ECML Disruption - 01/09

[jammmmmsssssss]

Is Sunday the worse time for this kind of thing to happen because all the experts / machines are tied up on engineering work elsewhere?

I don't know, I just read national rail and looked at opentraintimes

 

[uglymonkey]

No doubt an LNER pw gang would have fixed it in 1937 overnight with hand tools!!

 

[DelW]

No doubt an LNER pw gang would have fixed it in 1937 overnight with hand tools!!

Back then they'd probably have worked on the track with trains passing on adjacent lines, which I think is a no-no these days. It was likely better for keeping the service running, but worse for the accident statistics and life expectancy of the workers. Many such things are trade-offs that way, and society's preference changes over the years.

 

[ainsworth74]

That was GCC.

GCC? Gulf Cooperation Council? Not that I see what relevance they have to the situation!

Back then they'd probably have worked on the track with trains passing on adjacent lines, which I think is a no-no these days. It was likely better for keeping the service running, but worse for the accident statistics and life expectancy of the workers. Many such things are trade-offs that way, and society's preference changes over the years.

Plus there were a lot more of them around quite apart from the less safe working practices! Maintenance is one of those areas where the numbers have been whittled away over the years in the name of efficiency. No doubt it is very efficient when everything is working well. But sometimes you need the resilience that extra trained bodies brings...

 

[Purple Train]

GCC? Gulf Cooperation Council? Not that I see what relevance they have to the situation!

Gauge Corner Cracking. Not that I really know what I'm talking about, I just know the term!

 

[Sealink]

How long does it rake to fix a broken rail? It's still all mucked up this morning.

A long time, it seems!

FROM LNER: There is a broken rail on one of the two southbound lines in the Hatfield area. This was found by Network Rail teams yesterday, 1 September.

Staff are dealing with this as quickly as possible, but work to fully fix the defective rail will take a considerable amount of time. Work was started last night, but will now have to continue tonight as well. This means the affected line will remain closed today, and disruption will continue.

 

[eastdyke]

Gauge Corner Cracking. Not that I really know what I'm talking about, I just know the term!

Until a Permanent Way Engineer swings by, this might help:

Rail management improvements and the reduction in broken rails since 2000 - Rail Engineer

Listen to this article Bob Hazell The significant improvement in UK railway safety over the past 25 years has been due to many factors. One, which has not always been widely recognised, is the significant improvements in rail management which reduced the number of broken rails from 952 in 2000...

www.railengineer.co.uk

Being a piece from Rail Engineer in 2023.
Extract:

The Hatfield rail break was caused by fatigue cracking, originating from the surface of the head of the rail. This type of defect is known as rolling contact fatigue (RCF) or, when it develops from the gauge corner, gauge corner cracking (GCC). This type of defect usually involves the development of a series of cracks in close proximity which initially form at a shallow angle. If allowed to grow, cracks tend to turn down deeper into the head of the rail. They then can grow quicker and eventually result in a broken rail. As RCF cracks generally develop close together, the rail can, in severe cases, shatter rather than break in a fairly clean transverse break. The close proximity of RCF cracks can also mask accurate ultrasonic signals.

Shattered rails present a greater risk of derailment as the wheel loses contact with the rail head as occurred at Hatfield.

 

[dk1]

Gauge Corner Cracking. Not that I really know what I'm talking about, I just know the term!

Low carbon content in the steel from what i recall.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Isn't the point about rail breaks not whether they still happen but at least, in this case, they were detected (by track circuits) before they could lead to any risk of derailment?

 

[Failed Unit]

The ECML seems to be coping well now (Unless you are at one of the 3 stations that have no Southbound service)

Don’t know why but I thought there was a cross-over point at Potters Bar, I guess it must be at New Barnet as Hadley wood still has no service.

This morning was frustrating- but not sure if that was as much to do with displaced crews as it was with Network Rail trying to fix the line.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

The ECML seems to be coping well now (Unless you are at one of the 3 stations that have no Southbound service)

Don’t know why but I thought there was a cross-over point at Potters Bar, I guess it must be at New Barnet as Hadley wood still has no service.

This morning was frustrating- but not sure if that was as much to do with displaced crews as it was with Network Rail trying to fix the line.

