Borders Railway - Now Open

[ChiefPlanner]

Perhaps someone in the know can kindly explain the following?

In 2012 a 20mph trailing crossover was replaced outside Harrogate station with a 15mph model. Trains leaving Harrogate for Leeds from the wrong side now stop accelerating before the platform end and coast for about six coach lengths to the crossing and then over the crossing until four coaches are clear before accelerating again. By accelerating continuously the last coach of a four coach Pacer train could be travelling at 30mph. Why replace a 20mph crossover with 15mph and not 30mph? I thought improvement was the aim at every renewal especially in this case beneath a wide bridge.

Someone - maybe at Northern - took their eye of the ball on that one. Apparently the carriage sidings were relaid - in 113ib rail - that should last a couple of centuries I reckon. Not saying it did not need relaying ....

 

[fegguk]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-30681134



The campaign (if there is indeed one here) seems a little belated. Stow was rather better timed, submitting evidence 10 years ago. Has there been a similar campaign on behalf of Heriot?

Mainly Mr Aitchison, his Border Party campaigned against the railway being built beyond Gorebridge, unless it went all the way to Carlisle. Now it been built every hen hoose obviously needs a station without regard to cost or benefit.

The locals insisted on an underpass rather than a footbridge now they don't like the idea of a damp hole in the ground after-all. They complained about the original 2 roundabouts solution this was changed, now some of them do not like the alternative. Pleasing everybody all the time is a tough mission. One which Mr Aichison seems now all to happy to take on if it gets him on the radio/telly and reminds us that he exists.

 

[railjock]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-30681134



The campaign (if there is indeed one here) seems a little belated. Stow was rather better timed, submitting evidence 10 years ago. Has there been a similar campaign on behalf of Heriot?

Political mischief imo.

 

[Railsigns]

Should I be surprised that there are only single lamp signals? I'd have thought that they'd be using two lamp (ie, four aspect) signals.

I can't imagine what might lead anyone to expect four-aspect signals on a line of this nature.

 

[edwin_m]

I can't imagine what might lead anyone to expect four-aspect signals on a line of this nature.

They used them totally unnecessarily on the South Hylton Metro line.

 

[Railsigns]

They used them totally unnecessarily on the South Hylton Metro line.

But not on a 30-mile-long rural branch line with long single line sections.

 

[deltic08]

Mainly Mr Aitchison, his Border Party campaigned against the railway being built beyond Gorebridge, unless it went all the way to Carlisle. Now it been built every hen hoose obviously needs a station without regard to cost or benefit.

The locals insisted on an underpass rather than a footbridge now they don't like the idea of a damp hole in the ground after-all. They complained about the original 2 roundabouts solution this was changed, now some of them do not like the alternative. Pleasing everybody all the time is a tough mission. One which Mr Aichison seems now all to happy to take on if it gets him on the radio/telly and reminds us that he exists.

The only house remaining at Heriot using the underpass has just been sold to Network Rail so the underpass is superfluous after all that expense.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Someone - maybe at Northern - took their eye of the ball on that one. Apparently the carriage sidings were relaid - in 113ib rail - that should last a couple of centuries I reckon. Not saying it did not need relaying ....

No, the carriage siding is still unrelaid bullhead rail. Only a short section connecting the siding to the new turnout is flat bottom. The platform road was recently replaced by flat bottom on concrete sleepers. This turnout is not part of the trailing crossover replaced that I asked about.

 

[fegguk]

The only house remaining at Heriot using the underpass has just been sold to Network Rail so the underpass is superfluous after all that expense

It is also used to access the bus stop on the A7, so I can not understsnd where the idea that it is only used by one house comes from. There are no houses on the bus stop side now that the old station house has been demolished. However this is not the sole reason for its construction.

 

[deltic08]

It is also used to access the bus stop on the A7, so I can not understsnd where the idea that it is only used by one house comes from. There are no houses on the bus stop side now that the old station house has been demolished. However this is not the sole reason for its construction.

I understood from the contractors that the underpass was only built for the remaining house nearest the railway as this was the only resident who objected to the crossing closure. Anyway, this house has now been sold.

 

[QueensCurve]

I can't imagine what might lead anyone to expect four-aspect signals on a line of this nature.

