Possible Replacement Bus from Strathcarron to Kyle during Rockface stabilisation

[Esker-pades]

From here: https://www.whfp.com/2018/10/05/cou...o-help-ease-disruption-on-stromeferry-bypass/

Scotrail are currently considering a proposal to terminate rail journeys at Strathcarron to allow road traffic to flow more freely through the diversion on the Stromeferry bypass.

At a meeting in Lochcarron last week, Colin Howell (pictured), Highland Council’s head of infrastructure, said that the ‘road to rail’ diversion on the bypass, where important stabilisation work to the rockface is being carried out, could stay open to traffic for an extra 80 minutes each day if Scotrail would agree to do this. It would involved taking passengers by bus from Strathcarron to stations along the line to Kyle of Lochalsh.

At the moment, even when a train has gone passed the bypass, that section of line must remain closed until the train reaches either Kyle or Strathcarron. Mr Howell said that Transport Scotland and Transport Minister Michael Matheson are considering this.

A spokesman for Transport Scotland said Scotrail are looking at the proposal, which will have to be approved by the Mr Matheson.

He added: ““We are pleased that there has been cooperation between Highland Council and the ScotRail Alliance [a new partnership between Abellio Scotrail and Network Rail] to facilitate the essential works on the Council’s A890 road.

“We appreciate that, notwithstanding this cooperation, there is disruption for road uses during the passage of the normal train service. We have asked colleagues in the ScotRail Alliance to consider if there are any practical options further to minimise disruption to road users during the road works whilst still maintaining services upon which rail passengers depend.”

Skye and Lochalsh MP Ian Blackford supported the introduction to the buses from Strathcarron.

He added: “Network Rail seem to be sticking their fingers in their ears over this. A number of mistakes from both the rail company and Highland Council have led to the situation that we are in now and have been for some time.”

“Network Rail must stop some of the trains coming from Inverness at Strathcarron and then arrange a bus service going onto Stromeferry. That would alleviate the ridiculous waiting times that passengers travelling by road are experiencing.”

“The current way of working has caused no end of problems. We have kids being stranded on buses for hours and cues over 100 cars deep in both directions. To be fair the council at least seem willing to listen. We now need to get all parties round the table and hammer out a plan on this as quickly as possible, the current situation cannot continue.”

Effectively, between Stromeferry and Attadale (roughly), the council feels the need to complete stabilisation works on the rockface. Whilst this takes place, cars have to use the railway (which runs alongside the road but further away from the rockface). Clearly, cars cannot use this bypass whilst trains are in the section.
The length of the block section means that the road has to be closed whilst a train occupies anywhere from Kyle of Lochalsh to Strathcarron (a 45 minute journey plus buffering time either side). This happens 8 times per day (4 trains in each direction). Traffic builds up whilst this happens and causes tailbacks.

The current occupations of this section are as follows (Mon to Sat):
06:11 to 06:56
10:48 to 11:30
12:08 to 12:50
12:53 to 13:35
13:46 to 14:28
15:30 to 16:12
17:13 to 17:55
19:49 to 20:31

(Sun):
12:55 to 13:37
15:12 to 15:54

The proposal is to run replacement buses from Kyle to Strathcarron so that the road isn't closed.

Is this a good idea?

 

[philthetube]

Gut feeling is no, but would it not be possible to bring in conductor* operation to reduce delays.

I that is the wrong term I am sure that I will be corrected.

 

[causton]

Free press? Free from any editors with the standard of grammar there.

Anyway, onto the story...

If they are considering this then I am sure they have already looked into some sort of temporary block working* situation and deemed it unviable, although this is a pretty unique situation!

*that is probably the wrong term too...

How long is this work going on for? If this work is going on for a week or so then I would be more likely to agree to the bus replacement - although this time of year passenger numbers will only start to fall!

