5mph approach to North Berwick

[urpert]

I’ve travelled on this line a few times now and each time am surprised by the 5mph approach to the station - it’s the only time I’ve seen a speed limit that low on a main line. As I understand it the branch itself isn’t signalled, with only one train between Drem and North Berwick at any time and a fixed distant board some way before the 5mph speed limit sign. Is there a special reason for the unusual approach?

 

[The Planner]

How much over run is there after the buffer stop?

 

[Esker-pades]

I remember it as 10mph.

How much over run is there after the buffer stop?

Very little.

 

[Llama]

It's definitely 5mph into the platform, for the last five chains before the station. 10mph prior to that.

 

[hexagon789]

I’ve travelled on this line a few times now and each time am surprised by the 5mph approach to the station - it’s the only time I’ve seen a speed limit that low on a main line. As I understand it the branch itself isn’t signalled, with only one train between Drem and North Berwick at any time and a fixed distant board some way before the 5mph speed limit sign. Is there a special reason for the unusual approach?

Is the buffer stop TPWS-protected?

 

[alxndr]

Is the buffer stop TPWS-protected?

Wikimedia suggests yes.

Source

 

[hexagon789]

Wikimedia suggests yes.

Source

Unless the limit predates the installation of TPWS? Quite a steep gradient downhill right into the station iirc.

 

[civ-eng-jim]

Quite a steep gradient downhill right into the station iirc.

1 in 63 according to an old 5-mile diagram I have. But then it's level from the overbridge.

Interestingly Google Street view has the speed board on the east of the bridge (Ware Road just before the platforms) but Network Rail's RouteView has it on the west of the bridge. Has the platform been lengthened requiring the speed board to be moved too?

Are there gauging issues which may necessitate the speed restriction?

 

[hexagon789]

1 in 63 according to an old 5-mile diagram I have. But then it's level from the overbridge.

Interestingly Google Street view has the speed board on the east of the bridge (Ware Road just before the platforms) but Network Rail's RouteView has it on the west of the bridge. Has the platform been lengthened requiring the speed board to be moved too?

Are there gauging issues which may necessitate the speed restriction?

I've no idea I'm afraid, the steep gradient and possible lack of TPWS were the only two reasons I could think of.

 

[InOban]

The platform was lengthened a couple of years ago to accommodate 6-coach 385s. Given that they have both regen and disc brakes, and that the limit in the much steeper QS tunnel is much higher, I guess the limit is historical and it's not been worth anyone's time to reassess the limit.

 

[Highlandspring]

The limit predates the introduction of TWPS and was brought about by a quite nasty bufferstop collision. There were attempts made to get it raised to 10mph or even 15mph at the time of the platform extension but it fell victim to political shenanigans between Network Rail and ScotRail. The individual who was the main blocker has now left the rail industry so it’s possible that it may be looked at again.

 

[Steamysandy]

Originally the platform was double track and extended past the white van beyond the present buffer stop.
Even then buffer stop collisions were not unknown-coaches ended up on the street on one occasion about a century ago!

 

[Joseph_Locke]

It will also get caught in the trap that no-one wants to pay for the investigation work to prove that it is now safe enough to raise ... but the drivers will pass the end of the platform at a low speed anyway, so it wouldn't make much difference to journey times.

 

[Highlandspring]

It will also get caught in the trap that no-one wants to pay for the investigation work to prove that it is now safe enough to raise ...

All that was done at the time but it was never signed off... Agree it’s unlikely to be reviewed but it wouldn’t require much.

 

[civ-eng-jim]

It's just a spreadsheet to populate.

It won't make a difference to journey times, but it is frustrating when a train crawls into a platform for ages and not knowing when it's about to stop. Now? No, bit more.... OK definitely now....no, bit more.