Widespread disruption on Friday evening causing delays - 24 May 2013

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From First Great Western JourneyCheck:

Line problem: between Swindon and Gloucester.

Owing to an obstruction on the line between Swindon and Gloucester all lines are blocked.

Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed at short notice. An estimate for the resumption of normal services will be provided as soon as the problem has been fully assessed.

Customers are advised we are unable to source road transport and therefore not to travel, due to size of the tree fallen on the railway line in the Stroud area the lines are likely to blocked for some considerable amount of time.

Cross Country services are conveying passengers between Bristol Parkway and Gloucester in both directions until further notice.

Message Received: 24/05/2013 17:37

[bobm]

Also one on the line at Lavington near Westbury and on the South Devon steam railway between Staverton and Buckfastleigh. (I was stuck behind that one).

Not surprised there are some trees down. Wind gusts of 28mph in Swindon today.

Edited to add:  Now more problems after a person hit by a train just east of Swindon.

[JayMac]

The tree was actually hit by a passenger service, the 1336 from Paddington to Cheltenham Spa between Kemble and Stroud. Both lines were initially blocked leaving the 1431 Cheltenham Spa - Paddington stopped at Stroud.

One idiot on the train which hit the tree decided to leave the train and walk down the line to Stroud.  

As at 1800 the tree has been cut up allowing the up line to open to let the 1431 continue to Swindon were it will be terminated. It will then run empty to Old Oak Common. Train Manager out of hours and no replacement available.

The tree has been removed from under the 1336 and fitters have assessed the damage and the train has been permitted to continue to Gloucester where it will terminate around 170 minutes late.

Other tree related issues have caused problems near Westbury and Sherborne.

A freight train hit a fallen branch on the up line between Westbury and Pewsey. The engine was shut down after the branch set off the fire extinguisher. Train has had to be dragged back to Westbury wrong line. This has caused some disruption to passenger services between the west and London.

A fallen tree also blocked the West of England Main Line near Sherborne. Line has just reopened.

[ChrisB]

A person under is now being reported on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line)

[JayMac]

The GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) is now blocked in both directions between Swindon and Didcot following a person hit by a train near South Marston. 1655 from Cardiff involved.

Road transport is being sourced at Swindon and Reading. Services between London and Bristol/South Wales are being diverted via the Berks & Hants, not calling Didcot, Swindon and Chippenham.

Not a good day all round. Thoughts are with the driver of the train involved.

[Chris from Nailsea]

With thanks to those posting in response to my original quote from First Great Western JourneyCheck, I've now moved this topic here and renamed it to reflect the wider disruption in our area occurring today. 

[JayMac]

As at 1900. Person hit by train reportedly still alive. Air ambulance on site.

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are having problems diverting services due to displaced train crew and those available not having the required route knowledge.

[JayMac]

Trains are now running at reduced speed between Bristol and Bath Spa after the 1808 from Weston Super Mare hit a small tree between Twerton Long and Twerton Short Tunnels. Trains are being cautioned on the up line due to concerns about lineside vegetation.

[JayMac]

GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) has reopened and trains are back to line speed. Knock-on delays are likely to continue until late evening.

[thetrout]

Bad news for anyone heading to the South West for Bank Holiday.

21:07 Westbury - Plymouth 40 minutes late.
21:55 Westbury - Plymouth 47 minutes late!

I'm sat on the 21:40 Westbury - Weymouth which will be about 10 minutes late due to waiting for 1C97 (21:07 WSB^» (Westbury - next trains) - PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains))

[trainer]

And don't bother with the car instead, as there's been a fatality on the Second Severn Crossing delaying entry into Wales on both bridges.  Travelling in that direction not a good idea this evening if it can be avoided.

[JayMac]

It really has been a bad start to the bank holiday weekend for First Great Western, and all out of their control. Another shocking incident from earlier today:

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

First Great Western train driver shaken as window smashed

A train driver has been left shaken after a First Great Western train was hit with a block of wood on the Paddington to Cardiff line in Oxfordshire.

British Transport Police said the block was thrown from a bridge near Lower Basildon.

It smashed the window and lodged in the cab door. Passengers left the train at Didcot Parkway.

Officers said the incident could have had "catastrophic consequences."

Picture here:
http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/story/2013-05-24/vandal-injures-train-driver/

Service involved was the 1215 from Paddington to Cardiff.

[LiskeardRich]

Regarding the trees down, its been very windy down here in Cornwall today. I've been driving a Mercedes Sprinter van most of day, and I dont recall experiencing getting blown about so much in a vehicle in my 8 years of driving!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks again to all those who have posted updates on this rather sorry situation in the Great Western area this evening.  

