Miserable Morning Sleeper
When you're able to capture the Up Lowlander (1M11) in daylight in Cheshire in mid-January you know things have good badly awry for the Caledonian Sleeper.
Scheduled to pass through Acton Bridge just before 0400, GB Railfreight's Class 92, 92 033 was a mere 283 minutes (4.5+ hours) late as it ran through in weather that was as grey and miserable as the passengers' journey.
The severe delays were due to the OHLE coming down at Hest Bank the previous day. CS and GB were able to divert the Down Highlander (1S25) via the ECML at short notice, but with Network Rail advising the repairs at Hest Bank would be completed by c.0400, the decision was made to run the other three Sleepers via their booked route and wait for the possession to lift if needs be.
Unfortunately the work wasn't completed until after 0700, so the drivers, crews and passengers were in for a very long night/morning. To the credit of all involved, the show was kept on the road and all trains eventually made their destinations, albeit 3-4 hours late!
Miserable Morning Sleeper
When you're able to capture the Up Lowlander (1M11) in daylight in Cheshire in mid-January you know things have good badly awry for the Caledonian Sleeper.
Scheduled to pass through Acton Bridge just before 0400, GB Railfreight's Class 92, 92 033 was a mere 283 minutes (4.5+ hours) late as it ran through in weather that was as grey and miserable as the passengers' journey.
The severe delays were due to the OHLE coming down at Hest Bank the previous day. CS and GB were able to divert the Down Highlander (1S25) via the ECML at short notice, but with Network Rail advising the repairs at Hest Bank would be completed by c.0400, the decision was made to run the other three Sleepers via their booked route and wait for the possession to lift if needs be.
Unfortunately the work wasn't completed until after 0700, so the drivers, crews and passengers were in for a very long night/morning. To the credit of all involved, the show was kept on the road and all trains eventually made their destinations, albeit 3-4 hours late!