What's up with the WCML today? (25/02)

[AndrewE]

9F02 0616 EUS-Liv delayed 110 mins at Rugby, then numerous other Birmingham Liverpool and Birmingham Scotland trains cancelled or terminated short due to "a problem with the traction equipment." I was guessing something about the OLE supply which was causing the electrics to trip out, then spotted 0726 Brum Manc https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C74785/2026-02-25/detailed - a Voyager - with the same problem!

Hopefully our usually-reliable Crewe to Chester shuttle will run, I'm not optimistic about the 1731 Evwero return...

 

[185143]

9F02 0616 EUS-Liv delayed 110 mins at Rugby, then numerous other Birmingham Liverpool and Birmingham Scotland trains cancelled or terminated short due to "a problem with the traction equipment." I was guessing something about the OLE supply which was causing the electrics to trip out, then spotted 0726 Brum Manc https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C74785/2026-02-25/detailed - a Voyager - with the same problem!

Apparently the infamous 4S43 failed again, albeit a fair bit further south than normal.

 

[Tetragon213]

FWIW the Up Highlander was also heavily delayed, and made precisely no progress on clawing this back during the several hundred miles going southbound on the ECML.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Wasn't there a failed train somewhere near Stafford earlier today (think I heard this mentioned on the BBC 'Radio 5 Live' traffic news), if so, was that one of those already mentioned upthread?

 

[The Planner]

88009 failed.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Yep, freight train failed at Stafford Trent Valley junction, blocked the Stour lines for about 80 minutes or so.

Also, dip reported around Coseley around same time so mayhem for a while.

 

[The Mercian]

There was also a trespasser on the line at Lichfield TV for about 30 mins at 9:00-9:30.

 

[AndrewE]

OK, so the outward TfW shuttle ran OK, but at 1715 the Chester station barrier staff were adamant that the 1731 home would be running (and on time) and most reluctant to let us back off the station, even though we had realised that the outward Holyhead which should detach it at 1705 was then showing a 1750 arrival...

A few minutes later in the bar we saw the 1731 showing cancelled on RTT, goodness knows when the station staff discovered that little secret, and killed time until we went for the TfW shuttle (again,) a packed 3-car which I am relieved to say seems to have got into Crewe before the train people should have been on from Chester left at 1827, late enough for the passengers from Chester to have caught it. (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L02159/2026-02-25/detailed#allox_id=0)

It still doesn't explain the epidemic of "traction equipment failures" north of Wolves though.

 

[samrammstein]

Delays are attributed to the root cause, so lots of cancellations/delays attributed to traction failures will be relating to 88009 and not the units on the services in question. I think.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Delays are attributed to the root cause, so lots of cancellations/delays attributed to traction failures will be relating to 88009 and not the units on the services in question. I think.

Only going by RTT; but if (for instance) there is a cancellation on EMR (Intercity or Connect) caused by 'problems with the train' or the other common traction/doors related problems then the booked return working, and subsequent workings, when cancelled are shown as 'late arrival of an inbound service', so a bit inconsistent.

On the other hand, in my RfD days, an RfD train failure would be attributed as the cause of delays several days later. Perhaps a reflection of the difference between pro-active and re-active performance controllers, though; particularly curious regarding passenger trains as so few run in the small hours to carry the contagion to the next day.

 

[Omnishambles]

On the other hand, in my RfD days, an RfD train failure would be attributed as the cause of delays several days later. Perhaps a reflection of the difference between pro-active and re-active performance controllers, though; particularly curious regarding passenger trains as so few run in the small hours to carry the contagion to the next day.

In my experience following day knock-ons were almost always caused by fleet swaps during the disruption resulting in sets being out of plan at end of day, ie/ ending at stabling sidings as opposed to depots and out for exams, which would take them over exam mileage and potentially stopped if no derogation was received to run. Also same if crews had been extended beyond hours and were then unable to catch booked diagram the following day. Has to be said also that larger incidents with ,000s of minutes delay have been known to be 'dumping grounds' for easy hiding of difficult delays to find, again in my experience and without tarring all attribution staff with the same brush

 

[Merle Haggard]

In my experience following day knock-ons were almost always caused by fleet swaps during the disruption resulting in sets being out of plan at end of day, ie/ ending at stabling sidings as opposed to depots and out for exams, which would take them over exam mileage and potentially stopped if no derogation was received to run. Also same if crews had been extended beyond hours and were then unable to catch booked diagram the following day. Has to be said also that larger incidents with ,000s of minutes delay have been known to be 'dumping grounds' for easy hiding of difficult delays to find, again in my experience and without tarring all attribution staff with the same brush

Thanks for that explanation, it shows a different perspective that I hadn't appreciated.

It is fair to say that the ones I took an interest in were when the delay minutes exceeded 10,000. I noticed that the small number of delays attributed on the second day after the incident (e.g. Friday if the delay was on Wednesday) would almost always include a train to Manchester Airport - which might well be explained by the 'dumping grounds' reasons you give. At first sight bizarre because the RfD trains I was interested in (Automotive) never went anywhere near Manchester to Crewe.

 

[LCC106]

What is RfD please? Ta!

 

[Purple Train]

What is RfD please? Ta!

I think it's Railfreight Division if I remember correctly.

 

[Freightmaster]

I think it's Railfreight Division if I remember correctly.

Railfreight Distribution:

(photo shows 47306 in 'two tone grey' RfD livery)



MARK

 

[Merle Haggard]

What is RfD please? Ta!

RfD was one of the six sectors of B.R.; the others were TlF, IC, NSE, OPS later RR and REPS.
British Rail, Trainload Freight, Inter City, Network South East, Other Provincial Services/Regional Railways, Rail Express Parcels Services

 

[Purple Train]

Railfreight Distribution:

(photo shows 47306 in 'two tone grey' RfD livery)



MARK

Oops. That'll teach me to answer questions late at night. Apologies both!