Latest on Cumbria’s roads after heavy flooding

Friday November 14

Cumbria is still feeling the effects after the county was deluged with heavy rain.

Rain overnight on Wednesday and into yesterday caused chaos on the roads, with flood alerts and warnings issued.

The Met Office also issued a weather warning for rain.

Several schools closed and people were rescued after becoming trapped due to flooding.

Early yesterday, the M6 closed northbound between Penrith and Carlisle due to flooding and the Cumbria Coast Line between Whitehaven and Carlisle saw all trains cancelled as the track flooded.

Cumbria Local Resilience Forum met yesterday afternoon as the adverse weather conditions worsened.

Storm Claudia is set to roll in further south in the UK today, Friday November 14, with warnings issued for rain and wind. However, there are no weather warnings from the Met Office for Cumbria for today.

What’s happening today?

Roads

The latest official roads update we have is from Cumberland Council at 7.55pm yesterday, Thursday November 13.

Cumberland Council’s highways teams have worked to keep roads clear throughout yesterday and last night, and have responded to over 200 calls so far.

Roads closed (7.55pm)

Kingmoor Road, Carlisle at Etterby Bridge.
St Ninians Bridge, Carlisle
The road from the A69 Hayton lane end to Hayton village.
Church Road, Warwick Bridge closed due to flooding by St Paul’s Church.
B6263 Steeles Bank, Wetheral.
Little Corby Road from Newby East to Little Corby.
Oulton to Kirkbride

Car park closures

Caldew Riverside car park, Carlisle closed until further notice
Castle Car park, Carlisle (formerly Devonshire Walk)
West Walls car park, Carlisle

Roads reopened

A594 open at Ellenborough Road, Maryport outside Tesco.
A596 outside the Police Station on Hall Brow, Workington
Dalston Road, Carlisle
Buckabank to Durdar Road at Pow Bank.
A595 outside Greenhill Hotel at Red Dial
Mealpot Road, Maryport.
Barras Lane, Dalston between Barras Lane Indst Est and A595 Cardewlees.
A6071 Longtown Road, Brampton closed outside the Police Station.
A596 Wigton Bypass
Wreay Road beneath Low Hurst Motorway Bridge.
Viaduct Estate Road, Carlisle at the Castle Way end.
B5301 at Arkleby Mill.
Baggrow to Blennerhasset Road.
B5322 Townfield Bridge Threlkeld.
B5300 Coast Road, Allonby

Public transport

Train passengers are urged to check before they travel today.

train operators say poor weather is likely to impact journeys across the country until Saturday.

Trains were cancelled today, Thursday November 13, on the Carlisle to Barrow line due to flooding and all trains will be cancelled tomorrow, Friday November 14.

There have been reports of flooding at various locations between Carlisle and Whitehaven.

Poor weather has caused multiple signalling faults and a potential landslip.

Network Rail engineers were on site yesterday.

Due to adverse road conditions, rail replacement buses will not be provided.

A speed restriction due to severe weather is also in place between Lockerbie and Oxenholme. Trains running between these stations may be delayed by up 30 minutes or revised.

This will affect services operated by Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express.

TransPennine Express will run an amended timetable from 1pm today, Friday, November 14. It said Glasgow Central and Manchester Airport/Liverpool Lime Street services will be revised to only run between Glasgow Central and Preston.

Network Rail teams are preparing for extremely heavy rain elsewhere in the country.

Schools closed in Cumbria

Several schools were closed yesterday due to flooding.

It appears the majority will reopen but please check with your school for its decision.

Schools closed today, Friday November 14, include:

St Bridget’s School, Cockermouth, will remain closed until further notice.
Blennerhasset School – it will liaise with the local authority to assess water damage. It aims to reopen on Monday, November 17.
Wigton Nursery and Infant School will reopen on Monday, November 17.

Flood warnings and alerts for Cumbria

Flood warnings and alerts have been issued for Cumbria. At the peak of the bad weather yesterday, 20 flood warnings were in force.

Flood warnings

Keswick Campsite
River Eden at Carlisle, Rickerby Park, Swifts and Stoneyholme Golf Courses
River Eden at Warwick Holmes

Flood alerts

10 flood alerts are in place for Cumbria.

