Severn Tunnel - engineering improvements, events, incidents and history - merged posts

[whole diary]

[phile]

TRUST^▸ (Train Running System TOPS).   The CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) showed the train running in Time but it didn't turn up.

[Louis94]

TRUST^▸ (Train Running System TOPS).   The CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) showed the train running in Time but it didn't turn up.

Arriva Trains Wales CIS system does not operate using Trust for that type of information.

[insider]

TRUST^▸ (Train Running System TOPS).   The CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) showed the train running in Time but it didn't turn up.

TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s dont cancel trains in TRUST that is the train running controllers who work for Network Rail!!!

And as already stated CIS feed not run off TRUST anyway!

[phile]

Whosr responsibility would it have been to have shewn the cancellation on the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) screens ?  The 13 30 Cardiff to Portsmouth was the only train that caused problems by people being stranded unnecessarily.

[Ollie]

Whosr responsibility would it have been to have shewn the cancellation on the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) screens ?  The 13 30 Cardiff to Portsmouth was the only train that caused problems by people being stranded unnecessarily.

Arriva Trains Wales are responsible for updating them.

[phile]

As it was a FGW^▸ (First Great Western) train, how would ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)) recieve the information  ?

[Ollie]

Via the method already pointed out on the 1st page of this topic.

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

First Minister Carwyn Jones criticises rail works timing


The Severn Tunnel will be closed to trains in and out of south Wales for the Rugby League World Cup and Womex weekend

The first minister has criticised Network Rail over the closure of the Severn Tunnel during two major events in Cardiff.

The tunnel will close for maintenance work on the same weekend as the opening ceremony for the Rugby League World Cup, and the Womex music festival.

Speaking to BBC's Sunday Politics Wales programme, Carwyn Jones said Network Rail had not consulted the Welsh government over the closure.

Network Rail said it was vital work.

But Mr Jones said: "They've got form on this. It's an important point here - when we've got events in Cardiff, why do maintenance work on the Severn Tunnel when those events are taking place? If there were events taking place every single week in the Millennium Centre, the Millennium Stadium or the [Cardiff] City Stadium, you might say 'okay, there are some weekends when that's inevitable' but for some reason they choose weekends when there are big events taking place in Cardiff."

The Severn Tunnel - which runs under the River Severn on the south Wales-London mainline - will be closed for maintenance on the weekend of 26-27 October - the same weekend as the Rugby League World Cup opening ceremony at the Millennium Stadium and Womex world music festival at the Millennium Centre.

Mr Jones believes the closures will cause travel problems, having a negative impact on the world-wide image of Wales. He said a similar closure in 1999 caused problems for fans travelling to and from the Wales v England rugby international at Wembley Stadium in London.

Mr Jones added that he recognised the need for maintenance and regretted that an alternative rail route was not considered when the second Severn bridge was built.

"The big problem is of course that a rail deck wasn't put on the Severn Bridge in 1993 - other countries would have done that - and we wouldn't have these problems with the Severn Tunnel," said the first minister. "Yes it needs maintenance. It's a very wet tunnel [I know] having been through there in a cab of a 125 [train], but let's do it when there's not a big game on in Cardiff."

In a statement Network Rail told Sunday Politics Wales: "There is never a good time to do work on the Severn Tunnel and we thoroughly investigated the Welsh government's request. In this instance, this six-week works package was planned two years in advance and had already been put back a week to accommodate the one-day cricket match between England and Australia in September. This vital project cannot be put back any further and to cancel it would have a negative impact on services from south Wales to London."

Network Rail added it had assured the organisers of the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup that it would not schedule any disruptive work during the period the tournament was on at the Millennium Stadium.

[John R]

I have a degree of sympathy with Carwyn Jones on the subject. It's not often that a city gets to host the Opening Ceremony of a World Cup of any description, and it will have been in the diary for over a year. And England are playing as well, so more reason to have good services into the Principality on that day.

However, mindful of the fact that much support for Rugby League is based in the north, it's not obvious to me what additional services have been laid on from the north of England either. The only direct trains to and from Brum appear to be the usual Cardiff to Nottingham services  - I expect they may be a little cosier than usual.

[paul7575]

I have a degree of sympathy with Carwyn Jones on the subject. It's not often that a city gets to host the Opening Ceremony of a World Cup of any description, and it will have been in the diary for over a year.

That wouldn't be long enough.  NR^» (Network Rail - home page) plan well over 2 years ahead. 

The politicians ought to realise that there is a nationally managed workforce for this sort of NR stuff, (even if many are subcontractors) but they just aren't available on other 6 week slots because they are already booked up for work of similar importance elsewhere in the country.

Paul

[John R]

Having researched, it was announced on 22 March 2012, so 19 months ago. I think most people would regard that as ample time for both parties to get together and sort something out.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From an e-mail press release I've just received from First Great Western:

Travel information for Rugby League World Cup

With just days to go before the Rugby League World Cup First Great Western is advising customers to check before they travel, as Network Rail carry out essential engineering work in the Severn Tunnel.

The railway between Bristol and Newport will be closed on Saturday 26 October and Sunday 27 October for the essential improvement works. Network Rail will be renewing two miles of life-expired track in Severn tunnel and a junction at Patchway, which will significantly improve the reliability of rail services between Bristol and Newport.

Trains from London will be diverted between Swindon and Newport towards Cardiff and journey times will be extended by up to an hour.

Rail replacement bus services will be in operation between Bristol Parkway and Newport.

Services between Bristol and South Wales

Trains between the South West, Soach Coast and Bristol Temple Meads to and from Cardiff Central will start and terminate at Bristol Parkway for bus connections.

Travelling to and from Bristol Parkway

A limited number of services will link London Paddington and Bristol Parkway. Frequent connections are also available from Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway. From South Wales change at Newport for bus services.

Travelling to and from Patchway and Pilning

Rail replacement bus services will link these stations with Severn Tunnel Junction and Bristol Parkway for onward train connections.

[Tim]

If only they had build the second Severn crossing with a  rail-deck like over the Oresund.

[welshman]

Obviously the WRU are responsible for the closure because it's the rugby league  world cup.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From South Wales Argus:

More trains set to stop at Severn Tunnel

Trains now stop at a Monmouthshire train station on Sunday mornings after an action group persuaded a rail company it was worth collecting passengers there.

Passengers will be picked up at Severn Tunnel Junction on its way to Cardiff at 9.08am, 10.08am and 11.11am. Before the changes, no Cardiff-bound trains stopped at Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot or Chepstow stations before 11.20am.

First Great Western decided to make the change after meeting last year with representatives from STAG^▸ (Severn Tunnel Action Group) (Severn Tunnel Action Group) and MAGOR (Magor Action Group On Rail), Newport East MP^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post - a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London, depending on context) Jessica Morden, and Monmouthshire councillors Bryan Jones and David Dovey. Cllr Jones is the cabinet member for operations, while Cllr Dovey is the chairman of the council^s transport strategy group.

STAG^s chairman, David Flint, said: ^It is something we have tried for for a long, long time and thanks to Jessica Morden, who got involved, and the county councillors we were able to convince First Great Western. It is another pleasing thing in trying to get Severn Tunnel Junction up to the level it deserves.^

According to the Office of Rail Regulation, since 2005-6, passengers^ use of Severn Tunnel Junction grew by 80 per cent.