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ECML Disruption - Saturday 27th December

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TUC

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Absolutely no information or assistance being offered to passengers at Peterborough, a fair few getting rather annoyed now!
Even if East Coast and other TOCs were caught out by this yesterday they have had mor than enough time to get additional staff into key locations by now. Is anyone senior in the TOCs taking an active role in making sure that the position on the ground is working because it doesn't feel like that at the moment?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I hope East Coast (or when they take over Virgin) remember that next time there is disruption on the MML.
Probably not the most productive approach. I think it's very sensible to discourage folk from shifting en masse to the Midland, which will already be under a lot of pressure from passengers displaced from the WCML. After all, East Coast are still managing to shift a fair number of people, even if it's a bit chaotic.
Discourage maybe. Give out incorrect information about ticket validity, absolutely not!
 
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Tom B

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Train has moved about a mile in 90 minutes, no announcements. Surely keeping passengers standing for so long means emergency arrangements should be put into place for evacuation?
 

Furrball

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It's a shame that the ability to herd large numbers of people into trains and stations demonstrated during the Olympics seems to have been forgotten. Lack of people on the ground?
 

Rich McLean

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I am sure pretty much everyone on the books at East Coast would have been asked to work RDs today in order to help out, however it is the Christmas period, and many will not be willing to give up their time to come into work
 

Jonny

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Discourage maybe. Give out incorrect information about ticket validity, absolutely not!

Inaccurate information maybe, but strictly speaking they should have said that tickets restricted to East Coast (EC only, EC and connections) were not valid on EMT (at least on the Midland Mainline for EC and Connections).
 

GodAtum

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according to the DM, East Coast are paying for taxis to take people up to Newcastle
 

Stats

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Train has moved about a mile in 90 minutes, no announcements. Surely keeping passengers standing for so long means emergency arrangements should be put into place for evacuation?
Is that the 1105 from Leeds that reached Alexandra Palace at 1345 and 2hrs 20 mins later has just arrived at Finsbury Park 161L.
 
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MadCommuter

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Much of this debacle was predicted on here yesterday evening. Draw your own conclusions from that.
 

TUC

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It's a shame that the ability to herd large numbers of people into trains and stations demonstrated during the Olympics seems to have been forgotten. Lack of people on the ground?
the recurring complaint at Finsbury Park is the familiar one that no one appears to be giving any information, especially outside the station. Surely a very basic customer service principle which you would expect staff to follow if that, even if information is limited , just passengers hearing a voice giving what information they can is always more reassuring than silence. It!s not rocket science.
 

amcluesent

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I wonder what sun-drenched beaches lapped by azure seas the NR chiefs are enjoying this Xmas, paid for with their £50,000 bonuses ?
 
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TUC

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What I haven't seen a clear explanation of is, given that Finsbury Park is regularly used as an alternative terminus for east coast services during engineering works, why is it proving so problamatic today?
 

Darandio

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What I haven't seen a clear explanation of is, given that Finsbury Park is regularly used as an alternative terminus for east coast services during engineering works, why is it proving so problamatic today?


You have a calendar, surely?
 

Qwerty133

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What I haven't seen a clear explanation of is, given that Finsbury Park is regularly used as an alternative terminus for east coast services during engineering works, why is it proving so problamatic today?

1) Lack of planning
2) It being one of the busiest days of the year
3) less local trains running from Finsbury park
4) Less staff
5)WCML being closed
6) Lack of notice.
Is what I expect it to be down to, as a passenger (fortunately not today ;))
 

TUC

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What I haven't seen a clear explanation of is, given that Finsbury Park is regularly used as an alternative terminus for east coast services during engineering works, why is it proving so problamatic today?


You have a calendar, surely?
that wouldn't explain why it is taking so long to negotiate the final leg into Finsbury Park or why it is taking so long to turn trains around once there.
 

Qwerty133

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Network rail manager is meant to be on BBC news shortly (freeview 130, and on all platforms)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Kings Cross being blamed on machinery failure on Xmas day.
 

tsr

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Network rail manager is meant to be on BBC news shortly (freeview 130, and on all platforms)

So that's who's blocking up Finsbury Park station... ;)

In seriousness, to those above who have asked, there are certain points where you simply can't allow trains to access stations in accordance with the station policies (etc.). For example, the target evacuation time could run the risk of being grossly breached, or there may be the very real risk that any movement in the crowd could lead to people coming too close to falling on the line. I have been on major stations where the latter actually happened at nearby locations during disruption, which is extremely nerve-wracking and dangerous, especially where a further line block may result in even more overcrowding in the whole area, and a vicious circle, etc. And there's no easy way to allow a controlled but unplanned evacuation of a service onto the nearest fast line platforms of another small, random station on a busy mainline, and then find a way to move all those hundreds of passengers from around the packed train, who are now wandering around close to 125mph linespeeds and with nowhere to shelter from the sleet, who refuse to pay for their own buses (rightly so) and may include vulnerable adults and children...
 

Starmill

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6 225 sets stand in platforms 1 to 6 at King's Cross, the red lights of 'NOT TO BE MOVED' flash eerily through the otherwise grey and cold trainshed. It's quiet in there!

I'm in the 1706 from Marylebone, empty tables of 4 everywhere :)
 

6Gman

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It doesn't help that its Boxing Day and only on call staff are in and no social media staff, as it is still boxing day. To formulate an emergency timetable takes time.

Many years ago when I was in train planning some scrotes celebrated Xmas by setting fire to some key signalling at Soho (Birmingham). My boss managed to find me, and other staff, and in we went to write an emergency timetable! Pre-social media, pre mobile phones!

Disappointing if it can't be done these days ....
 

TUC

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Network Rail are now repotted on BBC News as saying that the issue was a failure of heavy lifting equipment on Christmas Day, although why it's took until now for them to say that is another question.
 

amcluesent

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Was Robin Gisby 'demob happy' and just not bovvered ?
 
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thealexweb

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Why has no ticket acceptance been reached with the other operators? Squeeze of few more on to the London Euston to Edinburgh Waverley services for instance.
 

jon91

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Why has no ticket acceptance been reached with the other operators? Squeeze of few more on to the London Euston to Edinburgh Waverley services for instance.

No point if Watford-Euston is shut by engineering works, it'll just transfer the crowds elsewhere.
 

Darandio

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Why has no ticket acceptance been reached with the other operators? Squeeze of few more on to the London Euston to Edinburgh Waverley services for instance.

There were no services out of Euston for much of the day. Or was that Paddington? Been such a confusing day.
 
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