Storm Henk travel disruption 02/01/24

[londonmidland]

Quite a lot of issues occurring across the rail network, up and down the country, due to flooding and trees on the line.

Just now, Cross Country have suspended their Birmingham to Plymouth/South West services due to multiple weather related incidents.

In the last hour or so the following incidents have occurred:

- FLOODING BLACKWELL
- FLOODING BROMSGROVE
- FLOODING HAGLEY
- TREE ON THE LINE TIVERTON PARKWAY

As a result, the service from BIRMINGHAM TO PLYMOUTH is being WITHDRAWN

Also, anyone travelling to/from London this afternoon and evening, your journey is likely to be disrupted as the Met Office have issued an Amber Weather Warning for strong winds for The South East, Home Counties and East Anglia.

A spell of very strong winds, already having affected southwest England, will move eastwards across parts of south Wales, southern England, the south Midlands and East Anglia during the afternoon and evening. Gusts of 70-80 mph are likely on exposed coasts in the west. Inland, gusts of 50-60 mph are more probable, but perhaps briefly 60-70 mph in one or two places.

 

[InkyScrolls]

The line is once again flooded at Kirkstall (just north of Leeds) with nothing between Leeds and Shipley since 0500 this morning!

 

[308165]

The line is once again flooded at Kirkstall (just north of Leeds) with nothing between Leeds and Shipley since 0500 this morning!

Third time this winter I think. Is it being made worse by the ongoing flood prevention work at Kirkstall I wonder?

 

[Essexman]

Lots of problems in Devon.
Flooding, trees down and footbridge roof on the track in Okehampton station.

 

[ChrisC]

Line flooded between Derby and Stoke on Trent. No EMR trains between Derby and Crewe for the rest of the day.
Line beginning to flood again between Derby and Long Eaton at Draycott. Still open but speed restriction and delays of up to 10 minutes.

 

[43055]

Line flooded between Derby and Stoke on Trent. No EMR trains between Derby and Crewe for the rest of the day.
Line beginning to flood again between Derby and Long Eaton at Draycott. Still open but speed restriction and delays of up to 10 minutes.

Wouldn't be surprised if Draycott closes again with the rain we have at the moment.

 

[londonmidland]

Flooding reported at Madeley (between Stafford and Crewe)

 

[Blindtraveler]

Another day of ferry disruption out of Dover and doubtless other places as well, this seems to have been a constant theme for the last couple of weeks

 

[Silenos]

I am informed by a regular poster on another thread this is all perfectly normal and has happened every year since time immemorial…

 

[geoffk]

Flooding between Swindon and Bristol Parkway - this seems a frequent event, but where exactly?

 

[CaptainHaddock]

I am informed by a regular poster on another thread this is all perfectly normal and has happened every year since time immemorial…

He's right though; this isn't "extreme weather", it's "seasonal weather". We have wet and windy weather round about this time every year, the difference is that in the past we didn't give every single spell of heavy rain a scary "Storm Whatever" name.

Either way the railway should be way more resilient to this kind of weather.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Flooding between Swindon and Bristol Parkway - this seems a frequent event, but where exactly?

Almost certainly Chipping Sodbury tunnel?

 

[MrB]

Southeastern looks to be slowly but surely falling apart - multiple trees fallen at Wadhurst blocking the Hastings line, tree also looks to be on the line at Petts Wood blocking the SE main line

 

[TFN]

OLE tripped between Paddington and Maidenhead. Round 2 anyone?

 

[Llanigraham]

Flooding between Swindon and Bristol Parkway - this seems a frequent event, but where exactly?

Chipping Sodbury Tunnel perhaps? It has happened there previously.

 

[renegademaster]

I am informed by a regular poster on another thread this is all perfectly normal and has happened every year since time immemorial…

Extreme events are more frequent , but this is not an example of an extreme event and the last couple of weeks have been typical British winter weather. Climate Change is not an excuse to defund infrastructure and pretend the inevitable results have got nothing to with the government.

