Mass disruption due to flooding - December 2012

[whole diary]

[Super Guard]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Devon and Cornwall floods continue to cause disruption

About 30 homes have been flooded in a Devon village as heavy rain continues to cause problems in the South West. Twenty-five people were led to safety by emergency services in the village of Stoke Canon, Exeter, after the River Exe burst its banks.

My heart goes out to everyone in Stoke Canon, I used to live there  .

[grahame]

We are indeed straying ... however, the Cheltenham -> Southampton situation is:

There are currently (Monday to Friday, not holiday times) direct trains from Cheltenham to Southmapton at 11:32 (vis Bristol) and at 17:40 (via Swindon).  There's also an 05:18 from GLOUCESTER via Swindon.  In the return direction, the are trains at 08:23, 10:42, and 12:27 ... they all run via Bristol, as the northbound TransWilts trains only start from Westbury, even though the southbound ones go to Southampton on Monday to Friday.

In 1954 (a year for which I have Bradshaw's), there were two direct trains via the MSWJ line, at 10:11 and 13:56 southbound, and at 10:27 and 16:43 northbound (I have not researched other direct trains on other routes in 1954)

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Flood warnings remain as wet weather continues

Flood warnings remain in place across England and Wales, amid ongoing weather warnings and icy roads in Scotland. It comes as a West Highland road was closed after a landslide and a rare landslide and rockfall warning was issued for south-west England by the British Geological Survey.

Fire crews say they have prevented flood water damaging an electrical substation near Reading, in Berkshire. Power cuts in Reading and south Oxfordshire may have been averted. Some 40,000 properties in the area were in danger of losing power.

The Environment Agency has about 120 flood warnings and more than 220 flood alerts in place in England and Wales. There are no flood warnings in Scotland.

In other developments:
- Forecasters have predicted that wet weather is set to continue until at least Friday, potentially bringing further flooding to parts of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom)
- The closure of the A890 at Stromeferry, in West Highlands, on Christmas Day due to a landslide has led to a diversion for drivers of almost 150 miles
- Thirteen families have been advised to leave their homes after a landslip at Ystalyfera, in the upper Swansea valley.

The British Geological Survey (BGS), along with other agencies, feeds information into the Hazard Warning Centre at the Met Office in Exeter. The South West Coastal Path, which covers most of the Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset coasts, runs through areas which are potentially at risk. The BGS has concerns about the stability of cliffs because of recent heavy rain. And amid fears for walkers, it urges extra caution near cliff edges.

The Met Office said an area of heavy rain would move across the country during the day. It said that given the continuing saturated state of the ground this may lead to further localised flooding. Some icy stretches are expected to form overnight, especially on surfaces where showers have washed off salt treatments. The Met Office said this could lead to difficult driving conditions.

BBC weather forecaster Jay Wynne said Friday will see the western half of Britain experience gale force winds and heavy rain later in the day, with weather warnings extending from the South West to the North West. This weekend will be windy everywhere with some heavy rain, the heaviest being in southern England and Wales, he added.

The Environment Agency has said many places will stay on flood alert despite a slight easing of weather conditions.

Met Office figures suggest 2012 is set to be one of the wettest years since records began in 1910. Before December, the average rainfall for the year so far was 1,202mm - placing it 13th in the list of wettest years. Due to the deluge of rain in the run up to Christmas, forecasters say 2012 is now likely to finish with one of the highest rainfall totals on record. The year 2000 remains the UK's wettest year, with an average rainfall of 1,337mm.

[phile]

Now Exmouth Branch closed beyond Topsham.  Necessary to carry out repairs to a bridge due water damage.   Have read elsewhere may not return to normal until New Year.

[TonyK]

Better news from the Bristol Evening Post.

Rail track between Bristol and Exter set to reopen tomorrow


TRAIN services between Bristol and Exeter that had been disrupted due to flooding will start running again at 12pm tomorrow - 18 hours ahead of schedule.

The service had been affected because the River Exe burst its banks and caused damage to the track.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said lessons had been learned from flooding last month allowing them to get rail users back on track far more quickly.

They said train operators Cross Country and First Great Western have been advised that both tracks between Bristol and Exeter will be available for use.

The Network Rail spokesperson said: "We have learned some lessons from the flooding in November and done some things differently.

"There's nothing that we could do to prevent the River Exe bursting its banks and causing the track damage ^ but we have done some things proactively to minimise damage to the signalling.

"In November it took three or four days to fix the track where the ballast had washed away, but nearly three weeks to repair the damage to the signalling equipment.

"This time we used temporary dams to divert the flow of the water away from the lineside signalling equipment.

"This is the first time this technology has ever been used on the railway in Britain and it seems to have helped contain the damage well so far.

"We also removed some of the lineside signalling equipment such as the point operating equipment at Cowley Bridge Junction and stored it in a dry place so that it can be reinstalled undamaged after the water's gone down.

"We've also been working closely with the Met Office and the Environment Agency to keep up to date with the predicted river levels.

"A lot of network operations people have worked tirelessly through the Christmas holiday period when they hadn't planned to, restoring the railway as quickly as possible."

[swrural]

Clearly tremendous work being done.  One just hopes that there will be some serious thought given to getting beyond sandbags when time permits.

[JayMac]

Organised chaos was the best way to describe Taunton station this afternoon. I've never seen the place so busy.

