Ely - Norwich speed restrictions

[mafeu]

There have been delays for some time (months? feels like a long time) between Ely and Norwich. A speed restriction is oft stated.

Does anybody know why and if anything is being done to rectify by Network Rail?

 

[Kneedown]

There is currently a longish one between Queen Adelaide and Mile End. 20mph in the down direction, 40 in the up. Condition of track I imagine as it is a bit more bouncy and wibbly than it should be. Add to that a couple level crossing related speed restrictions, and another 40mph from Keswick to Eaton, and it puts a good few minutes into the journey. We were 10 late into Norwich this afternoon, but a 5mph ESR had appeared over Chettisham LC.

 

[mafeu]

Certainly is more bouncy and wibbly! But it just doesn’t seem NR are doing anything to rectify. By end of year I’m worried we’ll be down to 10mph between Ely and Lakenheath!

 

[scott118]

bank slip due to the summer temps..

 

[dk1]

bank slip due to the summer temps..

Exactly mate. Usual area drying out. Speed has been 20, 40 & now back to 20 again. Add the delays for much of the same reasons Peterborough-Ely which hits the preceding EMT service & we are looking at an unreliable Norwich-Cambridge service for the time being. The track really does looks interesting along those affected sections.

 

[scott118]

Dont you just love a twist fault...

 

[dk1]

Dont you just love a twist fault...

Only when I've taken my sea leg pills

 

[trebor79]

What sort of timescale is acceptable for this to be repaired? I find it a bit surprising that it's considered ok for reasonably busy regional route to be reduced to lower speeds than in places than a heritage line.

 

[mafeu]

What sort of timescale is acceptable for this to be repaired? I find it a bit surprising that it's considered ok for reasonably busy regional route to be reduced to lower speeds than in places than a heritage line.

I'm hoping Network Rail have a plan in place to get repairs in place ASAP. Feels as if the line is in a decline at the moment with these multiple speed restrictions. Surely it'll only get worse if not repaired?

 

[Bald Rick]

When the track condition goes ‘off’ because of the dry conditions, it can go in as little as 24hours. But it is rather unpredictable - you can fix it quickly, then a day later it shifts again, or another part just down the line goes instead. It’s like whack-a-mole.

Also, unfortunately, when it gets wet again, it can go ‘off’ again as the banks swell up with the moisture. Typically the engineers wait until the movement has stabilised before fixing it, as anything else is just money down the drain.

 

[trebor79]

I think there are some similar section on the Ely to Peterborough stretch. Certainly last time I used that route, we seemed to absolutely crawl for the last few miles into Ely.
I guess fen is always going to be a bit susceptible to movement.

 

[dk1]

It's a case of priority I'm afraid. The tamping etc is in high demand at the moment. Whilst the service just copes it will not be top of the list.

 

[70014IronDuke]

There was certainly a lot of persistant late running (15-20 mins seems typical) of both EMT and GA trains yesterday, according to
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...06/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=passenger&order=wtt

But this seems as much down to late running/cancellations from the North West as lost time btween Ely and Norwich.

The Ely - Peterborough section gets hammered by a lot of heavy freight, I assume?

 

[Whistler40145]

Only when I've taken my sea leg pills

Good job East Anglia isn't swarming with Pacers

 

[Wronskian]

I travelled Peterborough to Ely on the 1859 CrossCountry service last night - there was most definitely a severe speed restriction at Chettisham LC. My other half later drove that way and the barriers were down, she observed another crawling train. So something going on - anyone know any more about works there? (I didn't see any orange jackets though it was dark!)

The level crossing by Ely station is now closed to general traffic, but is still operating - I presume works traffic is using it as they rebuild the underpass. The plan now is that the crossing will not reopen to the public - the conversion works taking the next 12 weeks. Maybe that will give some well-needed leeway in the area.

 

[dk1]

Good job East Anglia isn't swarming with Pacers

Even though I thought them perfect for the Felixstowe & Sudbury branches over the years, we have never been blessed with their presence in these parts.

 

[Whistler40145]

Indeed

 

[ac6000cw]

The level crossing by Ely station is now closed to general traffic, but is still operating - I presume works traffic is using it as they rebuild the underpass. The plan now is that the crossing will not reopen to the public - the conversion works taking the next 12 weeks. Maybe that will give some well-needed leeway in the area.

Yes - that one of the reasons why NR contributed to the cost of the Ely Southern Bypass road (another reason is to avoid the frequent bridge-bashing of the underpass and consequent disruption to trains).