Weather for Saturday 18/07

[whole diary]

[SDS]

Network Rail issued an alert for all of Western tomorrow. Seems they are worried about dawlish again.

NETWORK RAIL WESTERN ROUTE CONTROL, SWINDON

FROM: INCIDENT CONTROLLER, INFRASTRUCTURE

FROM: INFRASTRUCTURE INCIDENT CONTROLLER, NETWORK RAIL WESTERN ROUTE
TO: ALL TOCS, FOCS AND OTHERS CONCERNED
Western Route EWAT Friday 18th July

Amber alert issued by Met Office at 1123 for high rainfall from 0005 2355 Saturday 19 July, covering the Western route from Plymouth, through to Paddington, affecting all at risk earthworks sites east of Cornwall.

The forecast is for heavy, intense thunderstorms, with potential rainfall totals of 15 20 mm rain in a 10 minute period, and the potential for totals of over 30 mm, possibly up to 70 mm in localised areas in a 24 hour period.

The thunderstorms are tracking north from France, affecting the route from midnight tonight, lasting for the next 24 hours. There is high level of confidence in the likelihood of thunderstorms, with a low level of confidence about the exact locations affected.

The risk is of short duration events which could cause washouts, which may affect all earthworks assets, as well as those known to be in a poor condition.

There is also a risk of localised flash flooding and lightning strikes affecting the signalling and power supplies


Earthworks risk sites and mitigation:

E4 Box Thingley and Corsham, UML, blanket 50 mph to be wired out by control, supplemented by a berth triggered GSM-R^▸ (Global System for Mobile communications - Railway. A simple mobile phone that has been fitted to the turbos to allow them to operate on lines that are not covered by the cab secure radio (CSR). This allows the Network Rail control centre to send simple STOP messages to the driver or the driver to contact the controller in emergency only. When this system is in operation a guard must be provided when in passenger operation.) reminder.

E5 Saltford Twerton viaduct, UM112 restricted to single yellow. Bristol night turn techs.

E7 Box Keynsham, DML, blanket 50 mph to be wired out by control, supplemented by a berth triggered GSM-R reminder.

E10 parts 1 and 2, Whiteball, no longer required drainage works completed. Part 3 Tiverton Cullompton, DML, boarded 50 mph ESR^▸ (Emergency Speed Restriction (see also EROS)). Boards should be on site, bagged up. Taunton pway.

E11 UML, Newton Abbot West Dawlish, 2 sites, boarded 50 mph ESR. Newton Abbot pway.

E15 Badminton, blanket ESR DBL, Wootton Bassett Jn Chipping Sodbury, blanket 50 mph to be wired out by control, supplemented by a berth triggered GSM-R reminder, and up SWB Chipping Sodbury, boarded speed at east end of tunnel Bristol pway, will require a line blockage, infrastructure controller looking at access

E18 Cheltenham Lansdown not required, freight loop protects main line

E20 Up BGL2 Wickwar Charfield, boarded ESR, may be a signal restriction

E21 Down BSW, Patchway, boarded ESR Bristol pway

E22 down SWY, Woodborough Urchfont, Newbury pway after 2000 tonight

E26 down WEY, East Somerset Jn Bruton, boarded ESR, Castle Cary pway team erecting this afternoon

E27 Up WEY Castle Cary, Westbury night turn techs to carry out signal restriction
Down WEY, Bruton night turn techs to carry out signal restriction

E28 Up CCL Somerton ground frame, Castle Cary pway to erect boards this afternoon

E29, Down BAE2, Exmouth Jn Exeter Central, restrict E310 signal (St James Park) to approach control, Exeter techs overnight
Up BAE2 restrict EJ4 to approach control, Exeter techs overnight

If conditions ease on Saturday afternoon, preference is to remove restrictions prior to Saturday night possessions, otherwise will be done on Sunday morning.

Potential risk of spray on the Dawlish sea wall at high tide (1225 Saturday) if there are strong winds. Projects still working in the area, so need to be warned of the potential risks at high tide.

In addition to the earthworks risk, these thunderstorms also include the potential for strong winds causing some damage, heavy rain causing localised flash flooding and lightning strikes affecting signalling and power supplies.

[Chris from Nailsea]

There is much thunder rumbling above my head as I type this now: latest situation report from Nailsea. 

[grahame]

Big bang and a bank of rain just passing over Melksham

[JayMac]

Tracked the lightning strikes from Dorset up through Wiltshire on a northerly track. Then a turn to the north west as they passed between Bath and Bristol, then up through Westerleigh, Thornbury, and Berkeley where the storm then straddled the Severn between Lydney and Sharpness. It continued on through the Wye Valley and Hereford, but is losing intensity. There was a seperate storm, also on a northerly track, from Portsmouth up the Hampshire/Wiltshire border.

With the gert hill behind my flat I didn't see much to the east. Last night was better as the storm passed over the west of the city.

0200 snapshot of lightning strikes:


Really wouldn't want to be in the English Channel right now (0220):

[TaplowGreen]

Big bang and a bank of rain just passing over Melksham

.......at which the locals screamed, crossed themselves, put down their banjos and rushed outside with flaming torches and crucifixes to look for two headed sheep! 

[broadgage]

I doubt that the sea wall at Dawlish is at risk, the  severe damage of last winter was caused by high tides coinciding with storm force winds which washed away parts of the wall from the seaward side.

The present, and expected weather is thunderstorms with short term but very heavy rain, and lightning. This clearly poses some risk to inland earthworks such as cuttings and embankments and to bridges and structures by the washing out of foundations.
The lightning will have the usual effect on signalling and power supplies.

[grahame]

Big bang and a bank of rain just passing over Melksham

.......at which the locals screamed, crossed themselves, put down their banjos and rushed outside with flaming torches and crucifixes to look for two headed sheep! 

Nah ... you confuse us with the folks from Ambridge.

... the locals take burp, take another sip from their glasses, complain at the weakness of the beer (due to rainwater dilution) and rush outside to look for somewhere to have a pee.