NorthernSpirit
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In Manchester it was bad, it took me and two of my mates two hours just to get a train back to Huddersfield.
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Storm Doris Thursday 23rd - Major disruption on some routes
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Searle
Established Member
The rule has been put in place to allow people who would be travelling today to travel tomorrow morning, so that they're not stranded for more than one day. It's not in place so people can go on a jolly tomorrow instead of today, and thus disrupting the busiest evening peak of the week.
Jamesrob637
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Just home having jumped a local bus most of the way and got walking past the station just as the first train for nearly an hour was pulling up at the platform! However it was only two coaches and rammed, which makes me glad I made the decision I did! Gather others aren't quite as fortunate. Safe travels all!
Minstral25
Established Member
What has happened to Thameslink south of the river - nothing to Three/Bridges/Brighton?
Can't they run a service on the reliable 3rd rail?
Can't they run a service on the reliable 3rd rail?
Deepgreen
Established Member
The usual mess on GTR tonight with some understandable delays, but needlessly atrocious information.
At Blackfriars, the 1622 to Brighton (normally from Bedford) was started there, comprising two 319s, with no on-board information before departure and every single screen on the station at Blackfriars showing the same message, simply saying that Thameslink was disrupted - not one train was being described, leaving people to ask staff. How hard can it be to show train descriptions at this designated disruption turn-back station?!
Once underway, the p.a. on board didn't know where we were and announced at Herne Hill that Haywards Heath would be the next stop (whereas we were actually booked to call at Tulse Hill and East Croydon next) - and, on hearing this, at least two people scrambled off there!
The PIS displays on 319s have simply been permanent vinyls ("New Information System In development" or similar) for months now, so no help there (how have they been allowed to get away with such a long period of no working displays?).
Changed at East Croydon onto what was the most packed Southern train I can remember, with the rear four for Horsham and full of Gatwick passengers, with me squeezed against the door window as we trundled slowly down to Redhill. Moved to the front at Redhill to get round to Reigate, where we arrived about 40 late, as the 1646 arrival, shown there as being on time!
The 1748 GW to Reading was cancelled and the p.a. kept telling us that the 1735 from Victoria was expected at 1814, 1815, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, then "delayed", every few seconds. It also told us that the next train would be the 1646 to Reigate (this being announced at Reigate!). This, despite the 1646 having come and gone ages ago, yet still being shown on the screens as the next train, and on time, an hour after it was due!! The information regime at Reigate has been shambolic for years so today's disruption was far from fully to blame - repeated complaints are simply met by stock replies about how important good information is.
Another complete failure of information - almost a joke if it wasn't so important and downright annoying in its predictability.
At Blackfriars, the 1622 to Brighton (normally from Bedford) was started there, comprising two 319s, with no on-board information before departure and every single screen on the station at Blackfriars showing the same message, simply saying that Thameslink was disrupted - not one train was being described, leaving people to ask staff. How hard can it be to show train descriptions at this designated disruption turn-back station?!
Once underway, the p.a. on board didn't know where we were and announced at Herne Hill that Haywards Heath would be the next stop (whereas we were actually booked to call at Tulse Hill and East Croydon next) - and, on hearing this, at least two people scrambled off there!
The PIS displays on 319s have simply been permanent vinyls ("New Information System In development" or similar) for months now, so no help there (how have they been allowed to get away with such a long period of no working displays?).
Changed at East Croydon onto what was the most packed Southern train I can remember, with the rear four for Horsham and full of Gatwick passengers, with me squeezed against the door window as we trundled slowly down to Redhill. Moved to the front at Redhill to get round to Reigate, where we arrived about 40 late, as the 1646 arrival, shown there as being on time!
The 1748 GW to Reading was cancelled and the p.a. kept telling us that the 1735 from Victoria was expected at 1814, 1815, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, then "delayed", every few seconds. It also told us that the next train would be the 1646 to Reigate (this being announced at Reigate!). This, despite the 1646 having come and gone ages ago, yet still being shown on the screens as the next train, and on time, an hour after it was due!! The information regime at Reigate has been shambolic for years so today's disruption was far from fully to blame - repeated complaints are simply met by stock replies about how important good information is.
Another complete failure of information - almost a joke if it wasn't so important and downright annoying in its predictability.
christopher
Member
Both Anglia short sets ran a trip down to Colchester
Tree on track at Emerson Park too
Tree on track at Emerson Park too
Lankyline
Member
Yeah platforms 4&5 were shut due to roof damage, reopened 17.00, meanwhile near Stockport another tree has fallen onto wires
Had a 3x158 formation for EMT pass through HNX at about 1815, spoke with the guard as his head was out the window at a signal check (track circuit problems) and apparently all units were in service... Annoyingly they were pretty much empty but he understandably couldn't open the doors for us!
