West Coast Mainline:Severe Problems

[me123]

Virgin aren't having any luck this weather, although again the new timetable is magnifying the problems considerably. Again, not Virgin's fault. But if what 87015's saying is correct, then the lack of information there is Virgin's problem entirely of course.

All trains apparently cancelled, but sleepers running via ECML with buses running for Virgin as above, but the message is don't travel. At least Scotland's fine again. (Then again, should I have just said that...)

I've renamed the thread BTW as this has moved on through quite a lot of problems...

 

[Metroland]

I suspect, realistically, what happens is it really isn't possible to replace that sort of traffic and sort those numbers of people with the staff on hand. You can quickly have 1000s of people on stations, trains and crews in the wrong place, buses stuck in traffic (with journey times 4-5 times longer), people to help on an off and tickets to issue and refund, especially when redirected to use other lines. This isn't just at Euston, but right along the line - with all the crowd control problems that entails.

I don't envy staff one bit, especially as some of the passengers must be getting understandably agitated and not knowing when buses or train crews might turn up, who will all be stuck somewhere. I doubt you could even hire/run the buses in the numbers required - what is it 20 pendos (1 pendo = 11 buses) and 40 suburban services (1 local = 11 to 22 buses) an hour in an out of Euston.

 

[Mintona]

Early morning update: Wires down at Kings Langley (just north of Watford Jn), wrapped around at least one freight train I believe.

London Midland terminating at Bletchley, buses to London. At time or writing (0430) Virgin not decided what to do yet.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/today.html#sa15efba06d8414a8ebcb9e4720accac

 

[sven945]

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!!!!

I wasn't there yesterday, though I was there on Sunday night during the mess then, and all I can say is that staff are of limited use really. Up to a point we were sending people elsewhere, but as it got to 9pm there was pretty much nowhere they could go other than to MK on the buses that eventually were laid on. The information passed on to staff was minimal, so new information had to be gained by rumour, and we were often giving out what ended up being out of date information.

Staff problems will be worse today because of the number of people who live in Milton Keynes/Northampton who will be having difficulty actually getting into work.

I don't envy staff one bit, especially as some of the passengers must be getting understandably agitated and not knowing when buses or train crews might turn up, who will all be stuck somewhere. I doubt you could even hire/run the buses in the numbers required - what is it 20 pendos (1 pendo = 11 buses) and 40 suburban services (1 local = 11 to 22 buses) an hour in an out of Euston.

Especially at such short notice. We were constantly getting people asking on Sunday why there weren't replacement buses running. They didn't quite understand that, when you've got power lines coming down at about 3pm, it's difficult to arrange a fleet of buses to go up to Glasgow by half past four.

 

[Guinness]

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
[....]

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

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

I should be in charge of Ladbrokes..

 

[Ascot]

I should be in charge of Ladbrokes..

Your verdict for tomorrow?

 

[sven945]

**prays for predictions of perfect service and no annoyed passengers whatsoever. At least until 2pm**

I very much suspect I'll be wrong

 

[Metroland]

I think a few people are going to get the sack at NR.


Britain's busiest railway was in meltdown today with trains in and out of Euston brought to a virtual standstill.

More than 100,000 commuters were urged not to use the West Coast mainline to and from London after power lines collapsed, bringing major disruption for the sixth day in a row.

Network Rail was slammed by passengers and train operators. It was accused of reopening the line 'too soon' following a £9billion rebuilding programme.

Virgin Trains boss Sir Richard Branson was said to be 'incandescent with rage' following the repeated fiascos.

Virgin, which held crisis talks with NR yesterday to try to resolve the problems, is now considering withdrawing the new timetables and going back to the old ones while the problems are sorted out.

The failure astonished rail industry insiders as it was the third time the line has been brought to its knees in less than a week.

A source close to Sir Richard said: 'NR was warned, warned, warned this would happen. We asked for further time to allow the line to 'bed down' following all the rebuilding but no-one listened. This whole sorry fiasco is down to NR.' All Virgin services to Euston were being stopped at Milton Keynes and all London Midland trains were stopping and starting at Hemel Hempstead.

Cabinet ministers were caught up in the rail chaos as they headed to campaign in Liverpool.

Gordon Brown and senior colleagues are attending a major Labour Party event tonight and then hitting the campaign trail.

One official said: 'We were heading up on the West Coast Main Line but now we are looking at other arrangements.'

Mr Brown is travelling by a different line because he wants to stop in the Midlands. But most of the Cabinet, including Chancellor Alistair Darling and senior ministers David Miliband, Jack Straw and Ed Balls, had been expected to travel by the West Coast line.

Tomorrow, ministers will attend events in the North-West before a Cabinet meeting in Liverpool.

Downing Street spin doctors had highlighted the fact that Mr Brown would be on the train with ordinary passengers. The three-day tour is intended to show Mr Brown engaging fully with people and listening to their problems.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...00-commuters-caught-rail-fiasco.html?ITO=1490

 

[sven945]

Virgin Trains boss Sir Richard Branson was said to be 'incandescent with rage' following the repeated fiascos.

He's glowing orange more than usual?


Looks like there are problems on the ECML too, due to a fatality between Berwick and Newcastle. Though despite that there are still cancellations on departures from Leeds.

