ECML blocked Stevenage - Hitchin (09/08 and 10/08))

[800001]

On 1E08, miraculously managed to store all my luggage and get my seat at Durham. It's full and standing, long holds at every station trying to get passengers to deboard (although I must say the train doesn't feel *that* busy). And we haven't even reached the affected area yet...

There is no affected area for you, the Up main line is fixed and you should go through with no issue.

Maybe ever so slight congestion of a GTR/Thaneslink in area, as up slow blocked.

 

[387masterrace]

There is no affected area for you, the Up main line is fixed and you should go through with no issue.

Maybe ever so slight congestion of a GTR/Thaneslink in area, as up slow blocked.

Ah that's good. If passengers are well behaved at stations and the driver floors it we might avoid being late into delay repay territory but I think (hope) it is unlikely.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

There is no affected area for you, the Up main line is fixed and you should go through with no issue.

Maybe ever so slight congestion of a GTR/Thaneslink in area, as up slow blocked.

Thameslink have removed all their services for the day (leaving a much reduced service South of the river all day by the way) so they won't be getting in the way

 

[Magdalia]

2C29 is (as far as I can tell) the first non-cancelled GN CBG->KGX, but per RTT it appears to have stopped at Letchworth for the past ~20 minutes - any idea what's going on there?

Maybe ever so slight congestion of a GTR/Thaneslink in area, as up slow blocked.

All up trains off the Cambridge line use the up slow through Hitchin station, and this appears to be out of use, with trains unable to go from the up slow to the up fast at Hitchin South. This also means that no up trains can call at Hitchin.

Thameslink appear to be operating a Kings Cross-Peterborough service, coded 9Zxx on Real Time Trains, and missing Hitchin in the up direction.

Great Northern are operating a Cambridge-Letchworth shuttle, which has been running since early this morning. Some of these are using the 2Cxx codes, other running as 2Zxx on Real Time Trains. This is at least an improvement on yesterday evening when Cambridge-Letchworth had no service at all.

 

[43094]

I know someone on 1A41 yesterday, they said:

47815 dragged it back north, Hitchin - St Neots.

The 47 was then detached at St Neots.

The IC225 then ran as 1F41 to Peterborough, and terminated.

Pax had the option of either getting off the IC225 at St Neots, and a 5-car Azuma picked them up and took them to Kings Cross, or getting off it at Peterborough, and travelling back north on 1D36.

 

[Hadders]

Thameslink have removed all their services for the day (leaving a much reduced service South of the river all day by the way) so they won't be getting in the way

Not quite

There’s one train an hour between Peterborough and Kings Cross. It’s notionally using one of the Peterborough to Horsham paths, non-stopping at Hitchin but calling additionally at Knebworth (on the up fast platform), Welwyn North and Welwyn Garden City.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I know someone on 1A41 yesterday, they said:

47815 dragged it back north, Hitchin - St Neots.

The 47 was then detached at St Neots.

The IC225 then ran as 1F41 to Peterborough, and terminated.

Pax had the option of either getting off the IC225 at St Neots, and a 5-car Azuma picked them up and took them to Kings Cross, or getting off it at Peterborough, and travelling back north on 1D36.

Aha that explains why the passenger reporting on Twitter from 1A41 in Hitchin stn then post again c0300 that they still hadn't got to KX but the picture inside the coach is now an Azuma!

 

[endecotp]

Does anyone know whether the bi-modes’ ability to move when overhead power is lost was of any use during all this disruption? I’m thinking of both the “full” bi-modes and those that just have an emergency generator.

 

[ainsworth74]

I guess it's good news that the 12:00 has had an extra stop at Doncaster added. This seems to imply it'll be running.

Looks to be cancelled beyond Edinburgh however with road transport requested for passengers beyond there.

 

[800001]

Looks to be cancelled beyond Edinburgh however with road transport requested for passengers beyond there.

Yes, as that is initially how 1N29 last Hitchin on its donkey engine.

Looks to be cancelled beyond Edinburgh however with road transport requested for passengers beyond there.

Unfortunately formed of an electric set rather than a bimode.

 

[387masterrace]

Ah that's good. If passengers are well behaved at stations and the driver floors it we might avoid being late into delay repay territory but I think (hope) it is unlikely.

Update: 29 minutes late into kings cross , can't believe it

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

The great northern shuttles from Cambridge are now reversing at Hitchin instead of Letchworth

 

[Deafdoggie]

Looks to be cancelled beyond Edinburgh however with road transport requested for passengers beyond there.

Yes. The Highland Chieften is today, not going to the Highlands

It is quite cosy onboard, there were two trainloads of passengers onboard from London. At Newcastle a third trainload joined us.

The new TM at Newcastle just announced "If you want to let our Customer Service department know your views I'm sure they'll be delighted to hear them!" Which got a laugh.

