Storm PIA - Disruption to Train Services

Count on the British to name a storm in such a descriptive manner.

And flights are also affected.

it is properly blowing where I am in the East.

My experience of working on the railways in big blows is that is not only problems with the overhead 25,000 volts wire - although that is a real hazard especially when trees fall on the overheads - but many hazards are blown onto the track, even diesel tracks.

I remember having to stop when a 20 foot shipping container blew onto the line not far from Wembley a few years ago, and not terribly far from there a full sized marquee (big tent) made its way onto the slow lines at Harrow and Wealdstone on a different occasion.

So, to agree with Stuart's advice - on very windy days expect train delays and cancellations.

Count on the British to name a storm in such a descriptive manner.

Nope, it was the Danish authorities....

In Scotland train services are now suspended for the day Glasgow to Oban/Fort William/Mallaig, also Inverness to Aberdeen/Kyle of Lochalsh/Wick and Thurso, and are liable to suspension later Perth to Inverness. Limited bus replacements are being used, but Scotrail are struggling to source buses. So, where it exists, customers may have to pay to use other public transport.

Many CalMac ferry services in Scotland are also cancelled or suspended. CalMac are also advising of another low pressure system due on Sunday (Christmas Eve) and that many services may be unable to run that day. So if going to an island by ferry for Christmas aim to travel on Saturday.

Northlink sailings to Orkney are suspended today, and to Shetland are expected to run 3 to 4 hours late in both directions tonight.

Most Orkney Island and Shetland inter island ferries are also suspended today, and all schools closed in Shetland.

All ferries to the Isle of Man before Christmas are either cancelled or on watch for expected cancellation.

Looks like all trains out of Euston are cancelled at the moment due to problems with overhead lines at Watford (presumably due to Pia?).

Euston Station is currently advised to be closed to passengers entering, due to dangerous over crowding. Only for exit currently from arriving trains.
It will be re-opened when and if it becomes safe to do so.

There seem to be multiple line issues both north and south of Watford Junction with up to 3 hour delays reported. Potential dewiring, object or objects caught in the overhead and possibly at least one tree down on the tracks.

LNER also have major problems due to multiple issues with the lines. Some diversions via Lincoln, and delays in excess of 4 hours.

Trans Pennine have a do not travel notice in place for journeys to Edinburgh.

The winds are now clearing, en route to Denmark.

All rail lines are now re-open except Inverness to Wick/Thurso where daylight inspections are needed.

A number of Scottish ferry disruptions continue.

But Avanti West Coast are having a lot of problems this weekend with train crew availability leading to cancellations and a number of Anglo- Scottish services starting and terminating short at Preston.

In Europe-
A woman in Belgium was fatally injured by a falling Christmas tree, while another tree killed a person in the Netherlands.

The 65ft Christmas tree collapsed onto three people at a busy market in Oudenaarde in western Belgium late on Thursday, killing a 63-year-old woman and injuring two other people. The Christmas market was immediately cancelled.

Meanwhile, a woman who was struck by a falling tree on Thursday in the eastern Dutch town of Wilp later died of her injuries, her employer said.

DB also had major problems from downed electric wiring and the River Elbe overtopped its banks in Hamburg in a storm surge.

In the Netherlands the Maeslantkering storm barrier that protects Rotterdam from high sea levels automatically closed for the first time because of high water levels – meaning that all six major storm barriers that protect the low-lying Netherlands were closed at the same time.

The Hurtigruten ship "Maud" was disabled after a freak wave knocked out the windows in the bridge, disabling systems- requiring the back up manual systems to be used to bring the vessel into port.