A question about speed limits

[PupCuff]

I've heard that if you're caught doing 5mph over the speed limit then you have to be referred to a Network Rail panel who investigate it and decide if you can keep your key? Is that a thing or just scare tactics?

No, that's not correct. NR may well commence an investigation to determine if you've damaged their infrastructure, eg by sending technicians out to examine points that have been crossed at higher than the permitted speed but beyond that it's the train operator who will investigate.

Train operators will have processes in place for determining whether to remove someone from driving duties on safety grounds but a single, simple speeding event wouldn't bring about use of such processes. There'd have to be a pattern of incidents etc.

 

[bengley]

While not the real world, on Train Simulator you get penalised/flagged for going 1mph+ over the speed limit, regardless of what the speed limit is.

That's correct. As you state, that is not the real world and is not realistic in any way

 

[BanburyBlue]

Is there an expectation that drivers maintain 'line speed'? Are drivers also checked to see if they are going fast enough?

Apologies if daft question - I know nothing.

 

[bengley]

Is there an expectation that drivers maintain 'line speed'? Are drivers also checked to see if they are going fast enough?

Apologies if daft question - I know nothing.

Not really. As long as you're not constantly late because of slow driving it's not going to be something which is mentioned.

 

[12LDA28C]

I've heard that if you're caught doing 5mph over the speed limit then you have to be referred to a Network Rail panel who investigate it and decide if you can keep your key? Is that a thing or just scare tactics?

That is most certainly not 'a thing'.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Dec 2022 ==

Is there an expectation that drivers maintain 'line speed'? Are drivers also checked to see if they are going fast enough?

Apologies if daft question - I know nothing.

There is an expectation that drivers maintain line speed (signals permitting) in order to keep to the timetable, this would be explained by an instructor to a trainee driver at the start of their handling.

If however it was apparent that excessive recovery time was built into a schedule then a train could travel at less than line speed and still remain punctual. Also the advent of DAS means that drivers will often be advised to 'coast' or travel at well below line speed if the system has calculated that this will still result in an on-time arrival at destination.

 

[Annetts key]

A good driver will quickly learn when and where they don’t need to keep to the line speed. But still arrive at the next station (or equivalent) on time.

Similarly, a good driver will be able to regulate the speed of a train when getting caution aspects rather than chopping back and forth from trying to get to line speed and then having to slow down, then speeding up again, rinse, repeat…

 

[12LDA28C]

Similarly, a good driver will be able to regulate the speed of a train when getting caution aspects rather than chopping back and forth from trying to get to line speed and then having to slow down, then speeding up again, rinse, repeat…

I should hope there are no drivers who think that's a good idea...

 

[zwk500]

I should hope there are no drivers who think that's a good idea...

I've certainly had Pendo drivers on a WCML 2-track who didn't twig they were following a stopper...

 

[GS250]

My Uncle who was a time served driver on the GWR then South Western used to tell me stories of all kinds of speed mischief going on up to the early 90s. Also...driving at line speed on a double yellow wasn't uncommon during the rush hour.

 

[SussexSeagull]

Follow up question: Do drivers get picked up if they drive too slow?

 

[12LDA28C]

Follow up question: Do drivers get picked up if they drive too slow?

If I were instructing a driver and they were consistently travelling at below line speed on clear signals and losing time as a result then yes, most definitely.

 

[GS250]

If I were instructing a driver and they were consistently travelling at below line speed on clear signals and losing time as a result then yes, most definitely.

I guess if they are ahead of time then there may be a tendancy to ease off? However that doesn't help the heavily delayed service behind them desperate to catch up slightly.

 

[12LDA28C]

I guess if they are ahead of time then there may be a tendancy to ease off? However that doesn't help the heavily delayed service behind them desperate to catch up slightly.

It depends entirely on the schedule of each particular train. Trains are generally timed to run at line speed. If there is sufficient recovery time / slack built into a train's schedule then it may well be possible to travel at below line speed and maintain punctuality. I've already mentioned this above in post #35. It's rather pointless running at line speed and sitting at stations for longer if you could run below line speed and still enjoy sufficient dwell time at stations, depending on the characteristics of the infrastructure. Drivers generally aren't aware of what train is 'behind them' unless they get looped in order to let one past.

The 'heavily delayed' service you mention has already lost its path and would probably stay late if it meant regulating a succession of on-time trains and hence also delaying them, in order to allow that late train to 'overtake' so it could regain a few minutes, but it would depend on a number of other factors too.

 

[GS250]

It depends entirely on the schedule of each particular train. Trains are generally timed to run at line speed. If there is sufficient recovery time / slack built into a train's schedule then it may well be possible to travel at below line speed and maintain punctuality. I've already mentioned this above in post #35. It's rather pointless running at line speed and sitting at stations for longer if you could run below line speed and still enjoy sufficient dwell time at stations, depending on the characteristics of the infrastructure. Drivers generally aren't aware of what train is 'behind them' unless they get looped in order to let one past.

The 'heavily delayed' service you mention has already lost its path and would probably stay late if it meant regulating a succession of on-time trains and hence also delaying them, in order to allow that late train to 'overtake' so it could regain a few minutes, but it would depend on a number of other factors too.

Cheers for this. Do some drivers not have speed advisory aids too? Was reading something about this on the old GWR HST's. Maybe it was 'eco driving'?

I'm not sure how applicable it is to the rail industry, but the airline industry (unofficially) regulates its service with the aims of NOT having to pay punctuality fines. For example, if flight A is running very late and liable to incur passengers a refund, they will happily slightly delay flights B and C if it means resources getting flight A within the threshold.

 

[12LDA28C]

Cheers for this. Do some drivers not have speed advisory aids too? Was reading something about this on the old GWR HST's. Maybe it was 'eco driving'?

Again, I mentioned this in post #35.