Power supply problems 26 & 27/01 causing delays & rerouting.

[trumperscrossing]

There were delays and reroutings on the DLR both yesterday morning and this morning resulting from power supply problems. This morning trains from Canning Town to Bank were sent to terminate at Mudshute. I work in Greenwich, so can't really complain but getting into Bank was problematic both days.

I was wondering if it was just misfortune that this happened two days running or if should people be prepared for more of the same. Ihave looked online but found nothing so I could think of nowhere better that here to ask.

[spsmiler]

yikes, sending trains to Mudchute instead of Bank must have peeved many passengers!

[trumperscrossing]

Jan 29, 2022 23:24:08 GMT spsmiler said:

yikes, sending trains to Mudchute instead of Bank must have peeved many passengers!

It was the same on friday both in the morning and evening. Woolwich trains were all diverted to Mudchute and Lewisham trains were still terminating at Bank, but both seemed less frequent. Personally, it meant one less change, but it isn't a sensible long-term service patern

[Chris M]

I shall have to see if this is still happening this week - Mudchute is my local station and I need to visit Woolwich at some point next week so this would be rather convenient for me!

[DWS]

The power supply issue was effecting services on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 January 2021 must be some bit of kit needs to be replaced the Central Line had problems last year with reduced services at the east end of the line.

[theexplorer]

Strange that Mudchute is being used? Why is Canary Wharf not being used as a turn back?

[Chris M]

In peak times the centre platform at Canary Wharf is pretty tightly timetabled with the Stratford via Bow service (units normally cross at West India Quay) so there is unlikely to be time to turnaround yet another service.
Mudchute isn't an ideal turnaround operationally as you block the northbound through platform (platform 2) when entering or exiting the bay (platform 3), but it saves blocking the southbound tipping out at Crossharbour. Had the intention been to have a reversing platform at Mudchute (I think it was originally just a cripple siding) from the start I expect the station would have been designed with either a centre bay or three through platforms. It would also be useful if there was a bay or siding south of the river, but there is no obvious location for one to be added.

[MoreToJack]

It also helps that the run times to/from Mudchute are similar to those to Bank - this simplifies working as it means the existing timetable can be used with only minimal tweaks, in addition to the benefit (as mentioned) of Mudchute bay having no timetabled use.

I am led to believe that a special timetable is to be introduced shortly, suggesting that this problem is going to exist for some time yet.

[Chris L]

I changed to a Woolwich Arsenal train this evening at Mudchute.

The train pulled into platform 3 very slowly indeed. On departure we used the "Bank" platform at Canary Wharf before switching to the middle platform at West India Quay and the "Stratford" platform at Poplar.

[Chris M]

Using the "Bank" platform at Canary Wharf is normal for northbound through services towards Poplar - I presume to keep the centre platform free for reversing trains but I don't know. The only time I can recall using the middle platform from the south was when the "Bank" platform was unavailable due to an incident.
Using the "Stratford" platform at Poplar is inevitable as the only junctions are east of the station.

[alholmes]

I’ve read in another forum that a replacement transformer is required, and delivery will not be until April. Until it’s installed there’s a limit on how many trains can be in the section west of Poplar / West India Quay. Temporary timetable being developed, possibly for introduction from next week.

[MoreToJack]

It is worth mentioning for the record that, in addition to Woolwich-Bank trains diverting to Bank, Beckton-Tower Gateway trains are also short-formed with two-cars in connection with the power supply problems.

As mentioned up thread, a temporary timetable is anticipated from next week.

[spsmiler]

Jan 30, 2022 20:10:57 GMT Chris M said:

In peak times the centre platform at Canary Wharf is pretty tightly timetabled with the Stratford via Bow service (units normally cross at West India Quay) so there is unlikely to be time to turnaround yet another service.
Mudchute isn't an ideal turnaround operationally as you block the northbound through platform (platform 2) when entering or exiting the bay (platform 3), but it saves blocking the southbound tipping out at Crossharbour. Had the intention been to have a reversing platform at Mudchute (I think it was originally just a cripple siding) from the start I expect the station would have been designed with either a centre bay or three through platforms. It would also be useful if there was a bay or siding south of the river, but there is no obvious location for one to be added.    

Isn't Mudchute the station that was re-sited for the Lewisham extension? Originally it was high above ground close to an old viaduct, and just a through station.

[rincew1nd]

Wikipedia tells us

The original station was on the route of the Millwall Extension Railway which was an old Victorian railway line that had been disused for many years. The original elevated station opened on 31 August 1987 and it was the last station before the terminus at Island Gardens. When the line was extended under the River Thames to Lewisham the station was rebuilt in a shallow cutting close to the tunnel entrance. The rebuilt station opened on 20 November 1999. In April 2008 work started on replacing the siding formed by the old route into a third platform for reversing trains and adding a canopy over the station. By October 2009 these works were complete.