Storms Eunice, Franklin, Gladys from 18/2/2022

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

As expected, a Red warning has been issued for North Devon, North Cornwall, North Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and South Wales, basically Bristol Channel coasts:
https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2022-02-18

Amber warning issued yesterday also updated.

[JayMac]

Batten done the hatches folks.

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News - Storm Eunice warning upgraded to red
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60417263

[Timmer]

Latest from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway):
https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/live-network-updates/disruption-information

Storm Eunice is likely to bring damaging winds across large parts of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) on Friday 18 February.

To make sure trains are able to run safely, speed restrictions will be required across the entire GWR network.

The priority will be to keep trains running and customers moving safely, but changes to services are likely to be needed to allow that to happen and customers may wish to alter their plans.

We are expecting to significantly reduce the number of long-distance services and some branch lines in Devon and Cornwall will have to close.  We are working hard to finalise the timetable and expect to publish this later today.

Suggest anyone planning to travel tomorrow or the weekend to regularly check this page on the GWR website.

Ticket easements:

Tickets dated for travel on Friday 18 February will be valid for travel from today (Thursday 17 February) right through to Monday 21 February.

[ChrisB]

This just yesterday

Captain Tom Moore train hits trampoline
The train named after the famous fundraiser hit a trampoline apparently blown on to tracks just outside Cardiff Central Station earlier.

https://news.sky.com/story/storm-dudley-live-news-met-office-weather-warnings-uk-forecast-12543511?postid=3370237#liveblog-body

[Jamsdad]

No sign of storms down south. Just went through DDawlish, sea flat as a pancake

[RichT54]

No sign of storms down south. Just went through DDawlish, sea flat as a pancake

Not really surprising given that the centre of the depression is currently several hundred miles to the southwest of the British Isles and the amber warning doesn't come into force until 5am tomorrow morning.

[Celestial]

All TfW services withdrawn tomorrow and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) only going as far west as Bristol Parkway.

[Timmer]

News release from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway):
https://news.gwr.com/news/storm-eunice-travel-advice-can-i-get-a-train-on-friday

In anticipation of significant high winds tomorrow, train company GWR is warning customers that they expect to cut services by half, the mainline in south Wales will be closed, and where long-distance trains can operate, journey times will be significantly longer.

The Met Office has upgraded their severe weather warning to red – the highest level – for parts of south west England and south Wales.

Current forecasts suggest high winds will exceed 100mph. To make sure trains are able to run safely, speed restrictions across the Great Western Network are required.

This means GWR is expecting to significantly reduce the number of long-distance services, and where trains can run, journeys are expected to take much longer.

The main line in south Wales will be closed with services terminating at Bristol Parkway, some branch lines in Devon and Cornwall will have to close, and where bus replacement services are able to operate, they too will be affected by very poor road conditions, possible road closures, and are likely to be very busy.

Disruption is likely to continue into the weekend as Network Rail works to check and clear debris and fallen trees over 1,000 miles of track.

To help customers, GWR is allowing people with tickets for travel on Friday 18 February to be able to travel on Thursday 17 through to and including Monday 21 February.

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said:

“Speed restrictions will be put in place on our network, but the extent of those restrictions can only be determined by conditions on the ground and are likely to change throughout the day.

“We will continue to run as many trains as we can but those who need to travel travel should be aware that we will have to reduce the number of trains we can run, journey times will take longer, and those trains we can run will be much busier.

“Please do heed the usual advice to check before you travel, and if you hold a ticket for tomorrow [Friday 18 February] and would like to travel today or up to Monday, we have eased restrictions so that you are able to do so.”

The priority will be to keep trains running and customers moving safely, but changes to services are likely to be needed to allow that to happen and customers may wish to alter their plans.

Mike Gallop, Network Rail Western route and strategic operations director, said:

“We’re working really closely with GWR and the other train companies to keep trains and passengers moving safely during this period of extreme weather.

“The severe weather associated with Storm Eunice is expected to bring significantly high winds of up to 100mph, and in places may result in trees and debris being blown onto train lines which blocks train movements and can cause delays and cancellations.

“Our operational colleagues will be out there on the front line braving the conditions to respond to any incidents and keep the railway clear and trains moving where it is safe and possible to do so.

“Storms can create a fast-moving picture so we’re asking passengers to please plan ahead and check before they travel.”

Those who choose not to travel at all will be able to claim a refund/allowed to amend their ticket. Those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to delay repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 mins or more.

