This is what happens if you do not manage the

embankments and trackside areas of your railway! After what was, admittedly, a particularly severe weather burst lasting some fifteen minutes or so this tree along with a number of others further down the line crashed on to the line and the catenary causing the line to be closed. The slow lines were unaffected with no blockages but they were under a planned engineering possession so could not be used to divert passenger workings causing absolute chaos! Within a couple of hours the engineering blockade was lifted early and trains diverted around the damage to the fast lines. The first Pendolinos started to pass this spot on the slows by midafternoon. Notice the black burning to the trunk of the poor unfortunate juvenile ash tree that was wiped out by the very strong wind event a little earlier.