SIMBIDs (SIMple BIDirectional Signalling) usage during disruption

[paul1609]

Moderator not: split from

ECML disruption (08/07) inc. points failure at Doncaster & failed train near Huntingdon

Yet again the ECML falling over itself. Sat at York station where nothing SB is moving because of a points failure in the North(?) throat of Doncaster station that happened about 0930…

www.railforums.co.uk

Absolutely needed although not sure SIMBIDs is favoured these days but with ETCS coming over next couple of years one would hope they have that functionality included as it won't need any new signals.

Isnt SIMBIDS the system thats installed on the Brighton Mainline south of Balcome Tunnel Junction but is almost never used because the restrictive capacity and the ban on red zone working just spreads more chaos over the entire Southern system with knock on to Thameslink? I believe that the first choice now is the implementation of diversions via the Arun Valley and rail replacement buses and close the mainline so the issues can be resolved.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Isnt SIMBIDS the system thats installed on the Brighton Mainline south of Balcome Tunnel Junction but is almost never used because the restrictive capacity and the ban on red zone working just spreads more chaos over the entire Southern system with knock on to Thameslink? I believe that the first choice now is the implementation of diversions via the Arun Valley and rail replacement buses and close the mainline so the issues can be resolved.

It is actually still used occasionally but the sections are so long that you can only run a very limited service but thats better than nothing.

 

[Railsigns]

Isnt SIMBIDS the system thats installed on the Brighton Mainline south of Balcome Tunnel Junction but is almost never used because the restrictive capacity and the ban on red zone working just spreads more chaos over the entire Southern system with knock on to Thameslink?

The bi-di on the Brighton line isn't technically SIMBIDS, although it seems to be referred to locally as that. Parts of the ECML have true SIMBIDS.

 

[Sunset route]

Balcombe Tunnel Junction to Cooyhold Junction is full bi-di signalling with a couple of signal sections missing compared to right direction. Then Hayward's Heath to Keymer Junction and Keymer Junction to Preston Park is SIMBIDs with only one signal section for the whole of the wrong direction move. Also for all three areas (sections of line) whilst operating in the wrong direction no other trains are allowed to be moving on the opposite line.

 

[Numbskull100]

GEML Colchester to Shenfield is also SIMBIDs. Reduced capacity but a great system when disruption hits.

 

[Class 170101]

GEML Colchester to Shenfield is also SIMBIDs. Reduced capacity but a great system when disruption hits.

Marks Tey to Colchester isn't SIMBIDS as it cannot be installed anymore and thus wasn't permitted for the Colchester resignalling. Happy to be corrected but I don't think the rest is SIMBIDS either.

GE Southend Branch has SIMBIDS as does LTS from Barking to Shoeburyness via Laindon.

 

[Railsigns]

GEML Colchester to Shenfield is also SIMBIDs. Reduced capacity but a great system when disruption hits.

SIMBIDS has never existed between Shenfield and Colchester. There's reduced capacity bi-directional signalling, but it's not SIMBIDS.

 

[Belperpete]

Wasn't one of the features of SIMBIDs, apart from the reduced number of wrong road signals, was that the right road AWS isn't suppressed like it would be for proper bidi signalling? Which is one of the reasons new installations are no longer allowed.

 

[Railsigns]

Wasn't one of the features of SIMBIDs, apart from the reduced number of wrong road signals, was that the right road AWS isn't suppressed like it would be for proper bidi signalling?

Yes, that's a defining characteristic of SIMplified BIDIrectional Signalling, together with non-provision of AWS for wrong-direction signals. Lineside signs show where normal AWS working ends and resumes. If these signs aren't present, then it's not SIMBIDS.