Great Western Coffee Shop

   To SERUG

We are writing to advise you that unfortunately South Western Railway
(SWR) will need to introduce a revised temporary timetable on the West
of England line from the start of September (currently expected to be
5th September), due to a speed restriction on the line in the Tisbury
area in addition to the existing one in the Crewkerne area.

The key points to note are:

   *

Services between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction will continue to run on
an hourly basis to / from London Waterloo but with some journey times
extended and timings at intermediate stations altered
   *

There will continue to be through services between Exeter and London
Waterloo but these will only run every two hours instead of the normal
hourly service (in effect one train every two hours will extend from
Yeovil Junction to / from Exeter)
   *

Journey times between Salisbury and Exeter will also unfortunately be
extended by around an hour

   *

A detailed timetable will be published as soon as possible but requires
review and approval from Network Rail. We will let you know more details
as soon as we can.
   *

The length of the temporary timetable is still to be confirmed but is
expected to continue into October subject to future weather conditions
and Network Rail (NR) being able to carry out mitigation measures.

You may have already seen a stakeholder message from Network Rail
earlier today explaining the problem behind the speed restriction in the
Tisbury area. One of the embankments upon which the track runs is built
on clay and has experienced significant movement and shrinkage due to
the exceptional weather conditions. This in turn has caused problems
with the track.

The speed restriction on this lengthy single line section causes
significant issues for the timetable which you may have experienced in
recent weeks. Unfortunately, this has led to quite lengthy delays on
many services with some station calls needing to be modified as a
result. SWR and NR have decided to introduce the temporary timetable to
provide greater certainty to stakeholders and customers and improve the
reliability of the service.

We will provide more details during the week beginning 29th August
including a more detailed explanation behind the new timetable, a
communications plan (which we will need the support of stakeholders to
help maximise awareness) and information on how we plan to manage
capacity on the available services, particularly recognising the start
of the new school and college terms. There will also be further
information on how the new timetable will be integrated with the
existing planned engineering blockade between Axminster and Pinhoe later
in September

Please accept our apologies for the disruption this will cause. We will
work closely with NR to answer any queries you have in the meantime but
otherwise will provide further information to you as soon as possible.

I don't doubt there are lots of similar issues network wide.

It's the time taken to fix them, particulary on secondary routes (although this line is primary for me!) that I take issue with. Desiccation of earthwork assets is hardly a new phenomenon for Network Rail to deal with.

Email from SWR to SERUG and circulated to members advising of changes to the Waterloo to Exeter service for the next few weeks

Do they gave a crew signing on point at EXD

Over the last few days the delays here (at Axminster) don't seem to be that bad, 20-25 minutes maximum on the Exeter bound services, much better than they were last Friday. Does this really warrant the implementation of a two hourly service next week for a month. Many services yesterday were only delayed by about ten or 12 minutes, not much more than we are used to anyway. My regular travel is from Topsham to Axminster, I can see that from next week my journey will be extended by at least an hour, maybe more, depending on connections at Exeter Central.

Long, hot summer means major changes to trains on the West of England line in Dorset and Wiltshire as dried-out soil takes its toll on tracks

Region & Route: Southern | Southern: Wessex

Major changes to train services on the West of England main line west of Salisbury have had to be made after a 4-mile long speed restriction was put in place between Gillingham and Tisbury, in Dorset and Wiltshire.

The South of England has endured its driest July since 1936, as well as the hottest temperatures ever recorded, and the impact has now been felt on the railway.

Sections of railway built on clay-based soil, including those around Gillingham, have dried out so badly that they have shrunk, leaving the track on top uneven and dangerous to run trains at full speed.

It is likely that the speed restriction will remain in place until October, as engineers must wait for the soil to regain some of its moisture before a repair can be carried out.

Network Rail’s Head of Track Engineering for Southern Region, Colum Cavanagh, said: “We call this problem Soil Moisture Deficit and although we encounter issues with it most summers, this year has been absolutely unprecedented.

“We came into the hot season with our track in the best condition it’s ever been in, and yet now – late August – the soils around Gillingham have dried so badly the track is only able to take trains running at 40mph, down from 80mph. 

