ECML Problems today (sunday 18 nov)

[yorkie]

there's a problem with the OHLE again, this time between Darlington and Northallerton.

The 0900 YRK-EDB was cancelled, as the ECS to form this service was the first train to get caught up in the problems.

The 0758 NCL-KGX has got through as it is formed of a HST, having run wrong-line to get past the stuck ECS.

Expect delays and cancellations if you are using the ECML today.

 

[Ascot]

Don't expect anything else, what you get for cheap spacing OHLE posts.

 

[yorkie]

it gets worse: GNER are rather unprofessional when it comes to diversionary routes (which is a shame because they're very good in other areas), and so they don't all sign the route via Church Fenton, Knottingley and Askern.

As a result, we are currently waiting in the Temple Hirst area for overrunning engineering works to be completed, with no estimate when this will be. given that we are already 45 mins late the works must be overrunning by about an hour or more.

Bring on Grand Central! I will happily pay the premium (compared to cheap advance tickets) to use GC, in the knowledge that if there is a proble between York and Donny (as there so often is!) then we will get there with just a 20min delay via Askern rather than be chucked off the train or severely delayed.

 

[Tom B]

ECML problems? Nothing changes. It seems to now be being a weekly occurance - and GNER don't give a toss.

 

[westcoaster]

ECML problems? Nothing changes. It seems to now be being a weekly occurance - and GNER don't give a toss.

why would they, the franchise is up soon so why would the care? (that's the mentality some companys have)

 

[Max]

They can't really do much when the problems are infastructure related!

 

[me123]

They can't really do much when the problems are infastructure related!

Based on what I've been reading, they could encourage/ensure that frivers sign more diversionary paths in case this happens again.

 

[yorkie]

I spoke to the (friendly) guard, he told me it's mostly the crews that do late turns who sign Askern, this is because the engineering work normally only affects evening services. He tends to do earlies so doesn't sign it.

To be fair, the on-board staff have been magnificent in difficult circumstances.

 

[andylloyd]

More money NEEDS to be invested in the network heavily for it to be problem free. This to my knowledge is the first @ Northallerton, normally the OHLE issues are between Huntingdon and P'boro.

Has anyone got any further updates on this at all?

Cheers

Andy

 

[W14Fishbourne]

I spoke to the (friendly) guard, he told me it's mostly the crews that do late turns who sign Askern, this is because the engineering work normally only affects evening services. He tends to do earlies so doesn't sign it.

To be fair, the on-board staff have been magnificent in difficult circumstances.

It's not just a matter of getting staff to sign the route (BTW it's not just drivers but train managers as well) but one of keeping their route knowledge up to date. Unless you travel the route at least once every six months that route comes off your route card. So, in practice, either one or two service trains a day need to be scheduled to run over the diversionary route to make sure that all drivers experience it every few months, or you need to take drivers out to do refreshers on other trains that are booked over that route.

Given the number of possible diversions on the ECML that would mean an awful lot of trains going via the scenic route or a lot of drivers taking time out for refreshers (with the possible need to cancel trains to enable that).

 

[BOSCH]

it gets worse: GNER are rather unprofessional when it comes to diversionary routes (which is a shame because they're very good in other areas), and so they don't all sign the route via Church Fenton, Knottingley and Askern.

As a result, we are currently waiting in the Temple Hirst area for overrunning engineering works to be completed, with no estimate when this will be. given that we are already 45 mins late the works must be overrunning by about an hour or more.

Bring on Grand Central! I will happily pay the premium (compared to cheap advance tickets) to use GC, in the knowledge that if there is a proble between York and Donny (as there so often is!) then we will get there with just a 20min delay via Askern rather than be chucked off the train or severely delayed.

Aah Yorkie,music to my ears my friend,lol

 

[paul1609]

I think that GCR are unlikely to have the resources available to be more reliable that the main ecml franchise tbh yorkie.
Although I remain sceptical about the long term future of gc I do have some sympathy with them as a train spotters company

 

[91101]

Doncaster (drivers only) and Leeds sign Askern for GNER, as well as Hambleton. That is usually sufficient to deal with any problems that might arrise on a day to day basis.

Can I also remind you that there ARE no diversionary routes from Darlington South Junction to Longlands Junction (Start of 4-track) so that is a moot point in relation to todays incident, but both the up and down lines from Longlands right upto KEB South are Bi-Directionally signalled!

 

[djw1981]

The infrastructure issue will be very hard to sort - the more expensive portals were not used, and they were spaced at greater distances. To solve these issues would mean renewing the whole OHLE. Now while that is possible in a specific problem area (say kings Cross - Peterboro) which is heavily used and where a failure greats thousands of delay minutes, the delay minutes further north are less, and the cost/benefit analysis would not be proved.