Weather & Rail network = chaos

Azza · 18 Nov 2009 at 18:03

In this country its going to happen this time of year every year. Probably more than once a year when we have lots and rain and storms and stuff.

Why don't they do something about it when they know it is going to happen?

I'm meant to be getting train from Wolverhampton back to Aber tonight and because of flooding I've got to get a bus from Newtown to Machynlleth. The train I was going to get at 6:45 has been cancelled (I'm guessing because of the weather) so I'm hoping to get the 8:45 train now if that one doesn't get cancelled as well. If it does I will have to get one in the morning

They know it's going to rain and floods will happen so why doesn't anything get done about it?

So frustrating. :mad:

[TW]Fox · 18 Nov 2009 at 18:04

What are you suggesting they do, put a big umbrella over the network for when it rains?

geekyEd · 18 Nov 2009 at 18:08

I was going to ask the same question, what more can they do apart from get replacement bus services running?

dangerstat · 18 Nov 2009 at 18:09

[TW]Fox;15344797 said:
What are you suggesting they do, put a big umbrella over the network for when it rains?

Perhaps an actually useful thing to do with the Millenium Dome?

Azza · 18 Nov 2009 at 18:13

I mean like drainage etc around the tracks....especially in low lying areas that are most likely to flood / areas that flood every year round.

Cob · 18 Nov 2009 at 18:19

Azza said:
I mean like drainage etc around the tracks....especially in low lying areas that are most likely to flood / areas that flood every year round.

And how long would they have to close the track for to do that?

The odd closure for flooding would probably be a lot easier.

Azza · 18 Nov 2009 at 18:23

Cob said:
And how long would they have to close the track for to do that?

The odd closure for flooding would probably be a lot easier.

Do it while it's closed because of flooding?

Stuff · 18 Nov 2009 at 18:25

Azza said:
Do it while it's closed because of flooding?

But they can't... Cos its flooded

reflux · 18 Nov 2009 at 18:26

Ug, public transport in general is complete carp. Took me four separate attempts to get into work this morning. Train was cancelled because of the weather, and neanderthal bus drivers either ignore your attempts to attract their attention or seem unable to understand the concept of a ten pound note.

mjt · 18 Nov 2009 at 18:32

unfortunately in the 50s the government ploughed all their money into motorway networks and neglected the railways.
this is the result

Conscript · 18 Nov 2009 at 18:35

mjt said:
unfortunately in the 50s the government ploughed all their money into motorway networks and neglected the railways.
this is the result

But, seeing as most of the driving population are unable to handle driving whilst its wet and dark, some plonker will inevitably fall off the road at rush hour, resulting in huge traffic delays which spill out onto connected motorways. Happens every year.

M3G4UK · 18 Nov 2009 at 19:01

Lets be fair, most rail networks these days can't even arrange a decent rail replacement bus. The Southern Rail one I had to use was bloody awful. They just kept unloading train upon train full of people into an already crowded forecourt. People were fighting among eachother, staff were fighting with people, bus drivers fighting with staff. It was ridiculous. I've complained and plan to send them a DVD of footage I recorded on my digicam of the state of it all. It was terribly organised. Fair enough there were suicides on the line, but they ABSOLUTELY NEED a rock-solid replacement service ready to despatch at any time!

Don't even get me started on southeastern rail either. "The 0804 to London Victoria has been cancelled due to a spec of dust on the line in WALES" =/

Ahleckz · 18 Nov 2009 at 20:29

reflux said:
Ug, public transport in general is complete carp. Took me four separate attempts to get into work this morning. Train was cancelled because of the weather, and neanderthal bus drivers either ignore your attempts to attract their attention or seem unable to understand the concept of a ten pound note.

Or perhaps it's against company policy/common sense for a driver to carry a large wad of cash around due to the prospect of mugging/robbery.
It's not hard to go to a shop and buy a small item to get change, or have a change jar at home which you use for buses.
Also no idea how you failed to get their attention, what are you doing to try and get their attention? Sounds to me that you are the Neanderthal...

M3G4UK said:
hey ABSOLUTELY NEED a rock-solid replacement service ready to despatch at any time!=/

So you want them to have dedicated buses just sitting at the station? With drivers sitting around all day waiting to do a bit of work now and then. Sure you won't mind paying a hell of a lot more on your ticket for this service too?
Get real man!

Greenlizard0 · 18 Nov 2009 at 20:30

It's disappointing that our rail lines close for what seems to be much milder weather compared to other comparable nations.

Same thing...every year.

Glaucus · 18 Nov 2009 at 20:32

Azza said:
I mean like drainage etc around the tracks....especially in low lying areas that are most likely to flood / areas that flood every year round.

they do, they even have reservoirs in some places. But when it floods, streams are bursting their banks, so where do you put all this water from the drains?

And more importantly where are the funds going to come from.

dangerstat · 18 Nov 2009 at 20:32

AcidHell2 said:
they do, they even have reservoirs in some places. But when it floods, streams are bursting their banks, so where do you put all this water from the drains?

Vanessa Phelps?

Duke · 18 Nov 2009 at 20:33

The leaf problems are solved though I gather. I read somewhere (BBC site?) that they have removed a lot of the trees near the tracks - simple but good solution

M3G4UK · 19 Nov 2009 at 07:07

Ahleckz said:
So you want them to have dedicated buses just sitting at the station? With drivers sitting around all day waiting to do a bit of work now and then. Sure you won't mind paying a hell of a lot more on your ticket for this service too?
Get real man!

Have you even tried to commute on a train recently?

There's delays/cancellations/havok almost daily. They must spend close to the same figures anyway.

And don't tell me that every ticket sold (especially first class) doesn't make a silly profit for the rail networks.

-Ad- · 19 Nov 2009 at 08:14

Azza said:
I mean like drainage etc around the tracks....especially in low lying areas that are most likely to flood / areas that flood every year round.

Of course, and they can get the funds from their little piggy banks sitting in the office.

You are just soo right, it must be easy to this to the whole rail network, I cannot understand why on earth this hasn't been done already.

Whilst they're at it they might as well fit out the whole network with MAGLEV trains, they can clearly afford to do it with all the monies profit.

memyselfandi · 19 Nov 2009 at 08:33

M3G4UK said:
Have you even tried to commute on a train recently?

There's delays/cancellations/havok almost daily. They must spend close to the same figures anyway.

... snip ...

Yes thank you, I commute by train every weekday and have done so for the last ~11 years on different lines with different length communtes.

In the last 3-4 months I think I have had one train cancelled on me on the way to work, (so I just caught one 10mins later) and the train home was 5mins late a couple of times (which as my commute falls at the end of it's run isn't that unexpected).

I would hardly say that was daily havoc ....