Fast train at night long exposure

75-mile tailback on British East Coast Main Line

Train running at night

Britain’s prestige East Coast Main Line on a Wednesday night is normally the picture of chilled out efficiency. Except that’s not quite how it worked out this Wednesday. An animal strike on a northbound express, out of London King’s Cross, brought services to a standstill, with trains backing up for over 75 miles (120 kilometres). Passengers and train staff alike had little to go on, until an operational message reached each train in turn, bringing the inevitable news that delays would be substantial.

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Author: Simon Walton

Simon Walton is UK correspondent for RailTech.com and Railfreight.com

3 comments op “75-mile tailback on British East Coast Main Line”

James Cannon|15.03.24|08:51

Delays around Northallerton have been substantial in the last 6 months. As a non frequent train traveller, I was delayed by 6 hours on 1st December and a similar substantial delay occurred in September/October. Is there a special problem in that Area?

David Lewarne|15.03.24|18:47

Can you fact check your story please, the train involved was a transpennine Express service from Liverpool Like Street to Newcastle, 1P33, debry from this incident did also have an effect on a passing London bound LNER service which was terminated at Northallerton

Also the location was Danby Wiske, north of Northallerton. Thirsk is on a 4 track section of the main line some distance south of the incident

David Lewarne|15.03.24|18:51

Can you fact check your story please.

The incident occurred at Danby Wiske, north of Northallerton and not near Thirsk which being 10 miles south and on a 4 track section of the line would have had far less an impact on the disruption that occurred.

Also the train involved, 1P33 was a transpennine service from Liverpool Like Street to Newcastle, not a LNER service, although a southbound LNER service was also hit by the debries thrown up by 1P33 and terminated at Northallerton as a result

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75-mile tailback on British East Coast Main Line | RailTech.com
Fast train at night long exposure

75-mile tailback on British East Coast Main Line

Train running at night

Britain’s prestige East Coast Main Line on a Wednesday night is normally the picture of chilled out efficiency. Except that’s not quite how it worked out this Wednesday. An animal strike on a northbound express, out of London King’s Cross, brought services to a standstill, with trains backing up for over 75 miles (120 kilometres). Passengers and train staff alike had little to go on, until an operational message reached each train in turn, bringing the inevitable news that delays would be substantial.

Want to read more?

Subscribe now!

Take advantage of our exclusive offer to get full access to all premium content.

See the offer

Author: Simon Walton

Simon Walton is UK correspondent for RailTech.com and Railfreight.com

3 comments op “75-mile tailback on British East Coast Main Line”

James Cannon|15.03.24|08:51

Delays around Northallerton have been substantial in the last 6 months. As a non frequent train traveller, I was delayed by 6 hours on 1st December and a similar substantial delay occurred in September/October. Is there a special problem in that Area?

David Lewarne|15.03.24|18:47

Can you fact check your story please, the train involved was a transpennine Express service from Liverpool Like Street to Newcastle, 1P33, debry from this incident did also have an effect on a passing London bound LNER service which was terminated at Northallerton

Also the location was Danby Wiske, north of Northallerton. Thirsk is on a 4 track section of the main line some distance south of the incident

David Lewarne|15.03.24|18:51

Can you fact check your story please.

The incident occurred at Danby Wiske, north of Northallerton and not near Thirsk which being 10 miles south and on a 4 track section of the line would have had far less an impact on the disruption that occurred.

Also the train involved, 1P33 was a transpennine service from Liverpool Like Street to Newcastle, not a LNER service, although a southbound LNER service was also hit by the debries thrown up by 1P33 and terminated at Northallerton as a result

Add your comment

characters remaining.

Log in through one of the following social media partners to comment.