On the edge of storm Amy and with incidents of trees on the line in the Warminster area (and possibly some other problems?)

Portsmouth-Cardiff services struggling. After the 10:23 Portsmouth-Cardiff, the next service to make the journey from one end to the other was the 19:23.

The 11:23 off Portsmouth became tree-bound somewhere south of Warminster and was terminated at Westbury 247 minutes late. I was on the 14:23 Portsmouth (actually started at Fratton) that joined the tail end of a queue of 6 trains occupying all the block sections between Wilton and Westbury (although held at Salisbury until the tree had been cleared).

On the bright side, the train had started from Fratton over an hour late, so I was able to catch it in lieu of the following (my intended) service that was cancelled between Portsmouth and Westbury. So I arrived home only 58 minutes late.

 
It was a ... mess ... yesterday and on a personal note I was probably sensible in not travelling.  Interesting to see the gap of 9 hours in an hourly service - but yet with overlaps, etc, people were provided with options; Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central, as I read it, 11:23 change at Westbury or 14:14 (change at Fratton) into the 14:23 ... both heavily delayed but would eventually have got you there.

The wider question is why - as we were very much on the edge of Storm Amey - did so many trees come down and create such chaos?   Changing weather with more extremes?   Lack of maintenance?  More caution in pushing trees aside these days?   Acceptable as "one of those things" occasionally or should more be invested in prevention?  Should a chainsaw be part of standard cab equipment and use of it part of the driver or train manager training?

 

I think observation of linesides over the years will reveal that vegetation is not controlled in the way it once was.  Partly as a result of green pressure, and partly as a result of (false) economy measures, I would suggest

 
As in October 1987, the trees are still in full leaf so offer more wind resistance. An exacerbating problem then was the fact that they were all effectively rooted in porridge due to a very wet autumn - not a problem yesterday. However, apparently the long drought has left trees severely weakened through dehydration.
Would be interesting to know how many of the trees which came down were actually on railway property.

 


https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=27853.msg338050#msg338050

How long before all those bushes become trees  ??

 
But...but....the nesting areas that will be lost! You can't.....(plant them elsewhere to replace, obvs. really)

 

I had a particular reason for travelling this day. I made sure I was equipped with food and hot/cold drink in case of disruption - a sensible precaution, as things turned out.

Before boarding my homeward train I recall someone saying they were heading to Castle Cary. I wonder what happened to them? The train was held up outside Westbury because three is an insufficient number of platforms, but I did have a view of not one, but two trains bound for Cary departing (the Weymouth and Paignton) - the latter seconds before the Cardiff train finally pulled into platform 1.

 
Looks like the Engineering work teams are doing their best for upcoming destinations that are various intermediate locations (not Cardiff or Portsmouth)

Sunday 12 October until 16:00 diverted to Bristol Parkway
Sunday 12 October after 16:00 to Newport instead of Cardiff

Sunday 19 October diverted from Southampton, to via Eastleigh

Monday 27 to Thursday 30 October, buses Bath-Bristol with 2 train services (either side) no rail diversions around affected area.

Saturday 1 to Sunday 2 November, buses Salisbury-Southampton with train services either side.

Saturday 8 November, buses Warminster-Salisbury
Sunday 9 November, buses Warminster-Southampton

Saturday 15 November, buses Salisbury-Southampton
Sunday 16 November, buses Warminster-Southampton

Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 November, buses Salisbury-Southampton