Storm Claudia: Aylesbury commuter trains significantly reduced and flood warnings are issued
Commuter services between Aylesbury and London have been reduced today due to the difficult projected conditions linked to Storm Claudia.
Today, a flood warning has also been issued by the Environment Agency affecting the Buckingham area. A separate warning has been announced affecting areas further south within the old Aylesbury Vale region.
The Met Office has also issued an amber weather warning due to rainfall which is affecting northern parts of Aylesbury Vale and other towns and cities north of the county town. When amber warnings are issued the Government agency warns that there could be deep or fast flowing water, which could put people’s lives in danger.
The Met Office warns that communities could be cut off, that damage to some buildings is likely and road closures could come into effect.
However, the rest of the area is subject to the less serious yellow warning. The differentiation regards the likelihood and severity of the flooding expected, an amber warning means flooding is likely in some areas, power cuts and overflows are less common in yellow sections.
Winslow and Buckingham are currently within the amber flood warning area, while the yellow warning is active for Aylesbury and Princes Risborough.
One active flood warning remains in the Aylesbury Vale area linked to the River Great Ouse, overflow is possible from the river which covers Northamptonshire and passes through towards Buckingham.
Water levels are expected to rise in Buckingham, East Claydon, Steeple Claydon, and Padbury, as well as other nearby villages and hamlets that the river crosses.
Rising river levels from Bear Brook this afternoon may lead to flooding, the Environment Agency has warned. This is expected to affect households and road networks in central Aylesbury and also nearby Aston Clinton and Weston Turville. Wendover is also said to be at risk of flooding until roughly 10pm according to the latest Government update.
Yesterday as a precaution, Chiltern Railways confirmed it was a ‘significantly reduced service’ the transport company confirmed just one train per hour would be going from Aylesbury to London Marylebone via High Wycombe, one per hour will go between the stations via Amersham.
Estimates released by the train service show that it is running at around 50% its usual capacity today. Refunds are available to customers with pre-booked tickets who chose not to travel today and Friday tickets can be used on Saturday as a result of the disruption.
Tony Baxter, operations director at Chiltern Railways, said yesterday: “Heavy rainfall is expected on our route on Friday which can cause flooding, blockages and damage to the railway. To ensure safety and improved reliability of services, there will be a reduced timetable on Friday.”
A spokesperson for the Met Office advised that Storm Claudia, previously named by the Spanish Meteorological Service, will bring rain that will become persistent and heavy during Friday. The Met Office added that 40-60 mm of rain is expected widely across this region with some places seeing around 80 mm; these higher accumulations more probable across the East Midlands, and higher ground in Wales and western England. Impacts may be exacerbated by strong easterly winds, as well as thunderstorms later Friday afternoon and evening.