Gloucester - station, facilities, services, events & incidents (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[anthony215]

Network Rail have cancelled engineering work this weekend so that services can travel through the Severn Tunnel.

The line between Lydney and Gloucester is likely to be closed for a few days. I bet there is going to be some disruption trying to get everything through the Severn Tunnel especially since now other train can travel through the tunnel while the Roberston - Westerleigh tanks are traveling through.

Even the police helicopter got called out last night to search for the missing container which has ended up on a road.

Not been a good week for container trains has it.

[ReWind]

The line between Lydney and Gloucester is likely to be closed for a few days. I bet there is going to be some disruption trying to get everything through the Severn Tunnel.

I too thought this but after viewing the freight schedule for the next couple of days, we are only talking an extra freight approximately every 90mins on average in each direction through daytime hours.  A bit more late evening and overnight but with reduced passenger services by this time it shouldn't cause too much of a problem.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Suspended until Monday, according to National Rail Enquiries (NRE^‡(resolve) - is that in the Glossaty? :-))

Assuming that you actually meant to refer to our 'acronyms and abbreviations' page, ChrisB - yes, it is:

NRES^▸ (National Rail Enquiry Service) ... National Rail Enquiry Service

 

[phile]

Wonder whether they are going to retime or will we hang around Newport on the way out and Swindon on the way back, maybe I'll make the earlier train at Reading but miss my pint.

The trains will run to a special Timetable which should resemble the normal Timetable and which should resume the following week.    There is nothing in National Rail Journey Planner - still shewn via Gloucester.
Surely you wouldn't expect them to block up Platforms at Newport and Swindon for an hour.  Replacement trains  will run between Gloucester and Swindon and vice versa..

[bobm]

There seems to be a bit of confusion regarding the weekend engineering work.  As of 5pm the plan seems to have changed again and to go ahead with the closure of the Severn Tunnel.

Just looked now and, for example, there is a 12:15 service from Paddington on Saturday to Bristol Temple Meads via Bristol Parkway with a bus connection from Parkway to Newport and then a train followed by a 12:45 departure from Paddington calling at Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse, Gloucester, Severn Tunnel Junction and usual calls in South Wales.

[JayMac]

The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) have updated their coverage of the incident, including a video news report that was included on BBC Points West this evening (16/10/2013).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-24559634

From the video it's now apparent that the container seen in earlier photographs on the London Road bridge in Gloucester was not the one that derailed. it was another wagon behind this one (looks like the last one of the consist) that somehow lost both its wheelsets and dumped its container on the permanent way. Also from the video, its now more apparent as to why the copper chopper was called out.

Network Rail will do well to have the line reopened in time to allow the scheduled maintenance to take place between Bristol Parkway and Severn Tunnel Junction. I'm fairly confident that a Plan B will be available if NR^» (Network Rail - home page) can't open the Gloucester- Newport line in time for the 0200 Sat 19/10/2013 possession of the Severn Tunnel.

[ChrisB]

Network Rail have cancelled engineering work this weekend so that services can travel through the Severn Tunnel.

[LiskeardRich]

Chris B, is has apparently been un-cancelled and is back on, and Network Rail have been issued a deadline of 0200 to have this route reopened on Saturday morning.

[eightf48544]

What happens if they don't reopen by 02:00 Saturday? Do they close the Severn Tunnel and presumably run buses from Parkway to Newport?

Hardly makes it worth my while going do you think I could get a refund or change my tickets (advanced) free of charge?

[anthony215]

If the line via Gloucester is not ready then there is a possibility that the start of engineering works ould be pushed back to start later or be cancelled altogether and replanned for another weekend

[phile]

I wonder what the state of play will be at 0200 on Saturday.    Any major job takes as long as it takes.

[JayMac]

National Rail Enquiries are saying that full repairs to the line between Gloucester and Lydney are due to be completed on Friday night.

If that is so then the planned possession of the Severn Tunnel will go ahead from 0200 on Saturday morning and services that use the tunnel will be diverted via Lydney as originally planned.

[eightf48544]

Looks like I may get to Cardiff on Saturday when I expected to.

[phile]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) could have been more forthcoming by keeping people up-dated on their Website.
After posting that the Severn Tunnel Engineering Work had been cancelled, they just removed it instead of saying so and given an explanation.   FGW Journey Check still talks of a decision to be made re the Weekend.      This situation has caused much confusion among potential passengers and others who have just been left up in the air.

[bobm]

I agree the website has been less than forthcoming.  Mind you they still haven't mentioned the franchise award yet which you would have thought was worthy of inclusion.