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In the first working day of 2024, train passengers are experiencing more chaos due to severe weather and track issues, resulting in numerous cancellations after a month of constant disruptions.
In December of 2023, there were numerous disruptions in the UK, including strikes, reduced schedules, frequent cancellations due to lack of staff, and a flood on the country’s sole high-speed railway. This resulted in over 30,000 Eurostar passengers being stranded on December 30th.
After the completion of the customary Christmas and New Year’s engineering tasks, the possibility of heavy rain is hindering the resumption of work.
The primary railway route from London Paddington to South Wales has been shut down between Swindon and Bristol Parkway since Sunday evening.
Train services are experiencing cancellations or diversions, causing delays of approximately one hour.
According to GWR, the area between Swindon and Bristol Parkway is currently experiencing flooding, resulting in the closure of all train lines. As a result, trains traveling between these stations may be cancelled.
Flooding between Exeter and Plymouth in the western region is resulting in train disruptions and cancellations for routes connecting Cornwall, Bristol, and London.
GWR issued a warning that trains passing through the flooded area will experience a delay of 20-30 minutes.
The area between Derby and Nottingham in the East Midlands is currently inaccessible due to flooding.
In West Yorkshire, the presence of heavy rain in Leeds will result in the cancellation of many trains connecting the city to Harrogate, Shipley, and Ilkley for a significant portion of the day.
Northern Trains announced that trains will only be operating between Shipley and Bradford Forster Square. This is due to the line in the Kirkstall area being flooded as a result of heavy rainfall overnight.
The main line of South Western Railway, which runs from Bournemouth to Southampton Central, is currently closed due to the need for urgent track repairs.
Attention commuters: The railway between Bournemouth and Southampton has been found to have significant damage, making it impossible for trains to travel in either direction on this section of track.
“Our specialized teams are currently on location and putting in their best efforts to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.”
“Interruptions are anticipated to continue until the end of the day.”
DFDS Ferries is cancelling certain departures on the primary route between Dover and Calais due to unfavorable weather conditions. The company has expressed regret for any inconvenience and assures customers that they will be accommodated on the next available departure.
Source: independent.co.uk
