DarloRich
Veteran Member
On Saturday evening I was travelling back from Preston having been the see AFC Fylde V Darlington. I was on board the 1907 Avanti service to Euston. I think it was 1M17 which starts in Glasgow. The train left Preston on time and was running well until somewhere between Rugeley and Lichfield when we pulled up quite sharply and stood for some time at a red on the fast line. Whilst we were stood only on train passed us being the 86 hauled charter from Preston to London.
We were stood on the fast line for quite a while before moving very slowly to Lichfield TV where we stood in the platform for another long period. Once again no trains passed in either direction for a considerable time. We eventually set off very slowly and ran on the slow line to Nuneaton where we stopped again.
Eventually the guard made a rather confused announcement indicating the suspicion had failed at the front of the train. I assume he meant the tilt mechanism. I was getting a bit twitchy as we had stopped out of course at an fairly dark and unstaffed Nuneaton which is not know for Avanti services especially at 2130 on a Saturday night!
Luckily a Liverpool Avanti service (1A84) was held in the adjacent platform and after a bit of jiggery pokery we were told to get off our train and board the alternative train. Luckily I had pre-empted this announcement and was first out of the door when they were released. Eventually that Liverpool train set off south and got be back in MK about an hour late.
Generally things were ok as the train still had power, light, was warm and the buffet kept serving but people were getting a bit angsty about the lack of information and those more in the know looked concerned as the staff call alarm went off for the 4th time. I know the guard would have been really busy but we were stood for a good 40 minutes without an announcement. Mind you, the movement to the other train was well handled and went ahead as well as it can.
A long story but a couple of questions:
PS - I don't think we hit anything. I didn't hear or feel anything. I was sat in coach C which was third from the front as the train was in reverse formation.
We were stood on the fast line for quite a while before moving very slowly to Lichfield TV where we stood in the platform for another long period. Once again no trains passed in either direction for a considerable time. We eventually set off very slowly and ran on the slow line to Nuneaton where we stopped again.
Eventually the guard made a rather confused announcement indicating the suspicion had failed at the front of the train. I assume he meant the tilt mechanism. I was getting a bit twitchy as we had stopped out of course at an fairly dark and unstaffed Nuneaton which is not know for Avanti services especially at 2130 on a Saturday night!
Luckily a Liverpool Avanti service (1A84) was held in the adjacent platform and after a bit of jiggery pokery we were told to get off our train and board the alternative train. Luckily I had pre-empted this announcement and was first out of the door when they were released. Eventually that Liverpool train set off south and got be back in MK about an hour late.
Generally things were ok as the train still had power, light, was warm and the buffet kept serving but people were getting a bit angsty about the lack of information and those more in the know looked concerned as the staff call alarm went off for the 4th time. I know the guard would have been really busy but we were stood for a good 40 minutes without an announcement. Mind you, the movement to the other train was well handled and went ahead as well as it can.
A long story but a couple of questions:
- What happened? I assume the tilt had failed but I have never been detrained because of that
- Would the driver have gone " trackside" in the dark to investigate? ( Assume a line blockage explains why no trains passed us after the charter)
- Do trains carry good portable lighting to help in these circumstances?
- How would the Liverpool train crew be told they had to stop at Nuneaton? Would the train be simply slowed to a stop in the platform by signals followed by a phone call to the guard?
- Where did the empty unit go & when?
PS - I don't think we hit anything. I didn't hear or feel anything. I was sat in coach C which was third from the front as the train was in reverse formation.
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