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

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were also saying the first time shuttles ran OXF^» (Oxford - next trains)-DID^» (Didcot Parkway - next trains) that there are electrics around the axles, and waves created going faster than 5mph washed water into them...thus damaging the train requiring repair.

Hence they won't run all their stock through the water.

As I said - which is better - a couple of days-ish like this, or a whole load of units out for weeks?

Frankly I think this is a load of hogwash. If a train can't withstand running through a few mm of water at 5mph for a very short distance then it isn't fit for purpose. Do they not get wet when it rains, or damp when left in sidings for the weekend or when they go through the carriage wash?

Yes, hogwash (was there a pun intended there?) as far as I can tell as well.  Let's be clear, the flooding at Hinksey yesterday was well below the railhead.  No damage would have been caused at 5mph as that would be nowhere near enough to cause any waves.  Should the water level rise significantly above the railhead (as they did at the same location at Christmas) then special measures need to be taken. 

In the case of Hinksey it is not flash floods that have caused the flooding but rising river levels.  They rise and fall at a speed that is quite easy to monitor and call a halt should it become too serious.  There was no reason why a more intensive service, or services with more carriages, could not have operated yesterday based on the conditions on the ground.  Plenty of drivers were sat around doing nothing to shuffle the sets around if that was needed.  The reason it didn't happen is more due to the overcautious nature of those that make the decisions than anything else.  An increase in the shuttle service to every 30 minutes is most welcome, though the staff on the ground and the poor passengers are quite right to feel very let down.

[ChrisB]

Yes, hogwash (was there a pun intended there?) as far as I can tell as well.  Let's be clear, the flooding at Hinksey yesterday was well below the railhead. 

OK, I'll call you. Proof please. I saw that photo too - a snapshot of a millisecond across the whole day. What other proof have you got? My NR^» (Network Rail - home page) contact told me it rose in the morning....your contact?

The reason it didn't happen is more due to the overcautious nature of those that make the decisions than anything else.  An increase in the shuttle service to every 30 minutes is most welcome, though the staff on the ground and the poor passengers are quite right to feel very let down.

I don't disagree to an extent - but as I keep saying, surely it better to be ultra-cautious and have most/all units on-going available, than not be cautious & lose a load of units to damage & weeks of repairs.

[johoare]

On a Lighter note  I almost wish I'd made it into London today..Maidenhead has such a good fast/HST^▸ (High Speed Train) service this evening.. I'd be spoilt for choice 

[Timmer]

Good to see that Cross Country were operating services down to Exeter today via Bath and Westbury.

[IndustryInsider]

....one part of the Company plan may be ensuring that when replacement buses are advertised from Maidenhead as they were this morning would be to (a) ensure they turn up in at least something like sufficient quantities somewhere near the times they are needed and (b) ensure that the drivers aren't already up to their permissible driving hours......they failed in both of these this morning.

Maybe the TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) could maintain a small fleet of coaches for these circumstances and other bustitutions rather than relying on ad hoc arrangements with third parties?

I know from experience that getting buses, even with a fair bit of warning, in sufficient quantities to deal with that sort of passenger flow is nigh on impossible.  Buses that are used for the school runs are doing just that, and service buses are also in heavy demand throughout the day, especially at rush hour.

Weekends (when most of the bustitution takes place) are far easier to sort out as long as you have a bit of notice as the school runs are not needed, hence weekend blocks (such as the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) blocks at Milton Keynes) often getting vast numbers of buses fairly easily.

The small fleet of coaches maintained by the TOCs is an interesting idea, but getting that to be even vaguely cost effective would be a challenge I would have thought.   And what good would a small fleet have coaches been this morning when they would have been required in significant numbers at Oxford, Maidenhead, Plymouth etc.?

Yes, hogwash (was there a pun intended there?) as far as I can tell as well.  Let's be clear, the flooding at Hinksey yesterday was well below the railhead. 

OK, I'll call you. Proof please. I saw that photo too - a snapshot of a millisecond across the whole day. What other proof have you got? My NR^» (Network Rail - home page) contact told me it rose in the morning....your contact?

Can't speak for today, but my contact for yesterday was my own eyes in the morning and conversations with drivers working the shuttles in the afternoon who suggested that any rise or fall throughout the day was negligible.

[JayMac]

To address ChrisB points about getting your employer to understand why you can't travel by train, drive instead, staying in a hotel, etc.

I'm effectively self employed, can't and don't drive and can't afford hotels. Thus, when I can't take on suitable assignments because of rail network closures and because the replacement road transport won't get me to those assignments on time, I simply have no additional income, or am limited to what assignments I can find in my home area. 

Never mind, as it's not a 'necessity' to do what I choose to do, I'll just kick back and be a burden on the state.

ChrisB. One size does not fit all. As you seem keen to tell us how to live our lives, what 'different mindset' do you suggest I use?


Back to talk of disruption.

Discounted (by 25%) walk-up fares for journeys through Dawlish, on flows priced by First Great Western, are now available online through FGWs^▸ (First Great Western) booking engine. Sadly, longer distance journeys priced by other operators are not subject to the discount.

[NickB]

Joyous update from the 17.30 to Super-mare... We've broken down 3 times prior to old oak common. Trouble with the passenger alarm system from what I can gather.

Full and standing too.

[thetrout]

CrossCountry have earned my respect...!

[johoare]

Joyous update from the 17.30 to Super-mare... We've broken down 3 times prior to old oak common. Trouble with the passenger alarm system from what I can gather.

Full and standing too.

Oh dear.. Good Luck.. I'll take back what I said in my earlier post. I'm glad I stayed at home today..

Does anyone know if it's likely to improve/get worse tomorrow?

[John R]

Oh dear, I'm currently waiting for that one at Swindon. I thought the 1730 (from Swindon) was going to be as late as the others, turned my back and it was only 20 late, by which time it was too late to get it.

[johoare]

Realtime trains isn't keeping up with the info.. The 17.30 that you are on NickB and that you are waiting for at Swindon John R is showing as not stopping at Maidenhead.. It has got to/passed by Maidenhead 43 minute late however..

[John R]

Realtimetrains isn't very good when trains have additional stops or are diverted en route. But it's much better than National Rail for finding out where a train is between stations, and whether it is moving. So, yes, I can see that it's currently stuck in the wet section around Maidenhead. Suspect it will be a good hour late by the time it gets past it.  Grr!

[Mookiemoo]

I'm sitting on a still pretty empty 1900 which according to national rail is cancelled by which is in platform 1 according to the boards at Paddington and the seat reservations concur!

I figure it's going west somewhere so......and now we have an announcement we are the 1900

I'll keep you advised of any points of interest

[Mookiemoo]

Left on time - carriage B maybe a third full

[johoare]

Any idea where it's stopping Mookiemoo? The only one I can see on Realtime trains is a non-stop to Reading service but I imagine reality might be slightly different.. Good luck getting home btw