What impressed me most though was a very visible staff presence. I counted 6 members of staff on Platform 2 as well as a further 2 doing replacement coach co-ordination. There were two members of staff by the (open) gateline at the main entrance as well as all ticket windows manned.

Only thing amiss were the recorded announcements. They were struggling to keep up with the delays, cancellations and platform alterations. What would have been useful here were local announcements, ideally a system like that used on the Underground were platform staff use a microphone patched in direct to the PA^▸ (Public Address). That way platform staff would have been able to shout the necessary "Please allow people to disembark before attempting to board", "Please stand back", "Please keep access to the stairways clear" and so on. All of those announcements were needed.

I stayed out by the bus stop having a smoke until a couple of minutes before my train (A terminating and turning round CrossCountry) pulled in.

I fully expected sardine can conditions, and wasn't disappointed. I had a 1st Class ticket and seat reservation, but gave up my seat to an elderly lady who was travelling further than me. She was full of thanks and my chivalrous action was noted by a couple of other younger travellers who followed my lead and also gave up seats for the more mature traveller. They joined me in standing in the disabled area of the 1st Class carriage. We were all rewarded for our actions by the lady who took my seat. She passed round her travel sweets!

[Chris from Nailsea]

What would have been useful here were local announcements, ideally a system like that used on the Underground were platform staff use a microphone patched in direct to the PA^▸ (Public Address). That way platform staff would have been able to shout the necessary "Please allow people to disembark before attempting to board", "Please stand back", "Please keep access to the stairways clear" and so on. All of those announcements were needed.

My understanding is that local station staff do potentially have that facility - but it's subject to them having access to the necessary handsets and security logins, which may not be readily accessible without the attendance of the local manager ... 

[bobm]

They certainly have it on Platform 7 at Reading and make good use if it during the current works which have narrowed it.

[JayMac]

An update from First Great Western at 1730 this evening as posted on Facebook:

Service Disruption 27th December 2012 Update: 17:30

London Paddington

After earlier disruption on services starting at London Paddington due to over running engineering works in the Maidenhead area. We now have two lines open and are working to resume our advertised timetable. However, due to continuing problems with repair on the further two lines Network Rail are unable to give back the lines. We shall now work on the two lines until close of service today. This will reduce some services on Local stopping trains and High Speed Services.

West of England services Information:

We are still experiencing flooding in the following areas:

Exeter to Tiverton

Trains continue to be unable to operate between Tiverton Parkway Station and Exeter St Davids. Therefore, High Speed services from Penzance, Plymouth, towards Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington will terminate at Exeter St Davids with road transport toTiverton for rail connections onwards.

High Speed Services from London Paddington towards Exeter St Davids and the West of England will terminate at Tiverton with road transport to Exeter St Davids for onward rail connections. Services arriving after 22:00 into Tiverton will have no road transport due to the unavailabilty of coaches in the area.

The line between Exeter St Davids and Tiverton is expected to reopen on 29th December.

Other Service Information:

Services between Exeter St Davids and Exmouth are disrupted due to flooding in the Lympstone area. Services will start and terminate at Topsham with road transport operating between Topsham and Stations to Exmouth in both directions. Services will remain disrupted until after the New Year.

Services between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple are currently operated by road transport and this will continue for the rest of today. The line is expected to be closed until at least 29th December.

Services between Liskeard and Looe are suspended in both directions with limited road transport operating between Liskead and Looe only. We are unable to access intermediate Stations due to road conditions. Services will remain disrupted until after the New Year.

See www.journeycheck.com/firstgreatwestern for further updates..

First Great Western advises customers to check travel plans before leaving home due to the current weather conditions and to only travel if essential.

[bobm]

I can understand their caution but late afternoon services from Cornwall and west Devon tomorrow are currently shown as cancelled on Journeyplanner. Hopefully they can be reinstated if Cowley Bridge reopens at lunchtime and the last Penzance to London Paddington via Bristol will run.  Hoping to make a flying visit to Swindon and then back down on Saturday morning.

[Southern Stag]

Must say the staff down west today were brilliant. Big staff presence at Exeter helping out with passengers, connections were being held between buses and trains, and trains and other trains and the free tea, coffee and biscuits available as you made your way from the buses to the trains was certainly a nice touch.

[brompton rail]

Services are now running through Cowley Bridge. Don't know which was the first, but it seems the first northbound XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) was 12.24 from Plymouth - now on its way north of Bristol. Left BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) (Temple Meads) only about 16 down according to live times. Great work by Network Rail staff, just hope tonight/tomorrow's forecast bad weather doesn't undo the good work.

[trainer]

Another great performance from railway staff (and I'm guessing contractors) in doing a 'King Canute' at Cowley Bridge and a 'Hercules' at the Teignmouth cliff.  There's no doubt that there are many committed people who serve us in very challenging ways on and off the trains. Earlier I wondered whether we had seen such disruption since 1945.  I know it's difficult to compare, but the speed and persistence (in the face of repeated severe weather) of our railway engineers and operating staff to keep the system safe and usable is an equivalent  attitude to that displayed the dark days of the 1940s, I think. (Minus the bombs, thank God.)

[swrural]

Totally agree with foregoing.  It is blowing a fierce gale down here on the coast, so fingers crossed for this weekend.  The XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) site is a bit vague compared with FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s.