Is Crossrail fully metricated?

[miklcct]

Crossrail, like all modern infrastructure, is built to km.

However, in the operation, such as the in-cab signalling or timetabling, is the core operated using fully metric units such as km and km/h?

 

[zwk500]

The linespeeds are given in the Sectional appendix in mph, so not sure if they kept it easier by using mph throughout for the drivers.

My understanding is that absolutely everything calculated by the control systems is done in metric, with only the drivers display being in mph, but I may ne wrong.

 

[karlbbb]

My understanding is that absolutely everything calculated by the control systems is done in metric, with only the drivers display being in mph, but I may ne wrong.

This has been the case for most technology in vehicles for the past decade or two now, so it wouldn't surprise me if this were true for Crossrail.

 

[dk1]

The linespeeds are given in the Sectional appendix in mph, so not sure if they kept it easier by using mph throughout for the drivers.

My understanding is that absolutely everything calculated by the control systems is done in metric, with only the drivers display being in mph, but I may ne wrong.

Just as it should be. Us drivers want nothing to do with this km/h lark. We also stay 9ft away from the OHL

 

[pdeaves]

An aside for interest's sake. Not far outside Paddington on the main line, where the Crossrail lines are close to the main line connection, are some signs showing the engineer's line reference (XRC) and appropriate miles/chains for that ELR.

(edited from a photo a friend sent me):

 

[Horizon22]

Let’s not forget that the central Crossrail section is going to interact with NR infrastructure on GWML/GEML and for ease was probably seen as the easiest way to have it in line with that.

 

[Western Sunset]

Will Boris want all the signage redone, to make the imperial measures more prominent than the metric ones?

 

[Sorcerer]

Such a poor reflection of our society that we're still using a mixture of imperial/metric measurements even on a brand new modern railway.

 

[AlterEgo]

Such a poor reflection of our society that we're still using a mixture of imperial/metric measurements even on a brand new modern railway.

Why? Does the railway not work or something?

 

[rower40]

Slight digression from units...

Unlike all other plans I've seen (excepting T&W Metro, who use "In" and "Out"), rather than using "Up" and "Down" directions, Crossrail uses "Eastbound" and "Westbound". This means that GE "Up" becomes "Westbound" at the Pudding Mill Lane changeover, then "Westbound" becomes GW "Down" at the Westbourne Park/Portobello Jn changeover.
As all the lines are Bidirectionally signalled, this means that there's lots of scope for "Eastbound along the Westbound line" and similar.

 

[Sorcerer]

Why? Does the railway not work or something?

More the fact that our stubborn resistance to adopting the metric system means that we're still using an unholy mixture of units even on new railways.

 

[zwk500]

Why? Does the railway not work or something?

It might work, but it's less efficient in both time, money and effort to constantly be converting between one set of units and the other.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

More the fact that our stubborn resistance to adopting the metric system means that we're still using an unholy mixture of units even on new railways.

The Heathrow branch (also run by XR, with ETCS) is measured in metric (from the tunnel portal), but I'm not sure if the speeds are in mph or km/h.

 

[Intermodal]

Just as it should be. Us drivers want nothing to do with this km/h lark. We also stay 9ft away from the OHL

Speak for yourself! The sooner we go across to metric the better ... and it's 2.75m from the OHL, no idea what 9ft is!

 

[Watershed]

The Heathrow branch (also run by XR, with ETCS) is measured in metric (from the tunnel portal), but I'm not sure if the speeds are in mph or km/h.

XR run services over the Heathrow branch; it's owned by Heathrow Airport but the signalling is controlled by Network Rail.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

I'm going to hazard a guess that the track gauge is probably set at the standard 4' 8.5", and is therefore not metricated

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

XR run services over the Heathrow branch; it's owned by Heathrow Airport but the signalling is controlled by Network Rail.

Yes, but ETCS routes and controls are metric, eg the Cambrian system, in both distances and speeds.
I was assuming that would apply to the Heathrow branch and the ECML as ETCS is installed (and anywhere else).

 

[dosxuk]

I'm going to hazard a guess that the track gauge is probably set at the standard 4' 8.5", and is therefore not metricated

I would be amazed if it's not set around the standard 1435mm.

(Also, loving the use of decimal imperial measurements in your message!)

 

[The exile]

Such a poor reflection of our society that we're still using a mixture of imperial/metric measurements even on a brand new modern railway.

Presumably in the same way that the dimensions of TV screens in Germany are given in inches (Zoll) and jam comes in 450g jars ( roughly 1lb) rather than 500g

 

[dk1]

Speak for yourself! The sooner we go across to metric the better ... and it's 2.75m from the OHL, no idea what 9ft is!