 

[Trackbedjolly]

The rockface work could take weeks. SR could have buses over this period. But complaints by MP are not helpful when road users are already using the railway. Council are getting access on the cheap-if the boot were on the other foot SR would not be able to operate at all. Alternatively go back to the old ways; take a boat....

 

[318266]

If I were in charge and was faced with this question, I would say yes to Rail Replacement Buses and no to trains.

Also, it seems a bit funny that cars, trucks and buses are on the railway!

 

[Robertj21a]

Can't there be some form of special 'emergency' working in order to cut that 45 mins down - you know, something like men with flags/traffic lights/radios ....?

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Surely not hard.

Put a stop board 1 mile distant.
Train stops. Staff on site radio confirmation.
5 minute wait for traffic to be stopped.
Train passes.
Once past the opposite 1 mile board, confirmation is radioed. Road is cleared.

Need two staff and a couple of radios

Infinitely less disruptive than closing a whole railway line and bustituting.

 

[AndrewE]

Put a stop board 1 mile distant.
Train stops. Staff on site radio confirmation.
5 minute wait for traffic to be stopped.
Train passes.
Once past the opposite 1 mile board, confirmation is radioed. Road is cleared.

Need two staff and a couple of radios Infinitely less disruptive than closing a whole railway line and bustituting.

Even better, train driver or guard radios site man when train is 5 mins away, one of the site men puts road barrier down and drives through to confirm no-one has stopped in the section (like the convoy system sometimes used in road works, but on the back) then train authorised to proceed. Train leaves short section and site man re-opens road.

 

[mcmad]

The railway has bent over backwards to minimise the disruption that the road closure is causing. To expect them to then introduced lower safety working arrangements or cancel services is ridiculous. What would the council have done if there wasn't a railway beside the road?

 

[Esker-pades]

Surely not hard.

Put a stop board 1 mile distant.
Train stops. Staff on site radio confirmation.
5 minute wait for traffic to be stopped.
Train passes.
Once past the opposite 1 mile board, confirmation is radioed. Road is cleared.

Need two staff and a couple of radios

Infinitely less disruptive than closing a whole railway line and bustituting.

Even better, train driver or guard radios site man when train is 5 mins away, one of the site men puts road barrier down and drives through to confirm no-one has stopped in the section (like the convoy system sometimes used in road works, but on the back) then train authorised to proceed. Train leaves short section and site man re-opens road.

The problem I see with that is the time it would take traffic to get from one end of the closure to the other, which is not insignificant. What the buffers allow is more than enough time for road vehicles to clear the rail section, which is what is required. What happens if something breaks down? With the current system, there is more than enough time for calls to be made and trains to be stopped.
Yes, the speed limit on that section is 25-30mph, but the line is very curvy meaning the viewing distance may not be enough to break in time. The last thing we want is a car to be whacked by a train.

An unscheduled 5 minute wait would mean that some trains could not make their turnaround time at Kyle in order to form their service back. It would also mean the very tight timings on the Dingwall to Inverness section would be royally messed up.

 

[InOban]

Depends how much the Council is paying!

I'm in two minds about this. We all know that uninterrupted working is much more efficient, and I suspect that some of the works may require a complete blockade in case rocks roll across on to the railway. It's at a time of year when the number of passengers fall away drastically, so a modest coach will be more than enough. On the other hand it sets a precedent - will summer-only operation become widespread, undermining the claim that the line provides a lifeline service.

It also illustrates the costs associated with our supersafe Rule Book.

It will also be dark at the tines of the early and late trains, and indeed there wouldn't be any personnel on site at these times.

 

[Ben.A.98]

The railway has bent over backwards to minimise the disruption that the road closure is causing. To expect them to then introduced lower safety working arrangements or cancel services is ridiculous. What would the council have done if there wasn't a railway beside the road?

The way I see it is that the road users should be grateful that the railway is allowing them to use this road on rail system, that could have been declined and they could have just had to have put up with the 130 mile diversionary route.

 

[InOban]

That would not be good PR.

