How to report track problems before they get serious?

[Railcar]

As per the title, is there way that members of the public can report a track problem that will undoubtedly get worse each time a train goes over it?

What I noticed today, while on Platform 4 of West Croydon Station is that the ballast has sunk for a distance on the up line at the London end of Platform 3.

The result is that each time a wheel goes over that section, the rail and sleeper bounce up and down. There is a rail joint at that spot so the result is quite a loud 'bang'.

Worse, the third rail jumps up and down, hammering on the insulator, which is likely to crack soon.

Prevention is better than cure. Is there a link that a layman can use to the right person at Network Rail?

 

[rail-god]

As per the title, is there way that members of the public can report a track problem that will undoubtedly get worse each time a train goes over it?

What I noticed today, while on Platform 4 of West Croydon Station is that the ballast has sunk for a distance on the up line at the London end of Platform 3.

The result is that each time a wheel goes over that section, the rail and sleeper bounce up and down. There is a rail joint at that spot so the result is quite a loud 'bang'.

Worse, the third rail jumps up and down, hammring on the insulator, which is likely to crack soon.

Prevention is better than cure. Is there a link that a layman can use to the right person at Network Rail?

With the updated to the rule book. I would inform station staff ASAP.

 

[ScotRail158725]

The result is that each time a wheel goes over that section, the rail and sleeper bounce up and down. There is a rail joint at that spot so the result is quite a loud 'bang'.

happens all the time all over the country

 

[pdeaves]

Call 03457 114 141. Whenever I have used it the staff seemed interested and knowledgable.

 

[LowLevel]

Tell a member of the station staff who can pass it on to someone who can make an informed decision on what if anything needs to be done. Bear in mind that defects that seem quite alarming to the casual observer can quite often be ignored or managed over quite a considerable period. Busy stretches of railway like that are also patrolled regularly.

 

[bramling]

Tell a member of the station staff who can pass it on to someone who can make an informed decision on what if anything needs to be done. Bear in mind that defects that seem quite alarming to the casual observer can quite often be ignored or managed over quite a considerable period. Busy stretches of railway like that are also patrolled regularly.

It's a tough one as we get quite a few reports coming in which turn out to be "no fault found", having taken up a considerable amount of time / resource going out to inspect.

But, equally, there's always the possibility something might genuinely be amiss. I seem to remember that an off-duty member of staff had reported a rough ride over the points concerned a day or two beforehand, which was acted upon however for various reasons there was confusion and the wrong points were checked.

 

[1955LR]

I have used email https://communications-crm.custhelp.com/app/ask?var=incident&session=L3RpbWUvMTYwMjY5NzgyNS9nZW4vMTYwMjY5NzgyNS9zaWQvZlVheGNvdWNmN0ZsZndPQ0hha3g4emxNJTdFajVNSDF3ekxDcmJzWnlNb2Y3VCU3RW1PVzVNSmVHOHdzakxuWGZQUDNkSmNOQzBtQTd3eTQ0QlNKQVBmekdpWHQ3NUdzbWQ2Z0pZN3ltX2lzOVdPYXVoZFBWaE9DT1hrdyUyMSUyMQ==

 

[lkpridgeon]

You can call Network Rail or report it online (you may need to make an account). If you call generally you'll get asked for an email so they can give you access to send pictures/additional information.

Support Home Page

communications-crm.custhelp.com

 

[alxndr]

You can always report to platform staff, call/email the NR helpline, or even send a Tweet (although might be a bit slower but can include photos from the off). If it's something that you think is more serious then I'd suggest a voice based method of contact (where possible). Try to give as much information about the location as possible, so that if someone does get sent out to investigate they don't waste hours trying to find it, or they can match it up with something that's already known about. If you can try to identify the line affected, where it is in relation to a milepost, a set of points, a signal etc then that would be really helpful.

It may be nothing of concern, it may be something that they're already aware of, or it may be something that needs looking at. I've reported things which fall into all of the above to other departments in the past.

 

[Bald Rick]

Definitely call the NR helpline. The information you provide above would be just the right amount of detail. Whilst it’s not a great concern - stuff like this does happen regularly, the fact it is at a joint (almost certain an insulated joint for the signalling system) means that over time it could develop into something more serious.

Whilst track is patrolled regularly, it is often difficult to spot things like which only happen under load. So call it in; they’ll be happy to help.

 

[Egg Centric]

It's a tough one as we get quite a few reports coming in which turn out to be "no fault found", having taken up a considerable amount of time / resource going out to inspect.

But, equally, there's always the possibility something might genuinely be amiss. I seem to remember that an off-duty member of staff had reported a rough ride over the points concerned a day or two beforehand, which was acted upon however for various reasons there was confusion and the wrong points were checked.

