Storm Ciara -Sunday 9th Feb.

[whole diary]

[didcotdean]

Despite the weather the disused Didcot Power Station chimney was still demolished at 7:30-ish.

Wet or windy weather is often preferred for blowing up redundant structures. Dust clouds from such demolitions can be a problem. Wet weather helps to settle the dust and minimises nuisance. Windy weather disperses the dust and spreads it very thinly over a wider area.
High winds are not favoured for the preparations, but are fine for the actual detonation.

I wouldn't be surprised that there was no comment on the suggestion that it might be postponed in order to discourage onlookers, if the weather wasn't discouraging enough.

[Timmer]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) have just tweeted:

Despite some lines re-opening, one of the affected electric trains is still unable to move after having broken down between #Reading and #LondonPaddington. All lines between the two stations are now expected to be closed for the remainder of the day.

Hmmm three trains have just left Paddington to Bristol, Plymouth and Oxford so not sure what’s going on 

[Marlburian]

According to National Rail, just six of the 13 trains scheduled to leave Paddington between 1530 and 1630 have been cancelled, the rest are on time 

A similar proportion of trains were scheduled to leave between 1300 and 1400, though Realtimetrains suggested otherwise, showing all were cancelled. But the 1403 for Plymouth did leave, 48 minutes late.

[TaplowGreen]

As at 1506;

Cancellations to services between Reading and London Paddington
Due to damage to the overhead electric wires between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on all lines.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 120 minutes. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
A tree had fallen in high winds damaging overhead wires in the Acton Main line area. Train services are now operating between between Reading and London Paddington, however due to the disruption, there will be several service alterations owing to crew and train displacement, and the existing amendments remain in place due to storm Ciara. Customers are now advised not to travel between Reading and London Paddington in both directions for the remainder of today.

[eightf48544]

Found this at Maidenhead going West. 5V84 1048 Leicester L.I.P. - Laira T.& R.S.M.D. (ZZ) passed 15:00.

Things seem to be moving at bit out of Padd picked up a Down Bristol TM^‡(resolve).

Picked up a couple of DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) Express passenger Reading Padd 1Z79 1Z80

[TaplowGreen]

TfL^» (Transport for London - about) stopper just (5 mins) gone through Taplow heading West

[PhilWakely]

I had travelled up from Exeter this morning in the hope of participating in the Hidden London Jubilee Line special from the old platform at Charing Cross. Sadly, the attempt was aborted at Reading. I must, however, congratulate the station staff at Reading, who, under very trying circumstances, kept everybody informed and, where possible, offered alternatives - until the Reading-Waterloo line was also blocked.

I was also thankful for Exeter-Waterloo services being diverted into Reading today, as that saved a considerable wait at Reading for a return service.

[TonyK]

I took the coward's way out, turned the heating up, and stayed home.

[stuving]

SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) have taken to listing all the trees they have removed all day - presumably reasoning that they might as well get the credit for all their hard work, rather than deleting the mention as soon as the tree has gone. It's quite an impressive list - and the day's not over yet:

Current obstructions on the SWR network
- 15:56 A tree is precarious between Farnham and Alton. Trains are running under caution.
- 18:13 A tree is blocking the line between Portchester and Fareham.
- 18:30 A tree is blocking the railway between Ashurst New Forest and Totton.
- 18:48 A tree is blocking the railway between Overton and Whitchurch.
 
