June 22nd: just about a month later than the storms that prompted this thread, reports of an area of thunderstorms making their way up into and through Cornwall - and may be through Bristol around 6pm.

Mark

https://www.lightningmaps.org/

 
Probably coinciding with the HS2 work & the Xmas closure.

 

Just seen a comment on another forum suggesting that the outstanding work on Dolphin Junction is scheduled for the end of this year - clearly can't come soon enough.

 
Cancellations to services between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids
Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids all lines are blocked.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 17:00 22/06.
Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
A person has been struck by a train, leading to all lines being blocked. It is necessary to bring all trains in the affected area to an immediate stop.
-
If you are onboard one of the services in this incident and have been affected by this incident or know someone else who needs support, there is always someone to talk to. Contact a Samaritan on 116 123 for free, any time, on any phone. Help is only a phone call away.
(Issued at 15h27).
I can see 1C80 1205 London Paddington to Plymouth wrong line working at Teignmouth, with
5Z46 1440 Exeter St Davids to Plymouth right line also at Teignmouth.

Thoughts with all those involved

 

Cats, or seagulls? 

 

That's four. 

 
It's somewhat ironic that people are now investing in air conditioning, given it has a significant impact on climate change via its high energy demands, leading to "weather events" such as we are seeing now!

 
Going even further off topic, the Kennet & Avon Canal has long stretches which are lovely to navigate, and to walk / cycle beside. 

 
The western section of Dolphin Junction was completely replaced at Christmas.  There was talk of the eastern section (which is the bit these particular trains use) being replaced and upgraded from 40mph to 70mph…not sure when though.

 
,The port season is over !
This time of year, I favour Plymouth Navy strenth gin and tonic with ice, or chilled beer.

 

Given that the frequency of these extreme weather events have been on the rise for the last decade or so, what has/is being done to make this and other key pieces of infrastructure more resilient?

Dolphin Junction would seem to be a well known and hugely disruptive single point of failure.

 

Indeed, a proactive and preventative strategy often used during extreme heat, and far better than the points at Dolphin Junction failing in 'reverse' and four operational lines becoming two.

Quite a lot of freight loops will also be booked out for the same reason.  The loops at Milton, Wootton Bassett, Hullavington and Chipping Sodbury being five examples.

 

https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/live-network-updates

 

Are they getting all steamed up about it?' 

 
I expect Coffee Shop member 'TaplowGreen' will be keeping an eye on it. 

 
GWR relying on TfL/Elizabeth Line to bail them out between Reading-Paddington it would seem.

 
We've now found out. 

Andy Burnham, ex-Mayor of Greater Manchester, now back in Parliament as MP for Makerfield and apparently soon to be our new Prime Minister, has some previous for lecturing offering guidance to other Mayors about how they should run their public transport.

See https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=25181.msg373441#msg373441

 

Keep the Port chilled broadgage!

 
AFAIK, only one "red heat health alert" has been issued in the past.
Air conditioning is becoming a requirement rather than a luxury.

Certain small and foolish persons have predicted that broadgage will burst or explode due to the heat !

 
This will be extended to Thursday at least

 
Heritage Rail GWSR have cancelled all services this week owing to the heatwave.

 

With thanks for your post, IndustryInsider, I have now added KRS to our 'abbreviations and acronyms' page. 

 
Cancellations to services between Reading and London Paddington

Due to severe weather between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on all lines.

Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled or revised. Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford will not be served. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on 25/06/26.

 

Actually - No!

What has happened is that the "usual" fallback of either terminating the stopping trains from Didcot at Reading or running then non-stop between Reading and Paddington is being implemented. I assume this reduces the potential for problems when the trains might otherwise have to switch from the main to the relief lines after Slough (and before Slough on the way back).

This has been clearly explained on Journey Check.

 
O.T. From the riverside path, the Avon at Chippenham is capable of looking thoroughly lovely.

Mark

 

Yes, as you've said it's virtually impossible to quantify that as it's a moving target.

For example, an early afternoon train, say the 14:18 Westbury to Swindon, showing at 4:30am as cancelled but then reinstated at 7am is likely to have much less of a 'customer view figure' than if it was reinstated at 1pm.

I remain of the opinion that start-of-service early morning journeycheck entries should show 'may be cancelled' - with a note to say every effort is being made to run it and to check back later.  That could automatically change to 'will be cancelled' three hours before departing its origin station if it hasn't been reinstated by then as it's far less likely it will be.

 
Those traffic lights in the first pic were only installed a couple of years ago IIRC - I was living in Chippenham at the time. It was a mini-roundabout previously, and the lights just seemed to cause long queues of cars, as seen in the picture. There were a lot of complaints, and they might have adjusted the timings to improve things, but it's still a lot worse than before they were installed.

Don't know if the roundabout itself was any better in terms of the cycling route though.

 
There's no need to get hot under the collar about it, just in Melksham. 

 
Yep - there always has to be a hero.

 
We've now been upgraded to Met Office red warnings for Wednesday(40)/Thursday(39) in Melksham.