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Post by sawb on Feb 25, 2015 12:52:07 GMT
The Chiltern main line is currently indefinitely closed between Banbury and Leamington Spa due to a landslip and resulting repair work.
Does anyone know if there are any diversionary routes around the closure for trains to still run to/from Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon?
The reason I ask is I'm booked on charter train on 23rd April to Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon, so just want to find out if there is any way for it to run if the line between Banbury and Leamington Spa doesn't reopen in time. Thanks.
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Post by Hutch on Feb 25, 2015 13:04:04 GMT
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Post by snoggle on Feb 25, 2015 13:08:43 GMT
Network Rail have indicated that the repair work will take until Easter (2 April). Your trip is three weeks later so I'd expect it to run OK. Pipped to the post!  |
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Post by sawb on Feb 25, 2015 15:10:41 GMT
Thanks people, page bookmarked and will just have to wait and see!
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Post by suncloud on Feb 25, 2015 17:52:31 GMT
In answer to the other part of the question, there's no easy diversion route. Otherwise they'd be using it! Basically any 'special' from London would have to bounce off coventry or birmingham...
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Post by arun on Feb 25, 2015 23:19:32 GMT
According to "Rail", a diversion using the route from Birmingham to Oxford via Worcester rather than the OW&W route via Leamington would only be 12 miles longer. However, Chiltern's & Cross Country's drivers are not qualified on that route. Similarly, the FGW drivers who do have the route knowledge, aren't qualified on Cross-Country's class 220/221 [or Chiltern's] DMUs. It does seem that whatever we might have gained in splitting up BR, we have had significant losses in flexibility.
Perhaps Network rail [and underwritten by ATOC] should have a cadre of folk like our Battery Loco drivers who seem to be qualified to go anywhere [with anything?].
Rail also made the point that re-opening the [?6mile] link from Honeybourne north to Stratford and hence Birmingham might make considerable sense as a diversionary route given that the geological stability of parts of the Banbury-Leamington line are suspect. This wasn't the first landslip.
Arun
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Post by brigham on Feb 26, 2015 16:02:18 GMT
Were all BR drivers qualified on all routes and locos? I didn't know that.
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Post by arun on Feb 26, 2015 17:05:58 GMT
Brigham - Sorry poor choice of words. No, they
wern't of course but with the railways based around a regional basis rather than a specific pairs of tracks going from A-B, multi-route/stock qualified personnel were much more likely to be easily found. Hence a potential larger range of alternatives routes than we have with the present arrangement of TOCs.
Since we seem to be able to find route inspectors to accompany steam locos on routes that cross different TOC's stamping grounds, how is it we can't seem to use them to guide Cross-Country class 220 drivers [for example] over unfamiliar routes?
Arun
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Post by pgb on Feb 26, 2015 17:38:28 GMT
. Since we seem to be able to find route inspectors to accompany steam locos on routes that cross different TOC's stamping grounds, how is it we can't seem to use them to guide Cross-Country class 220 drivers [for example] over unfamiliar routes? Arun I have a feeling that many TOCs go along the lines of the conductor must sign the route and the traction which is why it becomes difficult. The Cotswold line, whilst double in some places is still single in other places which may cause an issue. The biggest issue of course would be what happens when the Lickey goes up the creek and the XC services need to come via the Dark Side? You'd need a lot spare capacity round the dark side which I don't think it has (bearing in mind there are 6tph from Stourbridge to Galton Bridge). Phil |
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