Breckland Line Resignalling 2012

[CockneySparrow]

Looks like Shippea Hill, Lakenheath, Brandon and Thetford boxes are going to be demolished this weekend :cry:

 

[eastdyke]

Looks like Shippea Hill, Lakenheath, Brandon and Thetford boxes are going to be demolished this weekend :cry:

(my bold underline)

They were all very much in use yesterday (18th)!

To go from in use yesterday to demolished today would require an act of ultimate devastation.

Where did you find your information?

 

[GB]

Once all the stuff on the ground is installed the actual transition period can be very quick. But yes, demolished is probably the wrong word. Decommissioned is probably better.

 

[eastdyke]

Once all the stuff on the ground is installed the actual transition period can be very quick. But yes, demolished is probably the wrong word. Decommissioned is probably better.

It is my understanding that the commissioning works for the new infrastructure on the western section of the line involving Shippea Hill - Thetford boxes is scheduled for today. I hope that all is going to plan.

To have even considered demolition today would have provided an unnecessary (my opinion) distraction.

 

[jimm]

It is my understanding that the commissioning works for the new infrastructure on the western section of the line involving Shippea Hill - Thetford boxes is scheduled for today. I hope that all is going to plan.

To have even considered demolition today would have provided an unnecessary (my opinion) distraction.

But not necessarily in Network Rail's view. The boxes on the North Warwickshire Line went in the blink of an eye, pretty much as soon as the interlockings and levers were removed in October 2010. The closure of the line to trains was a distinct advantage for the contractors demolishing Henley-in-Arden, see http://www.petertandy.co.uk/North Warwickshire Line/Henley_Demolition.jpg and the same would apply, due to proximity of the tracks, to those being decommissioned today.

Network Rail does not like leaving empty vandal magnets standing around if if can help it.

 

[eastdyke]

But not necessarily in Network Rail's view. The boxes on the North Warwickshire Line went in the blink of an eye, pretty much as soon as the interlockings and levers were removed in October 2010. The closure of the line to trains was a distinct advantage for the contractors demolishing Henley-in-Arden, see http://www.petertandy.co.uk/North Warwickshire Line/Henley_Demolition.jpg and the same would apply, due to proximity of the tracks, to those being decommissioned today.

Network Rail does not like leaving empty vandal magnets standing around if if can help it.

OK, thanks.

 

[dk1]

All appears to have gone to plan except Croxton AHBs (Thetford-Harling Road) will have to remain on 'local' control for the rest of today. Some delays as a result.

 

[TheBigD]

You're having a laugh DK1!!!

Attendants on duty at all REB's as the "crossing clear" is having to be done manually.
Tpws faults and comms faults at some locations. Phones not working at some crossings. Over 500 delay minutes and counting.

 

[ultrabox]

Please correct me if I am wrong. Isn't this the same signalling earmarked for GN/GE Joint Line upgrade.:roll:

 

[CockneySparrow]

Please correct me if I am wrong. Isn't this the same signalling earmarked for GN/GE Joint Line upgrade.:roll:

NR will get quicker and slicker the more lines they do, don't forget this is the first one they have done, and they will know and admit things haven't been plain sailing, they will learn from the mistakes
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

All appears to have gone to plan except Croxton AHBs (Thetford-Harling Road) will have to remain on 'local' control for the rest of today. Some delays as a result.

thought they have only done the Ely to Thetford stretch so far, if that's the case what's the barriers between Thetford and Harling Road got to do with it

 

[TheBigD]

thought they have only done the Ely to Thetford stretch so far, if that's the case what's the barriers between Thetford and Harling Road got to do with it

Croxton used to be supervised by Thetford box, which is now decommissioned.

 

[a good off]

The section between Thetford and Harling is now controlled by Cambridge. They supervise Croxton AHB which was previously supervised by Thetford SB.

 

[TheBigD]

The section between Thetford and Harling is now controlled by Cambridge. They supervise Croxton AHB which was previously supervised by Thetford SB.

Not at the moment they don't, hence why it is being manned. One of a number of issues that have come to light since the start of service today.

 

[David Goddard]

So, are the boxes still there?

 

[TheBigD]

The boxes are still there but decommissioned. There are issues with the level crossings and a few other bits. Cambridge now control Ely-Thetford with Harling Road as the fringe box.

