Severn Tunnel junction closure 25th-26th Jan 2025

[Steveswan10]

I see that on the weekend 25th/26th Jan, there is engineering work taking place in and around Seven Tunnel Junction (and the Gloucester line).

Apart from the Daventry to Wentloog Tesco train which is being diverted through Hereford, whilst looking at RTT for Newport on that weekend, all freight that would normally run out of south Wales through the Seven Tunnel and up through Gloucester is not showing on the system.

I understand that the container trains from Southampton and London to Wentloog can't go via Hereford, due to loading restrictions in Dinmore Tunnels (and possibly Ludlow and Pontrilas Tunnels), but surely the rest of the freights (steel, scrap, oil) can still be diverted, rather than not running them at all?

I can remember during the last lot of closures that the Westerleigh oil train ran up through Hereford, so is there any reason why they won't run? or will they indeed run, but is it too far ahead for RTT to show any diversions?

 

[Freightmaster]

...but surely the rest of the stuff (steel, scrap, oil) can still be diverted...

I'm not sure what specific trains you are referring to, but the only non-container
trains booked to run via STJ on a Saturday at present are the Round Oak steels,
which will just run additionally on the Friday and/or Monday instead.



MARK

 

[Snow1964]

It doesn't just affect freight,
it also affects the Cardiff-Portsmouth 7 cities regional link.

It has been timed (probably without joined up thinking) to interrupt the service just one day after it returns to full service after month's disruption.

For the record, this is summary of Cardiff-Portsmouth works, where the days it fully operates fully throughout, are fewer than those affected by engineering works until March

Westbury closure 27 Dec - Thur 23rd Jan
Severn Tunnel closure 25-26 Jan
Bath - Warminster 1-2 Feb
Fareham - Portsmouth 8-9 Feb and 15 to Tues 18 Feb
Portsmouth area Wed 19 - Fri 21 Feb
Salisbury - Southampton 22 Feb
Warminster - Southampton 23 Feb
Fareham - Portsmouth 1-2 March
Warminster - Bath 8-9 March
Salisbury - Southampton 23 March

 

[Steveswan10]

So I assume the Tees-Margam, Corby-Margam, Robestone-Westerleigh/Theale (if they run) and the stuff to Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, Cardiff to Tees and Masborough (on Sundays) will just run extra on Friday before the closure or Monday after the closure??

 

[The Planner]

It doesn't just affect freight,
it also affects the Cardiff-Portsmouth 7 cities regional link.

It has been timed (probably without joined up thinking) to interrupt the service just one day after it returns to full service after month's disruption.

For the record, this is summary of Cardiff-Portsmouth works, where the days it fully operates fully throughout, are fewer than those affected by engineering works until March

Westbury closure 27 Dec - Thur 23rd Jan
Severn Tunnel closure 25-26 Jan
Bath - Warminster 1-2 Feb
Fareham - Portsmouth 8-9 Feb and 15 to Tues 18 Feb
Portsmouth area Wed 19 - Fri 21 Feb
Salisbury - Southampton 22 Feb
Warminster - Southampton 23 Feb
Fareham - Portsmouth 1-2 March
Warminster - Bath 8-9 March
Salisbury - Southampton 23 March

GWR would have accepted the block. As much as many may bleat, its not imposed on them.

 

[Steveswan10]

And if that's the case it's a shame, would've been nice to see the extra freight through Hereford though I do understand the operational requirements (extra drivers who sign the diversionary routes)
Out if interest, if say the Margam/Cardiff Tidal-Tees, Masborough, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool was to go up the Marches, which way would it go after Shrewsbury, would it be routed back to Walsall, the Sutton Park Line to Water Orton and then onto it's normal route or would it go Crewe, Stockport area then across the Hope line or up through Huddersfield?
And I assume if the Westerleigh tanks were to run I would assume it would go Hereford, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Bescot and back to the Camp Hill line and south or would it go Hereford, Worcester and then south (are they even permitted that way)?
Any info would be of interest

 

[The Planner]

And if that's the case it's a shame, would've been nice to see the extra freight through Hereford though I do understand the operational requirements (extra drivers who sign the diversionary routes)
Out if interest, if say the Margam/Cardiff Tidal-Tees, Masborough, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool was to go up the Marches, which way would it go after Shrewsbury, would it be routed back to Walsall, the Sutton Park Line to Water Orton and then onto it's normal route or would it go Crewe, Stockport area then across the Hope line or up through Huddersfield?
And I assume if the Westerleigh tanks were to run I would assume it would go Hereford, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Bescot and back to the Camp Hill line and south or would it go Hereford, Worcester and then south (are they even permitted that way)?
Any info would be of interest

More likely the West Mids. Getting it across from Middlewich and the Hope.Valley would be a challenge.

 

[Freightmaster]

So I assume the Tees-Margam, Corby-Margam, Robestone-Westerleigh/Theale (if they run) and the stuff to Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, Cardiff to Tees and Masborough (on Sundays) will just run extra on Friday before the closure or Monday after the closure??

They simply won't run.



MARK