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Post by edb on Feb 2, 2009 4:20:31 GMT
Looking outside at the moment and seeing about 3 inches of snow I got to wondering. In the "old days" there was a sleet train which ran at night to keep the current rails clear. Does this sort of thing still happen? I'd have thought with the more extensive and common track possesions and assocciated juice off scenario, that it would no longer be practical/possible to run such trains, is this true? I remember reading on tube prunes site a story about the Cetral line at Hangar Lane and a train needing a push out, so i assume sleet trains no longer operate. I'm also aware that the trains have de-icing equipment and sleet brushes, but are these that effective when the snow has been settling all night on cold and non-juiced lines? Anyone fancy taking the old sleet loco out of Acton depot ?  |
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Colin
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Post by Colin on Feb 2, 2009 5:15:50 GMT
Sleet trains do still run (these days we use normal passenger stock with de-icing equipment fitted - they are operated by night drivers), and although there is a need to balance their use against the needs of engineering work, they will take priority and run if required.
I note that currently on TfL's website, only the H&C is shown as having a part suspension "due to adverse weather conditions" - but on the District, because of track replacement work at Upminster, there can't be any trains running between Dagenham East & Upminster..............I wonder if we are getting trains out of Upminster depot?
I book on in 45 minutes, and looking out the window............
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 6:43:46 GMT
06:43
part suspended: Bakerloo (north of Queen's Park), District (everything except Glo'ster Road to Upminster), Jubilee (West Hampstead to Waterloo), Met (Harrow on the Hill to Amersham/Chesham), Piccadilly (Acton Town to Rayners Lane)
suspended: Circle, H&C, W&C (!)
EDIT1:
Don't understand why completely underground W&C is closed (quote: "due to adverse weather conditions") and why Jubilee is closed in part that is mostly in tunnel (except 1 stop)
EDIT2:
All buses are suspended. It is going to be a terrible crush on whatever Tube is still working...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 6:57:41 GMT
06:57
Central line joins the club with severe delays.
06:59
Jubilee suspension extended Waterloo to Stanmore. The rest runs with severe delays.
07:02
Earls Court reopened.
07:06
Not reflected on TfL website (!), but apparently Northern line is suspended between Finchley Central and High Barnet.
Info appeared 3 minutes later ;D
07:16
Piccadilly suspended Acton Town to Heathrow
Central suspended North Acton to West Ruislip
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Oracle
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Post by Oracle on Feb 2, 2009 7:40:30 GMT
Back in winter 1982 I ised to go by 1959 TS from Hounslow West to South Harrow to get to work in Wealdstone and despite the snow, the trains still ran albeit with arcing! I cannot ever recall the service being suspended when I commuted 1973-1981 to Holborn and then Green Park!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 7:51:25 GMT
everything now is Suspended or part Suspended oh and central like has Severe delays but only one with good service is Victoria line plus side of being all in tunnels i guess
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 8:03:39 GMT
08:00
Piccadilly suspended Arnos Grove to Cockfosters
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 8:05:52 GMT
South east trains coined it: "No suitable nodes are available to serve your request."
Isn't this one of those times where its better to list what works instead of what dosn't work :-)
I can't believe the toy railway (DLR) copes ok with this, but apparently it does.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 8:12:45 GMT
Apparently all buses are withdrawn as well, which is going to make getting to work this afternoon pretty fun for me unless they manage to get the roads cleared enough to get them through. I could take First Capital Connect and walk from New Southgate, but I'm worried about finding then that there are no trains back home again afterwards since they're already saying delays of over 15 minutes and only travel if necessary... so it looks like it'll be driving. *groan*
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Post by compsci on Feb 2, 2009 8:23:05 GMT
There are about 2 inches in Cambridge, being added too quite quickly. Stagecoach are being brave enough to still run some buses.
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Post by 21146 on Feb 2, 2009 8:26:26 GMT
Spare as thought for the Infracos! I mean no one knew this was coming (did they?)
