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

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

I was bored (okay very bored) and came across this old piece of legislation which I am wondering would apply to this case at Dawlish???

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/5-6/55/section/14

Yes it still can be used (it may have been amended now but there is something in place), although it is better to ask the land owner more often than not they cooperate beyond what is required under the law

[johoare]

As of 21:50 last night.

NORMAL WORKING on both up & down main lines (apart from a 60mph EROS^▸ (Emergency Restriction Of Speed) on DM)

Talking by 2 signals on both up & down relief lines.

Thanks Insider.. That is good news.Does that mean, if things don't get worse again before tomorrow, that we can expect a more normal train service in the morning? 

[johoare]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site:

"We anticipate running a significantly improved service from Monday" 

[Electric train]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site:

"We anticipate running a significantly improved service from Monday" 

I guess it could not be significantly worse than last week .......................... or can it 

[johoare]

From the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site:

"We anticipate running a significantly improved service from Monday" 

I guess it could not be significantly worse than last week .......................... or can it 

Good point.. and if I wanted to be Pedantic/optimistic I could read that as being a better service than the usual timetable provides   

[BBM]

According to Real Time Trains it looks like everything including stoppers are being routed via the UM & DM this morning, indeed the 1019 Reading - Paddington appears to have actually GAINED 3 minutes between Twyford and Maidenhead. Hopefully this means that work on the Relief lines is currently taking place and indeed it'll look much better for tomorrow morning.

Having said that though, I'm prepared to bet that my usual 0654 from Twyford (the 0620 from Didcot Parkway) won't turn up because of the ongoing flooding issues at Radley - is there any news on the situation there? (though if at least there are some reliable alternative services tomorrow morning at TWY^▸ (Twyford station) it won't be all bad news for me by any means.)

[bobm]

According to Real Time Trains it looks like everything including stoppers are being routed via the UM & DM this morning,

I believe there are planned engineering works between Paddington and Reading.  Only two of the four lines have been used most Sundays for a while.

[johoare]

According to Real Time Trains it looks like everything including stoppers are being routed via the UM & DM this morning, indeed the 1019 Reading - Paddington appears to have actually GAINED 3 minutes between Twyford and Maidenhead. Hopefully this means that work on the Relief lines is currently taking place and indeed it'll look much better for tomorrow morning.

Having said that though, I'm prepared to bet that my usual 0654 from Twyford (the 0620 from Didcot Parkway) won't turn up because of the ongoing flooding issues at Radley - is there any news on the situation there? (though if at least there are some reliable alternative services tomorrow morning at TWY^▸ (Twyford station) it won't be all bad news for me by any means.)

Looking at Realtime trains it appears that trains are running through Radley ok now...

[johoare]

First Great Western site now says (against London to Reading)

"Following work on signalling and track in the Maidenhead area over the weekend, we anticipate being able to run a near-normal train service into and out of London Paddington from Monday 17 February."

[Electric train]

First Great Western site now says (against London to Reading)

"Following work on signalling and track in the Maidenhead area over the weekend, we anticipate being able to run a near-normal train service into and out of London Paddington from Monday 17 February."

Is that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) near normal or what should be normal ......................... errr only jesting I know the guys and gal on FGW do a sterling job after all  FGW are my favourite TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) between 06:30 to 08:00 and 15:30 to 17:30 each weekday ...... honest 

[bobm]

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western)

First Great Western and Network Rail plan to restore the majority of services into and out of London Paddington from Monday 17 February.
 
Network Rail's engineering and maintenance teams have been working tirelessly to try and solve the problems caused by the flooding at Maidenhead that had crippled the normal signalling system reducing service to just 20% of normal capacity. Through a series of innovative engineering solutions, from start of service on Monday, in excess of 75% of normal services will be running.
 
First Great Western is planning to run a near normal service on high speed routes into and out of London on Monday with the exception of the route closures at Dawlish, and between Bridgwater and Taunton. Buses will run on those routes that are closed.
 
Local services will also be running between Reading and London on Monday, although because of the flooding affecting signalling equipment near Maidenhead, there will be a small number of trains that we won't be able to run.
 
Mark Hopwood, First Great Western's managing director, said: "This is great news for our passengers, who have faced a very difficult period of travel. We are finalising a new amended timetable, which we will publish through our online systems later today. To help customers who postponed journeys last week, ticket restrictions remain lifted until Monday. Customers are strongly advised to check our website before setting off in the morning."
 
Patrick Hallgate, Network Rail's route managing director, said: "My team have worked night and day to try and improve the situation for passengers using this route. Our signalling equipment is under several feet of floodwater but with some innovative thinking a temporary system has been put in place that should see us through the next few weeks until the water recedes.
 
"We continue to work on further fixes that may further improve capacity through this section next week."
 
Robin Gisby, Network Rail's managing director of operations added: "Passengers have been tremendously understanding during a period of extraordinary weather that has had a major impact on rail services in some areas.
 
"Services are returning to normal, but for some, especially in the far west where parts of the railway have been destroyed, it will be a number of weeks yet until we are able to offer the level and standard of service people have rightly come to expect."

[SandTEngineer]

.....and here is the cause of that little problem

[ellendune]

I trust that the new cabinets will be put further up the side of the cutting

[bobm]

Now the water has dropped from the running rails, it almost looks like the sandbags at the bottom right are trying to "keep" the water around the cabinets. 

[grahame]

Are there any estimates of when the line from Bridgwater to Taunton might re-open?