This means flooding is possible.

Lower River Eden
Middle River Eden
River Rede
Rivers Brathay, Rothay and Winster
Rivers Caldew and Petteril
Rivers Cocker, Marron and Derwent
Rivers Esk and Irthing
Rivers Lowther and Eamont
Upper River Derwent, Stonethwaite Beck and Derwent Water
Upper River Eden

Flood warnings and alerts removed

Little Caldew at Carlisle
River Caldew and Eden at Carlisle, Willowholme, Caldewgate, Shaddongate
River Caldew at Carlisle, Denton Holme, Bousteads Grassing, James Street
River Caldew at Carlisle, Viaduct Estate Road area
River Caldew at Cummersdale, Factory
River Eden at Appleby, The Sands, Cricket ground, King George’s Field
River Ellen at Blennerhasset and Baggrow
River Eden at Bolton
River Eden and Caldew at Carlisle, Devonshire Walk, West Coast Mainline, Bitts Park, Cricket Club
Rivers Ehen, Calder, Irt and Esk
River Greta at Keswick, Keswick Campsite, Rugby Club and Quinta
Rivers Greta, St John’s Beck and Bassenthwaite Lake
River Wyre at Harrington
River Roe and River Ive from Highbridge to Stockdalewath
Speet Gill at Wigton, Burnfoot
Rivers Wampool and Ellen
River Tyne
Whelpo Beck, Gill Beck and Cald Beck at Caldbeck
Wiza Beck and Black Beck at Wigton, Station Road
Wiza Beck, Flosh Beck, Speet Gill and Black Beck at Wigton
Lower River Lune and Conder
Upper River Aire catchment area
Upper River Lune
Upper River Ure
Upper River Wharfe
Rivers Kent and Bela
Rivers Duddon, Crake and Mill Beck
Upper River Tees
Upper River Wear

Other

Due to the bad weather, Carlisle Market is cancelled today, Friday November 14.

Cumberland Council said the choice had been made with the safety of visitors, traders, and contractors its top priority.

Thursday November 13

Drivers are being warned to be cautious today as roads flood across Cumbria.

The Met Office has issued a heavy rain warning for the county today until 7pm today.

A multi-agency response to tackle the flooding was set up earlier today and remains ongoing.

Flood warnings and flood alerts are still in place across the county.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service rescued five people last night and this morning from flood water. One person was also taken to hospital.

Cumbria police said many roads across the county are still experiencing surface water flooding.

Those travelling today are asked to avoid driving through flood water and take alternative routes where possible.

Cumberland Council’s highways teams have worked to keep roads clear throughout today and last night, and have responded to over 200 calls so far.

Teams will continue to manage the impacts of the severe weather throughout the day to open roads as quickly as possible and as soon as it is safe to do so.

People are urged to avoid driving through flood water and to observe any road closure signs.

This is for both driver safety and to avoid vehicles breaking down and blocking roads once flooding clears – including for emergency access.

The council is asking anyone who has broken down to get their vehicle moved as quickly as possible, especially on major routes such as the A595/6, so that it doesn’t delay the reopening of these roads to other users.

Train services to Carlisle from Whitehaven have also been cancelled today due to heavy rain flooding the railway.

Etterby Bridge, Carlisle, this morning. Picture: William Jolly

Bus services across the county are also cancelled and disrupted.

The 300 service between Workington and Carlisle is unable to operate due to severe flooding on the roads.

The 300, 52, 30 Maryport services are also heavy disrupted. A revised route is in place for the 52 and 20 Maryport services, which will continue to operate.

The 554, 600 and 400 services will also only run as far as Wigton.

Passengers are urged to keep checking timetables for updates.

Several schools across the county are also closed today.

North Cumbria Integrated Care said some staff and patients have been unable to reach sites this morning due to the flooding, which has impacted a number of appointments.

Services continue to operate safely and are open to those in need of urgent and emergency care.

Those with appointments are asked to check before travel and attend where safe to do so.

Anyone with family members awaiting discharge today are asked to be aware that transport may be affected and to consider collecting them directly if possible for faster discharge.

The trust has thanked staff and partners for their efforts in getting into work today and Cumbria 4X4 Response – who also helped bring staff to work, for their support.