Weather updates, from across our area - merged posts

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) a couple of hours ago (dusk on 26th November)

We promised to keep you updated as the impact of Storm Bert continues to be felt.
 
While most lines have now reopened, both the Barnstaple and Okehampton branch lines remain closed and are likely to remain so until at least Thursday 28 Nov. High water levels in the River Yeo to the north of Crediton means Network Rail divers aren’t yet able to ascertain the damage to a rail bridge over the river, so the lines remain closed.
 
We are operating a rail shuttle service from Exeter St Davids to Crediton, and a limited rail replacement service between Exeter and Barnstaple/Okehampton. These taxis/buses will run directly between Exeter and Barnstaple/Okehampton respectively and will not call at any intermediate stations, including Crediton. We also have ticket acceptance on certain local bus routes; more information can be found at www.gwr.com/check.
 
The line between Bristol Parkway and Swindon also remains closed due to flooding. As a result our South Wales-London service is reduced to an hourly frequency, and continues to run on a diversionary route adding around 45 minutes to journey times. Similarly we expect this to remain in place until Thursday 28 Nov at the earliest.
 
Tickets dated for travel today can be used tomorrow (Weds 27 Nov). There is also heavy rain forecast overnight this evening into tomorrow and with water levels already very high there is the chance for further disruption, so we’re advising customers to check before they travel at www.gwr.com/check, or through our social media accounts at www.x.com/gwrhelp and www.x.com/networkrailwest.
 
As ever if there’s anything we can do to help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

[grahame]

From GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) a couple of hours ago (dusk on 26th November)

We promised to keep you updated as the impact of Storm Bert continues to be felt.
 
[snip]
 
As ever if there’s anything we can do to help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

We understand that in times of extreme weather and high river levels some trains have to be cancelled,  but it would be a real help to us if you could run almost all of the trains that are in your timetable please once this unusual weather event has passed. Thank you

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

A newly-named storm, Conall, is forecast to bring heavy rain to southern England and threaten further issues in flood-hit areas still cleaning up from Storm Bert.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for rainfall in several southern areas of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) from 22:00 GMT on Tuesday until midday on Wednesday.

Many parts of England and Wales will also see wet conditions overnight, though the worst of the storm will not hit the UK.

The storm was named by the Dutch Weather Service, which along with the Met Office and Met Eireann in Ireland, name storms for ease of communication.

BBC Weather's Tomasz Schafernaker said Conall would still be developing as it tracked across southern parts of the UK, meaning "the worst of the storm is expected to miss us".  He said the rain would be "initially quite heavy", before moving east throughout the night.

The heaviest rainfall is expected near the south coast of England and in the far southeast, with 15-20mm and possibly 30-40mm of rain forecast.  These areas did not receive the same heavy rainfall from Storm Bert as some other parts of England and Wales.

Flood-hit areas, which could see some rainfall overnight, are very sensitive to any more rain.  And while there will not be much, typically 5-15mm, it could cause more issues.



On Wednesday, the rain band is expected to curl back, with Lincolnshire, the Peak District and the Midlands likely to experience wet conditions, Schafernaker said.

Coastal areas of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent could also feel "near gale force" winds.  In the north, frost is expected in Scotland and the Lake District.

Heavy rainfall and strong winds brought by Storm Bert over the weekend led to at least five deaths, while homes, roads and rail networks faced major disruption.  Many communities are still cleaning up after homes and businesses were inundated by floodwater.

Conall is the third "named" storm of the season, after Ashley and Bert.

The storms list - first launched in 2015 - for each year generally runs from early September until late August the following year, coinciding with the beginning of autumn.

[TaplowGreen]

From GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) a couple of hours ago (dusk on 26th November)

We promised to keep you updated as the impact of Storm Bert continues to be felt.
 
[snip]
 
As ever if there’s anything we can do to help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

We understand that in times of extreme weather and high river levels some trains have to be cancelled,  but it would be a real help to us if you could run almost all of the trains that are in your timetable please once this unusual weather event has passed. Thank you

......and if you genuinely want to help, ensure that your communications channels are adequately resourced, configured, informed and empowered in order to be able to help people who "don't hesitate to get in touch" as you are encouraging.

[lbraine]

This is almost rubbing salt into an open wound, but if you have a spare 3 hours in the day you might like to watch the video and marvel at how the Norwegian railways cope with bad weather.

