Failed 700 at brighton requires towing assistance

[trainmania100]

The 05.30 Brighton to Bedford service broke down earlier today on platform 4 of Brighton station. This train is still at the platform and will remain so until the end of service at which point our engineers will be able to safely move to the train to the nearest depot.

As its a 12 car this will be interesting to see. I didn't think anything longer than 12 car could manage on the 3rd rail?
I assume this will either be another 700 dragging it or a light locomotive to assist. I doubt a 377 would assist it.
As of 1500 it is still in brighton platform 4 on OTT maps

 

[rebmcr]

As its a 12 car this will be interesting to see. I didn't think anything longer than 12 car could manage on the 3rd rail?

Not if it has to run to passenger timings, but assisting moves get more leeway. If the train behind is not collecting power, it's essentially a really heavy version of however many units are assisting.

I doubt a 377 would assist it.

I don't think they are even compatible?

 

[trainmania100]

700119 is the culprit and is still in platform 4 as of 1630

 

[Sunset route]

Transit move at 5mph was being mooted when I was at work this morning, so sometime just after the close of service would be the obvious time.

 

[westcoaster]

Transit move at 5mph was being mooted when I was at work this morning, so sometime just after the close of service would be the obvious time.

Latest is after the close of service another unit will arrive into P5, and basically hot wire the batteries to get them working again.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

I thought that 700s could self-rescue to some degree by running one of the two "traction packages"

 

[HarleyDavidson]

You can get around it (if the same rules apply to the 700s as other Desiros) by isolating certain items.

 

[375610]

Ahh, this has happened before!

 

[FordFocus]

Latest is after the close of service another unit will arrive into P5, and basically hot wire the batteries to get them working again.

That's what is currently happening. OpenTrainTimes has both berths in Platform 5 down as BTRY CHGR.

 

[HSTEd]

As its a 12 car this will be interesting to see. I didn't think anything longer than 12 car could manage on the 3rd rail?
I assume this will either be another 700 dragging it or a light locomotive to assist. I doubt a 377 would assist it.

In this case it turns into a (relatively) light freight train.

 

[RichardN]

So what was the problem that needed such an unusual fix? It also lead to an announcement I never thought I'd ever hear. "Passengers for Brighton are advised to take this train and change at Balcombe..."

That's what is currently happening. OpenTrainTimes has both berths in Platform 5 down as BTRY CHGR.

 

[daikilo]

So what was the problem that needed such an unusual fix? It also lead to an announcement I never thought I'd ever hear. "Passengers for Brighton are advised to take this train and change at Balcombe..."

Presumably flat batteries. I am guessing the train was berthed overnight in platform 4 and the shut-down the previous evening missed something.

 

[RichardN]

Presumably flat batteries. I am guessing the train was berthed overnight in platform 4 and the shut-down the previous evening missed something.

Bit of a design failure that it can't self charge from the 750V when completely flat, though.

 

[aleggatta]

Bit of a design failure that it can't self charge from the 750V when completely flat, though.

Probably more of a design failure that the unit would not shut down before going past the point of no return... trying to charge flat batteries straight off 750 is quite difficult without any auxiliaries...

 

[a_c_skinner]

Why? I've got loads of stuff that charges from flat simply by plugging it in. Serious question. Or even a mains lead?

Andrew

 

[aleggatta]

Because typically all modern trains use solid state traction/auxiliary conversion modules. it is not as simple as a plug in transformer, you are working with DC on the railway and so have to have some way to convert dc-ac to make it low voltage and usable for battery charging, whereas your phone charger is working from an AC supply so can transform and rectify it passively. AC to DC is always easier than DC to AC. A 'Mains lead' probably exists in the form of a battery charger, but that would be depot based, and having an appropriate electrical supply to the failed unit outside of depot is very unlikely

 

[a_c_skinner]

Hmm. My car phone charger is DC. I'm not a technical person but it does seem silly to have a unit dead because of flat batteries on electrified track. Obviously it would be possible, just not needed often enough to be worth the cost.

 

[aleggatta]

I am genuinely surprised that a 700 would not shut itself down after being without traction power for a period of time, its something that is a common feature on Electrostar's to prevent this kind of 'dead in the water' situation.

 

[Sunset route]

There was a possession just north of Montpellier Junction towards haywards Heath last weekend, but all platforms at Brighton were open to traffic and with power. I'm not sure if the possession extended briefly over night (sat into sun) or not but Brighton was fully open on Sunday which included a berthe 12 car in platform 4 which appears to be this offending train. If there was no loss of power then there was something else at fault here.