Will say that those searchlight type signals make me cringe. They look most unBritish.

I think there is a potenial safety issue too. Conventional 3/4 aspect signals can not only be read by their colour, but also because the position of the lights in teh matrix makes a binary number.

It was a potential contributor to the Ladbroke Grove crash that the signal involved (SN109) was unusually an inverted L shaps rather than a vertical row.

I do understand that the LED Searhlight signals are appreciated by the drivers, but I wonder if the human factors implications have been properly considered?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Why replace a 20mph crossover with 15mph and not 30mph? I thought improvement was the aim at every renewal especially in this case beneath a wide bridge.

It does seem like a step back.

If the intention was to save money on the renewal, it fails to take account of the whole life cost of trains not being operated in the most energy efficient way.

 

[edwin_m]

I think there is a potenial safety issue too. Conventional 3/4 aspect signals can not only be read by their colour, but also because the position of the lights in teh matrix makes a binary number.

It was a potential contributor to the Ladbroke Grove crash that the signal involved (SN109) was unusually an inverted L shaps rather than a vertical row.

I do understand that the LED Searhlight signals are appreciated by the drivers, but I wonder if the human factors implications have been properly considered?

As far as I know this is considered significant for traffic lights because road drivers may have (for example) red-green colour blindness. However all staff who need to observe railways signals must pass a strict colour-blindness test. However I'd be interested in seeing any links to research which suggests the positional aspect of signal lights is significant.

Going by forum posts a lot of drivers dislike the LED signals because they are too dazzling and make it difficult to see other things at night.

 

[L&Y Robert]

As far as I know this is considered significant for traffic lights because road drivers may have (for example) red-green colour blindness. However all staff who need to observe railways signals must pass a strict colour-blindness test. However I'd be interested in seeing any links to research which suggests the positional aspect of signal lights is significant.

In semaphore days the position of the arm, and the post supporting it on a gantry were part of "The message" that the signal was designed to convey.

And how do they do a "double yellow"? Two aspect needed there, I suppose.

 

[swt_passenger]

In semaphore days the position of the arm, and the post supporting it on a gantry were part of "The message" that the signal was designed to convey.

And how do they do a "double yellow"? Two aspect needed there, I suppose.

...yes, and because the separation between the two yellows is significant, so that they definitely appear as two sources at a distance, they are set the same dimension apart as in the conventional four aspect head.

But in general, the 3 aspect single aperture LED is becoming more and more commonplace. There was little likelihood that the Borders would be spared...

 

[edwin_m]

In semaphore days the position of the arm, and the post supporting it on a gantry were part of "The message" that the signal was designed to convey.

And how do they do a "double yellow"? Two aspect needed there, I suppose.

Not really my point. With colour light signals the information is conveyed by the aspect and the state of any route indicators. Do drivers gain any visual cues from the position of the coloured lights?

The exception is the rare "splitting distant" colour light, where two yellows displayed horizontally is equivalent to a normal single yellow. I believe this is the reason double yellow has to be displayed vertically.

 

[Railsigns]

The exception is the rare "splitting distant" colour light, where two yellows displayed horizontally is equivalent to a normal single yellow. I believe this is the reason double yellow has to be displayed vertically.

That was indeed the reason given in Standard Signalling Principle no.4, dated May 1991. Modern splitting distant signals never display a single yellow aspect in both heads at the same time, however.

 

[edwin_m]

That was indeed the reason given in Standard Signalling Principle no.4, dated May 1991. Modern splitting distant signals never display a single yellow aspect in both heads at the same time, however.

Yes I see you're right. Google found me up an outdated (2010) version of the standard.

 

[380gk]

Any news on the traincrew building or drawings?
I know there was some debate re:.putting in a retail unit in the building.

 

[QueensCurve]

Thanks for that. What are "BV" switches?

I was at a loss for that one too.

Google was less than helpful since apparently it is an extreme body modification practice!

The definition, not for those of a nervous disposition, is at:-

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=BV switch

 

[ironstone11]

I was at a loss for that one too.

Google was less than helpful since apparently it is an extreme body modification practice!