I presume you're talking about Potters Bar?

 

[DarloRich]

Call the NR Helpline.

 

[Daniel740]

Definitely call the NR helpline. The information you provide above would be just the right amount of detail. Whilst it’s not a great concern - stuff like this does happen regularly, the fact it is at a joint (almost certain an insulated joint for the signalling system) means that over time it could develop into something more serious.

Whilst track is patrolled regularly, it is often difficult to spot things like which only happen under load. So call it in; they’ll be happy to help.

Call the NR Helpline.

Doesn’t calling the NR helpline just put you through to an Indian call centre, where the person taking your call will likely have no idea what you’re talking about?

 

[alistairlees]

Doesn’t calling the NR helpline just put you through to an Indian call centre, where the person taking your call will likely have no idea what you’re talking about?

Not the network rail helpline, where they take you seriously (when I reported an open gate and risk of horses getting on to a line). You might be thinking of the National Rail helpline, which definitely is in India.

 

[bramling]

I presume you're talking about Potters Bar?

Yes - apologies I seem to have omitted to mention that!

 

[ASharpe]

I might be being a bit thick but does this not describe every bit of jointed rail in the country that wasn't tamped in the last few weeks?

I thought they had a gap for expansion and as a result of that there is a bit more of an impact and they need tamping every so often.

And that the reason we have continuously welded rail - less maintenance, less noise and higher speeds can be achieved safely.

 

[185]

Made a report recently, which resulted in a TSR... they've finally understood how to use the 'what three words' GPS app for establishing precise locations which are too hard to describe in the standard railway spiel of Miles, Chains, Twix's and Grains of Rice.

What3words - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[AlexNL]

Whenever I see something here in the Netherlands which, to my belief, is not right I usually make a photo or video of it and send it via Twitter, along with information identifying the location, to ProRail (railway infrastructure manager) or NS (operator).

I think a short video of a train passing over the spot will go a long way to help someone within Network Rail assess how urgently this might need tending to.

 

[Bald Rick]

I might be being a bit thick but does this not describe every bit of jointed rail in the country that wasn't tamped in the last few weeks?

No it doesn’t. Especially as W Croydon is CWR.

 

[bengley]

Sounds like a broken insulated block joint - as bald rick says the lines through West Croydon are continuously welded.

A broken IBJ will normally have a 20mph ESR put on it until resolved.

 

[John Webb]

I assume this is a fault an NR Track test train would pick up?

 

[DarloRich]

Doesn’t calling the NR helpline just put you through to an Indian call centre, where the person taking your call will likely have no idea what you’re talking about?

Not that i am aware of.

 

[trebor79]

I reported a defect via Twitter earlier in the year (I wasn't a tweeter at the time but it seemed the easiest way to contact them). There was a loud BANG that shook the train as we were going across the marshes near Manea. I noted it was the exact same spot as the previous week. The guard didn't seem at all concerned.
They responded almost immediately and subsequently got in touch again to try and find the precise location. They did find and sort some kind of defect though they weren't specific.

 

[LowLevel]

Sounds like a broken insulated block joint - as bald rick says the lines through West Croydon are continuously welded.

A broken IBJ will normally have a 20mph ESR put on it until resolved.

Surely a voiding sleeper needing packing is far more likely than the IBJ being broken (we are getting into the realms of speculation based on a non expert's description in text though which is silly).

 

[colchesterken]

I was trainspotting at Paddington at the end of platform 9 and thinking about the days of deltics leaving there
I noticed track pumping at the end of No 8, I reported it to the customer service people he got me network rail on the internal phone they were grateful..dont know if they did anything about it I only get there about once a year!

 

[peterinlewes]

A few years ago when I was a member of Southern Train Planning staff I noticed a set of points at the north end of Gatwick Airport Platform 5 were giving a rough ride with a distinct left-right lurch at speed. A colleague had reported this a couple of weeks before and PWay had improved things for a few days but it had become much worse this time.

I had the direct number for Control in my phone at the time so quickly rang them whilst en route. They put an immediate caution on and sent PWay to inspect and they did indeed impose a 20mph restriction until things could be sorted after close of service. This pretty much trashed the Brighton main line evening peak with around 800 mins of delays. I was thanked by my Line Manager the next day.

I spoke to the driver on arrival at Brighton, at Control's request, and he said he hadn't noticed anything to give cause for concern. However where I was on train (middle of an 8 car) the lurch was very pronounced. Drivers are much more used to poor track and things have to really bad before they report things I have found.

What the general travelling public perceive as a dangerous track condition (and sometimes report) is often reported back by PWay as no defect found. They presumably have a different set of parameters and what can be perceived as dangerous and worrying by the travelling public is within the tolerance they work to. However, this can be unsettling and worrying for the travelling public. Bouncing around on plain line is one thing, but unsettling movement and noises over paintwork is especially concerning.