The trains are crossing over to the fasts just after Potters Bar so I don't know why they're not stopping at Hadley Wood

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Sep 2024 ==

All southbound Lumos and a few LNERs are being diverted via Hertford North

 

[buz33]

The latest info on the NRE website includes this...

Staff are dealing with this as quickly as possible, but work to fully fix the defective rail will take a considerable amount of time. Work was started last night, but will now have to continue tonight as well. Part of a junction is having to be replaced, as this is where the rail is located.

This would suggest that the problem is with is the 70 mph Marshmoor crossover so it is likely to take longer than welding up a plain rail.

 

[merry]

Likely skipping Hadley Wood on the up to minimise delays / maximise throughput - a station stop typically consumes 1 or 2 paths on the slow.
So, it's inconvenience for the Hadley Wood passengers (who must use another station or go round a longer way to use trains calling at the down platform) but for bemefit of the greater mumber of passengers.

 

[Horizon22]

It also opens up the debate about which trains house have priority over the limtied capacity available. GN didn’t run anything before 0630 when they started the Moorgate service up. I saw some LNER services got through.

At the moment it appears the service is as follows.
LNER / Lumo and GC - Normal services (with delays at Hatfield)
Welwyn Garden City - Moorgate. Running but not stopping Hatfield - New Barnet to make room for fast trains.
Cambridge - London - Not operating
Peterborough - London - Not Operating
Welwyn Garden City - Sevenoaks - Not operating North of Blackfriars
Kings Lynn - London - Operating with cancellations
Peterborough - Horsham - Operating
Hertford Loop - Cancellations to allow fast trains do divert (although not sure if they are all going via Welwyn)
Cambridge - Brighton - Operating with cancellations

No service for Knebworth, Welwyn North, Welham Green, Brookmans Park and Hadley wood on the Welwyn Side

The Hertford North route seems to very little operating.

Well it's not actually much of a 'debate' normally - there are operated agreed contingency plans for almost all routes and most circumstances (nothing that no disruption perfectly matches an incident). There is some ability to deviate but often it's quite clear and the main issue is trying to get the crews and fleet in the right places to fit in.

Often it is metro services that take more of a hit or "core" services run which provide a minimal service to all areas, so overlapping trains are removed. Also with metro operators, there is more likely to be an alternative mode/route available such as local buses or TfL services (buses / outer underground etc.)

 

[Intercity_225]

And now there's overhead line problems near Grantham! There's never a normal day on the ECML...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Sep 2024 ==

Looks like no trains are running through Peterborough - Doncaster, 1A04 (06:05 Leeds - London Kings Cross) is waiting for a thunderbird to divert it via the Joint lines, currently around 25 down.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Sep 2024 ==

The thunderbird is now coupling up to the I225 set.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

And now there's overhead line problems near Grantham! There's never a normal day on the ECML...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Sep 2024 ==

Looks like no trains are running through Peterborough - Doncaster, 1A04 (06:05 Leeds - London Kings Cross) is waiting for a thunderbird to divert it via the Gainsborough lines, currently around 25 down.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Sep 2024 ==

The thunderbird is now coupling up to the I225 set.

Gainsborough line? That's Marks Tey to Sudbury

 

[Intercity_225]

Gainsborough line? That's Marks Tey to Sudbury

Oops I'll swap it with the correct one.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Sep 2024 ==

1A91 (0605 Beverly - London Kings Cross) has now made it to Doncaster, presumably it'll switch to diesel power and divert via the joint lines?

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

Oops I'll swap it with the correct one.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Sep 2024 ==

1A91 (0605 Beverly - London Kings Cross) has now made it to Doncaster, presumably it'll switch to diesel power and divert via the joint lines?

Well if they have the route knowledge

 

[mad_rich]

Oh dear. Just on my way to NCL for the 0800 to KGX. Fingers crossed it’s passable by then!

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

Oh dear. Just on my way to NCL for the 0800 to KGX. Fingers crossed it’s passable by then!

Seems to be with 1A91 the first train through

 

[Crossover]

Oops I'll swap it with the correct one.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Sep 2024 ==

1A91 (0605 Beverly - London Kings Cross) has now made it to Doncaster, presumably it'll switch to diesel power and divert via the joint lines?

It looks like the ex Beverley ran through on normal route, albeit picking up a 30 min delay

The 0605 from Leeds appears to have terminated at Donny