“Normally we would take a piece of kit called a tamper in and sort the track out, a bit like shaking a duvet and getting it flat again. This year the problem is so bad that the soil is still shrinking and it’s going to be some weeks until it has stabilised enough for us to do the work to bring line speeds back up to normal.

“We’re very grateful for everyone’s patience as we know the changes to trains must be frustrating, but the changes are there to keep everyone safe.”

Train services have had to be amended as the line is single – so no trains can pass each other – and trains are taking double the normal length of time to run between Gillingham and Tisbury.

The full revised timetable is currently being finalised and will be published later this week.

Claire Mann, SWR’s Managing Director said: “After two weeks of delays and short-notice changes to our services, this decision to introduce a revised timetable will allow us to run a resilient service and at least provide certainty to our customers in the West of England. I am sorry to all those whose journeys will be affected as we wait for weather conditions to improve so Network Rail can safely remove the speed restriction.”

Mr Cavanagh added: “Based upon a recent reconstruction of a clay embankment at Edenbridge in Kent, if we were to rebuild all 6,000 of our clay embankments with modern materials, it could cost anywhere between £15bn to £20bn and take decades to complete.

“We need to manage with what we’ve got and should summers like this one become the norm, we will need to change the way we work to reflect that. Unfortunately, the people who built the railway to Gillingham in 1859 didn’t realise the impact they would have on us 160 years later building their railways on clay soil."

Some deflecting and irrelevance in that press release. No one is suggesting that all sections of railway on clay based soil need to be replaced. As far as I'm aware, Gillingham - Tisbury is the only place on the network that is so bad as to require a timetable change. There has been weeks of disruption and only now are Network Rail and SWR informing passengers about the cause of that disruptions and what they are doing to affect a fix.

Aren't the serious problems also down to the reduction of the line to a single track for mile after mile and then trying to stuff more trains than it can cope with through?  How much would the delay be if there were only short sections of single line?

Now something similar seems to have happened between Templecombe and Gillingham, currently all lines blocked
https://twitter.com/networkrailwssx/status/1565390662467461120?s=21&t=RCS8caHXgtG5bWXHUVD92w

Cancellations to services between Gillingham Dorset and Templecombe

Due to a safety inspection of the track between Gillingham Dorset and Templecombe all lines are blocked.

What's Going On:
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

What We're Doing About It:
A safety inspection of the track is taking place between Gillingham and Templecombe. All lines are now blocked again whilst this is taking place.

Tickets will be accepted at no extra cost on the following services:
- Great Western Railway services between Salisbury and Bristol Temple Meads
- Great Western Railway services between Bath Spa and London Paddington
- Great Western Railway services between London Paddington and Exeter St Davids
- Great Western Railway services between Reading and Basingstoke
- London Underground services between London Waterloo and London Paddington

Replacement buses have also been requested and an update will be provided once they are in place.

Now something similar seems to have happened between Templecombe and Gillingham, currently all lines blocked
https://twitter.com/networkrailwssx/status/1565390662467461120?s=21&t=RCS8caHXgtG5bWXHUVD92w

WICC: Alert Message UPGRADED RED: Tisbury- Yeovil Junction- Multiple Suspected Track Defects


Initial Advice
UPGRADED RED: Tisbury- Yeovil Junction- Multiple Suspected Track Defects
Report of a suspected track defect via the driver of 1L09 (0738 Salisbury - Exeter St Davids 0944) in the Gillingham area, on the single line. As a result the line is blocked, 1L26 (0640 Exeter St Davids - Basingstoke 0928) is currently at a stand in Gillingham (Dorset) station. This service will be sent back to Yeovil Junction where it will terminate. A time out has been arranged for 0845 to discuss the train service. Salisbury MOM has been advised with an ETA of 1 hour.

Current Reports:
1L09 reports track defect at Gillingham (Dorset)- Tisbury- vicinity of SE4673 signal (103m 73ch)
1L24 reports track defect in the vicinity of Gillingham (Dorset)- Tisbury at 102m 60ch.
1L09 reports a track defect at Yeovil Junction- 123m 60ch- down direction.
2Z26 reports a kink A kink at Hunts Path no 1 Crossing (103m 45ch).
Two kinks at 102m 40ch.


