Reporting Possible Bad Track

[meolebrace]

Had a couple of really bad jolts between Coventry and Rugby this morning on the Southbound line. I have tweeted this to Network Rail. Are the train crew meant to report these?

 

[whhistle]

Yes, if they feel it's a rough ride.
But what may feel like a "rough jolt" to you, might just be normal.
I've heard the line, particularly between Rugby and Coventry is very wibbily to say the least!

 

[Mag_seven]

Had a couple of really bad jolts between Coventry and Rugby this morning on the Southbound line. I have tweeted this to Network Rail. Are the train crew meant to report these?

If the train crew either feel it themselves or it is reported to them then they should report it.

 

[83G/84D]

Train crew would normally report any concerns to the controlling signal box via GSM-R for cases where the ride quality is worse than “normal”.

Bear in mind the train crew probably travel over that line regularly and know where the known rough areas are so they might not consider it to be any worse than normal.

Trains going over Points, switches and crossings give the impression of a rough ride but this isn’t necessarily always the case.

 

[meolebrace]

I understand that. The jolts were worse than anything I had noticed for a long time.

Best bit..tilt through the tunnels south of Milton Keynes

 

[BestWestern]

If there is a track defect, a Driver will almost certainly feel it. They're sat right on top of a bogie, after all, and they also have the benefit of a good view of the line from a decent angle. As an informed passenger, I would agree that any concern should be reported, but there are certainly some lumpy stretches out there!

NR are under enormous pressure, and one does sometimes wonder if certain defects might be left longer than they once would have been, with funds in short supply and political decisions sometimes influencing where priorities lie (think GWR power car falling through the floor at Paddington; the rotten infrastructure was identified but resources were diverted to electrification and repair schedules delayed). That said, it remains the case of course that anything in need of immediate repair is dealt with urgently.

 

[meolebrace]

Sinkhole beneath Paddington?

 

[rebmcr]

Sinkhole beneath Paddington?

It's called Crossrail the ⦵ Elizabeth Line.

 

[DarloRich]

NR have a 24 hour helpline: 03457 11 41 41

 

[cambsy]

The Tunnels south of Milton Keynes’s are Linslade, just outside Leighton Buzard, it has reverse curves. So little time to switch from one day to the other, its is lively with tilt on the WCML.

 

[GW43125]

NR have a 24 hour helpline: 03457 11 41 41

Who are hopeless. I reported a level crossing defect two weeks ago (or was it three?) and they've done Foxtrot Alpha about it.

 

[BestWestern]

Who are hopeless. I reported a level crossing defect two weeks ago (or was it three?) and they've done Foxtrot Alpha about it.

One assumes it isn't desperately urgent?

 

[Elecman]

Who are hopeless. I reported a level crossing defect two weeks ago (or was it three?) and they've done Foxtrot Alpha about it.

They will have emailed the relevant Infrastructure maintainer

 

[meolebrace]

Elizabeth line? You'd think they would have done something to prevent it.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Bear in mind the train crew probably travel over that line regularly and know where the known rough areas are so they might not consider it to be any worse than normal.

That's quite true; back in the days when I was commuting between Stoneleigh and Epsom, and therefore making just one trip a day each way, any change was noticeable but would not necessarily have been so to crew doing multiple trips in any one day.

There was one bit that always gave a jolt, at bridge number 6 over Meadow Walk between Ewell West and Stoneleigh, more so in the up direction. I had a feeling it was getting worse, so I reported it to the Area Manager at Waterloo ( this was in BR days ). I had a letter in response not long after which stated that following my report the track had been inspected and defects found and immediate remedial action was taken.

So... yes, it is always worth making a report if you think something is not right. You may be duplicating a report, but it is always better that something gets duplicated than not reported at all.