Previous obstructions on the SWR network today that have impacted train services:
- 07:53 A tree is blocking the railway at Bursledon.  CLEARED 08:13.
- 07:42 A tree was blocking the railway at Gillingham (Dorset).  CLEARED 08:34.
- 08:45 A tree was precarious between Virginia Water and Ascot. CLEARED 10:01.
- 08:04 A tree was blocking the railway between Guiildford and Effingham Junction.  CLEARED 09:12
- 09:45 A tree was blocking the railway at Mortimer, affecting our West of England services to/from Reading.  CLEARED 11:03.
- 10:33 A tree was blocking the railway at Ashford (Surrey).  CLEARED 10:46.
- 10:57 A tree is blocking the railway at Martins Heron.  CLEARED 11:23​.
- 11:35 A tree was blocking the railway at Bracknell.  CLEARED 11:52.
- 11:45 A tree was blocking the railway at Hamble.  CLEARED 11:56.
- 10:06 The trees affecting replacement bus routes between Salisbury and Mottisfont & Dunbridge/Dean have been cleared.  CLEARED 12:18.
- 11:35 A tree was blocking the railway between Virginia Water and Ascot.  CLEARED 12:19.
- 12:25 A tree was blocking the railway at Gillingham (Dorset).  CLEARED 12:29.
- 12:33 A tree was blocking the line at Holton Heath. CLEARED 12:41.
- 08:39 There was a precarious tree between Basingstoke at Micheldever. CLEARED 12:22.
- 09:30 There was a precarious tree between Staines and Windsor and Eton Riverside. CLEARED 13:16.
- 13:52 A tree is blocking the railway at Botley. CLEARED 13:56.
- 13:47 A tree was blocking the railway at Surbiton.  CLEARED 14:19
.- 14:24 A tree was blocking the railway at Horsley. CLEARED 14:35.
- 14:24 A tree was blocking the railway at Hampton Court. CLEARED 14:42.
- 15:01 A tree was blocking the railway at Teddington. CLEARED 15:27.
- 15:32 A tree was blocking the railway between Warminster and Salisbury.  CLEARED 16:24.
- 15:40 A tree was blocking the railway at Templecombe.  CLEARED 16:26
- 15:57 A tree was blocking the railway between Staines and Windsor & Eton Riverside. CLEARED 16:19.
- 13:53 A precarious tree was reported at Holton Heath.  CLEARED 16:31.
- 16:27 A tree was blocking the railway at Barnes Bridge. CLEARED 16:32.
- 17:23 A tree blocking the railway between Staines and Windsor and Eton Riverside. CLEARED 17:48.
- 15:08 A tree is blocking the railway at Romsey. CLEARED 17:53.
- 17:29 A tree blocking the railway between Ashurst New Forest and Beaulieu Road. ​CLEARED 17:50.
- 15:36 Some metal sheeting is blocking the railway between Cosham and Portchester. ​CLEARED 18:09.

I was particularly impressed by the one at Gillingham that was removed four minutes from first report - I guess it almost fell on top of one of their prepositioned lumberjack crews.

[PhilWakely]

SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) have taken to listing all the trees they have removed all day.....
<snip>
 - 12:25 A tree was blocking the railway at Gillingham (Dorset).  CLEARED 12:29.
<snip>

I was particularly impressed by the one at Gillingham that was removed four minutes from first report - I guess it almost fell on top of one of their prepositioned lumberjack crews.

Removed by the driver who encountered it 

[IndustryInsider]

A very sensible decision to impose the blanket 50mph restriction then!

[tomL]

A very sensible decision to impose the blanket 50mph restriction then!

It felt almost therapeutic cruising at 50mph from Didcot to Swindon earlier. Maybe not so much if you were in a hurry to get somewhere.

[PhilWakely]

A very sensible decision to impose the blanket 50mph restriction then!

It felt almost therapeutic cruising at 50mph from Didcot to Swindon earlier. Maybe not so much if you were in a hurry to get somewhere.

I was chatting to our customer host between Taunton and Castle Cary this morning and said exactly that! A very pleasant cruise [even though I was mildly panicking about getting to Charing Cross in time for the LT event]

[grahame]

10:06 The trees affecting replacement bus routes between Salisbury and Mottisfont & Dunbridge/Dean have been cleared.  CLEARED 12:18.

Love it!

[johnneyw]

Fly away trampolines cause rail delays. From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-51436805