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Post by 21146 on Feb 2, 2009 8:29:14 GMT
The Waterloo & City is closed! (For adverse weather?) Could you make it up?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 8:55:50 GMT
Could the W&C closure not be due to (risk of) overcrowding problems resulting from the issues on other lines?
On other lines they would just not stop at stations in that situation, which in the case of W&C means the whole line being closed.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 9:05:13 GMT
Could the W&C closure not be due to (risk of) overcrowding problems resulting from the issues on other lines? On other lines they would just not stop at stations in that situation, which in the case of W&C means the whole line being closed. it running a good service now. thing makes me laugh is people warn like 4days ago or longer dont remember. |
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Oracle
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Writing is such sweet sorrow: like heck it is!
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Post by Oracle on Feb 2, 2009 9:55:47 GMT
SWT have a skeleton service...schools down here are closed..what is the world coming to? Younger son's taxi took an hour to get here, got to Romsey and then was sent back as school was closed. Elder son's minibus did not turn up, so drove him in!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 10:05:25 GMT
Boy, am I glad I had an annual leave day!
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Post by maxtube on Feb 2, 2009 10:05:42 GMT
As of 10:00 Bakerloo Suspended between Queen's Park and Harrow, severe delays on the rest of the line. Central Suspended between North Acton and West Ruislip, severe delays on rest of the line. Circle and HammersmithComplete Suspension. District No Wimblewares, Suspended West of Earl's Court, Wimbledon branch still running. Jubilee: Suspended Stanmore to London Bridge and North Greenwich to Stratford, severe delays on the rest of the line. Waterloo station closed. Metropolitan Suspended between Harrow and Amersham/Chesham. Northern: Hendon Central closed, severe delays rest of the line. Piccadilly Suspended between Acton Town and Rayners Lane, and between Cockfosters and Arnos Grove. Severe delays on the rest of the line. Victoria Good service, but not stopping at Oxford Circus. Waterloo and City Suspended. Not very good  How come the Waterloo and City is suspended due to the weather? It's all Underground! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 10:17:01 GMT
10:15
Met now also suspended between Harrow on the Hill and Watford.
Central line resumed between North Acton and West Ruislip.
W&C restarted.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 11:16:18 GMT
11:15
Met restarted, except for Chesham shuttle.
11:25
District restarted between Parsons Green and Earls Court.
Jubilee restarted between London Bridge and Waterloo.
11:40
Jubilee restarted between North Greenwich and Stratford.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 12:38:07 GMT
Yes, I was planning a visit to see family in Kent, but that now has bene put off as they have suspended services over the entire SET network, despite the trains seemingly running fine last night! Well, they were when I made a travel enquiry at 21.05.... At the moment, it looks lovely out there, glad I am not at work due to A/L... Went out at about 09.20, got some milk from the local, walked back via Cabot Square, and took a few photos of the virtually empty plaza. It is, at present, sleeting. |
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Post by edb on Feb 2, 2009 13:09:15 GMT
I have to say I think the service provided by TFL today on the whole is pathetic. We knew this was coming at the end of last week?
How difficult is it to grit the roads, turn on point heaters, postpone engineering works, run sleet trains? This weather is not new in the UK yet people seem to become idiots when faced with it.
And the organisation of the cetral line was abysmal. our shuttle from EBDY arrved at white city, we were told that the train in the opposite platform would take us to central london, so we all poured off the train as the "connecting services" disappeared down the tunnel then had to wait 15 minutes for the next service. It's not rocket science, especially since we had to wait 15 minutes to get in to a platform at white city, wouldn't they have delayed the standing train 2 minutes? Rubbish, where was the common sense?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 13:20:51 GMT
There are a few SET running south of Faversham, Maidstone and Tonbridge but nothing at all in the London area. Yes, I was planning a visit to see family in Kent, but that now has bene put off as they have suspended services over the entire SET network, despite the trains seemingly running fine last night! Well, they were when I made a travel enquiry at 21.05.... At the moment, it looks lovely out there, glad I am not at work due to A/L... Went out at about 09.20, got some milk from the local, walked back via Cabot Square, and took a few photos of the virtually empty plaza. It is, at present, sleeting. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 13:46:34 GMT
Boris suspends buses, but encourages you to take your carwww.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=20758He thanks Londoners "for their efforts to get the capital moving" and suspends the buses! Suspending the congestion charge and buses will encourage people to try and drive into central London.
