Major rail disruption after blaze close to tracks between Newport and Cardiff

Timmer

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Major rail disruption after blaze close to tracks between Newport and Cardiff

« on: May 04, 2025, 16:09:32 »

From BBC^» https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjew5q07n7go

Quote

Rail services into Cardiff are experiencing major disruption with journeys cancelled or delayed due to a fire near track.
The blaze at an electrical substation between Newport and Cardiff Central has damaged an overhead line and signalling equipment.
Emergency services and Network Rail staff are on site at St Brides Wentloog, working to manage the situation.
Rail replacement transport is running between Cardiff and Gloucester but major disruption is expected to continue throughout Sunday.

From Journeycheck:

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Due to a fire next to the track between Newport South Wales and Cardiff Central all lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Train services between London Paddington and Cardiff Central via Bristol Parkway may be cancelled, delayed or revised.
Customer Advice
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We are sorry for the delay to your journey.
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Network Rail advise that there is a lineside fire between Cardiff Central and Newport in the St Brides area. The emergency services are on site working to extinguish the fire as quickly and safely as they can. Once this has been done the railway and associated infrastructure will have to be inspected. We currently have no estimate for when we may be able to run trains again through the area.
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Rail replacement transport has been requested but is proving difficult to source in the area.
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To help you complete your journey, you may use your ticket, at no extra cost on Transport for Wales train services.
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Please check your journey at gwr.com/check
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We will update this message with more information when we have it.
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Transport for Wales are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.


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Timmer

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Re: Major rail disruption after blaze close to tracks between Newport and Cardiff

« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2025, 08:49:43 »

Given the serious nature of the fire yesterday, disruption will continue today with a much reduced service.

Quote

Cancellations to services between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central

Following the fire brigade dealing with an incident near the railway yesterday between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central some lines are now open.

Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 70 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 23:59 05/05.

Customer Advice
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We are sorry for the disruption to your journey today.
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Due to a line-side fire between Cardiff Central and Newport yesterday, Network Rail Wales are working to repair the damage caused to the signalling and overhead electric cables.
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Whilst repair works are undertaken only two of the four railway lines are available for use in this area and the trains will have to run at reduced speed, this is causing delays of approximately 60 minutes.

To help ease congestion, GWR^▸ train services will be reduced to 1 train per hour only between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central via Newport.
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GWR train services from the West Country to Cardiff Central, are terminating short / starting back from Bristol Temple Meads, customers for South Wales are advised to change there for services to Bristol Parkway and then await the severely reduced train service to Cardiff Central.
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GWR train services for Patchway and Severn Tunnel Junction stations are currently suspended.
A limited Rail replacement road transport service will operate Bristol Parkway - Patchway - Severn Tunnel Junction and return.
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CrossCountry Trains between the West Country and the Midlands and the North were diverting via Bristol Parkway and Newport - these are still operating.
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To help you complete your journey, you may use your ticket, at no extra cost on

>Transport for Wales train services, who are also operating a reduced timetable today.
>CrossCountry Trains, who are operating a revised timetable today
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If you were intending on travelling yesterday (Sunday 4th May 2025), your ticket will be valid for travel today.


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IndustryInsider

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Re: Major rail disruption after blaze close to tracks between Newport and Cardiff

« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2025, 10:57:35 »

The ‘reduced speed’ being because Emergency Special Working is in operation on the relief lines, which is a method of operation when multiple signals are out of use.


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TaplowGreen

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Re: Major rail disruption after blaze close to tracks between Newport and Cardiff

« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2025, 16:10:37 »

Disruption now expected until 2359 May 6.


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UstiImmigrunt

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Posts: 140

Re: Major rail disruption after blaze close to tracks between Newport and Cardiff

« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2025, 16:28:04 »

Quote from: IndustryInsider on May 05, 2025, 10:57:35

The ‘reduced speed’ being because Emergency Special Working is in operation on the relief lines, which is a method of operation when multiple signals are out of use.

A method of working that really makes a driver think especially if in fog and or darkness. For information, a train is stopped at a signal. The controlling signaller will give information to be put onto a form including all the signals to be ignored. The driver then isolates TPWS^▸ and ATP^▸ if applicable. Then at a maximum speed of 50 MPH, off you go. It is a strange feeling flying past red signals at speed. I made sure each signal number was crossed out as I passed it, slowing down if necessary to make sure I have read the number correctly. You reach the end of the section, contact the signaller to confirm that you've arrived complete with tail lamp. TPWS and ATP is reinstated, cancelled is written across the form and when the signal shows a proceed aspect off you go then the next driver can be given instructions to proceed. So with 2 phone calls and reduced speed this procedure reduces capacity greatly.
Also if a driver doesn't pass through an ESW^▸ section then it's quite likely it will be used in a simulator session.


