Why do trains slow down so far away from stations?

[357]

I normally use the following as a rough guide entering platforms

4 car - 25mph
8 car - 35mph
12 car/S car - 40mph

 

[al78]

Looks like it crossed to the Down Slow at Earlswood (as booked?) and quickly caught up with 9R39, which stopped at the intermediate stations but had itself been delayed waiting for late-running 9T47 to go first at Earlswood. Sounds like good driving, trundling along steadily whilst the train in front made its stops, rather than chasing restrictive aspects right behind it!

Thanks for the info, basically the rail equivalent of traffic congestion then.

 

[Mugby]

Many years ago when expresses on the Great Eastern Main Line were still loco hauled (diesel) I was at Colchester one fine afternoon and saw several Up trains hauled by Class 47s arrive at the station, doing scorching stops into the platform with sparks flying from every brake block on the loco.

It was quite exciting to watch, I think it was standard practice at the time!

 

[Lewlew]

Is it not correct that the Jubilee Line manages, from line speed, 62mph, to pull up within the 7-car length of a platform? And that presumably is service braking, not emergency.

Maybe not quite the full 62mph but it'll be fast.

On the Bakerloo, we hit platforms at the full 45mph and easily stop on full service brake.

 

[VideozVideoz]

I remember the days (maybe 20years ago) where the train entered the platform at speed, braking started quite late and passengers were jolted as it stopped abruptly. I bet this shaved off 30secs at each station driving like this.

 

[dk1]

I remember the days (maybe 20years ago) where the train entered the platform at speed, braking started quite late and passengers were jolted as it stopped abruptly. I bet this shaved off 30secs at each station driving like this.

TPWS & OTMR have a lot to answer for

 

[Mintona]

I hit two platforms at a decent speed (45-50mph) without using more than 50% brake yesterday and made up 9 minutes of delay on the journey for a RT arrival.

 

[TheEdge]

I hit two platforms at a decent speed (45-50mph) without using more than 50% brake yesterday and made up 9 minutes of delay on the journey for a RT arrival.

The speed modern stock can pull up in is quite impressive. I'd love to have a day playing with 745/755s and seeing how fast I could, in theory, hit platform ramps at.

 

[dk1]

The speed modern stock can pull up in is quite impressive. I'd love to have a day playing with 745/755s and seeing how fast I could, in theory, hit platform ramps at.

You should become a DI dear boy then you can have a play like me doing Stadler testing. It's amazing what risks you can take & still stop. All good fun.

 

[trebor79]

The speed modern stock can pull up in is quite impressive. I'd love to have a day playing with 745/755s and seeing how fast I could, in theory, hit platform ramps at.

I was waiting at Attleborough for a 755 soon after they were introduced. They usually come over the level crossing at about 20 mph. This one looked to be line speed as it came round the bend a few hundred yard from the crossing and was still doing at least 50 or 60mph as it hit the platform (so much so I assumed it was an ECS running just ahead of my train). Stopped, just, fully within the 130-ish metre platform. It was drizzling too!
I assume the driver must have forgotten that he was meant to stop and remembered at the last possible moment. Strange as all the GA services call at Attleborough but I guess it happens sometimes.

 

[seagull]

I suppose these days there's a widening gap between what is technically achievable (some very impressive short stopping distances) and what is considered sensible or professional by the driver or the driver's employer.
Add to that the desire for the driver to avoid anything on their safety record, and, well, playing it safe is the name of the game.

 

[357]

I suppose these days there's a widening gap between what is technically achievable (some very impressive short stopping distances) and what is considered sensible or professional by the driver or the driver's employer.
Add to that the desire for the driver to avoid anything on their safety record, and, well, playing it safe is the name of the game.

It's why brake handling trains are so much fun and valuable for new drivers- but I do feel they should be done again as the last thing before passing out.

Learn to play it safe, but nice to know how much you have in reserve.

From 60mph my rolling stock can stop in emergency in less than 6 overhead structures.

 

[Requeststop]

This has been a puzzle to me for many years following my experiences of train arrival in Switzerland. There the trains seem to race into the stations, so much so that I've often been concerned that the train will not stop. Maybe, it's because the junction system in Switzerland is less complicated than in the UK and that there are no curved tracks and platforms in Switzerland.