Commuter chaos continues as Storm Bert clear-up enters second day

Rail passengers are beong urged to only travel on Tuesday (November 26) unless they really need to as the clear-up from Storm Bert continues.

Network Rail has issued an update to passengers following severe flooding in Northampton caused by the River Nene bursting its banks in the early hours of Monday morning.

The railway through Northampton station will remain closed on Tuesday while engineers work to clean up and repair flood-damaged tracks and signalling equipment.

After sustained heavy rainfall during Storm Bert, flood-water gushed through Northampton station’s platforms on Monday morning. Vital signalling and telecoms equipment, as well as hundreds of metres of cables, were submerged for hours.

Before the railway can be safely reopened for trains to run, affected equipment needs to be assessed, repaired and tested. The major clean-up work is expected to continue until the morning of Wednesday 27 November at the earliest, with passengers advised to expect major disruption to rail journeys.

Network Rail says it is working closely with its train operating partners London Northwestern Railway and Avanti West Coast to keep passengers moving on the West Coast Main Line, with trains being diverted away from Northampton. London Northwestern Railway will be running road replacement transport between Rugby-Northampton and Northampton-Milton Keynes.

Gary Walsh, director for Network Rail’s West Coast South route, said: “We’re working as quickly as we can to clean up and repair damaged rail equipment after major flooding through Northampton station following Storm Bert.

“Due to the scale of damage caused to our signalling system by the flooding, we expect the railway to remain shut throughout Tuesday 26 November and urge passengers to check with National Rail Enquiries for alternative journey options. We’re really sorry to everyone affected.”

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director for London Northwestern Railway, said: “I am sorry for the continued disruption to journeys following the severe flooding of the railway in the Northampton area.

“I would urge all customers travelling with us on Tuesday to check their journeys before setting out as a revised timetable will be in operation, with rail replacement transport in operation on some parts of the network.”