Storm Dennis - 15th/16th Feb 2020

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

………...doesn't appear to be any advice re: Storm Dennis on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) website yet...…..presumably a full service is expected to operate? 

Yes, although it's set to be a wet, windy and thoroughly miserable weekend, the winds are not near to the same strength of last weekend so none of the blanket 50mph speed restrictions are likely to be needed.

That being said, it's still quite testing conditions.  Flooding at Roche has led to the Newquay branch being suspended and there is a 50mph restiction on until 4pm tomorrow between Truro and Exeter - ticket restrictions lifted as a result.

.....my hopes weren't high! 🙂

[PhilWakely]

Flooding in the Cowley Bridge area affecting all services and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are putting the emphasis on Exmouth to Barnstaple (a through service that no longer exists)!

Cancellations to services between Exmouth and Barnstaple via Exeter St Davids
Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Exeter St Davids and Taunton fewer trains are able to run on all lines. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Train services between Exmouth and Barnstaple via Exeter St Davids have been cancelled.
Additional Information
Customers travelling into and out of Devon and Cornwall should only travel if necessary on Sunday 16th February, as flooding is expected to close the lines between Exeter St David's and Taunton and Exeter St David's and Barnstaple.

A diversionary route via Yeovil is expected to be in operation,this will be a limited service and the line may also become flooded.

This will be a reducedservice andtrains will be busier and take longer than usual.

Customers should check before travelling.

Customers choosing not to travel on Sunday can use their tickets on Monday 17th or Tuesday 18th February or claim their money back if they do not travel at all. If customers travel on Sunday 16th February it is recommended that you travel on an earlier train service, tickets will be valid.

Road replacement transport will be in operation between Exeter St David's and Taunton / Barnstaple in both directions. Customers are requested to check station signs and wait for replacement road transport at the designated stop. Customers are advised that the replacement road transport may run later than the advertised train times owing to the additional time taken by road between stations and the time required for loading and unloading at each stop.

Mutal ticket acceptance is in place between CrossCountry and GWR for all routes affected between Bristol Temple Meads and Plymouth.

[TaplowGreen]

Wasn't there a load of work done at Cowley Bridge quite recently specifically to prevent flooding?

[PhilWakely]

Wasn't there a load of work done at Cowley Bridge quite recently specifically to prevent flooding?

To alleviate, not prevent, sadly. So, maybe it is less severe than could have been, but flooded nevertheless!

[TaplowGreen]

Wasn't there a load of work done at Cowley Bridge quite recently specifically to prevent flooding?

To alleviate, not prevent, sadly. So, maybe it is less severe than could have been, but flooded nevertheless!

Ah I see...………..perhaps we could get the Chinese to have a look at it and make it a bit more robust whilst they're over here sorting out HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) for us? 

[grahame]

Wasn't there a load of work done at Cowley Bridge quite recently specifically to prevent flooding?

To alleviate, not prevent, sadly. So, maybe it is less severe than could have been, but flooded nevertheless!

Indeed.  I recall the works being described as designed to stand up to everything short of a once-in-forty-years event, or was it once-in-100-years?  Get it over with today and changes are we won't have any more problems for several decades, right?  

The lack of a passable line at Cowley Bridge today has caused a massive spike in enquiries (in public) to @GWRhelp on Twitter and they give a fascinating insight (well - fascinating to me) into people's journeys and what worries them at times of disruption.  I have started a thread in our "Transport Scholars" section which lists a number of these enquiries - at http://gwr.passenger.chat/22911 .  Worth documenting and discussing, but not something to be shouting about on our public boards.  Coffee Shop members who are NOT Transport Scholars - please send me a message (or like this post) and I'll add you in.  Lurkers / guests - why not join the forum and once you're an established poster, you too can become a "Transport Scholar".  Always free to join, welcoming of new members; also happy if you want to continue to lurk.

Edit 08:00, 17.2.2020 - send me a message to be added to "Transport Scholars" as I will no longer be coming back here every few hours to check for more "like"s.

