Flooding, again, between Swindon and Bristol Parkway - 31.12.2023

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Cancellations to services between Swindon and Bristol Parkway

Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Swindon and Bristol Parkway all lines are closed.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 18:00 31/12.

Customer Advice
We are sorry for the delay to your journey today.


Can you tell me more about the incident?
When flood water rises above the rails, we cannot run our services to prevent damage to the train and track. Flooding can also cause a short circuit and cut the power to signalling and important trackside equipment.
Update 13:54 - Water is still above the height of the rails meaning lines are still shut. Network Rail are on-site and will continue to monitor the situation.
More information will follow as we have it.

What are my alternatives?
We appreciate that this will have disrupted your travel plans, especially those on Advance purchase tickets, please note that you will be able to use your ticket on a later train today.

South of Wales services will divert around the flooding but still call at Bristol Parkway. Additional journey time will be caused by the diversion.

If you require any further assistance or information please speak to a member of Train Crew or Station Staff. Alternatively please use station help points where provided.

[bradshaw]

Apparently, the lagoon installed in 2018 to take the overflow water is full but, after so much rain has fallen,  NR^» (Network Rail - home page) cannot release the water for fear of flooding nearby properties.

  The lagoon was installed in 2018 as part of a flood alleviation scheme designed to improve the resilience of the railway line, which had been prone to flooding.
Network Rail said it does not want to let the water out of the lagoon as they are concerned it could flood nearby properties.
Julie Gregory from Network Rail said the "prolonged and relentless period of rainfall" meant they could not safely empty it to reduce water on the tracks.
"In 2018 we invested £5m in a railway resilience scheme where we installed a large lagoon which has a capacity of 11 million litres," she said.
“It holds the water, reduces the amount of time the line is closed and in some cases prevents it closing altogether.
"With climate change we know that this sort of event is going to happen more frequently, so one of the a number of different potential options that we're looking at is a bigger lagoon.
"We're working with the Environment Agency and others to look at what our options are to protect the resilience of this railway line into the future."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-67892540

[Surrey 455]

Of course there's bound to be a water shortage this summer 

[eXPassenger]

Of course there's bound to be a water shortage this summer 

Stands to reason.  We have used most of the 2024 supply in the first week of January.