Train services on Friday 27th December 2013

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

I don't think they did - cf Southwestern this morning - but admittedly not for so long.

Ask @NetworkRail on twitter?

[TaplowGreen]

After the shambolic "service" offered by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) today, I find it difficult to criticise any  other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company), clearly they were never going to be able to run anything like the service promised, exactly the same as Dec 27th 2012 as I recall?

[ellendune]

Short interview with Robin Gisby on bbc website (you need to scroll down towards the bottom of the page) in which he addressed many of the issues raised by TaplowGreen.  It would appear it is not just a few trees to clear, but checking for landslips in areas of flooding. 

Checking stability of earth structure (embankments and cuttings) is much more difficult than a brick or concrete structure, it does need daylight and is not just a quick look. I know that where a bridge over a river has been subject to flood flows this will also need checking for stability as foundations get eroded and there have been many cases of bridges collapsing as a result.  If southeast was where there was most new flooding was then I can appreciate it might take more time than elsewhere.

I am also reminded of similar criticisms in St Jude's storm. On the continent a railway administration did not take this action and was criticised as thousands of passengers were trapped on trains. 

[TaplowGreen]

Short interview with Robin Gisby on bbc website (you need to scroll down towards the bottom of the page) in which he addressed many of the issues raised by TaplowGreen.  It would appear it is not just a few trees to clear, but checking for landslips in areas of flooding. 

Checking stability of earth structure (embankments and cuttings) is much more difficult than a brick or concrete structure, it does need daylight and is not just a quick look. I know that where a bridge over a river has been subject to flood flows this will also need checking for stability as foundations get eroded and there have been many cases of bridges collapsing as a result.  If southeast was where there was most new flooding was then I can appreciate it might take more time than elsewhere.

I am also reminded of similar criticisms in St Jude's storm. On the continent a railway administration did not take this action and was criticised as thousands of passengers were trapped on trains. 

-I was referring specifically to the overrunning engineering works affecting FGW^▸ (First Great Western) services out of Paddington today, along with the signal failures, lack of communication etc in that area.....happy to be corrected if I'm wrong but I don't think that had anything to do with the storm etc? Think it was just a localised issue?

[Electric train]

After the shambolic "service" offered by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) today, I find it difficult to criticise any  other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company), clearly they were never going to be able to run anything like the service promised, exactly the same as Dec 27th 2012 as I recall?

To be totally fair to FGW they did get off to a good start, I was at Maidenhead this morning for 07:40 they had the trains on the departure boards unfortunately it was a NR^» (Network Rail - home page) engineering overrun that caused them grief, FGW did have a unit failure on the Redhill service that did case that line a few issues early on.

Short interview with Robin Gisby on bbc website (you need to scroll down towards the bottom of the page) in which he addressed many of the issues raised by TaplowGreen.  It would appear it is not just a few trees to clear, but checking for landslips in areas of flooding. 

Checking stability of earth structure (embankments and cuttings) is much more difficult than a brick or concrete structure, it does need daylight and is not just a quick look. I know that where a bridge over a river has been subject to flood flows this will also need checking for stability as foundations get eroded and there have been many cases of bridges collapsing as a result.  If southeast was where there was most new flooding was then I can appreciate it might take more time than elsewhere.

I am also reminded of similar criticisms in St Jude's storm. On the continent a railway administration did not take this action and was criticised as thousands of passengers were trapped on trains. 

There was that infamous bridge collapse at Feltham in November 2009 http://www.londonreconnections.com/2009/in-pictures-the-feltham-bridge-collapse/ this is why NR are cautious, you cannot expect staff to inspect bridges over a swollen river or stream in the dark

[Chris from Nailsea]

A video news report, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

UK^▸ (United Kingdom) storm: Rail cancellations 'right thing to do'

Strong winds and flooding have caused major disruption for commuters as many roads and railways remain blocked and flooded.

Rail companies are operating reduced services across the UK.

The East Coast mainline, Virgin Trains, South Eastern and Arriva services have all been affected as Network Rail check routes for fallen trees.

Robin Gisby from Network Rail defended the decision to cancel all services operated by South Eastern by explaining "it would be ridiculous to put passengers on trains and get them stuck and stranded...it is absolutely the right thing to do".

Jane-Frances Kelly reports from Victoria Station in London.

(My highlighting. CfN.)

[thetrout]

The Weather Forecast for Sunday Evening/Monday is looking very dire for the South West... http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2635167

To make matters worse, I've just booked 1C86 (14:28 Paddington - Penzance) on Sunday to Liskeard... I wish I had checked that forecast first and I might not have bothered!

Nice interesting route mind. Non stop Reading - Taunton via Melksham and Westbury

[Chris from Nailsea]

There was that infamous bridge collapse at Feltham in November 2009 http://www.londonreconnections.com/2009/in-pictures-the-feltham-bridge-collapse/ this is why NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are cautious, you cannot expect staff to inspect bridges over a swollen river or stream in the dark

Indeed - thanks for posting that reminder, Electric train! 

We discussed that particular incident here on the Coffee Shop forum, at http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=5690.0

[broadgage]

The Weather Forecast for Sunday Evening/Monday is looking very dire for the South West... http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2635167

To make matters worse, I've just booked 1C86 (14:28 Paddington - Penzance) on Sunday to Liskeard... I wish I had checked that forecast first and I might not have bothered!

Nice interesting route mind. Non stop Reading - Taunton via Melksham and Westbury

Forecast weather does not look bad to me, am I looking in the wrong place ? or has the forecast been revised to more favourable conditions after the above post ?

[ellendune]

The Weather Forecast for Sunday Evening/Monday is looking very dire for the South West... http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2635167

To make matters worse, I've just booked 1C86 (14:28 Paddington - Penzance) on Sunday to Liskeard... I wish I had checked that forecast first and I might not have bothered!

Nice interesting route mind. Non stop Reading - Taunton via Melksham and Westbury

Forecast weather does not look bad to me, am I looking in the wrong place ? or has the forecast been revised to more favourable conditions after the above post ?

The severe weather warning of rain for Monday has indeed been revised but not more favourably.  When I looked just after this post IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) it only covered Cornwall it now seems also to cover Devon, west Somerset and the extreme west of Dorset.