Track upgrades during hot weather

[traingeek97]

I travelled from Kent into London on Sunday and there was a significant amount of engineering work taking place. Not unusual for a Bank Holiday weekend but it did get me wondering what impact the high temperatures have on the blockades.

It was 30 degrees that day and the track workers were still dressed head to toe in PPE during the middle of the day. They were working on the lines into London Bridge which are completely exposed to the sun. I have nothing but respect for those who were working.

Do the workers take extra breaks away from the sun? Is it common for blockades to be delayed because of the impact of hot weather and everything taking a bit longer? Can any concessions be made around PPE and clothing?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I travelled from Kent into London on Sunday and there was a significant amount of engineering work taking place. Not unusual for a Bank Holiday weekend but it did get me wondering what impact the high temperatures have on the blockades.

It was 30 degrees that day and the track workers were still dressed head to toe in PPE during the middle of the day. They were working on the lines into London Bridge which are completely exposed to the sun. I have nothing but respect for those who were working.

Do the workers take extra breaks away from the sun? Is it common for blockades to be delayed because of the impact of hot weather and everything taking a bit longer? Can any concessions be made around PPE and clothing?

Sometimes (rare) the PPE can itself be hazardous as in heat stroke, dehydration etc. In the chemical industry we would actually have rotas so nobody was near a hot reactor too long. Manpower needed obviously increases though.

 

[hexagon789]

Work at Tollerton was suspended until 20:00 yesterday due to the heat for example.

Consequently track work wasn't completed, the rails haven't been stressed, so a 20mph ESR is in force there until rectified.

 

[Annetts key]

Unfortunately it's Network Rail policy that full PPE has to be worn at all times while trackside or while working in yards, depots or elsewhere outside while on duty.

Ventilated hard hats are available, although the air vents are pathetically small so don't help very much.

The hi-vis orange t-shirts that I was issued with were mostly nylon rather than cotton and so were hot to wear in warm / hot weather.

As well as the hot air temperature and the direct sunlight, if working on ballast, this will re-radiate the heat from the sun back towards you, making it even hotter... The rails, if in the sun, can become so hot, it hurts if you touch them.

As a team leader, I would ask my team when they wanted a break. We would find some shade or get in the van with the air conditioning on full.

The main advice from the company was to drink more water. They did supply water bottles (as in empty) and there is cooled water available in depots, but the vans don't have a cooler. And drinking warm water in hot conditions is far from refreshing.

 

[35B]

Not NR, but I've also seen observations from another PPE mandatory workplace that the clothing isn't breathable - and that more than just t-shirts are needed

 

[Thames99]

Does there need to be an additional closure later to correctly stress rail laid in extreme temperatures?

 

[hexagon789]

Does there need to be an additional closure later to correctly stress rail laid in extreme temperatures?

It may be able to be done within a normal possession, but otherwise the Emergency Speed Restriction will have to remain in place until it has been correctly stressed.

The section at Tollerton, north of York, had a 20 ESR imposed, which will easily add 2-3 mins delay into services.

 

[ajwffc]

Does there need to be an additional closure later to correctly stress rail laid in extreme temperatures?

You might get lucky and if you wait long enough that the rail will be at the correct stress temp. But cutting it during the day is a big no no.

 

[Bald Rick]

In my time on the track, it was far more preferable to have this weather than wet & windy, or cold.

Consequently track work wasn't completed, the rails haven't been stressed, so a 20mph ESR is in force there until rectified.

You might get lucky and if you wait long enough that the rail will be at the correct stress temp. But cutting it during the day is a big no no.

Yes, I’ve been lucky a few times and got welded up on a ‘natural’ (rail temp 27C). But timing is everything!

Conversely, also had occasions where the rail has gone in at -4C or similar, too tight for time to stress so clamped up, and then two days later he sun comes out and it’s 18C. Explaining a heat speed restriction to the Operating department in February takes a lot of bottle.