the trains into Central seem to be cancelled or severely delayed so I wouldn't get my hopes up. But apparently things are getting back to normal; everything should apparently be clear by 1200 so services should be back to normal soon (at least that's what they're saying in Central).

The problems in Glasgow aren't helping them up here either. OK, all trains are now able to get through, but there's still lots of workers on the track in Rutherglen.

 

[class 313]

It doesn't help. Emergency West Mids diversions today - London Midland and Crosscountry told to shove over and cape trains to allow all these VHF Pendos through. Cheers then.

Whats the proof on this? Not trying to question you, just wondering!

 

[87015]

Whats the proof on this? Not trying to question you, just wondering!

All the XCs via Cov were diverted via Solihull this morning on LDB and plenty of LM capages (even more than normal) on the Cov corridor and I'm not one to believe in such coincidence!! Also, Dad's got back from London and got held at Ledburn for just the *FOUR* Pendos to crossover infront of the 321.

A complete mare of a day on LM, still in an utter mess now after various riots all day long...those 4000 delay forms Leighton ordered are rapidly being depleted!!!!!

 

[Metroland]

No trains out of Euston again. Service suspended, as it was earlier today and yesterday, various problems mainly OHL. And of course plane crash before then and car crash before then.

It seems the line is having a Terminal 5 moment!

 

[class 313]

No trains out of Euston again. Service suspended, as it was earlier today and yesterday, various problems mainly OHL. And of course plane crash before then and car crash before then.

It seems the line is having a Terminal 5 moment!

At Harrow too? That must of happened within the last few hours, most trains were running when I checked at 7.

 

[Metroland]

Route Affected

London Euston, Watford Junction, Bletchley, Milton Keynes Central, Northampton, Rugby, Nuneaton & Birmingham New Street / Crewe / Preston / Manchester Piccadilly; also London Euston / Clapham Junction, Willesden Junction, Wembley Central, Harrow & Wealdstone & Watford Junction

TOC(s) Affected London Midland, London Overground, Southern, ScotRail, Virgin Trains
Description

Because of overhead wire problems at Bletchley, and also at Harrow & Wealdstone, services to and from London Euston are currently suspended.

Virgin Trains

Services will run to and from Milton Keynes Central, but are suspended betweeen Milton Keynes Central and London Euston

Customers travelling between London and Birmingham should use Chiltern Railways services from London Marylebone, with the last service departing at 22:10.

London Midland

Services to and from London Euston are suspended. Replacement bus services will run, but have not yet been confirmed.

East Midlands Trains will accept London Midland customers between London St Pancras and Wellingbrough

London Overground

Services between London Euston and Watford Junction are suspended. Customers should use London Bus services between London Euston and Watford Junction. London Underground Bakerloo Line services are also suspended between Queens Park and Harrow & Wealdstone

Southern

Services between Clapham Junction and Watford Junction will run between Clapham Junction and Shepherds Bush only. Customers should use London Bus services between Shepherds Bush and Watford Junction.

ScotRail

Sleeper services from London Euston are expected to be severely delayed. Further information will be provided here as soon as it becomes available

 

[Mintona]

Is somebody actually out to sabotage the route or what? Car crash at Congleton, plane at Colwich, wires down Watford, then Rugby, now Harrow and Bletchley, as well as a broken rail near Coventry earlier and a points failure at Alderley Edge this morning too. Give up time I think.

 

[class 313]

Is somebody actually out to sabotage the route or what? Car crash at Congleton, plane at Colwich, wires down Watford, then Rugby, now Harrow and Bletchley, as well as a broken rail near Coventry earlier and a points failure at Alderley Edge this morning too. Give up time I think.

Its moments like these where all you can do is laugh at the situation. How unreal it actually is!

I feel sorry for people trying to travel on the line. =\

 

[87015]

Mate at Euston trying to get home on the phone, the general jist is something along the lines of:

* No staff to be seen
* Everything shown on screens as caped incl Glasgow overnight
* NO onward travel information being presented apart from "no services operating, please do not travel"
* LOTS of people on the concourse who look to have a long night


F A R C E

£10bn well spent I'm sure you'll all agree!!!!