Here we go again: one gust of wind and trains stutter
TEMPERATURES are falling and council workers are revving up their road gritters ready for snow.
Autumn proper is nearly upon us and with it comes the annual reminder of how useless Britain is at dealing with extreme weather conditions of any kind.
This struck me when I was on a train rattling curiously slowly through the Derbyshire countryside on Tuesday.
It was a blustery day – I had been buffeted about a bit on my morning cycle ride to the station, but nothing too out of the ordinary.
Yet as our train lumbered along we were told it would not be going any faster because of “high winds”.
According to the National Rail website when wind gusts of 60-69mph are forecast, trains slow down to allow drivers time to stop for any obstructions on the track.
This all sounds fine but these weedy squalls were barely enough to shake the leaves from the trees, let alone uproot one.
A few weeks from now we will start hearing of “leaves on the line” and then, before we know it, we will be fully into “the wrong kind of snow”.
And do listen out for those irritating platform announcements warning us to watch our footing in “inclement weather” – as if we are all about to go skidding off the side.
This weekend the weather certainly looks as though it is set to shake things up a little. It is going to be cold and windy in the north with frequent heavy showers, potentially turning into dustings of sleet and snow.
It will be sunny in central parts, however, like a warm little egg yolk when all around is winter white.
It will not surprise you to read that “weather warnings” are being put in place in certain areas, while my local council has erected signs urging drivers to “get their vehicles ready for winter”.
But whatever you do, don’t even think about setting foot on a train.
Joe Shute