[grahame]

From Cross Country:

Due to flooding between Tiverton Parkway and Exeter St Davids, all lines are blocked and will be blocked all day. Ticket acceptance in place with @GWRHelp. Road transport to be sourced. Services will terminate at Bristol from the north and re-start at Plymouth.

All direct services between Birmingham New Street and Cardiff Central in both directions are suspended. Please change at Gloucester passengers to travel via Cheltenham Spa. Newport and Cardiff Central passengers to travel via Bristol Parkway/Bristol Temple Meads.

[TaplowGreen]

Wasn't there a load of work done at Cowley Bridge quite recently specifically to prevent flooding?

To alleviate, not prevent, sadly. So, maybe it is less severe than could have been, but flooded nevertheless!

Indeed.  I recall the works being described as designed to stand up to everything short of a once-in-forty-years event, or was it once-in-100-years?  Get it over with today and changes are we won't have any more problems for several decades, right?  

The lack of a passable line at Cowley Bridge today has caused a massive spike in enquiries (in public) to @GWRhelp on Twitter and they give a fascinating insight (well - fascinating to me) into people's journeys and what worries them at times of disruption.  I have started a thread in our "Transport Scholars" section which lists a number of these enquiries - at http://gwr.passenger.chat/22911 .  Worth documenting and discussing, but not something to be shouting about on our public boards.  Coffee Shop members who are NOT Transport Scholars - please send me a message (or like this post) and I'll add you in.  Lurkers / guests - why not join the forum and once you're an established poster, you too can become a "Transport Scholar".  Always free to join, welcoming of new members; also happy if you want to continue to lurk.

Knock off a zero, it's once every 10 years Graham, so we're now all clear till 2030 

https://www.ice.org.uk/ICEDevelopmentWebPortal/media/Documents/Regions/UK%20Regions/Cowley-Bridge-sw-awards.pdf

[bradshaw]

Alternative route via Yeovil closed due to flooding of River Axe east of Axminster

https://twitter.com/sw_help/status/1228967118303121408?s=21

Location shown here
https://traksy.uk/live/M+8+AXMNSTR+18

[SandTEngineer]

....and quoted from the WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) Forum (15/02/2020):

Today's weather has proven the better of many replacement buses. This morning one aquaplaned into a roundabout in Kidwelly, this afternoon the Conwy Valley RRB^▸ (Rail Replacement Bus) (put on due to previous damage, rather than just for this storm) has collided with some fallen power lines. Drivers for the replacement buses on the Marches refused to go due to the conditions.

[PhilWakely]

Alternative route via Yeovil closed due to flooding of River Axe east of Axminster

https://twitter.com/sw_help/status/1228967118303121408?s=21

Location shown here
https://traksy.uk/live/M+8+AXMNSTR+18

Oops - 1A77 (0834 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington) has just passed me at Pinhoe 

[TonyK]

Wasn't there a load of work done at Cowley Bridge quite recently specifically to prevent flooding?

To alleviate, not prevent, sadly. So, maybe it is less severe than could have been, but flooded nevertheless!

Possibly mitigate. The electrics were put on plinths to try to keep them out of the water, so that when said water recedes, life can continue without the need for all new kit.

[Timmer]

Problems between Westbury and Bath:

Cancellations to services between Westbury and Bath Spa
Due to a tree blocking the railway between Westbury and Bath Spa the line towards Bath Spa is blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 10:00 16/02.

[PhilWakely]

Alternative route via Yeovil closed due to flooding of River Axe east of Axminster

https://twitter.com/sw_help/status/1228967118303121408?s=21

Location shown here
https://traksy.uk/live/M+8+AXMNSTR+18

Oops - 1A77 (0834 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington) has just passed me at Pinhoe 

My ears gave me misleading information    Having been told of the divert, I was heading down to the station to phot it. Sadly, I heard what I thought was the train and assumed I had missed it and headed back home. It could not have been the train as it never left St Davids. Apologies for the mis-information......... <Goes and hides in the nearest hole>

[bradshaw]

This screenshot from Google Street view shows the location. The tributary coming in from the right had some flood alleviation work done recently but presumably too much rain has fallen over the past few hours.