Speed restrictions as the heatwave arrives

[DarloRich]

Front page of the Evening Standard this evening:

https://twitter.com/MKDarlo/status/615993771776417792/photo/1

Trains hit by 'wrong sort of heat'

Utter wibble. You should see the level of simpletonism it generates via tiwtter comments. Disgraceful journalism

 

[Whistler40145]

Thankfully I don't waste my time with either Twitter or Facebook, I'm rather old fashioned.

 

[Darren R]

Thankfully I don't waste my time with either Twitter or Facebook, I'm rather sensible.

Fixed that for you!

 

[30907]

Also, if it's running slower, it missed its booked path, if you ran it right through, the service it forms after would leave late, and become more and more delayed over the course of the day.

And, specifically, the two branches are single track and operated at close to 100% capacity with tight turnrounds. There are very few London commuter routes that fit that description. Braintree and perhaps Epsom Downs?

 

[Harlan Cage]

Here you go. A little something for you to wear

Nothing like a troll on a hot summers day

HC
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

That is not the case here, I can assure you. This is 100% on the instructions of Network Rail. I've overheard the conversations about it.

Thank you for a constructive and informative reply

HC

HC

 

[LAX54]

Meanwhile, in Poland, Austria, France............ trains running normal, despite colder winters and hotter summers.

Not true, just a myth perpetuated by the press and anti-rail brigade, like leaves on the line, affects all the other railways around the world too.

 

[TheEdge]

Without sounding like the Daily Mail surely there are places, like the US western coast and deserts, various African networks and the middle east where this is a perpetual issue and something more than temporary speed and service restrictions have to be used.

What goes on in those areas?

 

[Carlisle]

Without sounding like the Daily Mail surely there are places, like the US western coast and deserts, various African networks and the middle east where this is a perpetual issue and something more than temporary speed and service restrictions have to be used.

What goes on in those areas?

I've heard Network Rail say if you install track designed to cope with regular very hot weather its then unable to preform as well in our cold winters though I'm sure someone else can explain it far better than that

 

[meridian2]

Those comparing our railways with continental Europe are really comparing apples and oranges. For starters, their railways are run as a public service rather than to line pockets of shareholders, ergo, they are considerably more safer and well-designed to cope with all weather conditions.

 

[The Planner]

Steady! that is a really brave statement to make! Our railways are unsafe compared to others? want to back that one up?

 

[gavin]

Todays planned changes due to the heat

Abellio Greater Anglia

Exceptionally hot weather conditions mean that speed restrictions are being imposed across the Abellio Greater Anglia network between 11:00 and 20:00.

Because of this, services between London Liverpool Street and Colchester / Ipswich / Southend Victoria may be disrupted.


First Great Western

Exceptionally hot weather conditions are causing disruption to some First Great Western services between Bourne End / Marlow and Maidenhead. The following alterations will apply:

The 16:42 / 17:42 / 18:42 London Paddington to Bourne End services will now terminate at Maidenhead.

A reduced service will run between Marlow and Maidenhead.

Southeastern

Exceptionally hot weather conditions mean that speed restrictions will be imposed across the Southeastern network during this afternoon and evening, when temperatures will likley reach their highest.

No alterations to service are currently in place; however, before travel we advise that you check your journey via the link below.

Virgin Trains East Coast

Exceptionally hot weather conditions mean Network Rail are imposing speed restrctions on the East Coast Main Line. Because of this Virgin Trains East Coast are running a reduced service between Leeds and London Kings Cross.

Customers with tickets for the cancelled services may travel on the train immediately before or after their booked service. Passengers who no longer wish to travel are entitled to a full refund.

20 services are cancelled to and from Leeds a full list can be found here https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/travel-information/travel-alerts/?id=2504

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/default.aspx

 

[Minilad]

Nothing like a troll on a hot summers day

HC

Which is exactly why I posted the picture. In response to one

 

[petegunstone]

Speed restrictions deals with one aspect of passenger safety (as well as operational robustness). I wonder if the TOCs risk assessments consider the internal temperature of carriages?

Fewer services logically suggests higher passenger loading on trains. I wouldn't fancy being in a overcrowded train today with dicky air conditioning, especially if the train or its air conditioning broke down. In such case, the heat could lead to potential health issues for some passengers.

Apparently, UK health & safety legislation does not cover maximum working temperatures for staff. I wonder if there is legislation protecting punters/passengers in this realm?

 

[glbotu]

Todays planned changes due to the heat

Abellio Greater Anglia

Exceptionally hot weather conditions mean that speed restrictions are being imposed across the Abellio Greater Anglia network between 11:00 and 20:00.

Because of this, services between London Liverpool Street and Colchester / Ipswich / Southend Victoria may be disrupted.


First Great Western

Exceptionally hot weather conditions are causing disruption to some First Great Western services between Bourne End / Marlow and Maidenhead. The following alterations will apply:

The 16:42 / 17:42 / 18:42 London Paddington to Bourne End services will now terminate at Maidenhead.

A reduced service will run between Marlow and Maidenhead.

Southeastern

Exceptionally hot weather conditions mean that speed restrictions will be imposed across the Southeastern network during this afternoon and evening, when temperatures will likley reach their highest.

No alterations to service are currently in place; however, before travel we advise that you check your journey via the link below.

Virgin Trains East Coast

Exceptionally hot weather conditions mean Network Rail are imposing speed restrctions on the East Coast Main Line. Because of this Virgin Trains East Coast are running a reduced service between Leeds and London Kings Cross.

Customers with tickets for the cancelled services may travel on the train immediately before or after their booked service. Passengers who no longer wish to travel are entitled to a full refund.