Also asked him if he could fit all 6 carriages in WAC, apparently he'll be doing local door only for a fair few stations.
Also asked him if he could fit all 6 carriages in WAC, apparently he'll be doing local door only for a fair few stations.
danpick
Member
The 10:20 has made it, was only 377L(6 hours 17 minutes!) on arrival....
Strictly speaking not railway related but heard on the news that a pedestrian was killed by falling debris while out shopping. Kind of puts in perspective that although the journey home is arduous for many, at least they will be getting home.
Blindtraveler
Established Member
Well I must creddit the efficiancy of VTWC in getting things moving again once roofs, obstructions and the rest were sorted. Left Lancaster finally at about half 5, Preston just around 6 and Crewe where an extra stop was arranged at 18:55. Now on the run to London running a bit slow but the TM expects arrival 20:25.
Ah, like they did at Stevenage one time and literally every screen changed to that. No info on ANYTHING whatsoever.
Surely that's a feature for the most extreme emergencies, like an evacuation of the station or something.
GTR did say last time that it was an error and someone had (I got the gist as) entered a message and set the wrong type/priority.
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tsr
Established Member
Tree on the Up line Crawley -> Three Bridges. Down traffic unaffected.
SN/TL will accept today's tickets for travel tomorrow.
SN/TL will accept today's tickets for travel tomorrow.
They had them at Hatfield and they seemed to work. GN would have been busier as they were busing in people from (I assume) St Albans due to disruption there. That was at midday.
Well they didn't at Kings Cross.
We had a lady at the back of the huge crowd at 9/10/11 shouting "Could you get someone with a loud voice to tell us what is going on" - much to everyone's amusement.
And in response the member of GN platform staff mumbled into their broken loud hailer, and even though I was stood within 10 feet of them, I couldn't hear a word they were saying.
Meanwhile, just generic "its all messed up" statements and nothing meaningful over the station PA.
Did you look up online to see what had happened? I was told it was part of a roof on the wires, and certainly at least two lines were blocked.
If TL users were still told to use GN, I can imagine why it was so chaotic.
I'd have looked online and then wandered off to a nearby pub until everything blew over (!).
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
Not necessarily poor platform staff. It's usually due to the fact they don't know or are not in possession of suitable info themselves. It used to be different pre privatisation when there was a Supervisor in charge of the station performing the function of what TOCs and Network Rail do today. Platform staff are invariably little more than train dispatchers nowadays
weastebusdepot
Member
Isn't that just how Kings Cross normally looks? Whenever it's shown in newspapers or on tv, there are similar crowds.
I popped into Manchester Piccadilly around lunchtime, where nothing was departing in any direction apart from occasional MIA services. Lots of VTWC staff on the concourse including one with a megaphone who announced complimentary refreshments were being provided.
Outside was an Ellisons coach labelled for Chelsea Football Club. Presumably the team were attempting to catch a train south after playing Liverpool last night.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
ATW are showing all Wrexham to Bidston and Blaenau Ffestiniog as cancelled
tomorrow. Suspect unit shortage as they have also posted that many trains will be short formed due to the number of units damaged due to trees winning the tree v train battle. Suspect this is the reason although in case of these routes blamed on weather conditions.
tomorrow. Suspect unit shortage as they have also posted that many trains will be short formed due to the number of units damaged due to trees winning the tree v train battle. Suspect this is the reason although in case of these routes blamed on weather conditions.
What I don't understand is why the rail network has collapsed so badly despite the forewarning? I've been on trains in Sweden which ploughed through 3 feet of snow, trains in Norway which made light work of a sustained total blizzard and in Germany, despite ice, wind, snow etc causing line obstructions over winter there was nowhere near this level of disruption
SamYeager
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- 20 Mar 2014
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Glib answer is because it's the UK.
More seriously my guess would be the amount of trees down and general debris coupled with the fact there are probably less staff available with the appropriate kit to clear obstructions. No doubt others with more knowledge will comment soon.Chelsea played Liverpool last night!
They did?hock:
I was surprised to hear that! Did we (Liverpool) win?
The Box Photter
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I suspect it has something to do with the fact that their infrastructure is designed from scratch to deal with extreme weather.
Ours has been cobbled together piecemeal over the last 50 years or so by an organisation constantly starved of investment and (since privatisation) dedicated & experienced management.
The OHLE equipment on the main routes has been put up at "least cost" which means any adverse conditions are inclined to bring down the knitting.
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