Weather disruption caused in 2014, and how to prevent it happening again - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Let us not be too hasty.
It might however be nearly time to consider appointing a commitee, to consider calling a meeting, to call for more studies.

  My kind of cynicism. I like it. Post of the day!


Here's a selection of photos trawled from social media, showing the damage at Dawlish. This is not going to be a easy fix. I reckon at least a month, and quite possibly a lot longer. I suspect there are one or two properties that may have to be demolished as well.

[JayMac]

Video report, courtesy of The Daily Telegraph, with an interview with an Environment Agency spokesman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBqDoFVpLoI

[ChrisB]

That top one is a lot later than the others. Agreed, a lot longer than 2 weeks!

[JayMac]

The Par-Newquay Line has again been suspended after briefly opening this morning. Flooding near St Columb Road.

Liskeard-Looe is also closed due to flooding.

Both are at Network Rail's highest state of alert - Black. And both have no alternative transport in place.

In Somerset, the line between Castle Cary and Cogload Junction is also closed due to flooding.

[JayMac]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Sleepers have now been officially cancelled until the end of the month.

From FGW's Journey Check:

Due to a recent severe weather conditions in the Devon & Cornwall area. We have had to make the decision to cancel the Night Riviera Sleeper services between London Paddington and Penzance/Penzance and London Paddington until Friday 28th February 2014.

If you are affected by this change to your journey, and have not been contacted by our dedicated team concerning your travel arrangements, please contact our Customer Services team on 03457
000125 for further information.

[bobm]

Probably only a matter of time before a similar annoucement is made about the Pullmans. However not as disruptive as losing the sleepers for a month.

[thetrout]

In Somerset, the line between Castle Cary and Cogload Junction is also closed due to flooding.

Considering my videos of a week ago, I'm not even slightly surprised...

There was also flood water very close to the Taunton - Bridgwater Line... This photo I took the same day as the videos. Taken from inside an XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) and the quality isn't great because of the carriage lighting. So I've tweaked it slightly:



Anything above that yellow line is FLOOD WATER!

The Red Line is the Far Running Rail on the Down Line

I have immense sympathy to all the rail staff out there who are trying to prop up a network which is crashing down around them... Sympathy and extraordinary just doesn't even cut it though. Not even close!!

Considering the MET Office have issued a Flood Warning - Be Prepared (Orange Alert) Taunton could also find itself isolated from the rail network the way things are looking. In all truth, I am surprised that Cowley Bridge and the SWMLW-o-E Route to Exeter haven't been closed already.

Large lake <> 'mere' speculation! 

Nice connection there...   

Paul

HA^▸ (Highways Agency)! Thanks I didn't even think of that. For a moment it took me a while to work that one out!

[Timmer]

You can forget 6 weeks to repair the damage. Just looked at the latest forecast models for Saturday and it looks concerning to say the least adding to the damage that's already done looking likely. Thoughts with those who are suffering from the effects of this terrible winter.

[The Tall Controller]

State of play as it stands between Newton Abbot and Penzance:

The total amount of rolling stock in the area amounts to 10 units (mix of 1 and 2) coaches, 4 HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)), 2 voyagers and 1 sleeper train.

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are trying to get a PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains) - PNZ shuttle in place for tonight and will no doubt be trying to plan a timetable with what stock is available for the next 4-6 weeks.

Probably a wild guess but I can see the sleeper stock coming in handy....

[SandTEngineer]

Well here is the first view I have seen from the sea side of the actual breach: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=580867352007226&set=p.580867352007226&type=1
It looks although the concrete foundation at the toe of the wall has survived (and done the job it was designed to do).  Looks like the waves just punched out the vertical stone wall.  On that basis the damage doesn't look quite as bad a I feared and hopefully it will just be a backfilling job with some temporary sheet piling replicating the wall.  Time will tell....

[JayMac]

Well here is the first view I have seen from the sea side of the actual breach: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=580867352007226&set=p.580867352007226&type=1

Here's that picture for folks who don't 'do' Facebook:

[SandTEngineer]

On the local BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) South-West news this evening Patrick Hallgate from NR^» (Network Rail - home page) stated that they had carried out an examination of the entire sea wall (all 4 miles of it).  They have found 4 sites with serious damage (not just Dawlish by the sounds of it).  They are still sticking to their 6 week timeframe for restoration (with caveats).

[Timmer]

Latest from FGW^▸ (First Great Western):
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/dawlishseawall

[Andy]

To echo the words of an earlier poster, hats off to all the railway workers - and all other services - out there dealing with passengers, infrastructure or logistics. It must be an awful situation.

The sea wall disruption caused by these storms, the flooding at Cowley Bridge and the Somerset levels and the work at Whiteball undoubtedly add impetus to the campaign to have a second inland route between Cornwall/Plymouth to Exeter/beyond, be that via Tavistock and Okehampton or via Newton Abbot and Exeter. Even over the next couple of months, starting/terminating services at Okehampton rather than Exeter, were it a viable alternative, would alleviate some of the delays that will have to be endured.

ps - on a flippant note, I can't help wondering if all this terrible weather isn't divine retribution against certain comments by former UKIP members. 

[SandTEngineer]

...and here it is with the tide out: