Droitwich Spa TSR

[biggyn]

I've noticed over the last few weeks that when passing over the diamond crossing at Droitwich Spa (travelling towards the station from Kidderminster), it slowed down to a crawl until all of the train had passed over it.

I was wondering if anyone had any idea why this was, as it seems mighty strange that up until a few weeks ago, and as long as I can remember before then, trains were fine to clatter over it at 40mph (or whatever the speed limit is for that section of line) without having to slow to a snails pace. Would it be anything to do with the heavy rainfall and flooding, as it is up quite high on an embankment, but it is only that track, in that specific direction, that the train has to slow down, so if there was any major earth movement, the trains in all directions would have to slow down to the same pace, which isn't the case.

Thank you for your time folks, and I look forward to hearing responses

Nyall

 

[The Planner]

Fixed diamond crossings are more difficult to maintain and this is why where possible they are getting split out into two sets of points. If there is any sort of cant then I imagine the stresses on the crossing are fairly high especially if trains are clattering over them at speed.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

5 mph over the crossing until NR replace it, I understand it's a non standard unit so they are dragging their heels!

 

[Bald Rick]

5 mph over the crossing until NR replace it, I understand it's a non standard unit so they are dragging their heels!

If it's down to 5 mph, it will be damaged beyond repair awaiting replacement.

And if it is non standard, then it will have to be specially made in one of 2 factories that usually have a 4-6 week lead time. Then carted to site. Then installed at a time when LM don't mind not running trains for 7-8 hours and when the installation teams and crane aren't somewhere more important.