 

[Metroland]

'Because of overhead wire problems between Berkswell and Tile Hill, journeys may be delayed by up to 40 minutes.'

Me thinks someone is trying to sabotage it maybe? Overhead lines don't keep failing like that. The most reliable railways in the world in Japan and Switzerland (you know, the countries of ice and earthquakes) are almost all electrified with OHL. Unless its something peculiar to the WCML OHL design and the type of weather?

 

[Mintona]

Been another hellish morning. Get down to the station to find Virgin had contigency plan 3.7 activated, meaning that other than the 0611, all Virgin trains south today were cancelled. Many passengers sent to Stockport, for Milton Keynes Central and onward road transportation to Luton. I can't believe this has happened yet again. The plan is to have the slow line re-opened to London soon, but no idea how soon yet.

I dread to think what the situation is going to be tomorrow.

 

[Metroland]

I can't believe this has happened yet again. .

Me either, I'm getting deeply suspicious, 6/7 major OHL failures isn't normal: Watford, Tring, Kings Langley, Harrow, Berkswell, etc. One argument is the cold, but if that was the case, why aren't they failing on other lines? Or in snow bound Switzerland? the car crashing was unlucky, the plane very unlucky, Watford extremely unlucky. Now its just getting downright odd. I don't ever remember failures on such a widespread scale.

 

[Guinness]

Your verdict for tomorrow?

Minor signalling problems in the Coventry/Rugby Areas.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Virgin Trains boss Sir Richard Branson was said to be 'incandescent with rage' following the repeated fiascos.

Mega ROFL
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

B Virgin had contigency plan 3.7 activated,

Is that like Defcon 1?

 

[D306]

Is that like Defcon 1?

it's 3.7 so its actually Defcon 3

 

[Guinness]

it's 3.7 so its actually Defcon 3

Or round it up to 4..

 

[The_Rail_WAy]

Me either, I'm getting deeply suspicious, 6/7 major OHL failures isn't normal: Watford, Tring, Kings Langley, Harrow, Berkswell, etc. One argument is the cold, but if that was the case, why aren't they failing on other lines? Or in snow bound Switzerland? the car crashing was unlucky, the plane very unlucky, Watford extremely unlucky. Now its just getting downright odd. I don't ever remember failures on such a widespread scale.

Yes I totally agree, this is starting to become increasingly unlucky or suspicous. The only reasoning could be the weather, but as you say these problems are not encountered in other cold countries with OHL, such as Switzerland.

But the West Coast Mainline in complete and utter pandamonium again - harldy suprising is it!:roll:

 

[sven945]

Minor signalling problems in the Coventry/Rugby Areas.

If that ends up being true we know who is to blame!

It seems like things are moving now, nominally at least. And no delays on the EC line from Leeds. I suspect the reported cancellation on that bit was because the train was in the wrong place and they couldn't get a replacement.

 

[metrocammel]

Not much moving from Euston! All Intercity departures still showing as either 'No Report' or Caped. They keep telling people on the radio to avoid London Euston at all costs too!

 

[33056]

Had an utter farce trying to get to work last night, got as far as Tring then unceremoniously terminated there. Luckily the traincrew on my train (LM) had a bit of sense and insisted on returning north with their passengers, I got back from where I had started 90 minutes later and had to drive to work (again :roll

My better half was making his way to Euston about an hour ago, have not (so far) had any requests for a lift from somewhere on the MML, so presumably something running LM wise out of Euston now.

 

[D306]

Have heard some movement on the WCML this afternoon. Had to pop to me local shop and get something and heard a couple of horns from trains

 

[kevincoy]

Any ideas what was happening on the WCML between Tile Hill and Berkswell earlier? I had heard that there was a TSR in place for some reason adding to the chaos, causing delays on the LM locals and W&S services.

 

[Guinness]

Overhead Line problems in Tile Hill area.

 

[33056]

Further update a short while ago from site at Euston. Some Pendos seen departing, plently of LM trains in the station, but no traincrew in evidence :roll:.

 

[The Planner]

Any ideas what was happening on the WCML between Tile Hill and Berkswell earlier? I had heard that there was a TSR in place for some reason adding to the chaos, causing delays on the LM locals and W&S services.

Huuuuge icicles in Beechwood tunnel apparently, trains were smashing into them and they were getting close to the OLE.

 

[me123]

Limited services are running again. Interesting article above though; whilst NR are mostly to blame here supposedly, I'm sure the VHF timetable is also responsible for quite a bit or the chaos.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Further update a short while ago from site at Euston. Some Pendos seen departing, plently of LM trains in the station, but no traincrew in evidence :roll:.

LM still aren't running to Euston.

 

[class 313]

This chaos even stopped the Abbey Flyer unit getting down from Northampton. Lets hop that's an end of things this week!

LM are running to Euston.

 

[me123]

Hmm... was sure the site said they weren't a few minutes ago... going mad Yes, Loader is right LM are running most services but expect delays.

 

[class 313]

Hmm... was sure the site said they weren't a few minutes ago... going mad Yes, Loader is right LM are running most services but expect delays.

Someone may wish to screenshot the above Indeed. Up to 60 min delays. Least trains are moving now!

 

[Mintona]

I can't wait to go in tomorrow morning

 

[Max]

More embarrassment for Network Rail? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7816352.stm