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

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

IF Network Rail do decide to completely close the line for two weeks then FGW^▸ (First Great Western) could use the Reading works diversions via Banbury for Bristol/South Wales services and WoE services into Waterloo. I admit not easy to do during normal weekday running competing for track space with Chiltern and SWT^▸ (South West Trains) but neither will busing thousands of passengers between Reading and Paddington.

The total closure of the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) I would suggest will not happen, there would have to be a major increase in threat, the wrath of the Home Sec and all the other local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)'s including Dave from West Oxfordshire would know no bounds not to mention that of the passengers.

More likely are early shut downs in the evening and a late starts in the morning and weekends to allow Network Rail to move assets, some of the track has already been raise according to insider.

What may happen is the re-signalling to Thames Valley Regional Control Centre and abolition of Slough PSB^▸ (Power Signal Box) might get accelerated or even just extending the Didcot area East pasted the affected area, even this will take several months

I agree - the closure of the GWML would cause utter chaos, the M4 has been even more horrendous over the last few days, it would never be allowed.......would it? 

[chrisoates]

All services in Cornwall suspended pending inspection Sat morning.

Penzance station flooded http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/newspage---latest-news-reports-and-photographs.html

[SDS]

[SandTEngineer]

.......and on the same Cornwall Railway Society site this ongoing diary of events at Dawlish: http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/a-dawlish-diary.html

I wonder how those containers are standing up to the storm tonight.  Its the worse winds down in the Far West since the 1987 storm (and I thought that was bad enough)

[phile]

No trains between Bath and Southampton resulting in suspension of Cardiff to Portsmouth services.   This is due to so many trees blocking the line and still falling.   Decision taken to suspend services rather than try and struggle through with uncertainty due to the ever increasing number of incidents.

[Umberleigh]

Dawlish must be getting an absolute pounding. Down here in Truro the gales are incredible and show no sign of letting up.

Those pictures of Penzance are shocking.

[sorch]

We're stuck between Westbury and Castle Cary on an Exeter bound service, the train has hit a tree.

The wind is rocking the carriage a bit.

I wish I hadn't just missed the earlier Exeter service at Slough..

[Umberleigh]

We're stuck between Westbury and Castle Cary on an Exeter bound service, the train has hit a tree.

The wind is rocking the carriage a bit.

I wish I hadn't just missed the earlier Exeter service at Slough..

Good luck for the rest of your journey. Are there many people on board?

[sorch]

We're stuck between Westbury and Castle Cary on an Exeter bound service, the train has hit a tree.

The wind is rocking the carriage a bit.

I wish I hadn't just missed the earlier Exeter service at Slough..

Good luck for the rest of your journey. Are there many people on board?

I am in the quiet carriage, so perhaps not the greatest benchmark but I'd say it's comfortably busy but still plenty of seats so I hope no one is standing.

Unfortunately despite it being the quiet carriage, a load of rah-rah gap year idiots are bullying a guy who doesn't work for First, but happens to be wearing FGW^▸ (First Great Western)-style colours and happened to be talking about what was going on based on volunteer experience (a member of this fine forum perhaps?). They can't get it through their heads that they can't smoke and certainly can't get off the train to smoke.

The TM^‡(resolve) has said that we may have an hour's wait while fitters/network rail come out. I live in Cornwall but I'm glad someone is picking me up from Exeter, I'd be going loopy between this and bustitution (which I hear isn't running?)

[bobm]

It is reported there are around 200 people on the train (the 18:03 from Paddington).

I think you may have blinked and missed Castle Cary, as the tree was reported to be half a mile west of the station rather than the Westbury side.  Having called at Castle Cary the train wasn't hopefully going too fast but has sustained some damage.

[Umberleigh]

Well Cornwall is certainly windy but there's very little rain, so hope your onward road journey is fine. In take it there are refreshments available?

[sorch]

It is reported there are around 200 people on the train (the 18:03 from Paddington).

I think you may have blinked and missed Castle Cary, as the tree was reported to be half a mile west of the station rather than the Westbury side.  Having called at Castle Cary the train wasn't hopefully going too fast but has sustained some damage.

You could be right, I was watching a film so wasn't taking much notice.

The train did slow down very quickly so I'm guessing it wasn't going too fast.

TM^‡(resolve) is suggesting that the train is not that badly damaged according to the driver and that the train may start moving soon, or may not, depending on what control says and if they need to send someone out.

[sorch]

Well Cornwall is certainly windy but there's very little rain, so hope your onward road journey is fine. In take it there are refreshments available?

I'm only going as far as just after Bodmin, and apparently they had a uneventful journey to Exeter, so I'm guessing it'll be ok when I finally get to EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains).

The buffet is open so hopefully there's still something to be sold

edit: moving again now, TM^‡(resolve) said it will be at reduced speed.

[Umberleigh]

Good news. Hope your lift doesn't have to wait too long

[sorch]

Good news. Hope your lift doesn't have to wait too long

I hope so too. My phone said we were going 90 to 95mph a minute ago (I don't know what the linespeed should be or if that's a "reduced speed", but we've stopped just outside of Somerton according to Google Maps. I hope it's nothing too sinister.