Update 1122-
No buses have been supplied for Exeter at this time.
TME has arrived on site 102M 50CH - they will walk up now and begin taking their line blockages.
Pway SM is waiting at Yeovil Junction, to ride empties once the driver completes his PNB at 1230.

Update 1028-
Tactical/ Time out required at 1000
Attendees- SNDM, NDM, DCM,ICEM, SDC, GWRTRSC, SC

Situation-
We currently have had four reports of track defects/ kinks as follows:
1L09 reports track defect at Gillingham (Dorset)- Tisbury- vicinity of SE4673 signal (103m 73ch)
1L24 reports track defect in the vicinity of Gillingham (Dorset)- Tisbury at 102m 60ch.
1L09 reports a track defect at Yeovil Junction- 123m 60ch- down direction.
2Z26 reports a kink A kink at Hunts Path no 1 Crossing (103m 45ch).
Two kinks at 102m 40ch.

As such we are BLOCKED from Salisbury- Gillingham.
PWAY Level 2 will be on site at 1045.
PWAY Section manager is aboard 1L36 (0925 Exeter St Davids- London Waterloo 1249) where he will leave the service and await 5L32 to examine the line.

Train Service Plan:
Currently SWR are running a full service diverting via Westbury in both directions.

It is now priority to look at running a service every two hours in both directions to mitigate the possibility of meeting capacity via Westbury.
As well as preventing a possible crewing issue, with the diversion adding time/ altering their schedule.

Crews/ Stations-
Not serving Salisbury- Yeovil, buses requested.

Customer Message-
5 Buses ordered to cover Salisbury- Yeovil.
3 at Salisbury.
Look to recruit further but later in the day but on an as need basis.

Message planned for disruption till end of day.
Due to a speed restriction over defective track between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.

What's Going On:
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 09/09/22.

What We're Doing About It:
There is currently a speed restriction over defective track between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction. This means that trains have to run at reduced speed in both directions through these stations.

As a result of these restrictions, there will be a revised timetable operating on the West of England line from Monday 5th September.

The timetable will be available from later this week but if you are intending to travel on this route after Monday 5th September, you should check your journey before you travel as journey times will be extended and some services will not operate.

For further information or onward travel advice, please speak to a member of staff or use a station help point.

Please accept our apologies for the disruption to your journey.

Further call at 1200.

Dunno what I was worried about. Barely a second glance at my Authority to Travel at any gateline. Even Underground. Didn't use Oyster after all. I'd left it at home!

It's likely that the Emergency Speed Restriction between Gillingham and Tisbury will be reduced from 40mph to 20mph. Hopefully that won't effect the emergency timetable due to published shortly

Trains cancelled and lines closed after thousands of gallons of water submerges tracks

I've never seen an Authority to Travel before; what form/layout does it take?

Now a track fault at Yeovil PM has blocked the line to Westbury so SWR only running to Junction, while Weymouth line running to Pen Mill, and Castle cary to Westbury.
Buses inbetween

Tracksy shows a T3 possession at Tisbury, presumably the reason behind the plan to go via Westbury.

Alterations to services between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction

Due to a safety inspection of the track between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction the line via Westbury is blocked.

What's Going On:
Train services running through these stations may be delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 12:00 03/09.

What We're Doing About It:
We have been informed of a track defect at Yeovil Pen Mill, this means that trains are unable to run between Yeovil Junction and Salisbury via Yeovil Pen Mill. We have replacement bus services due to planned engineering work running between Yeovil Junction and Salisbury via Tisbury.
We have requested additional replacement buses to run non-stop between Yeovil Junction and Salisbury.

Now a track fault at Yeovil PM has blocked the line to Westbury so SWR only running to Junction, while Weymouth line running to Pen Mill, and Castle cary to Westbury.
Buses inbetween

I'm just about to head home to Templecombe from Milton Keynes. Wish me luck!

