bumpy ride after lanark juction

[Fts2010]

can anyone explain the bumpy ride on the journey to lanark just after the branch comes off the wcml?

 

[Scotrail84]

can anyone explain the bumpy ride on the journey to lanark just after the branch comes off the wcml?

Dunno, Is it old short rail maybe?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

60(?)ft jointed sections probably. Maybe bullhead rail?

 

[Fts2010]

it must be shorter than 60ft its constant up and down only place in scotland i have ever experienced this also the line is electrified and has a half hourly service would have thought the track would have been better

 

[Scotrail84]

60(?)ft jointed sections probably. Maybe bullhead rail?

it must be shorter than 60ft its constant up and down only place in scotland i have ever experienced this also the line is electrified and has a half hourly service would have thought the track would have been better

Probably is old bullhead rail.

Still got this at bridge of earn on the LDY-PTH branch

 

[Bittern]

I've never noticed it and I do that route often.

 

[route101]

Going on a pacer coming into Carlisle was bumpy too . The branch to Lanark is a piece of track ive not done yet.

 

[rail-britain]

It's more noticeable now as it is old rail, compared to the WCML which is mostly CWR (continuous welded rail), between Rutherglen and Carstairs

 

[yorkie]

it must be shorter than 60ft its constant up and down only place in scotland i have ever experienced this also the line is electrified and has a half hourly service would have thought the track would have been better

EMUs are light, so assuming no freight uses that line, it may simply be that the track hasn't come up for renewal since the days that Old Timer described when renewals were on a like-for-like basis. See this post.

 

[Bittern]

EMUs are light, so assuming no freight uses that line, it may simply be that the track hasn't come up for renewal since the days that Old Timer described when renewals were on a like-for-like basis. See this post.

The branch goes directly to Lanark station. There's no other stations or junctions or whatever freight would use. Nothing but 318s and 334s.

 

[Fts2010]

surely this track will be renewed soon if it is so old ?

 

[455driver]

Why, just because its old doesnt mean it needs to be replaced!
When it is life expired it will be replaced and not before (or not for a long time after if some of the track down here is anything to go by).

 

[CarterUSM]

Why, just because its old doesnt mean it needs to be replaced!
When it is life expired it will be replaced and not before (or not for a long time after if some of the track down here is anything to go by).

Indeed, it's a relatively short branch with not the highest linespeed, it'll get replaced when circumstances dictate.

 

[455driver]

Or a couple of years after that as the assets will have been "sweated", IE worn out completely and then some.

 

[rail-britain]

I've not been on the Lanark branch for years, but it may be new track that has been recycled

I might plan a Daytripper and include a trip (via Carstairs and Lanark)

 

[yorkie]

surely this track will be renewed soon if it is so old ?

I'm not an expert (perhaps OT can answer this!) but I would guess that track may possibly last hundreds of years (providing it is maintained)? Wear and tear is likely to be a problem before age, and wear & tear on a line used exclusively by light EMUs isn't going to be a big problem.

 

[Old Timer]

Following up and what Yorkie has posted it is all down to maintenance.

The age of the rail/sleepers/ballast is of no major concern as long as the track ballast and fromation is in good condition, uncontaminated and drained.

Rough rides are the result of the response of the rail vehicle to the track geometry in the majority of cases.

It sounds as if the transition from CWR to branch line is poor, although there will always be a slight respoinse as the vehicle moves from CWR to jointed track. Lighter weight vehicles, particularly EMUs/DMUs tend to "feel" jointed track more because of that.

Poor track geometry on jointed track may manifest itself as either a "rolling" type motion or a "bouncing" type motion, and the poorer the track the more likelihood of both.

There will always be a more liberal response when travelling over jointed track, which is not always indicative of a problem, simply a reflection of the nature of the track type. I think in many ways it is because of the amount of CWR we now have on passenger lines, and the naturally much better level of ride this gives.

I hope this has answered the question.