WCML Disruption (07/11)

[nr_signaller]

Considering the signalling has not even been upgraded yet, it just proves how much this upgrade is needed!

 

[oversteer]

Signalling problems again today! Certainly hasn't been a good few weeks

 

[Tetchytyke]

More signalling problems again today. It never ends.

Still, I'm now up to sixty quid of delay rail vouchers (which is impressive as a 30 minute delay is only £3.50), so that'll pay for a nice rail rover in the spring.

 

[carriageline]

Considering the signalling has not even been upgraded yet, it just proves how much this upgrade is needed!

Actually, the problems recently have been with upgraded/recently added signalling.


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[moggie]

Piecemeal modernisation of the signalling tied to a piecemeal alteration of the Pway means more intrusive activity around the existing signalling circuits, cables etc etc. The failures may or may not be occurring on whatever new kit is working, but constant changes to prepare for forthcoming works or just physically near what is presumably fragile existing kit has clear potential to quickly exposes the weak parts of any installation, hence a predicable increase in failure rates. One reason why it's being renewed no doubt. Nothing new, happens at pretty much every worksite no matter what precautions are taken.

Then they wonder why those in the know think new build a'la HS2 is not such a bad idea.

 

[All Line Rover]

More delays again today through Harrow & Wealdstone.

 

[gordonthemoron]

More delays again today through Harrow & Wealdstone.

is that just the down fast or are other lines affected? Virgin and the semi fast LM services through MK this morning were 15-20 mins late northbound

 

[The Planner]

Track circuit failure today.

 

[All Line Rover]

More disruption on the WCML this morning. Signalling problems through Watford Junction (again) causing delays of up to 45 minutes.

 

[CallySleeper]

More disruption on the WCML this morning. Signalling problems through Watford Junction (again) causing delays of up to 45 minutes.

Oh spiffing!!

 

[tsr]

Track circuit issues on the mainline have apparently been resolved - I am not sure about the track circuit defect on the Overground route at Hatch End. There was also a breakdown on the St Albans Abbey branch earlier (unit brake failure).

 

[Kristofferson]

This is getting silly now. The WCML has gone from one of the most reliable railways in the country, to a joke that rivals the GEML for unreliability.

Dear Network Rail... just give up, pack up, and go home. If it ain't broke, don't mess with it!

 

[All Line Rover]

Now there are also delays of up to 1 hour between Stafford and Birmingham due to (you guessed it!) signalling problems.

 

[carriageline]

This is getting silly now. The WCML has gone from one of the most reliable railways in the country, to a joke that rivals the GEML for unreliability.



Dear Network Rail... just give up, pack up, and go home. If it ain't broke, don't mess with it!

Well, if it's breaking then it's quite clearly broken?

The resignalling works HAVENT added anything to the current signalling system. Maybe it's just bad luck?


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[Kristofferson]

But if they haven't done anything, why are there so many signal/track circuit failures recently?

 

[Sanatogen]

Moggie's post further up is probably what's happening.

 

[gordonthemoron]

glad my first Glasgow train got through before the **** hit the fan

 

[Kristofferson]

Moggie's post further up is probably what's happening.

Right, that's what I thought. They should have either closed the line over August and done it properly (for all the moaning commuters would do, let's be honest, they wouldn't have minded an extra month's holiday... sorry, "working from home") or left it alone.

 

[Tetchytyke]

The resignalling works HAVENT added anything to the current signalling system. Maybe it's just bad luck?

They sort of have and sort of haven't. Many of the new signals are now in place, especially at the north of Watford, where today's signal failure was. They're not activated, but the infrastructure is in. I've seen others on here, like Moggie, mention that the issue seems to be the new hardware is trying to operate when it shouldn't, and it's confusing the system. I'm no signalling engineer so I don't know if that's true, but it would figure.

It should have been done properly or not at all. The current situation is ludicrous. It may hopefully get a little better in December; the equipment will still be rubbish but the "Watford flyer" from Junction to Euston will not be running, so there are fewer trains.

 

[All Line Rover]

The delays through Watford were quickly resolved. Everything was back to normal by 10am.

 

[tsr]

If you refer to today's issues, there are still some delays of around 15mins and a few cancellations, plus disruption to LOROL in the area. Hardly "quickly resolved".

 

[carriageline]

They sort of have and sort of haven't. Many of the new signals are now in place, especially at the north of Watford, where today's signal failure was. They're not activated, but the infrastructure is in. I've seen others on here, like Moggie, mention that the issue seems to be the new hardware is trying to operate when it shouldn't, and it's confusing the system. I'm no signalling engineer so I don't know if that's true, but it would figure.

It should have been done properly or not at all. The current situation is ludicrous. It may hopefully get a little better in December; the equipment will still be rubbish but the "Watford flyer" from Junction to Euston will not be running, so there are fewer trains.

To be fair, the equipment that was operating when it shouldn't was the people on the projects fault, livening equipment up that hasn't been commission as of yet.

The problem with engineering works (or any works for that matter) where your working around live equipment, even worse if it is life expired, is your bound to disturb something. Things can trundle along for years, but if it gets disturbed and breaks contact then you get faults like this (not saying this is what has happened!). It is also why faults fell 'overnight' during the Olympics when no overnight works were taking place, as nothing was being disturbed.

I do admit it is an awful situation to be in, and I feel for pax that have to bear with it.


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[Tetchytyke]

The delays through Watford were quickly resolved. Everything was back to normal by 10am.

Three hours is not "quickly resolved", and there are still knock-on delays even now.

It's the fifth time in two weeks that I've been late for work due to these issues. It's simply not good enough. The only- small- plus side is that I'm now up to sixty quid in rail vouchers since July, which is impressive given that a 30 minute delay is only £3.70.

 

[oversteer]

I've been commuting on that line and despite all these delays only qualify for delay repay today! A set of 20 minute delays is far more annoying than a single 30 minute one ..

 

[Kristofferson]

I'm now up to sixty quid in rail vouchers since July, which is impressive given that a 30 minute delay is only £3.70.

Exactly. We moan, but LM are paying for our holiday travel next summer!

 

[gordonthemoron]

-LM
+Network Rail

 

[Kristofferson]

The voucher comes from LM then they claim it back from Network Rail, correct?