Hmm ... if I was going there, I wouldn't be starting from here  ;D

Direct route - X5 bus to Oxford, S6 bus to Swindon, then train changing at Westbury and Yeovil (one or both stations).

And all at additional cost bearing in mind I'd already purchased a TMC-MKC Off Peak Return.

Indeed - but is shouldn't be additional cost.  Public transport tickets valid via any reasonable route, and that means any reasonable route on the day.   Hopefully sorting out that sort of thing will be one of the first actions of a united GBR - bringing all trains and local bus services (those on with ENCTS cards are valid) under the same fare and connection guarantee / compensation scheme.

Indeed - but is shouldn't be additional cost.  Public transport tickets valid via any reasonable route, and that means any reasonable route on the day.   Hopefully sorting out that sort of thing will be one of the first actions of a united GBR - bringing all trains and local bus services (those on with ENCTS cards are valid) under the same fare and connection guarantee / compensation scheme.

Arrived back in Templecombe 8 minutes early tonight! Wowzers! 2149 versus 2157.

Yes, that's against the emergency timetable, and after a 14 minute wait at Gillingham, but I was pleased. I was able to pop into the Co-op to grab a few essentials before it shut at 10pm. You know the sort of thing - alcohol, tobacco, caffeine. :P

So let's get this right - you're drinking tonight because your train was early?

Reading the above prompts me to throw in an (almost) unrelated question. When did Buckhorn Weston Tunnel become Gillingham Tunnel? And was any reason given?

Reading the above prompts me to throw in an (almost) unrelated question. When did Buckhorn Weston Tunnel become Gillingham Tunnel? And was any reason given?

   NETWORK RAIL SOUTHERN REGION

WEST OF ENGLAND LINE

26 October 2022

Dear Stakeholders

_Lifting speed restrictions on the West of England line _

As you will be aware, speed restrictions of 40mph were brought in this
summer at locations near Tisbury, Gillingham and Axminster, as the
clay-based track bed shrank in the record-breaking hot and dry summer,
leaving the rails uneven and too bumpy for trains to run at full speed.
This caused significant disruption to services in August and required
the introduction of a new temporary timetable between Salisbury and
Exeter from early September.

The cause of the speed restrictions on the line is known as Soil
Moisture Deficit and is caused by largely clay-based soils shrinking in
hot and dry conditions as trees and other vegetation soaks the water
from them. They shrink unevenly, meaning track laid on top loses its
level profile.

Engineers have made good progress in restoring the track levels, helped
by cooler temperatures and regular rain which has stopped the track bed
shrinking. We are now in a position to lift the majority of the speed
restrictions which were imposed, and as a result, South Western Railway
(SWR) plans to restore the regular timetable on the West of England line
from Monday 14 November.

We would like to thank all our stakeholders and passengers for their
patience throughout this period.

Looking Ahead

We wanted to take this opportunity to give you advance notice of a
series of upcoming engineering works within the next 18 months to
improve the railway on the West of England line. Firstly, a nine-day
closure between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction between 10th and 18th
December will allow us to replace track in the Gillingham area.

Making the most of the closure, our engineers will also carry out
station improvements at Gillingham and Sherborne; improve drainage in
the Sherborne, Templecombe and Gillingham areas; perform track
maintenance in the Gillingham and Sherborne areas; and remove graffiti
and clear litter from the line at Salisbury.

Further closures are planned in November/December 2023 and March 2024,
with the Axminster, Crewkerne, Templecombe and Gillingham areas all set
to see improvement works.

We will continue keep stakeholders updated on these works, along with
the associated journey information together with our colleagues at SWR.

Kind regards

Southern Region Stakeholder Team

Today, 14th November 2022, the normal timetable has resumed for services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids.

Reports of another landslip at Honiton with service curtailed at Axminster for rest of today, it’s on NRES but no real info about the severity of the issue.

Paul

Picture of said landslip on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/NetworkRailWssx/status/1594658009938276354?s=20&t=zVjdJMA49ai1sHp6WhZkVg

I note a few/several 3sxx running around, listed as Totton Yard to Totton Yard.
Wondered if they were railhead treatment trains, or perhaps carrying spoil away from Axminster?