 

[jon0844]

The great northern shuttles from Cambridge are now reversing at Hitchin instead of Letchworth

Makes sense to connect with the King's Cross to Peterborough shuttles.

 

[ainsworth74]

Unfortunately formed of an electric set rather than a bimode.

Ah, that'll definitely make it tricky to get to Inverness!

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

Makes sense to connect with the King's Cross to Peterborough shuttles.

They're not stopping there on the up

 

[Deepgreen]

Ah that's good. If passengers are well behaved at stations and the driver floors it we might avoid being late into delay repay territory but I think (hope) it is unlikely.

Drivers have not been able to 'floor it' for years now. Trains exceeding speed limits are braked/brought to a stand as a result. This is why it amuses me when live announcements still say that 'we can probably make up time en route' - unless there is significant pathing allowance or similar - no, you can't make up time.

 

[jon0844]

They're not stopping there on the up

Oh, less useful then.

 

[Deepgreen]

It's my perception that the railway is suffering from the following problem - technology in all fields of the railway's operation and control is increasingly complicated and delicate (both physically and virtually). It is therefore more and more subject to failures which are not easily/quickly resolved in most cases. Safety continues to improve, yes, but day-to-day reliability seems to be falling in direct correlation with increasing technological reliance. Again, only my perception, and I am happy to be corrected by facts!

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

It's my perception that the railway is suffering from the following problem - technology in all fields of the railway's operation and control is increasingly complicated and delicate (both physically and virtually). It is therefore more and more subject to failures which are not easily/quickly resolved in most cases. Safety continues to improve, yes, but day-to-day reliability seems to be falling in direct correlation with increasing technological reliance. Again, only my perception, and I am happy to be corrected by facts!

Technology has allowed for more and faster trains to run though

 

[Mike99]

Sorry I'm a newb, what are these acronyms?

Every Station in the country has a three letter code, ABD for Aberdeen, BRI for Bristol Temple Meads etc, you get the idea. Many staff and enthusiasts know a lot of these for stations throughout the country. National Rail Enquiries (NRE) in the station section and Real Time Trains (RTT) show these.

 

[Horizon22]

Does anyone know whether the bi-modes’ ability to move when overhead power is lost was of any use during all this disruption? I’m thinking of both the “full” bi-modes and those that just have an emergency generator.

Depends where you were talking. In the immediate vicinty there was also reported to be debris (fallen OLE) strewn across various lines which would be a job stopper.

 

[Babybirdrobin]

Does anyone know whether the bi-modes’ ability to move when overhead power is lost was of any use during all this disruption? I’m thinking of both the “full” bi-modes and those that just have an emergency generator.

On that topic, does anyone know why any engines weren’t started for ETS supply to make things slightly less worse? Fuel supply maybe?

 

[Steve Harris]

Every Station in the country has a three letter code, ABD for Aberdeen, BRI for Bristol Temple Meads etc, you get the idea. Many staff and enthusiasts know a lot of these for stations throughout the country. National Rail Enquiries (NRE) in the station section and Real Time Trains (RTT) show these.

That may well be correct, but forum rules do state that any acronyms/codes should be explained (at least in there first use in a post) do they not ?

 

[Jan Mayen]

Going OT, but Southern now at a standstill both at Selhurst and Gatwick due to signal failures.

 

[800001]

On that topic, does anyone know why any engines weren’t started for ETS supply to make things slightly less worse? Fuel supply maybe?

Engines were started! Once an 8Xx comes to a stand and it’s identified there is no OHL power, then GUs are started immediately. Stationary this will
Provide several hours of hotel power based on a full tank of fuel.

 

[43066]

Drivers have not been able to 'floor it' for years now. Trains exceeding speed limits are braked/brought to a stand as a result. This is why it amuses me when live announcements still say that 'we can probably make up time en route' - unless there is significant pathing allowance or similar - no, you can't make up time.

I made up almost ten minutes earlier due to a combination of pathing allowances, a decent unit capable of beating the timetable, and snappy dispatch by the guard and station staff. There’s nothing unusual about that - hence the announcements.

 

[QueensCurve]

Looks to be cancelled beyond Edinburgh however with road transport requested for passengers beyond

No trains to Inverness?

 

[ainsworth74]

No trains to Inverness?

Yes, that thought did occur as there's a 1731 and a 1935 from Edinburgh to Inverness. But I assume Scotrail refused acceptance. Perhaps concerned that the 1731 would be swamped?

 

[MikeWM]

They're not stopping there on the up

Another case where a crossing between the up slow and up fast between the junction and the station would have been useful.

I'm not sure why one hasn't been put in - there seems to be plenty of room to do so, and the advantage in potentially allowing a fast up train to proceed off the branch without having to wait for a late stopping train to leave the up platform at Hitchin, is something that seems would be useful multiple times a week.