Great Western Coffee Shop

As forecast the West Country is taking a bit of a battering.

As of 11am

FGW advising people not to travel unless journey is essential.  Tickets dated today will be valid tomorrow

No mainline trains west of Plymouth after multiple lightning strikes - however branches are running
Flooding at Cowley Bridge affecting mainline and Barnstaple branch.  Road replacement Taunton/Tiverton Parkway/Exeter

In South Wales: Signalling Problems mean no trains between Newport and Cardiff

Update at 1.30pm

Flooding at Cowley Bridge has receded and trains now able to run through (both on the main line and Barnstaple branch)
Still problems in Cornwall following lightning damage to signalling, some trains on the move.
NEW: Signalling problems at Totnes.  Trains currently cannot run between Plymouth and Newton Abbot.

In South Wales: Limited service operating between Cardiff and Newport due to ongoing signal problems.

Update at 3pm

West Country
A succession of signalling problems means there is a very thin mainline service west of Exeter St David's
Limited service from Exeter to both Exmouth and Barnstaple
Tree on the line near Bridgwater

South Wales
Still limited service between Cardiff and Newport. 
The line through Pembrey and Burry Port closed until next week.  Over half a mile of the sea wall damaged.

....and at Tywyn on the Cambrian Coast...http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/documents/content/Tywyn3.jpg

SWT not going west of Honiton, attributed to a lightning strike affecting 'Honiton to Exeter St Davids', presumably the same fault as mentioned above?

Not sure where the signalling boundary is along there, does seem odd that it involves Basingstoke now...

Paul

Basingstoke controls to Pinhoe (exclusive) which itself is controlled by Exmouth Junction. The actual signalling boundary is approximately at Whimple although Basingstoke slots the Up Starting signal at Pinhoe.

Am intrigued as to how lightening can throw out the predominantly manual signalling system here in Cornwall ?  Or am I missing something ?

The favourite spot is the Solid State Signalling system at Largin (Controlling the single line between Liskeard and Lostwithiel).  The railway there is very high up and built on a granite rock foundation so earthing has always been very problematic and lightning loves high up places anyway ;)

The other weak spots are the axle counter sections between Truro and Par.

There also seem to be problems at Athelney (between Cogload Junction and Castle Cary).  TV pictures last night of the Somerset levels showed water right up to the level crossing there.

Largin was indeed one the problem areas, as well as the other side of Liskeard towards St Germans.

 :o

Some aerial pictures of the Somerset Levels taken earlier this week by my former GCSE Physics teacher, now enjoying his retirement, often in the air.

The village of Burrowbridge and Burrow Mump. This is where the River Tone flows into the River Parrett. The confluence of the two rivers can just be seen bottom right.
(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/flooding4_zpsf2b696cc.jpg)

Curry Moor and Hay Moor looking east toward Athelney, with the railway line to the left. River Tone meandering from bottom centre of picture. The Isle of Athelney across the centre, living up to its name!
(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/flooding_zps7ed851d9.jpg)

Picture credits: Peter Kirk.