Bridgwater -> Taunton - closed until some time next week?

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

Personally, I'm looking forward to these particular pumps starting work:

An update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

The agency now expects the Beer Wall pumps to be turned on towards the end of this week.

 

[Cynthia]

Cynthia, I share your pessimism! However, there are some of the right noises coming out of central and local govt. The word "resilience" even got a mention!

 I will add that the only noises I note coming from gov't are those that issue forth from whoopy cushions, or the human equivalent! 

[bobm]

Moderator note:

At this point an interesting discussion developed about the various units used to measure amounts of water.

As this is not unique to the flooding in the Bridgwater area it has been moved here http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=13617.0

[grahame]

"A week or two" before the railway line re-opens over the Somerset Levels

is now [Journey check]

Impact:
Train services running through these stations may be delayed or revised at short notice. Disruption is expected until 23:59 07/03.

Customer Advice:
Owing to flooding we are unable to operate trains between Bridgwater and Taunton. Network Rail currently estimates the line will be re-opened during March 2014. First Great Western services to Taunton from the Bristol direction will terminate at Bridgwater.

[bobm]

The saviour for me is that XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) are running three trains a day between Bristol and Exeter via Westbury.    It is just a shame, but understandable, that they don't call at Bath or Westbury - but I'd still rather be on a train than a bus even if it means going to Bristol.

[grahame]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-26351261?

Submerged Somerset railway line to remain closed for 'many weeks'

Trains on a mainline in Somerset could be at a standstill for "many weeks" because of continued flooding problems.

The track at Fordgate - between Taunton and Bridgwater - has been submerged since 7 February.

Network Rail said it could not assess the damage until the water cleared, but this could take several more weeks.

etc

[bobm]

There have been other pictures of rusty rails caused by lack of passing traffic due to line closures.  However all the ones I have seen are near areas of salt water.

This is the up line at Cogload Junction near Taunton where the line through Bridgwater diverges.  As you can nearly a month of disuse has left its mark.

[Lee]

Reports on Twitter suggest that NR^» (Network Rail - home page) engineers have carried out inspections and repairs are underway. No reopening date as yet.

[Lee]

Further info received on the nature of the repairs currently being undertaken - ballast repairs initially, signal testing then needed to identify repairs to restore full signalling.

[bobm]

Repairs have been completed on the northbound line this morning.  Trains going south are still being stopped at one signal to be talked past at danger.