Paddington to Plymouth today

[chriskeene]

Moderator note - we have it on good authority that this was all down to a TPWS defect.

I'm on the 13:03 Paddington to Plymouth today. Left 20 mins late due to waiting for the Train Manager (as she explained to her credit many times) for her mandated rest period.
Watching OpenTrainTimes Maps (which may not be 100% accurate, presume this caveat throughout). When the train was trts - annoyingly another train which was ready after us, and wasn't due to leave for another few minutes, got the route on to the fast line, we then got a path just to the next signal which was red.

The train pulled away with good acceleration, and kept speed until it breaked hard to a stop. The Train manager explained a minute later to say the emergency break was applied and the driver was speaking to the signaller. While waiting the train manager walked past up to the driver and then made an announcement that they were talking to control.

23 minutes later (so 43 mins late) we finally moved, and then on to Reading. Where we were delayed again while we waited for a relief driver.

I appreciate there may be a number of reasons why here, but I'm interested if anyone has any insight? Or what happens (the procedure) once the emergency break is applied, what goes on during those 23 mins?

(not sure if this link will work but this is the train on realtimetrains https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P08326/2025-06-19#allox_id=0 )

 

[Horizon22]

If the emergency brake was applied and the driver was relieved at Reading, this would suggest some sort of operational incident by the driver. This could be a TPWS activation due to an overspeed/approaching a red signal. If what you say is correct - with the next signal being red and "good acceleration" this would suggest a TPWS (not sure if it would be ATP in that area) overspeed activation, whacking the train to a stop with an emergency brake application after going over a certain point of track above a set trigger speed. This is to prevent a signal passed at danger (SPAD). Again this is all what it suggests, not definitely what happened.

The driver would have to liaise with the signaller regarding this. The driver would need to speak to GWR Control and confirm what has happened. They may need to reset systems within the cab. Welfare checks would be undertaken with the driver to ensure they were fit to continue and a relief driver arranged. There might be a brief discussion as to the cause, although this would normally be followed up with a driver manager. The driver might take some time to compose themselves. This can all take some time, although 23 minutes does sound like a while. If the driver had made an allegation against the infrastructure, that can also complicate things.

 

[55018ballymoss]

If the emergency brake was applied and the driver was relieved at Reading, this would suggest some sort of operational incident by the driver. This could be a TPWS activation due to an overspeed/approaching a red signal. If what you say is correct - with the next signal being red and "good acceleration" this would suggest a TPWS (not sure if it would be ATP in that area) overspeed activation, whacking the train to a stop with an emergency brake application after going over a certain point of track above a set trigger speed. This is to prevent a signal passed at danger (SPAD). Again this is all what it suggests, not definitely what happened.

The driver would have to liaise with the signaller regarding this. The driver would need to speak to GWR Control and confirm what has happened. They may need to reset systems within the cab. Welfare checks would be undertaken with the driver to ensure they were fit to continue and a relief driver arranged. There might be a brief discussion as to the cause, although this would normally be followed up with a driver manager. The driver might take some time to compose themselves. This can all take some time, although 23 minutes does sound like a while. If the driver had made an allegation against the infrastructure, that can also complicate things.

It does depend on the speed and experience of the TOC Control from my own perspective. Some can be swift and have the train on the way, and some are a little less quick with the response. This is assuming that an operational incident occurred.

 

[Horizon22]

It does depend on the speed and experience of the TOC Control from my own perspective. Some can be swift and have the train on the way, and some are a little less quick with the response. This is assuming that an operational incident occurred.

Yes of course every situation must be dealt with on its own merits. And confidence in dealing with the matter can come into it, as can trying to find out what exactly has happened when faced with potentially conflicting reports in the immediate aftermath.