Commotion as Crosskeys passengers glimpse new traction

[bluenoxid]

There was excitement for the red penners at Crosskeys as Arriva's newest fleet addition clipclopped through the station at a steady pace, lead by its owner and escorted by the local constabulary.

The local postmaster mentioned the commotion to the local rag as police officers fought with trainspotters eager to cop the Welsh Assembly's newest traction package (SIETRANZDIER HORSE)

Ordinary services were halted as the SIETRANZDIER HORSE completed testing in the Crosskeys and was removed from the line to more appropriate settings.

Seventy Turquoise SIETRANZDIER horses are on order and are due to be delivered from May 2016. The UNICORN is being sold as an option for Crossrail and Thameslink.

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/ne...orse_on_Crosskeys_tracks_causes_train_delays/

A HORSE and owner delayed trains after a horse got onto the railway line between Newbridge and Crosskeys yesterday afternoon.

Gwent Police were called to the scene at 1.55pm. They informed Network Rail at about 2pm and the railway line’s electrical current was temporarily turned off.

By 2.50pm the horse had been caught by police and its owner, officers and the animal walked down the line towards Crosskeys station. At 3.15pm trains were stopped to allow the horse to pass.

A spokesman for Network Rail said “minor delays” were caused for about 25 minutes and normal services resumed afterwards.


Maggie Thomas, an eyewitness at Crosskeys station, said “I had a look and I really don’t know how it got there.”

The postmaster at Crosskeys Post Office on Risca Road, Mohammad Mujahid, said there were “four or five police cars” at the station at about 2pm and several customers told him there was “a commotion” there.

He said: “We thought someone had done something silly at the station.”

It's a very slow evening

 

[Michael.Y]

Electrical current switched off? hock:

 

[w0033944]

Electrical current switched off? hock:

Track circuit, I presume?

 

[fsmr]

Track circuit, I presume?

Yeh due to constant knicking of the rail round there, the tracks circuits now run at 25kv
Keeps the railhead dry as well

 

[w0033944]

Yeh due to constant knicking of the rail round there, the tracks circuits now run at 25kv
Keeps the railhead dry as well

Supposedly horses are more susceptible to current than we are, so something that we would hardly notice could spook them.

 

[Crossover]

Having metal shoes may not help too much on that one either :P

 

[jnty]

Track circuit, I presume?

How easy is a track circuit to turn off? Presumably there's rarely any need to turn it off so no centralised control like OHL, so is it a relay room job?

 

[merlodlliw]

Supposedly horses are more susceptible to current than we are, so something that we would hardly notice could spook them.

Indeed equines are most susceptible to current,electric fences are used to stop them wandering, the shock usually occurs through the horses feet when they touch the fence,making the circuit, all electric fences must have a good earth rod, In most cases equines can sense when the fence is on,likewise with track circuits.Some people out for walks do leave gates open on footpaths, or do not securely close them.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

The trouble is that this story has probably given ATW an idea of what to do about services to Newport.

Now, all they'll have to find out is whether they can get a horse through Gaer Tunnel!

 

[Tomnick]

How easy is a track circuit to turn off? Presumably there's rarely any need to turn it off so no centralised control like OHL, so is it a relay room job?

It'd have to be a disconnection, I'd imagine, given the effect that it'd have on the rest of the signalling installation. That requires the S&T technician present, forms to be filled in etc., so hardly a quick job. I doubt that it'd be anywhere sufficient to give even the most susceptible equine any cause for concern though!

 

[MarkyT]

It'd have to be a disconnection, I'd imagine, given the effect that it'd have on the rest of the signalling installation. That requires the S&T technician present, forms to be filled in etc., so hardly a quick job. I doubt that it'd be anywhere sufficient to give even the most susceptible equine any cause for concern though!

Depends on the track circuit type. There are some HVI (high voltage impulse) varieties that can generate a peak voltage of up to 150v across the rails, which although present for only a very short portion of the repeating impulse waveform, is considered sufficient to spook horses, leading to a ban on their use through level crossings.