How do they turn a Pendolino round?

[Hellfire]

This may seem like a daft question and it may be on the wrong forum but here goes.

Very occasionally on my regular trips between Preston and Euston, a Pendolino will arrive the "wrong way round" i.e. first class at the Glasgow end.

Given the difficulty of achieving a three point turn with an 11 car train, how does this happen? And, when it does happen, how do they get it back the "right way round.?" Is there some giant rail roundabout somewhere?

I've been thinking about this for a while which shows how empty my life is

 

[gordonthemoron]

isn't it only possible in Scotland?

 

[matt]

This came up in discussion recently http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1623833

 

[Hellfire]

Thanks Matt. My search skills are failing too

 

[DarloRich]

you need a triangle or a circular route. Finding one is the hard part

 

[Bedpan]

A circular route would just take you round in a circle - what you need is a giant turntable!!

 

[rebmcr]

A circular route would just take you round in a circle - what you need is a giant turntable!!

No you would use only the part of the circle as necessary, as if it were a balloon loop.

 

[Geezertronic]

Birmingham is usually a good place given what was said on the other thread.

Presumably one way it can be done by going from International to Aston via the Stechford link, then the driver changes ends at Aston and takes the 390 in via Duddeston? Unless there is another way via the Chase Line?

 

[sprinterguy]

Birmingham is usually a good place given what was said on the other thread.

Presumably one way it can be done by going from International to Aston via the Stechford link, then the driver changes ends at Aston and takes the 390 in via Duddeston? Unless there is another way via the Chase Line?

No need for the Driver to change ends - The usual practice is to just run it up to Perry Barr South Junction after Aston and then into the North end of New Street via Soho (and vice versa when going South).

And the Chase line is unelectrified beyond Walsall, so no good for 390s.

 

[Geezertronic]

Thanks, that'll teach me to use Wikipedia as a resource

 

[Eagle]

And if coming to Birmingham from the north, then a set can be turned by going Wolverhampton–Bescot–Aston–New Street (which is all electrified).

 

[Oswyntail]

Surely, as with re-railing, the big hand comes out of the sky, lifts the coaches and puts them back on track in the other direction. That's how i used to do it.

 

[LWB]

Get 'em over to Shipley and we'll turn 'em for three, but we'll catch em, and kill em, for ten.


Arrgh.

 

[Liam]

isn't it only possible in Scotland?

I'm sure it's possible, but I'm not sure where to do it in service?

The advantage of doing it at Birmingham is that there is little time added onto the the journey.

Doing it in Glasgow is difficult, are pendolino's cleared to go through Hamilton, then reverse at Motherwell? That route would add a substantioal amount of time.

The normal diverion is through Queen's Park and King's Park but, IIRC, the Western side of the Cathcart Circle is off limits, due to clearance or power issues.

There is a triangle outside of Central Station, using a normally freight only line, but the other lines are very busy.

Carstairs is the obvious one, but it's out in the sticks, ideally it needs to be at a terminal, or add no time to the journey.

There is nothng in Edinburgh as the 'Sub' isn't electrified.