The definition, not for those of a nervous disposition, is at:-

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=BV switch

Come to that, what are CV and DV switches?

further mitigation of risks from buckled rails,
including specific work related to timber bearer
vertical switches and crossings (fitting lateral
resistance plates on BV/CV/DV switches at
sites with line speeds of 100mph plus) and
targeted renewals;

From:- Network Rail
CP4 Delivery Plan 2009
Safety Delivery Plan

 

[swt_passenger]

Come to that, what are CV and DV switches?

The next two sizes of points, in the range A-H, where A is the tightest curve, and H is the least, as per post 897 a few days ago:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2024711&postcount=897

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Come to that, what are CV and DV switches?

The next two sizes of points, in the range A-H, where A is the tightest curve, and H is the least, as per post 897 a few days ago:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2024711&postcount=897

And should anyone come across any other bizarre non-rail related meanings, please feel free to keep them to yourself.

 

[40907]

Just as an aside, the latest new "Great British Railway Journey" with Mr Portillo featured him visiting the work in progress on the Borders railway. He went underneath a substantial viaduct that was being refurbished, and pointed in a replacement brick!
The episode was shown yesterday, ( 9th) and the relevant segment is the final item if you don't want to watch the whole episode.

 

[Ploughman]

Just wondering if the brickie took out M Portillo's effort and replaced it as soon as he had got off the scaffold?

 

[DunfordBridge]

Does anyone know the latest date for re-opening? I have read on the net that it is scheduled for September 2015.

 

[najaB]

Does anyone know the latest date for re-opening? I have read on the net that it is scheduled for September 2015.

That's still the current date. Track work is supposed to be finished by (I think) June to allow for driver training.

 

[railjock]

Does anyone know the latest date for re-opening? I have read on the net that it is scheduled for September 2015.

That's still the plan. Some specials will be run around the opening day.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Just as an aside, the latest new "Great British Railway Journey" with Mr Portillo featured him visiting the work in progress on the Borders railway. He went underneath a substantial viaduct that was being refurbished, and pointed in a replacement brick!
The episode was shown yesterday, ( 9th) and the relevant segment is the final item if you don't want to watch the whole episode.

Just watched it. Thanks.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Update from BBC News:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-30779769

Borders rail link: Final phase of track laying underway

Work to complete the final phase of track-laying for the rail link between the Borders and Edinburgh has begun.

The line between Tweedbank and the capital is due to open to passenger trains on 6 September.

About 34 miles of track, including three double track sections, has been laid since work began at Shawfair station in October.

The rail installation machine is expected to reach Tweedbank in February.

Network Rail project director Hugh Wark said the final phase of works will see the last five miles of the route from Ferniehurst to Tweedbank completed.

He added: "Once the rail is fully installed, much of the construction support deliveries will be able to be taken off the roads and delivered directly down the route by rail.

"This means that residents and road users should see the number of heavy goods vehicles and plant machinery on the roads reduced in the coming months.

"We still have a lot of work to carry out ahead of the project's summer completion date, but we are at a very exciting point in the project with only eight months to go until the line is fully operational."

Seven new stations will be built along the length of the 30-mile stretch of railway.

And the latest edition of BORDERS RAILWAY FROM START TO FINISH is published today.

 

[deltic08]

Just driven south along the A7 from Edinburgh. The rail laying machine is making a second pass through Bowshank Tunnel today having completed the up line first. I was there just as railing was completed to the north and the whole train moved onto the slab track section.2xClass 66 just protruding from the north portal with the business end protruding from the south portal. At this speed, should be in Gala by the end of January.

 

[railjock]

Just driven south along the A7 from Edinburgh. The rail laying machine is making a second pass through Bowshank Tunnel today having completed the up line first. I was there just as railing was completed to the north and the whole train moved onto the slab track section.2xClass 66 just protruding from the north portal with the business end protruding from the south portal. At this speed, should be in Gala by the end of January.

You can't be driving very fast.

 

[fegguk]

You can't be driving very fast.

He was on the A7 of course he wasn't going fast

I was waiting at the other end on Tuesday. No train emerged as the rails already in the tunnel were only temporary for alignment purpose and these been removed. They were re laying from the other end and never broke through until Wednesday.