Is it time to clean up the tracks?

[daccer]

A recent editorial in RAIL commented on the state of the cess on the railways and it got me thinking about the state of the permanent way on the network in general and to whether it mattered that things can be a bit of a mess. Maybe someone can enlighten me if there is a NR policy to clean up the track bed and surrounding areas and if not should there be.

I am always amazed, like many commentators, about the amount of equipment and materials to be found scattered around the system seemingly abandoned in situ. I always wonder that with NR having to find economies now that more isnt done to collect up this material. There must be millions of pounds worth of used rails (worth a fortune in the scrap market!), half used jumbo bags of ballast, sleepers and the like just waiting to be picked up.

It is common knowledge that many derailments have been caused by vandals using railway material that was lying by the side of the tracks. Add to this the aesthetic of having rubbish lying about leads to me ask a final general question. With millions being spent on making stations more appealing and with relivering and refurbishing trains to make them more appealing is NR letting the side down by not maintaining the permanent way properly. Graffiti and fly tipping can't always be stopped but surely NR can pick up its own detritus? Comments welcome - am I being pedantic or is it an issue that needs addressing?

 

[O L Leigh]

Nitwit Rail may not be the quickest at collecting things like sections of old rail, but they do get around to it in the end. It's not always a simple job because of issues around access. For example, there are sections of old rail awaiting collection at the bottom of Bethnal Green bank but getting them to the road access point at the top of the bank is going to require a possession.

So why not take it away as it's being replaced? I suppose time is the big limiting factor. If you've only so much time under a possession there is only going to be so much that can be achieved. It's simply a case of cut the old rail into sections, unclip it and tip it to one side so that the new one can be put in. You can see the effects of limited time on the preparations for engineering works. Everything gets delivered to site weeks in advance with the new rail being placed in sections in the 4 foot and bags of ballast, clips and everything else required delivered to the nearest road access point. As the date of the renewals draws closer, the new clips and other fixings and parts will be spread along the line so that when the day (or night) arrives they can just get on with doing the job in hand. It's not ideal, but it is at least a more efficient use of the limited time available.

As for fly-tipping, well Nitwit Rail do what they can. Unfortunately some of our neighbours are no better than animals and will tip all manner of stuff over their back fences and onto railway property.

O L Leigh

 

[fgwrich]

One place i was thinking of is the Cess's in London Paddington...They really are filthy - but sureley they could be cleaned in 1 night per platform - just bring in the Drain Train and a few pressure washers, then potentially new drip mats to take the oil from the 165/hst's and potentially the toilets, unless FGW continue with the Station toilet locking trial - where the toilets on the Mk3's cannot be flushed when in a station...

Mind you, St Pancras is looking just as bad, Difference is though, London Paddington is a historic old station which is getting the Span 4 finnaly re-glazed and smartend up, whilst St Pancras MML is new station, opend within the last 5 years, yet already the cess's are looking absolutly disgusting with oil, water, coolant and effuient everywhere along the tracks...what a complete and utter disgrace to the rest of the station!

rich...

 

[Signalfixer123]

I can't see it getting any better in the short term, especially with talk about renewing a set of points in an 8 hour possession. It'll be a case of "Chuck the new points in and run" leaving absolutely no time for site tidiness.

 

[ian959]

Funnily enough during the course of my last visit to the UK, I was surprised by the amount of reusable/recyclable material apparently left unused at the side of the railway. Entire sidings disappearing under bushes and trees just left in situ. As stated earlier, there must be a packet in old/unused rail just rusting away around the country.

Equally, it was very noticeable in areas in Glasgow and Liverpool the amount of domestic rubbish thrown over back fences onto the railway. In many cases the vegetation hides the problem but in truth this all needs to be cleaned up as it is a disgraceful impression to give visitors.

Of course it happens else where too but the UK seems to be especially bad for it.

 

[boing_uk]

At Poulton le Fylde there are a number of track panels stacked up at the side of the road that have obviously been there for a good number of years, as they have become part of the hedgerow.

Not to mention the odd bits of new pointwork scattered around between Blackpool North and Blackburn, that have been there for at least 18 months.

And there have been new rails in the 4 foot on the Down Fast between the goods line switches and Faringdon Curve Jcn for over 12 months now... ??

What gets me is the actual state of the track in some places... wet beds that have been there for months and there is one heck of sideways shove at Bamber Bridge through the points in the platform.

 

[2030720310]

I reckon enthusiasts and others should form groups who go round and clean up the areas we can get to safely. Obviously safety measures have to be taken but people who care about railways should surely be able to actively make a difference to it? What does everyone else think?

 

[spoony]

I reckon enthusiasts and others should form groups who go round and clean up the areas we can get to safely. Obviously safety measures have to be taken but people who care about railways should surely be able to actively make a difference to it? What does everyone else think?

Its not the job of the enthusiasts!

 

[fgwrich]

I reckon enthusiasts and others should form groups who go round and clean up the areas we can get to safely. Obviously safety measures have to be taken but people who care about railways should surely be able to actively make a difference to it? What does everyone else think?

Its not the job of the enthusiasts!

Yeap...As you wouldnt want to go and clean the tracks in St Pancras & London Paddington would you?

What with all the oil, water, coolant & effuent down there...

But seriously, i really do agree with the comments in Rail Magazine, but also of what i have put above...

Last year a freind of mine who works for FGW was injured at Paddington becasue of a needle that had been disposed of onto the track! This was down to the Network Rail employed station cleaners who just seem to avidly sweep any platform rubbish onto the track! He was off for around half the year...

People who have to go down onto the track to do there jobs shouldnt have to be affected by what evers down there, So i really do think it is time to clean up the tracks...and make it safer for all who have to work down or around it...

rich

 

[Matt Taylor]

Things like this are unacceptable:

http://matthew-taylor.fotopic.net/p42702084.html

How can the industry expect people to feel safe in an environment like that? Yes it should be cleaned up, but it is the responsibility of NR to do this (usually under a posession).