20 services are cancelled to and from Leeds a full list can be found here https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/travel-information/travel-alerts/?id=2504

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/default.aspx

Are these all areas where they still have jointed track running at reasonable speeds?

 

[ainsworth74]

For starters, their railways are run as a public service rather than to line pockets of shareholders, ergo, they are considerably more safer and well-designed to cope with all weather conditions.

When was the last fatal accident in the UK? How about France or Germany or Spain?

 

[Clip]

Steady! that is a really brave statement to make! Our railways are unsafe compared to others? want to back that one up?

Come along they don't have to do they - as long as they mention that all the ills of the railway are due to its 'fragmentation*' then that's all that counts.




*I think this was the most used word on RailUK Forums yesterday outside the normal words

 

[DarloRich]

Are these all areas where they still have jointed track running at reasonable speeds?

no they are not

 

[meridian2]

When was the last fatal accident in the UK? How about France or Germany or Spain?

I'm comparing on the basis of how they react under extreme weather. Why are there speed restrictions if the network is 'safe'?
Someone alluded to the correct fact that climate change is causing our weather to become more extreme.

 

[Clip]

I'm comparing on the basis of how they react under extreme weather. Why are there speed restrictions if the network is 'safe'?
.

Because you never, ever know.

 

[cool110]

Apparently, UK health & safety legislation does not cover maximum working temperatures for staff. I wonder if there is legislation protecting punters/passengers in this realm?

While a maximum temperature is not specified, current HSE guidelines state that if more than 10%-20% (depending of the type of premises) of employees are complaining about temperature then a risk assessment should be done and measured implemented to manage it as with any other risk.

 

[carriageline]

I think some people need read up on how stressing and rail head temps work!

Put it simply, if it was 'designed' to take this summers temp then we will have the same problem again when the temp drops in winter. A happy medium has to be found somewhere.

 

[LLivery]

Those comparing our railways with continental Europe are really comparing apples and oranges. For starters, their railways are run as a public service rather than to line pockets of shareholders, ergo, they are considerably more safer and well-designed to cope with all weather conditions.

Eh? Last time I checked we've got one of the safest railways in Europe, Eurasia, probably the world.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I'm comparing on the basis of how they react under extreme weather. Why are there speed restrictions if the network is 'safe'?
Someone alluded to the correct fact that climate change is causing our weather to become more extreme.

Surly it is made safer by having speed restrictions? I'm sure tracks buckle on the continent and have restrictions...

 

[HH]

Well this morning we had problems with the OHLs at Colchester. That's another issue, especially on routes like the GEML, which has old wires along much of the route.

 

[Deepgreen]

Front page of the Evening Standard this evening:

https://twitter.com/MKDarlo/status/615993771776417792/photo/1



Utter wibble. You should see the level of simpletonism it generates via tiwtter comments. Disgraceful journalism

Agreed - it's a very lazy cliche now to use the "wrong type of..." phrase whenever weather and transport are combined! Still, as long as it sells (free) papers!

 

[Saint66]

Considering 32.5c has already been reached at Heathrow at 10am, you can probably see why there might be a few issues heat wise!

 

[DownSouth]

Without sounding like the Daily Mail surely there are places, like the US western coast and deserts, various African networks and the middle east where this is a perpetual issue and something more than temporary speed and service restrictions have to be used.

What goes on in those areas?

You are on the money - the conditions for rails in Britain are by no means extreme, and rail-related problems kicking in when the temperature is only in the low 30s should be regarded as unacceptable.


I live in South Australia, one of those other places where the conditions for the rails are much tougher. After a lengthy period of track rebuilding, our suburban network is now at the point where we don't get rail-related disruption even when the maximum temperature is into the mid 40s. When things do start going wrong, in general the problems we do get are equipment failures rather than issues with the rails.

In addition to those high air temperatures, the rails are getting heated from above by intense sunlight which is far more direct than anywhere in Britain would ever experience (hot temperatures in Britain are caused by pockets of warm air, not by the sun) and they still need to be rated down to -10 degrees for the winter minimum temperatures which can be very cold in certain parts of the Outback (the surface of a desert radiates away its heat much faster than the ground in a maritime-dominated climate like Britain). Rails will heat and cool by over 50 degrees in a single day out there.

It would seem that the British need to look at adjusting their use of CWR to account for a slightly higher range of temperatures. If they can get it to the same sort of range as Australian tracks which work with slightly milder minimums and significantly hotter maximums, it should then be as simple as getting the neutral temperature right during installation.

 

[Deepgreen]

Considering 32.5c has already been reached at Heathrow at 10am, you can probably see why there might be a few issues heat wise!

Yes - that is very early in the day for such a high reading! BBC Weather is now forecasting 36C in London, but we may exceed even that. The record for the UK is 38.5C in Kent on 3 August 2003.

 

[ComUtoR]

When was the last fatal accident in the UK? How about France or Germany or Spain?

Potentially about 3/4 months ago

However are you also dismissing level crossing deaths ?

 

[swt_passenger]

For starters, their railways are run as a public service rather than to line pockets of shareholders, ergo, they are considerably more safer and well-designed to cope with all weather conditions.

Our railway infrastructure is run as a public service too, since Network Rail was set up with NO shareholders.

This thread isn't about TOCs...

 

[EM2]

You are on the money - the conditions for rails in Britain are by no means extreme, and rail-related problems kicking in when the temperature is only in the low 30s should be regarded as unacceptable.

It's extreme for the UK. The temperature today is expected to be the highest for a decade. Some rail temperatures were already over 50 yesterday, and will get higher today.