Whiteball Tunnel blockade - January / February 2014

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

According to the train plan I have for the Dawlish problem (see other thread), this is running as 1C92 as far as Exeter arr 2014. It will them form 1A35 to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) dep 2100.

[PhilWakely]

Interestingly, although Beechings infamous Reshaping report didn't formally propose closure of the Southern route, it did specifically mark it out as an example of a "duplicating" line that could be surplus to requirements in the future.

What with Whiteball and Dawlish at the moment, I can almost hear the computerised station announcer at Plymouth saying "the train now standing at platform 3 is the 10:30 to London Waterloo, calling at Tavistock, Okehampton, Exeter Central, Yeovil Junction, Salisbury and London Waterloo"..... if only!

[bobm]

With all the drama at Dawlish I missed this report from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) published yesterday - hence, no doubt, the rather unfortunate last sentence.

South West rail line to reopen on time despite 'horrendous weather'


Whiteball tunnel, between Taunton and Tiverton, was closed on 18 January

The main rail line between Exeter and Taunton, closed for three weeks to repair a tunnel, is to reopen on time despite the "horrendous weather".

Network Rail said work on the Whiteball tunnel, between Taunton and Tiverton, was needed to prevent it flooding.

The line was closed on 18 January with buses replacing trains between Taunton, Tiverton Parkway and Exeter St Davids.

Despite strong winds and rain battering the South West the line is due to be back in service next week.

Mike Gallop, from Network Rail, said engineers had been working on the 170-year-old tunnel "24 hours a day in all weather conditions" to complete the work.


 Despite the "absolutely horrendous" weather conditions the line is due to be back in service next week.

"The weather conditions the guys have been working in have been absolutely horrendous," he said.

"But we're due to finish the works on time, on programme and on budget.

"So going forward into the start of February we'll have a train service that's back to normal for Somerset and the South West of England."

[SandTEngineer]

Some good news (I hope).  Trains running between Exeter and London via Taunton and Castle Cary from PM on Monday 10 February.

From FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Journey Check

FGW Timetable Plans for w/c Monday 10 February 2014
Following a drop in floodwater at Athelney the railway line between Exeter and London Paddington, via Newbury, is due to reopen on Monday 10 February.

The line between Taunton and Bridgwater however remains closed due to flooding, as does the line between Exeter and Newton Abbot due to the sea wall collapse at Dawlish. Flooding is also expected to affect rail services between Oxford and Didcot Parkway.

Limited services will start between London Paddington and Exeter in the late morning, with Exeter to London Paddington services starting at lunchtime.

Coaches will continue to offer direct services to Exeter St Davids and Plymouth from Bristol Parkway, connecting with South Wales trains from London, and with services from the Midlands and the North until the mainline reopens to Taunton. Journey times will continue to be significantly extended.

Our timetable plans for next week have been revised and we now expect the following to operate:
Services to Somerset, Devon and Cornwall via Bristol Temple Meads will terminate at Weston-super-Mare, with a limited, hourly service extending to Bridgwater
Coaches will operate between Bridgwater and Taunton
Trains will run between Penzance and Plymouth, and Newton Abbot, but with some service changes - passengers should check journey times carefully before travelling
An hourly rail shuttle will operate between Taunton and Exeter St Davids calling at Tiverton Parkway
An hourly all stations rail shuttle will run between Newton Abbot and Paignton
Customers from Bristol Temple Meads to intermediate stations between Exeter St Davids and Dawlish are advised to travel to Bristol Parkway, for a direct bus to Exeter St Davids, and then connecting bus services
All Cornish branch lines will run as normal (subject to weather conditions), with some revised timings to optimise connections with main line services

[bobm]

Just for the record: Whiteball re-opened on time with the first train from Exeter passing through shortly after 6.20am.  Closely followed by an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) from Exeter to London, which has also gone through Athelney (according to Realtraintimes).

[ChrisB]

Signallig affected & temporary block working installed...wouldn't bank on all trains going through