Rail Power failure strands thousands

Thousands of rail commuters have been stranded after a power surge knocked out signalling, halting all trains in the south Wales network.

Power went out at about 0710 GMT at Bridgend, Barry, Cardiff and in the valleys up to Caerphilly.

Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) is trying to move about 30 trains, each carrying hundreds of passengers, to platforms.

Arriva said power was restored almost three hours later but problems would last into the afternoon.

Peter Leppard, operations director of ATW, said: "About ten past seven there was a major power surge from Western Power Distribution into Cardiff signal box which knocked out all the signalling.

"It's taken until about 10 o'clock to sort that out. It will be three or four hours before we're back to normal.

"I think the evening peak will be okay but it's been a bad morning for our customers."

Arriva and First Great Western have put on replacement buses and urged people to make alternative arrangements.

An ATW spokesman said the power failure was "extremely rare" and an investigation is under way.

He added: "If the power fails everything goes red, nothing moves until the power is restored.

"It will also affect mainline trains. This is extremely rare."

The spokesman said First Great Western (FGW) services arriving in south Wales from London would be turned round at Newport.

ATW said there had been no trains running between Bridgend and Newport, including the Vale of Glamorgan line.

Valleys Lines Trains, which is run by ATW, had nothing running between Barry and Cardiff up as far as Caerphilly.

The power failure left level crossings in the position they were in when the power went down.

It is believed the level crossing at St Fagans, on the outskirts of Cardiff, was down when the power failed and there were reports of severe road congestion.

British Transport Police (BTP) said it had been informed and it is believed the widespread signalling failure was the result of an electricity failure.

"BTP officers have been assisting rail staff with overcrowding problems at railway stations where requested," said a spokesman.

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said: "We're in constant contact with Network Rail who have assured us that they are taking all possible steps to rectify the problem."

* Story taken from BBC Wales News. Read it here * 

NEWS UPDATE - 22.03.2011  19:49

Power has been fully restored on the south Wales rail network after an electricity failure affected an estimated 20,000 morning passengers.

Network Rail blamed a blown fuse for knocking out signalling in Cardiff just after 0700 GMT, halting some 30 Arriva Trains Wales trains between stations.

More disruption for passengers

Rail passengers face further disruption after Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) cancelled their Sunday services following a dispute with drivers.

Sunday services are staffed by drivers working voluntary overtime but the Aslef union has imposed an overtime ban in a dispute over pay and conditions.

ATW are operating a limited bus service and apologised for the "inconvenience" to passengers.

Services by other rail operators are not affected.

The dispute centres on a row over pay and changes to working conditions, in particular Sunday hours.

Last Sunday's services were affected by the overtime ban and last Monday none of ATW's 950 services ran during a 24-hour strike by drivers.

A fresh 24-hour walk out is scheduled to take place on 12 March, the day of the Wales v Ireland rugby international in Cardiff, after failed talks between the two parties.
 
Arriva Trains Wales operates extensive services in north and south Wales as well as some into England including on the Cambrian Line and services to Manchester.

Speaking after the failed talks on Thursday, Aslef General Secretary Keith Norman said he was "bitterly disappointed" with the company for failing to come up with an improved pay offer.

"Given the company's reluctance to change the position and the unacceptability of their previous offer, we have little choice but to take further action," he said.

ATW has said it has offered a "generous" pay rise worth 12% over two years.

The company has said it would bring drivers' salaries to £39,117 for a 35-hour, four-day average week.

Aslef has said its members were paid less in Wales than drivers in England and that ATW's offer would work out as £39,000 for a 46-47 hour, five-day week, as the offer was dependant on a commitment to a driver working on Sundays.

* Story taken from BBC Wales News. Read it here *