[Timmer]

Network Rail on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/1494312128928436226

Services on all branch lines in Devon & Cornwall suspended tomorrow, except for Exmouth-Exeter.

Severn Beach line suspended.

Temporary speed restriction in place across entire route and reduced number of mainline services operating.

[Timmer]

Latest on service provision tomorrow from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway):

https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/live-network-updates/disruption-information

Changes to GWR Services:

We are working hard to enter all the changes into online journey planners and expect this to be completed by 10pm today (Thursday 17 February). We strongly recommend you check all journeys prior to travelling in case there have been any late changes. A summary of expected changes on Friday 18 February follows:

High speed services

London Paddington – Bristol Temple Meads

1 train per hour in either direction
London Paddington – Cardiff Central/Swansea

The mainline in South Wales will be closed all day on Friday.  There will be no GWR services operating between London & South Wales.
Customers are advised not to travel to/from South Wales.
An hourly service will continue to operate between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway.
London Paddington – Worcester/Hereford

Services will operate between Didcot Parkway & Worcester/Great Malvern only.  Customers should change at Didcot Parkway for onward connections towards Reading & London Paddington.
London Paddington – Cheltenham Spa

Services will operate between Swindon and Cheltenham Spa only.  Customers should change at Swindon for onward connections towards Reading & London Paddington.
London Paddington - West of England

Services will operate between London Paddington and Exeter St Davids only.  Customers should change at Exeter St Davids for onward connections towards Plymouth & Penzance.
Thames Valley

London Paddington – Didcot Parkway

Stopping services operate between Reading – Didcot Parkway only.  Customers should change at Reading and use TfL^» (Transport for London - about) Rail services for intermediate stations between Reading & Ealing Broadway.  Your GWR tickets will be valid on these services.
Reading – Newbury

Reading-Newbury services will not run, however an hourly Reading – Bedwyn service will operate calling at all stations.
Reading – Gatwick Airport

Direct services between Reading - Gatwick Airport will not run, however Reading – Redhill stopping services will continue to operate as normal.
The following Thames Valley branch lines are planned to operate as normal:

Reading – Basingstoke

Twyford – Henley-on-Thames

Slough – Windsor & Eton Central

Maidenhead – Marlow

West Ealing – Greenford

Bristol area

Cardiff Central – Taunton / Penzance

The mainline in South Wales will be closed all day on Friday.  There will be no GWR services operating between Bristol & South Wales.
Customers are advised not to travel to/from South Wales.
An hourly service will operate between Bristol Parkway and Taunton (via Weston-Super-Mare).  Customers should change at Taunton for onward connections towards the South West.
Local Weston-Super-Mare – Bristol services will not run.

Gloucester – Weymouth services via Bristol Temple Meads will operate as normal.

No services will operate between Bristol Temple Meads – Avonmouth – Severn Beach.  Customers are advised not to travel.

Devon Metro

An amended service will operate between Paignton – Exeter St Davids – Exmouth.

No services will operate between Exeter St Davids – Okehampton – Barnstaple.  Customers are advised not to travel.

Plymouth & Cornwall

Mainline services between Plymouth and Penzance will continue to operate, however train times will be amended.

Services will be suspended on the following routes all day; customers are advised not to travel.

Plymouth – Gunnislake
Liskeard – Looe
Par – Newquay
Truro – Falmouth Docks
St Erth – St Ives

[grahame]

Have I missed it in the reading, or are they not telling us about Swindon to Westbury?

[Bmblbzzz]

Luckily for me, I am laid low by Covid, and won't be going anywhere on Friday anyway.

Recover soon and fully.

[REVUpminster]

I shall be watching Paignton - Newton Abbot as the main problem I can see is the bridge replacement at Hollicombe already delayed by a month, because of supply chain issues, could have the site damaged by winds. It is also here that there is always a danger of the track falling into the sea.

[ChrisB]

Have I missed it in the reading, or are they not telling us about Swindon to Westbury?

Check your buses too - only Bath centre services running before 1300.....No D1 for example

[ellendune]

I shall be watching Paignton - Newton Abbot as the main problem I can see is the bridge replacement at Hollicombe already delayed by a month, because of supply chain issues, could have the site damaged by winds. It is also here that there is always a danger of the track falling into the sea.

I would not be especially worried about this the Torbay coast as the winds are from the west so they will be offshore at this point.  It is the Bristol Channel coast that is forecast to be most hit.