NR NMT and the Great Eastern

[eman_resu]

Hi,
New user so please be nice.

I was reading in Rail a few months back that the Network Rail New Measurement Train (ex HST stock) is not allowed to run on the GE south of Colchester.

Looking at the route availability (what I can find on the web anyway) I can't work out why.

So, does anyone know why we won't see a NMT south of Colchester?

Cheers

 

[swt_passenger]

Without searching through the sectional appendix info which is online somewhere; and if it's anything like parts of the Southwestern area, there is probably a gauging conflict between the power cars and certain station platforms. This is why they couldn't run GW HSTs up the mainline into Waterloo until recently. The conflict was something fairly trivial, many people have explained it is just the way the crew steps are positioned outside the bogies.

The Mk 3 coaching stock itself used in the NMT consist is probably not the limitation.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Without searching through the sectional appendix info which is online somewhere; and if it's anything like parts of the Southwestern area, there is probably a gauging conflict between the power cars and certain station platforms. This is why they couldn't run GW HSTs up the mainline into Waterloo until recently. The conflict was something fairly trivial, many people have explained it is just the way the crew steps are positioned outside the bogies.

The Mk 3 coaching stock itself used in the NMT consist is probably not the limitation.

HSTs ran into Waterloo in the 90's. The only issue is that short swing link bogies must be used on Mk3 coaches in third rail areas.

 

[swt_passenger]

HSTs ran into Waterloo in the 90's. The only issue is that short swing link bogies must be used on Mk3 coaches in third rail areas.

I did NOT say they weren't allowed into Waterloo though, did I?

The wording above was 'parts of the Southwestern area'. There were definite limitations applied in recent years which is why the Christmas/New Year 2010/11 FGW diversions were not permittted up the mainline through Wimbledon towards Waterloo, and had to run via the Byfleet curve and the Windsor lines.

By Easter this year the routing had changed, and the direct route was now available - but there are still platforms at Waterloo that HSTs cannot use, even though Mk 3 coaching stock can.

As discussed in earlier threads, SSL/LSL concerns on the Mk3 stock were dealt with by not permitting LSL versions at all. But once you had your SSL fitted HST or MK 3 stock they were shown separatey in the SA. For example, in the online version of the 2009 SA, (the public 'snapshot' version), it was clearly stated that HSTs were not permitted between Basingstoke and Waterloo up the mainline, and as written they were limited to the Windsor line route into Waterloo (access from Reading via Ascot) and into platforms 17, 18 and 19 only - but Mk 3 coaches could cover different routes:

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse...ge capability_coaching stock_wessex route.pdf

 

[eman_resu]

Thanks swt_passenger and cjmillsnun, good info.

cheers