To summarize - from First Great Western JourneyCheck:

Line problem: between Swindon and Didcot Parkway.
Following a person hit by a train between Swindon and Didcot Parkway all lines have now reopened.
Train services running through these stations are returning to normal. Normal services will be provided as soon as possible.
Following a person hit by a train in the South Marston area lines have reopened however there will now be residual delays until end of service.
Cross Country services are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice. Arrangements have been made for First Great Western rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
Arrangements previously made with Virgin Trains to convey passengers have now been withdrawn.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 19:59

Train Cancellation
20:48 Cheltenham Spa to Bristol Temple Meads due 22:11
This train will be cancelled. This is due to an obstruction on the line.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 16:55

Other Train Service Updates
16:28 Swansea to London Paddington due 19:33
This train has been delayed at Swindon and is now 85 minutes late. This is due to a person hit by a train earlier.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 19:57

17:10 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington due 19:16
This train will be delayed at Reading and is expected to be 56 minutes late. This train will be diverted between Swindon and Reading. This train will no longer call at Didcot Parkway. This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 18:44

17:28 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 20:06
This train will call additionally at Didcot Parkway. This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 18:47

17:28 Swansea to London Paddington due 20:37
This train will be diverted from Bristol Parkway. This train will be terminated at Bristol Temple Meads. This train will call additionally at Bristol Temple Meads. This train will no longer call at Swindon, Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington. This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 19:14

17:30 London Paddington to Taunton due 20:23
This train will be delayed at Bath Spa and is expected to be 6 minutes late. This train will be diverted between Reading and Bath Spa. This train will no longer call at Didcot Parkway, Swindon and Chippenham. This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 18:38

17:39 Cheltenham Spa to Southampton Central due 20:48
This train will be delayed at Gloucester. This train has started from Gloucester, terminated at Swindon and restarted from Westbury. This train will no longer call at Cheltenham Spa, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge. This is due to an obstruction on the line.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 18:50

17:45 London Paddington to Swansea due 20:47
This train has been delayed at Reading and is now 25 minutes late. This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 19:35

17:50 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill due 20:05
This train has been delayed and is now 37 minutes late from Oxford. This train will be diverted from Worcester Shrub Hill. This train will be terminated at Worcester Foregate Street. This train will call additionally at Didcot Parkway and Worcester Foregate Street. This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 19:43

17:55 Cardiff Central to London Paddington due 19:54
This train is being delayed at Swindon and is now expected to be 60 minutes late. This is due to a person hit by a train earlier.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 19:58

18:00 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads due 19:43
This train has been delayed at Reading and is now 73 minutes late. This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 24/05/2013

19:43 18:15 London Paddington to Swansea due 21:19
This train has been delayed from London Paddington and is now 73 minutes late. This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 19:31

18:22 London Paddington to Hereford due 21:34
This train will call additionally at Didcot Parkway. This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 19:08

18:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare due 20:53
This train will be delayed at Bath Spa and is expected to be 6 minutes late. This train will be diverted between Reading and Bath Spa. This train will no longer call at Didcot Parkway, Swindon and Chippenham. This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 19:13

18:45 London Paddington to Swansea due 21:49
This train has been delayed from London Paddington and is now 46 minutes late. This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 19:33

19:12 Reading to Newbury due 19:44
This train has been delayed at Reading West and is now 21 minutes late. This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 19:36

19:12 London Paddington to Swansea due 22:21
This train has been delayed from London Paddington and is now 24 minutes late. This is due to a person hit by a train.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 19:39

20:01 Cheltenham Spa to Swindon due 21:03
This train will be started from Gloucester. This train will no longer call at Cheltenham Spa. This is due to an obstruction on the line earlier.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 19:35

21:15 Great Malvern to Bristol Temple Meads due 23:19
This train will call additionally at Cam & Dursley and Yate. This is due to an obstruction on the line earlier.
Message Received: 24/05/2013 20:04

... and from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Biker dies and M4 eastbound closed on second Severn Crossing


Five lanes of the crossing over the Severn were shut to deal with the fatal crash

A motorcyclist has died in a crash on the second Severn Crossing, which has closed the M4 eastbound.

The man was declared dead at the scene following the alert at around 17:50 BST on Friday, said Gwent Police.

The eastbound crossing is closed at junction 23 for the M48 but the two westbound lanes of the bridge have now reopened.

Traffic was reported to be tailing back to the Coldra roundabout. It was being diverted along the old Severn Bridge.

However, the alternative M48 route is restricted to one lane due to high winds.

Two westbound lanes were shut so that emergency services could reach the scene. There was stop-start traffic into south Wales reported for 12 miles.

The eastbound carriageways remains closed for accident investigation work.

[bobm]

Still a knock on effect this morning with the 05:28 from Swansea to Paddington cancelled because not enough HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) made it to Landore last night.