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Post by Tomcakes on Feb 2, 2009 14:15:01 GMT
I love the way that it seems to be such a shock and major event. Whilst it's not quite as bad up here, we've a full bus service (there's an invention called the gritter, you know) and just a few mainline delays.
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mrfs42
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Post by mrfs42 on Feb 2, 2009 14:18:27 GMT
I don't know where (in the press release) you are getting the impression that the buses have been suspended - as I read it there is now a 'limited' bus service running, which is not a suspension.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 14:26:23 GMT
I love the way that it seems to be such a shock and major event. Whilst it's not quite as bad up here, we've a full bus service (there's an invention called the gritter, you know) and just a few mainline delays. Roads were gritted, but snow fell on top of the grit. There is nothing you can do while it is still falling. I am not a fan of Boris Johnson, but he was totally correct when interviewed on the lunch time news and said you cannot compare London with other cities that cope with the same kind of weather conditions. Places like Germany and northern Europe have the infrastructure to cope because it is a regular occurrence. London though cannot afford to have massive fleet of snow ploughs sitting around for something that happens every twenty years. Knowing it is coming is one thing, but without those kind of resources there is not much you can do about it. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 14:29:09 GMT
He thanks Londoners "for their efforts to get the capital moving" and suspends the buses! Suspending the congestion charge and buses will encourage people to try and drive into central London. Cars would be a lot safer for both the occupants and other road users and pedestrians than having several ton buses out of control skidding on packed ice. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 14:37:49 GMT
I don't know where (in the press release) you are getting the impression that the buses have been suspended - as I read it there is now a 'limited' bus service running, which is not a suspension. There might be an extremely limited bus service now. But this morning there were none. All buses were suspended. |
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Colin
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Post by Colin on Feb 2, 2009 14:57:21 GMT
Well it looks like my early morning fears were right - it took me 6hrs 45mins to do one round trip on the District this morning!  How much of was snow related, it's hard to say, but a points failure ahead of me at Whitechapel resulted in a wrong direction move back to Stepney Green, where I sat for an hour and a half. After eventually making it to Wimbledon, I changed ends for the third time in one rounder only to make it as far as spitting distance of East Putney - and an hour and a half later I made it to Earls Court. Reason was multiple track circuits failing between Putney Bridge and Fulham Broadway. Quite why it took so long to get moving I've no idea, but I suspect it had a lot to do with staff on the ground failing to their jobs properly or just being plain awkward cos they can & sod everyone else stuck behind between stations (that's drivers & station staff BTW). Peed off? damm right I was. There was also a train stalled in the Turham Green area first thing, for reasons I don't know but I expect someone else on here will - that suspended the service Earls Court to Ealing/Richmond. That was the District's morning in a brief nutshell - like I say, how much of it was snow related, I don't know. As for knowing it's coming, with the best will in the world you can't really do a lot until it's here - and based on the fact it was level with the rails, a bit of grit ain't gonna help much! I had an absolute nightmare getting my car to work this morning - in fact I had to abandon it down the road from the depot as I just couldn't get any further - and don't even get me started on the tw*t element driving on the roads  As for tomorrow morning; all that slush will turn to ice overnight. Deep joy. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2009 15:57:02 GMT
Recently home off early turn, the Northern was running with minor delays when I left it - no major problems but a lot of trains cancelled because drivers couldn't get into work. Station closures earlier were also due to problems with staff getting in. We did have various problems with points failing earlier mainly due to compacted ice in them - also signals due to compacted snow and ice around trainstops. Bear in mind these points are heated, unheated crossovers (such as 23s at East Finchley) we would never try to use in conditions such as today.
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How come the Waterloo and City is suspended due to the weather? It's all Underground!