There was often a very worrying lurch over Keymer Junction when motoring down the main line towards Brighton. The number of times this had been reported with speed restrictions applied and PWay attention. They did their bit, but a few days later it was back to the previous bad condition.

 

[LowLevel]

A few years ago when I was a member of Southern Train Planning staff I noticed a set of points at the north end of Gatwick Airport Platform 5 were giving a rough ride with a distinct left-right lurch at speed. A colleague had reported this a couple of weeks before and PWay had improved things for a few days but it had become much worse this time.

I had the direct number for Control in my phone at the time so quickly rang them whilst en route. They put an immediate caution on and sent PWay to inspect and they did indeed impose a 20mph restriction until things could be sorted after close of service. This pretty much trashed the Brighton main line evening peak with around 800 mins of delays. I was thanked by my Line Manager the next day.

I spoke to the driver on arrival at Brighton, at Control's request, and he said he hadn't noticed anything to give cause for concern. However where I was on train (middle of an 8 car) the lurch was very pronounced. Drivers are much more used to poor track and things have to really bad before they report things I have found.

What the general travelling public perceive as a dangerous track condition (and sometimes report) is often reported back by PWay as no defect found. They presumably have a different set of parameters and what can be perceived as dangerous and worrying by the travelling public is within the tolerance they work to. However, this can be unsettling and worrying for the travelling public. Bouncing around on plain line is one thing, but unsettling movement and noises over paintwork is especially concerning.

There was often a very worrying lurch over Keymer Junction when motoring down the main line towards Brighton. The number of times this had been reported with speed restrictions applied and PWay attention. They did their bit, but a few days later it was back to the previous bad condition.

Brooke Road level crossing on the up outside Oakham has a known alignment fault. Stopping passenger trains - fine. Freight trains with a heavy loco pushing through - fine. 90 mph diverted non stop train - I've been thrown from my seat and it tips drinks over. The last time I went over it at speed the driver rang me up to see if I was alright as his coffee was on the cab floor, luckily I was expecting it and grabbed hold of mine It! It gets reported nearly every time there are diversions on and always comes back as 'within spec'.

 

[Bald Rick]

Surely a voiding sleeper needing packing is far more likely than the IBJ being broken (we are getting into the realms of speculation based on a non expert's description in text though which is silly).

I agree, sound slime a voiding sleeper under a block joint - the risk is if it keeps flexing long enough the IBJ will get damaged. Not a safety risk as such, but a definite performance risk.

A few years ago when I was a member of Southern Train Planning staff I noticed a set of points at the north end of Gatwick Airport Platform 5 were giving a rough ride with a distinct left-right lurch at speed. A colleague had reported this a couple of weeks before and PWay had improved things for a few days but it had become much worse this time.

I had the direct number for Control in my phone at the time so quickly rang them whilst en route. They put an immediate caution on and sent PWay to inspect and they did indeed impose a 20mph restriction until things could be sorted after close of service. This pretty much trashed the Brighton main line evening peak with around 800 mins of delays. I was thanked by my Line Manager the next day.

I spoke to the driver on arrival at Brighton, at Control's request, and he said he hadn't noticed anything to give cause for concern. However where I was on train (middle of an 8 car) the lurch was very pronounced. Drivers are much more used to poor track and things have to really bad before they report things I have found.

What the general travelling public perceive as a dangerous track condition (and sometimes report) is often reported back by PWay as no defect found. They presumably have a different set of parameters and what can be perceived as dangerous and worrying by the travelling public is within the tolerance they work to. However, this can be unsettling and worrying for the travelling public. Bouncing around on plain line is one thing, but unsettling movement and noises over paintwork is especially concerning.

There was often a very worrying lurch over Keymer Junction when motoring down the main line towards Brighton. The number of times this had been reported with speed restrictions applied and PWay attention. They did their bit, but a few days later it was back to the previous bad condition.

Presumably in a Class377, which are notorious for riding more roughly at the back of a train. I’ve done cab rides over known rough spots and felt nothing, then on the back of a train the next day and had a real jolt.

 

[rail-god]

Brooke Road level crossing on the up outside Oakham has a known alignment fault. Stopping passenger trains - fine. Freight trains with a heavy loco pushing through - fine. 90 mph diverted non stop train.

You mean 75mph? On the up.

 

[LowLevel]

You mean 75mph? On the up.

Must be - having had a look the SP90 is on the down only at that point. The kick is definitely on the up road. In my defense I don't have to drive the thing and I work fast trains over it about twice a year, my normal domain is 1L01/1L02/2R92, all of which are stopping services