Alton line resignalling (Overrun)

[TW7]

I was planning on visiting the Mid Hants Railway on Tuesday, looking on the SWT website I see there are no trains running between Farnham & Alton...

"Over the past four months the lines between Alton and Brookwood and between Guildford and Ascot have been undergoing major re-signalling work. This work was due to be completed on Monday 26 August 2013.

Unfortunately, additional testing will be required between Alton and Farnham to ensure the safe running of the railway. As a result we will not be able to run any trains between Alton and Farnham on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 August 2013.

Replacement bus services will run between Farnham, Bentley Village and Alton. These buses are unable to access Bentley station so a minibus service will also run between Farnham and Bentley station. Please use this link for timetable London Waterloo and Farnham to Bentley and Alton"

 

[Aictos]

And your point is? It sounds like major resignalling being done so I rather they took a extra day or two to ensure the safe running of trains on these lines.

Better a though job then one which is rushed don't yah know!

 

[455driver]

You will have to catch the replacement bus, not complicated.:roll:
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And your point is? It sounds like major resignalling being done so I rather they took a extra day or two to ensure the safe running of trains on these lines.

Better a though job then one which is rushed don't yah know!

The mechanical boxes at Ash Vale, Aldershot and Farnham are being decommissioned and control transferred to Woking so it is quite an involved job.

 

[Tomnick]

And your point is? It sounds like major resignalling being done so I rather they took a extra day or two to ensure the safe running of trains on these lines.

Better a though job then one which is rushed don't yah know!

Even better would be a resignalling job which finishes within the planned timescales...seems a bit of a rarity these days though!

 

[High Dyke]

Even better would be a resignalling job which finishes within the planned timescales...seems a bit of a rarity these days though!

We'll see if Nottingham manages to deliver on time too...sources suggest not everything will be ready by Monday.

 

[Tomnick]

As long as the Norwich trains are back to their normal route by the time I'm back off my long weekend, I'll be happy .

 

[TW7]

And your point is? It sounds like major resignalling being done so I rather they took a extra day or two to ensure the safe running of trains on these lines.

Better a though job then one which is rushed don't yah know!

No point being made, just stating facts.

I'm confused why the line needs to be shut for an extra two whole days if the work has Been going on for some months now. Just another example of poor planning which prevents people from using a service which should be there..

 

[jopsuk]

there are all sorts of reasons why little delays that weren't foreseen- supply issues say, or existing structures being hard to remove/in poorer condition than determined during pre-planning- that add up to an extra couple of days work.

 

[30907]

No point being made, just stating facts.

I'm confused why the line needs to be shut for an extra two whole days if the work has Been going on for some months now.

But the key changeover is being done over this one 3-day weekend. However much preparatory work you do, if the final bit goes wrong (whether its signals, bridgeworks or whatever) you're stuck. And short of building in 24hours overrun contingency, this is what happens...

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Out of interest, is the resignalling going to lead to any noticeable changes for passengers?

 

[Helvellyn]

Out of interest, is the resignalling going to lead to any noticeable changes for passengers?

Probably a more efficent service through Aldershot in disruption, as the whole line becomes operated under Track Circuit Block. Previously Aldershot-Farnham was absolute block, so no train could leave Aldershot towards Farnham until the previous one arrived at Farnham. Now trains can be signalled signal to signal, so it will add capacity. Given ECS moves to/from Farnham Shed (from Woking/Guildford/Reading/Haslemere) this will make for a smoother operation.

 

[TW7]

From what I understand, the line between Farnham & Alton is now blocked until Saturday at the earliest. Does anyone happen to know when the line will be re-opened?

 

[455driver]

Saturday at the earliest!

 

[TW7]

Saturday at the earliest!

Haha cheers!

 

[thegrimeater]

It also means tornado can't leave the mid hants to come to the nnr for our gala this weekend :cry:

 

[TW7]

It also means tornado can't leave the mid hants to come to the nnr for our gala this weekend :cry:

That was one of my reasons for wanting to visit on Tuesday, the latest on the SWT website is that the testing is still ongoing and they don't seem very sure of the line being re-opened on Saturday...

 

[ElWanderer]

It also means tornado can't leave the mid hants to come to the nnr for our gala this weekend :cry:

That was a pity; she'd have shone in the sun (and we'd hoped to see the Sheringham crossing in action while we were in the area). Glad I was refreshing the NNR website regularly to keep up with any last minute changes. Still, we took the in-laws on the Friday and had a lovely day.

Meanwhile, uksteam.info has tornado due to leave Alton tomorrow (Tuesday).