It gets particularly spicy about 1hr 40min. Just try to picture an IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project - replacement for HSTs.) running in the same conditions.

https://youtu.be/JvDjZRR9LAg?si=e7nt4ohYCEMI1Ta-

[jamestheredengine]

From GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) a couple of hours ago (dusk on 26th November)

The line between Bristol Parkway and Swindon also remains closed due to flooding. As a result our South Wales-London service is reduced to an hourly frequency, and continues to run on a diversionary route adding around 45 minutes to journey times. Similarly we expect this to remain in place until Thursday 28 Nov at the earliest.

The bit that's not brilliant here is that they're still insisting on running into Bristol Parkway and reversing, rather than serving the South Gloucestershire area by having it stop at Filton Abbey Wood instead. This has the effect of the up London getting stuck behind the Cardiff to Portsmouth service. So a diversion that in itself should add less than 20 minutes just turned into delays upon delays until the trains were running about 90 minutes late yesterday afternoon.

[brooklea]

Could running via Bristol Parkway be driven, at least partly, by the requirement for crew changes there I wonder?

Filton Abbey Wood also not the best place to be turfed off your train if your car happens to be parked in the large car park at Bristol Parkway...

Whilst I can see the frustration of the additional delay for passengers travelling from South Wales to London, I can also see good reason to run via Bristol Parkway in this situation.

[BBM]

This is almost rubbing salt into an open wound, but if you have a spare 3 hours in the day you might like to watch the video and marvel at how the Norwegian railways cope with bad weather.

It gets particularly spicy about 1hr 40min. Just try to picture an IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project - replacement for HSTs.) running in the same conditions.

https://youtu.be/JvDjZRR9LAg?si=e7nt4ohYCEMI1Ta-

And from Japan (jump to 0:40 for the first train in the snowy video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uXKUA3ODKM

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Storm Conall brings more rain as it passes over UK^▸ (United Kingdom)

Storm Conall has brought another day of rain to southern England, causing disruptions including cancellations of train services.

There are currently 75 flood warnings in England with flood-hit areas still recovering from the days of downpours during Storm Bert.

The new storm broght fewer issues as it passed over southern England on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, because it was forecast to strengthen as it moved towards the Netherlands.

The number of flood warnings is expected to continue dropping as the flood-hit areas will see drier weather over the next few days.

As Storm Conall passed over England, nearly 50mm of rain fell on Dartmoor and 20-30mm in some other parts of southern England.

But many of the areas that were flooded during Storm Bert saw less rain with totals at around 3mm-8mm, so further problems were averted.  The rain was linked to a developing area of low pressure crossing west to east across southern England.  The upcoming days will see higher pressure, which will bring dry weather across flooded areas, allowing time for the flood water to disappear.

In parts of south-east England, trains were cancelled along three routes due to flooded tracks, while five other routes were facing disruption on Wednesday morning.

Gatwick Express trains will continue to see delays and cancellations into the evening, with the service advising commuters who use the service to start return journeys as soon as possible due to disruptions.

Thameslink passengers travelling to Welwyn Garden City have been advised to use alternate routes due to some suspended services, while others are still reduced.

...



Heavy rainfall and strong winds brought by Storm Bert over the weekend led to at least five deaths, while homes, roads and rail networks faced major disruption.

(news item continues)

[CyclingSid]

If you wondered if the service was sh1t?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wrz7y5wvko

[TaplowGreen]

If you wondered if the service was sh1t?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wrz7y5wvko

Blimey. And we worry about leaves on the line.

[Mark A]

Wondering why the child who scribbles on Graham's map was so annoyed at Dartmoor, checked Realtime trains and thought for a moment, 'That's ok, lots of...' and then noticed that the trains were missing:


https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:OKE/2024-11-28/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

Then checked National Rail, but against GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway), only a note "Residual delays'.

Checked the GWR web site and that does have the info - they're awaiting the all clear on a bridge that required inspection by divers, reopening 28th so it looks as though that hasn't happened. Perhaps this'll be the longest lasting closure consequential to storm Bert.

Also, the service seems to have been 'Taxituted'.

Mark

[grahame]

Checked the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) web site and that does have the info - they're awaiting the all clear on a bridge that required inspection by divers, reopening 28th so it looks as though that hasn't happened. Perhaps this'll be the longest lasting closure consequential to storm Bert.

Chipping Sodbury still out too ... and the Brecon Mountain Railway

[Mark A]

Again from Realtime Trains, the Okehampton line is now back, the first arrival from Exeter being the 17:15, with the remaining three trains also scheduled to run.

Mark

[Timmer]

If you wondered if the service was sh1t?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wrz7y5wvko

This article wouldn’t have been out of place in the Annoying / amusing use of completely irrelevant stock photos to illustrate press articles thread with Bristol Temple Meads doubling up as Newbury!