Are the recent derailments indicative of poor performance from Network Rail?

[Zomboid]

There's nothing in the public domain about what caused the derailments, though I'm sure the RAIB will have something to say on the matter in due course. Anything said now is speculation.

 

[NeakPed]

You must have missed the hottest and driest summer for decades.

That doesnt explain the growing foliage problem all over the network. An issue that has been growing over the last few years.

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You must have missed the hottest and driest summer for decades.

And what preventative measures have been taken by the Infrastructure manager/maintainer to mitigate risk ?

 

[Bald Rick]

That doesnt explain the growing foliage problem all over the network. An issue that has been growing over the last few years.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Aug 2026 ==


And what preventative measures have been taken by the Infrastructure manager/maintainer to mitigate risk ?

Significantly increased inspections, cab riding, speed restrictions, and lots of additional tamping, to name four.

As I’ve said elsewhere, tamping sometimes can’t happen as it may increase the buckle risk / speed restriction risk in very bot weather. Of which we have had much.

Do you really think the teams involved are not doing all they can?

 

[Magdalia]

Track Quality is variable across Sussex and the Arun Valley and Lewes branch were certainly more lively at speed recently compared to the Brighton Line. The latter is a Cat 1 route so has higher frequency of track monitoring train runs and thus early warning of where intervention is required. The two side routes are lower category so maybe on a 13wk cycle. Even foot patrolling has been reduced in frequency so to my mind drivers rough ride reports are the last line of defence and shouldn't be ignored. Im sure RAIB will be raking over all aspects of how the infrastructure is being maintained.

The geology and drainage of the Arun Valley and Lewes routes are different from the Brighton Main Line.

The Brighton Main Line crosses the Ouse Valley on a viaduct, a fair way inland and high above the river, then passes through the South Downs in a tunnel, nowhere near a river.

The Arun Valley south of Pulborough is at river level, and passes through the South Downs alongside the River Arun at Arundel. Similarly the Lewes line drops down from Keymer Junction and is at river level just after Cooksbridge, then passes through the South Downs alongside the River Ouse at Lewes. Both of these are much more vulnerable to soil moisture deficit than the Brighton Main Line.

 

[Phil R]

That doesnt explain the growing foliage problem all over the network. An issue that has been growing over the last few years.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Aug 2026 ==

Apparently unusually extensive growth in spring and early summer this year following the very wet winter (which is a fading memory now) though I suspect it's tailed off in the drought.
The end of red zone working and general shortage of possessions, birdlife considerations and weedkiller limitations doesn't help address a problem which has been allowed to get out of control.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

The geology and drainage of the Arun Valley and Lewes routes are different from the Brighton Main Line.

The Brighton Main Line crosses the Ouse Valley on a viaduct, a fair way inland and high above the river, then passes through the South Downs in a tunnel, nowhere near a river.

The Arun Valley south of Pulborough is at river level, and passes through the South Downs alongside the River Arun at Arundel. Similarly the Lewes line drops down from Keymer Junction and is at river level just after Cooksbridge, then passes through the South Downs alongside the River Ouse at Lewes. Both of these are much more vulnerable to soil moisture deficit than the Brighton Main Line.

Interesting and I wonder if that gets taken into consideration so frequency of track monitoring train runs is adjusted. Mind you these incidents ought to accelerate the fitting to existing passenger stock of basic track monitoring capability as this is what underpins managing track today since the almost complete elimination of trackside patrolling while trains are running.

 

[30907]

Apparently unusually extensive growth in spring and early summer this year following the very wet winter (which is a fading memory now) though I suspect it's tailed off in the drought.

Definitely the first - as my garden demonstrated when I came back from holiday in June - not sure of tue second (except my "lawn").

 

[AndrewE]

I wonder if we are seeing the outcomes predicted in the attached document - but worse as the funding for some of their mitigations has been cut?
"Safety aspects of asset degradation can be mitigated by extra maintenance!"