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It will be well used and I doubt I'll ever get any delay repay compensation.

grahame

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Re: Major rail disruption after blaze close to tracks between Newport and Cardiff

« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2025, 06:56:34 »

For today - 6th May 2025

Just a single hourly GWR^▸ service through the Severn Tunnel - the London to Swansea service. Change at Bristol Parkway into that service if you're travelling from Bristol Temple Meads or south thereof - Portsmoun, Penzance and all towns and cities between.

GWR services also cancelled west of Swansea - probably because the cleanest way to provide any service is to do it clean, clock face rather than try to work out and co-ordinate extensions in some hours off delayed trains from London.

No trains calling at Patchway (or Pilning of course). No GWR trains at Severn Tunnel Junction - will need to look elsewhere to see if it's being served by XC^▸ or TfW^▸ .

Quote

Cancellations to services between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central
Following a fire next to the track between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central some lines are now open.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
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We are sorry for the disruption to your journey today.
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Following a line-side fire between Cardiff Central and Newport, Network Rail has reopened the lines. However, some closures of lines are still required to finish repairs to some of the overhead electric wires.
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To help ease congestion, GWR train services will remain reduced to 1 train per hour only between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central via Newport.
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GWR trains from the West Country to Cardiff Central, are terminating short / starting back from Bristol Temple Meads, change at Bristol Temple Meads for trains to Bristol Parkway - where you can find a reduced train service to South Wales.
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GWR trains from Portsmouth, Southampton, Salisbury and Westbury to Cardiff Central are calling additionally and terminating at / starting back from Bristol Parkway, change at Bristol Parkway for a reduced service to South Wales.
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GWR train services from London Paddington to Carmarthen will terminate at / start back from Swansea. For stations between Swansea and Carmarthen, please use Transport for Wales trains.
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GWR train services for Patchway and Severn Tunnel Junction stations are currently suspended.
A limited replacement bus service will operate between Bristol Parkway - Patchway - Severn Tunnel Junction.
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GWR trains from South Wales to Bristol Parkway, Swindon, Reading, and London Paddington are reduced.
Customers for the West Country can change at Newport for CrossCountry trains, or Bristol Parkway for GWR services to Bristol Temple Meads, and then change there.
Customers for Westbury, Salisbury, Southampton, and Portsmouth should change at Bristol Parkway for services towards the South Coast.
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You can use your GWR ticket on Transport for Wales trains, and CrossCountry trains.
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If your ticket is dated 4th, 5th, 6th May, you can use any GWR train up to, and including, 7th May.
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Please check your journey at gwr.com/check
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We will update this message with more information when we have it.
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Further Information
An update will follow within the next 2 hours.
If you require further information please speak to our staff at the station or on the train, use the Customer Help Point, message us on X @GWRHelp or call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950.

If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can claim Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
Last Updated:06/05/2025 06:28

Odd element ....

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Customers for the West Country can change at Newport for CrossCountry trains


« Last Edit: May 06, 2025, 07:14:48 by grahame »	Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member

Electric train

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The future is 25000 Volts AC 750V DC has its place

Re: Major rail disruption after blaze close to tracks between Newport and Cardiff

« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2025, 06:30:07 »

There was significant damage all the 25kV cables in the area of the fire. This will take time to replace, joint and test the damaged sections of the cables, these cable joints are although based on COTS (commercial off the shelf) products, the 25kV are a special variant, HV cable joints are not a item your average electrical wholesaler hold.

The cable jointing is a specialist skill, there is not an acute shortage of jointers but there are only so many you can practically set to work in an area


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rogerw

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Re: Major rail disruption after blaze close to tracks between Newport and Cardiff

« Reply #7 on: Today at 13:41:16 »

I was caught up in this on Sunday 4th. i had to travel up to London and I arrived at Bristol Parkway to find it full of people going nowhere fast. As I am currently having problems with my legs I had booked passenger assist but my booked 1555 departure was cancelled. I contacted a member of staff who advised me to stay in the waiting room and the supervisor would contact me when he had finished trying to sort out taxis. When he found me he said he would collect me nearer departure time once the platform for the 1655 (starting from BPW^» ) had been confirmed. in the meantime regular announcements were being made about travel to south Wales explaining that there were difficulties sourcing replacement bus services because of the amount of engineering work in the area needing a significant number of replacement buses. the general mood among passengers was one of acceptance as they were being kept informed. anyway, about 20 minutes before my departure I was helped to my train and upgraded to first. The journey to Paddington went well and I was met and taken to the taxi rank by buggy. I thought that the staff at Parkway did a magnificent job despite their small number.
Incidentally I received my delay repayment in my bank account on Monday.


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