Clearance for tunnels

[py_megapixel]

I had always believed that, in order to be cleared to run through tunnels, rolling stock needed doors on the ends so that passengers could be evacuated from the front or back if a train became stranded in a tunnel. Old Thameslink and Merseyrail stock, LO 378s, Sprinters on the Hope Valley and all stock for the Moorgate tunnels all back this up.

However, there are also many trains which run through tunnels and do not appear to have front evacuation. Examples include Desiros (on TPE, Thameslink and Heathrow Connect), 800/802s and Crossrail 345s.

What are the requirements for EMUs and DMUs to be cleared for (most) tunnel sections of track? What about loco-hauled stock?

 

[lewisf]

Trains that run through single bore tunnels need end doors as there's no space to evacuate out the sides. All the classes you mention run through double track tunnels so evacuation can happen through the normal passenger doors onto the ajacent track.

In the case of Heathrow Connect and Crossrail, there's a side walkway onto which passengers can evacuate on to.

 

[hwl]

Only tight clearance single bores are an issue i.e. Moorgate and Merseyrail.
Hence only the new 717s and 777s have end evacuation.

 

[krus_aragon]

Trains that run through single bore tunnels need end doors as there's no space to evacuate out the sides. All the classes you mention run through double track tunnels so evacuation can happen through the normal passenger doors onto the ajacent track.

In the case of Heathrow Connect and Crossrail, there's a side walkway onto which passengers can evacuate on to.

That's not a hard-and-fast rule: the Ffestiniog tunnel on the Conwy Valley Line has been served by class 101, 108, Pacers, HSTs and various top-and-tail loco-hauled services in decades past, none of which have end-doors.

 

[Surreytraveller]

Shakespeare Cliff Tunnels used to have restrictions, which seem to have been eased these days. You couldn't used to run DEMUs through them (unless if I remember correctly the power car was trailing), but the 395s seem to be okay

 

[edwin_m]

Shakespeare Cliff Tunnels used to have restrictions, which seem to have been eased these days. You couldn't used to run DEMUs through them (unless if I remember correctly the power car was trailing), but the 395s seem to be okay

Didn't they re-align the track so there was enough space on one side to get out through the side doors? Having sliding instead of slam doors may help too, although the slammers always had a van section with an inward-opening door.

 

[Surreytraveller]

Didn't they re-align the track so there was enough space on one side to get out through the side doors? Having sliding instead of slam doors may help too, although the slammers always had a van section with an inward-opening door.

Maybe you're right. The DEMUs of course had non-gangwayed stock, so maybe that's why they were restricted. But most of the other EMUs had doors at the ends of the trains anyway

 

[hwl]

Maybe you're right. The DEMUs of course had non-gangwayed stock, so maybe that's why they were restricted. But most of the other EMUs had doors at the ends of the trains anyway

Slam door stock had the added problem of needing enough room to open the doors outwards.

 

[Surreytraveller]

Slam door stock had the added problem of needing enough room to open the doors outwards.

Apart from the inward opening doors as mentioned a couple of posts ago!

 

[randyrippley]

Something I don't understand here........the DMUs used on the Cumbrian coast had door window bars due to minimal clearances which would have prevented the doors being opened - or even anyone fitting between vehicle or tunnel, yet they ran through those narrow tunnels

 

[JonathanH]

Something I don't understand here........the DMUs used on the Cumbrian coast had door window bars due to minimal clearances which would have prevented the doors being opened - or even anyone fitting between vehicle or tunnel, yet they ran through those narrow tunnels

The units had inward opening doors for use by the guard through which an evacuation could be made.

 

[Tio Terry]

All new tunnels- North Downs, Crossrail, Heathrow - and any major rebuilds will have to incorporate a side walkway to allow for evacuation including PRM using wheelchairs.

There are two TSI’s covering the subject, PRM and Safety in Tunnels.

 

[dosxuk]

I wonder what the plan is for a pacer breaking down in the single bore tunnels under the M1 between Barnsley and Wakefield?

 

[Llama]

If it's the same as the very tight single bore Farnworth (down) tunnel (before it was closed and the up bore was redoubled to take both lines), no specific instructions exist.

There is a tight single bore tunnel at Pendleton too but it's barely long enough for some two car units without end gangways at just 48m in length. As unlucky as you'd have to be to end up stopped in there with a pacer or 150/1 on fire, there are no specific instructions for crew.

For a company who acknowledges that people would quite likely have lost their lives had the incident with the fire on 144023 in 2013 happened ten minutes later than it did and in Summit Tunnel rather than out in the open near Smithy Bridge, that's not really confidence inspiring.

 

[randyrippley]

The units had inward opening doors for use by the guard through which an evacuation could be made.

not if you only had a few inches between vehicle and wall