Major Disruption Tuesday 22 October 2019

[DWS]

During the evening peak the District Line was closed due to emergency engineering work by Network Work Rail Engineers to attend to a large structure between the District Line and c2c lines next to a bridge at Elm Park. Any information as to what this structure is and how long did the shut down last ?

[revupminster]

I wonder if it's the bridge abutments at Abbs Cross Lane. 20 years ago a resident reported one was cracking up.

[sawb]

I'm guessing it can't have been anything major if both c2c and the District line are running problem free this morning, thankfully.

[Chris M]

Oct 23, 2019 8:38:05 GMT sawb said:

I'm guessing it can't have been anything major if both c2c and the District line are running problem free this morning, thankfully.

Either it wasn't major, or it is major but they've been able to make a temporary repair that will last until it can be properly dealt with.

[chris11256]

It was a lorry hitting part of a bridge(can't remember which one). I passed through(on c2c) on my way home from work at about 16:15ish and the line was open, just with a 20mph speed restriction. I'm told that sometime after thing some bricks or other piece of structure fell off the brige, that's what c2c drivers were saying anyway).

[goldenarrow]

I'm guessing that the bridge in question would be the one carrying Abbs Cross Lane/South End Road over between Elm Park and Hornchurch. It's a tight squeeze for cars and completely un-barriered on one side.

[Colin]

This is a strange one.

I was rest day yesterday but saw plenty of posts on a c2c customer Facebook page about a bridge strike in the Elm Park area, so like everyone else I assume that's what happened.

But having looked at both the Service Manager and Senior Operating Officer's daily summaries, there was no such event.

The issue that suspended both railways was a rusted former overhead line structure that was in danger of imminent collapse due to excessive corrosion and had to cut down before it fell down. Why it was a reported a bridge strike is a mystery to me and is utterly bizarre!!

[DWS]

Thanks Colin for clearing up the situation, The District Line was suspended Upminster to Dagenham East, c2c trains suspended Upminster to Barking, with services diverted via Rainham and The Tilbury Loop.

[brigham]

Oct 23, 2019 18:41:25 GMT Colin said:

This is a strange one.

I was rest day yesterday but saw plenty of posts on a c2c customer Facebook page about a bridge strike in the Elm Park area, so like everyone else I assume that's what happened.

But having looked at both the Service Manager and Senior Operating Officer's daily summaries, there was no such event.

The issue that suspended both railways was a rusted former overhead line structure that was in danger of imminent collapse due to excessive corrosion and had to cut down before it fell down. Why it was a reported a bridge strike is a mystery to me and is utterly bizarre!!

"In danger of immediate collapse!"
"Better tell them it was a bridge strike, ot they'll have the Inspectors in!"

[phil]

Oct 24, 2019 7:49:18 GMT brigham said:

Oct 23, 2019 18:41:25 GMT Colin said:

This is a strange one.

I was rest day yesterday but saw plenty of posts on a c2c customer Facebook page about a bridge strike in the Elm Park area, so like everyone else I assume that's what happened.

But having looked at both the Service Manager and Senior Operating Officer's daily summaries, there was no such event.

The issue that suspended both railways was a rusted former overhead line structure that was in danger of imminent collapse due to excessive corrosion and had to cut down before it fell down. Why it was a reported a bridge strike is a mystery to me and is utterly bizarre!!

"In danger of immediate collapse!"
"Better tell them it was a bridge strike, ot they'll have the Inspectors in!"

It was more likely described as a 'bridge strike' as that is an easier thing for the media / public to understand - just as problems with point or track circuits will usually just be refereed to as "a problem with the signalling system"

[piccboy]

The best article I have seen in the public domain about this incident.

www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/c2c-delays-on-october-24-caused-by-damaged-bridge-in-elm-park-1-6339841

Quoted from article "The report goes on to reveal that on Tuesday afternoon, a Network Rail team on proactive patrol discovered severe damage to a structure next to the railway bridge at Elm Park.

A speed restriction was imposed on c2c and District line trains while a specialist structural engineer was sent to the scene.

When the specialist engineer arrived and inspected the structure, they concluded the structure was unstable and needed immediate removal.

At around 4.35pm the overhead power lines were turned off to allow the structure to be removed safely."