 

[Dan G]

He's right though; this isn't "extreme weather", it's "seasonal weather". We have wet and windy weather round about this time every year, the difference is that in the past we didn't give every single spell of heavy rain a scary "Storm Whatever" name.

Either way the railway should be way more resilient to this kind of weather.

The Met Office weather station at Exeter Airport recorded the highest gust in its history (83 mph) earlier today. This is exceptional weather.

 

[londonmidland]

Looks like everything is at a stand at Basingstoke. SWR have issued a Do Not Travel message.

We recommend that you do not travel on the South Western Railway due to the severe weather. Disruption will affect all lines on the wider network. We’re sorry for the disruption this causes.

 

[Nova1]

West Midlands extremely wet, Snow Hill services towards Stratford terminating at Whitlocks end because of the usual flooding around Earlswood.

 

[LAX54]

Extreme events are more frequent , but this is not an example of an extreme event and the last couple of weeks have been typical British winter weather. Climate Change is not an excuse to defund infrastructure and pretend the inevitable results have got nothing to with the government.

Its more severe than normal winter storms though, with frequent gusts of 70 / 80 mph, once a tree brings the OHL down, or a train hits a tree, you are done for, at least for the next few hours, the other issue gettinmg staff to site with roads closed etc

 

[InOban]

The problems are arising because after several very wet months the water table is very high and any new rain has nowhere to go but flow off the fields .

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Southeastern are reporting lots of problems now with trees on the lines; namely Grove Park area/Bromley North branch; Maidstone West - Paddock Wood and Hayes branches

Link to their website

Service disruption | Southeastern

If you are travelling you can find out the latest information about our services and see if there are any disruptions that might affect you.

www.southeasternrailway.co.uk

 

[MadMarsupial]

The Met Office weather station at Exeter Airport recorded the highest gust in its history (83 mph) earlier today. This is exceptional weather.

Agree Dan this is exceptional weather. December 2023 was the second wettest December since 1860 in Buxton and 2023 was the third wettest year since 1860 in Buxton. Source www.buxtonweather.co.uk

 

[fodphil]

OLE tripped between Paddington and Maidenhead. Round 2 anyone?

I'm on the 15.32 Padd- Cheltenham, we were about to depart 20 late on diesel, then the juice came back on, left 30 late on electric, got to North Pole, stopped, back onto diesel. We then proceeded on a combination of main and relief and we are just about to arrive in Reading.
Loads of 345s and 387s at a stand still.
Lucky we could get around them.

 

[800001]

He's right though; this isn't "extreme weather", it's "seasonal weather". We have wet and windy weather round about this time every year, the difference is that in the past we didn't give every single spell of heavy rain a scary "Storm Whatever" name.

Either way the railway should be way more resilient to this kind of weather.

I thought storms were only named when the weather was due to get to a certain level, eg wind speed and other combinations of factors?

 

[RJ]

Flooding between Swindon and Bristol Parkway - this seems a frequent event, but where exactly?

Almost every time it rains that tunnel gets flooded. They usually halve the service and divert via Bath Spa which adds 45 minutes if the train makes it or otherwise gets turned at Reading.

I’ve got to travel from Cardiff to London now to do emergency rail replacement, fingers crossed it doesn’t take all evening

 

[Wivenswold]

LO Emerson Park shuttle blocked by tree.
This has come as quite a surprise, there was little sign that it would be this windy when checking the weather models before bed last night.

 

[RollingStock19]

Delays from Peterborough northbound due to flooding around Bytham

 

[deltic]

South Western are giving blanket approval for passengers who are stranded to get taxis!

 

[Llanigraham]

Extreme events are more frequent , but this is not an example of an extreme event and the last couple of weeks have been typical British winter weather. Climate Change is not an excuse to defund infrastructure and pretend the inevitable results have got nothing to with the government.

Have they?
According to the Met Office many areas received twice the amount of rainfall in Dec than is normal, and I think Aberdeen three times. That is not "typical British weather"