 

[a good off]

Not at the moment they don't, hence why it is being manned. One of a number of issues that have come to light since the start of service today.

I beg to differ. Handed back at lunchtime.

 

[TheBigD]

Fair enough but the last email I had (about 1715) the crossing was still manned, and likely to be so tomorrow as well.

 

[a good off]

There is no hiding from the fact that a certain infrastructure company is an absolute shower and shouldn't fix things that aren't broken...

 

[TheBigD]

^^^ Subtle!!!

 

[GB]

Supervision for Croxton where transferred to Cambridge PSB early this morning with the rest of the resignalling equipment, however a fault had developed where by it couldn't show a failed indication on the panel/workstation hence the need for an attendant/local control. This was later signed in order at midday.

The commissioning works was done by Signalling Solutions Limited and its not the first resignalling scheme they have done. They did the Colchester/Marks Tey -Thorpe-Le-Soken/Walton-On-The-Naze resignalling which when finished led to a few problems...some that are still here to this day.

 

[dk1]

Only delay i had Norwich to Cambridge was a 9 late start due to late inward & smart station work from my guard resulted in just a 3 late arrival into Cambridge. The return journey encountered a 2 minute delay at Ely caused by congestion but this was recovered by Thetford & after waiting time at Wymondham, Norwich was reached again 3 minutes early

On the negative side it is sad to see semaphore signal posts without arms & signal boxes with no cheery wave back :cry:

 

[CockneySparrow]

There is no hiding from the fact that a certain infrastructure company is an absolute shower and shouldn't fix things that aren't broken...

If its not broke sure as hell smash it lol
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
One would have thought NR would have either kept the boxes in service until they were 100% certain the barriers were working, or the second option would have been to run a few trains along the line Sunday 19th under Cambridge PSB, that way they would have found the issues earlier
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The boxes are still there but decommissioned. There are issues with the level crossings and a few other bits. Cambridge now control Ely-Thetford with Harling Road as the fringe box.

Do you know when the boxes are dissappearing

 

[eastdyke]

If its not broke sure as hell smash it lol
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
One would have thought NR would have either kept the boxes in service until they were 100% certain the barriers were working, or the second option would have been to run a few trains along the line Sunday 19th under Cambridge PSB, that way they would have found the issues earlier
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Do you know when the boxes are dissappearing

Did a few trips yesterday, boxes still standing and no sign of the bulldozers yet! Photos can be had with new signals operational and the boxes in the background.

TSR (40) at Croxton, there seemed to be some digging going on to the north of the line some distance away on the Thetford side.

Public displays on Thetford were SNAFU, I guess that someone remote is doing something manually to update.

Brandon crossing had 2 guys who came out with tape measures every time the barriers were down! Saw 66083 at around 15.00 with hoppers for Trowse.

Went on to PBO and had a good day!!

 

[TheBigD]

More problems/delays last night/this morning with a signal showing
blank due to a design fault.

Also issues with station lighting as there are no longer signallers
To turn them on and off.

 

[GB]

More problems/delays last night/this morning with a signal showing
blank due to a design fault.

...and now a poor old driver has a cat A spad on his record becuase of it.

 

[NSEFAN]

...and now a poor old driver has a cat A spad on his record becuase of it.

Surely if it's an infrastructure problem which caused the SPAD, then this would be included in the description of the incident? I don't know how the driver "criminal record" works.

 

[GB]

The signal was showing black due to a design fault (wired as a three aspect signal but it is infact a two aspect signal) with the preceding signal showing single yellow and as such it is stated the driver should have been expecting to stop at the signal.

Bit harsh IMO.

 

[CockneySparrow]

The signal was showing black due to a design fault (wired as a three aspect signal but it is infact a two aspect signal) with the preceding signal showing single yellow and as such it is stated the driver should have been expecting to stop at the signal.

Bit harsh IMO.

so just to recap then, the Breckland line has gone from a safe line to an unsafe one to travel along then

 

[GB]

Not at all, its still perfectly safe.

 

[a good off]

Not at all, its still perfectly safe.

Degraded working and signalling systems installed by contractors from bodgeit-rail are a recipe for disaster from both a train crew and signaller's point of view as it leaves everyone wide open to error. What a sad state of affairs and I know the old railwaymen I used to know from that line would be spinning in their graves.