Yuk!!

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Such a poor reflection of our society that we're still using a mixture of imperial/metric measurements even on a brand new modern railway.

It’s what makes us British. Love that we do things our own way.

 

[Townsend Hook]

I'm going to hazard a guess that the track gauge is probably set at the standard 4' 8.5", and is therefore not metricated

Track gauge is universally quoted as 1435mm incline/1432mm vertical within the industry. The vast majority of track maintenance staff wouldn’t have a clue what you were on about if said ‘four foot, eight and and a half inches’ to them.

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Yuk!!

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It’s what makes us British. Love that we do things our own way.

Having spent much of my apprenticeship converting miles and chains to kilometres with a bit of chalk on a troughing lid, I for one cannot wait for the railways to go fully metric..

(And also buying petrol in litres but working out fuel economy in miles per gallon, the rest of the world must think we’re lunatics with the units we use in this country)

 

[Sorcerer]

Presumably in the same way that the dimensions of TV screens in Germany are given in inches (Zoll) and jam comes in 450g jars ( roughly 1lb) rather than 500g

Can't speak for that as I haven't been to Germany just yet.

It’s what makes us British. Love that we do things our own way.

That's pretty subjective really, but this obviously isn't the place to discuss what constitutes being British (culturally).

 

[dk1]

That's pretty subjective really, but this obviously isn't the place to discuss what constitutes being British (culturally).

It’s all pretty relative in my opinion as Britain as a country has always chosen not to follow much of the rest of the world where metric is concerned.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jun 2022 ==

Track gauge is universally quoted as 1435mm incline/1432mm vertical within the industry. The vast majority of track maintenance staff wouldn’t have a clue what you were on about if said ‘four foot, eight and and a half inches’ to them.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jun 2022 ==


Having spent much of my apprenticeship converting miles and chains to kilometres with a bit of chalk on a troughing lid, I for one cannot wait for the railways to go fully metric..

(And also buying petrol in litres but working out fuel economy in miles per gallon, the rest of the world must think we’re lunatics with the units we use in this country)

I can’t see it happening for many a moon on the UK rail network.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

It’s all pretty relative in my opinion as Britain as a country has always chosen not to follow much of the rest of the world where metric is concerned.

Except that all science and related sectors use metric exclusively.
Crossrail (and HS1/2) have been built in metric, as is all modern trackwork and OHLE on NR routes.
If we want to bowdlerise the numbers into inches and firkins for the tabloids that's OK, but the underlying system is metric.
Boris won't be changing any of that.

 

[The Planner]

It’s all pretty relative in my opinion as Britain as a country has always chosen not to follow much of the rest of the world where metric is concerned.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jun 2022 ==


I can’t see it happening for many a moon on the UK rail network.

It already is, any recent and new signaling scheme is in metric on the plans.

 

[AM9]

Except that all science and related sectors use metric exclusively.
Crossrail (and HS1/2) have been built in metric, as is all modern trackwork and OHLE on NR routes.
If we want to bowdlerise the numbers into inches and firkins for the tabloids that's OK, but the underlying system is metric.
Boris won't be changing any of that.

All standards derived from imperial values are now officially defined in metric.
Get it right using pure metric and then give wet finger numbers for human numpties and luddites.

 

[dk1]

It already is, any recent and new signaling scheme is in metric on the plans.

As long as that’s all they are & don’t enter the driving cab. Proud to be a luddite

 

[JN114]

Yes, but ETCS routes and controls are metric, eg the Cambrian system, in both distances and speeds.
I was assuming that would apply to the Heathrow branch and the ECML as ETCS is installed (and anywhere else).

Speeds on Heathrow branch remain in Imperial; even when driving under ETCS; at least certainly for the 387s - I can’t speak for the 345s but can’t imagine they’d be any different.

 

[Railsigns]

Yes, but ETCS routes and controls are metric, eg the Cambrian system, in both distances and speeds.

The Cambrian lines have metric speeds but distances for operating purposes are imperial. All distances in the Sectional Appendix are given only in miles and chains, and quarter-mileposts are installed along the lineside. Kilometre posts has been installed in preparation for ETCS, but they never had any operational significance and were quickly removed.

 

[coppercapped]

Presumably in the same way that the dimensions of TV screens in Germany are given in inches (Zoll) and jam comes in 450g jars ( roughly 1lb) rather than 500g

And both bicycle and car wheels are sized in Zoll and gutter downpipes are 4 Zoll (100mm...!)

You can go Meilenweit to buy eggs in Dutzend or ask for a Halbe Pfund of butter or meat (but these are 500g).

Some figures of speech can be directly translated, e.g., 'Arm wie ein Kirchenmaus' and so on.