 

[Bletchleyite]

A rail replacement bus along the railway line is a new one! Will feel odd, that.

 

[gord]

I'm hoping to have a go on the Kyle line next week as part of my Scotland to Cornwall adventure. Seeing I've already had to scrap part of my journey and re-book thanks to a late announcement of engineering works around Stirling, I'm now fearing this part of the journey may be ruined too.

 

[Esker-pades]

I'm hoping to have a go on the Kyle line next week as part of my Scotland to Cornwall adventure. Seeing I've already had to scrap part of my journey and re-book thanks to a late announcement of engineering works around Stirling, I'm now fearing this part of the journey may be ruined too.

Currently trains are running as normal and cars are being stopped and started to fit around the timetable. I don't think it will change by next week.

 

[vlad]

Is this the same section of line that was opened to road traffic when the A890 was closed due to a landslide in 2012?

They kept the railway line open then - why can't they do the same now?

 

[Highlandspring]

Is this the same section of line that was opened to road traffic when the A890 was closed due to a landslide in 2012?

Yes

They kept the railway line open then - why can't they do the same now?

They can and they will. It’s just the council and the local MP moaning.

 

[Ben.A.98]

I'm hoping to have a go on the Kyle line next week as part of my Scotland to Cornwall adventure. Seeing I've already had to scrap part of my journey and re-book thanks to a late announcement of engineering works around Stirling, I'm now fearing this part of the journey may be ruined too.

I would be most suprised if anything is done between now and next week, you should be fine. Scotrail themselves have mentioned nothing about making reductions in the service, as stated above its just local MPs moaning.

 

[haggishunter]

Is it working the same way as previously or was something done differently to reopen the road once the train was off the shared section rather than waiting till the radio token was released?

 

[Highlandspring]

It’s being done in exactly the same way. I think last time, though, they ran a ferry (borrowed from Corran?) to/from Strome Ferry in the morning and afternoon for the schoolies.

 

[Muzer]

How does this work exactly? Have they put some sort of level crossing decking type stuff over the railway?

 

[Esker-pades]

How does this work exactly? Have they put some sort of level crossing decking type stuff over the railway?

Pretty much, yes.

 

[haggishunter]

It was the Glenachulish turntable ferry that goes from Glenelg to Skye, it was built for the Strome Ferry. This was her back on the Stromeferry route (not my photo):

 

[Flyingsprinter]

I had no idea that road traffic was running on the railway up there. I am perplexed. How is that even possible? It’s like something someone in an insane asylum would come up with.

 

[InOban]

If you Google strathcarron rock face images you will find a picture of a train passing the worksite.

The Glenachulish was, as its name suggests, built for the Ballechulish ferry.

 

[AndrewE]

it takes a bit of finding, but this is one that comes up:

https://caithness-business.co.uk/image_cache/na2868.jpg

 

[edwin_m]

The replacement road is "single track" so they must have some form of traffic control to ensure that road vehicles don't meet nose-to-nose and have to back out, and also that the road is clear in both directions before a train enters the section.

Although the extent of works may be large the individual worksite at any particular time is likely to be much smaller. If there was a will to shorten the road closure time then this could be done (at a cost) with handsignalmen. For example one could be posted with a yellow flag half a mile out and a red flag/detonators just short of the worksite, and similarly at the other end. Unless confirmed by radio that the track was clear they would display a caution/stop to approaching trains.

This seems perfectly possible from a railway point of view, just needing someone to pay for handsignalmen in addition to the people who are already needed for road traffic control. So I'd say it was entirely down to the council to decide whether to spend this extra money to reduce the road delays.

 

[furnessvale]

I had no idea that road traffic was running on the railway up there. I am perplexed. How is that even possible? It’s like something someone in an insane asylum would come up with.

I believe there is a location in Switzerland where that"insanity" is a permanent arrangement.

 

[AndrewE]

And on the Inlandsbanen in Sweden: