Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption elsewhere - ongoing, since Oct 2014

[whole diary]

[Billhere]

West Midlands Signalling Centre is known as the Bunker as it was built to withstand a nuclear attack if you believe the rumours, TVSC^» (Thames Valley Signalling Centre - about) is known as the Stalag, horrible places to go and so far away from the traditional role where, even in an NX panel, the Signaller actually had some input into what was going on.

ARS^▸ (Automatic Route Setting) was described to me as being like a very small child, it had to be watched all the time to try and stop it doing something stupid. The only ones who don't seem to mind are new entrants and they know no different. It certainly takes the initiative away from the operator.

At least one Signaller has quit TVSC to go back to more traditional style of operation, and another is waiting to go.

Off the subject I know but it does have a bearing on the manpower available.

[Adelante_CCT]

ARS^▸ (Automatic Route Setting) was described to me as being like a very small child, it had to be watched all the time to try and stop it doing something stupid. .... It certainly takes the initiative away from the operator.

Talking of this, I do wish more manual control was taken in certain situations. eg: During lunchtime the two northbound XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services at Reading use P12 instead of P3/P7 for some reason (not sure why, there isn't really any need, but it does, and when running smoothly it's fine) except a couple of weeks ago there was (yet another) signalling failure at Basingstoke delaying services by a few minutes, meaning both the 12:15 and 12:45 were arriving approximately 5 minutes after departure time, both could have been routed into P3/P7 like any other given hour but no, they were still routed into P12 therefore delaying the 12:23/12:53 Oxford stoppers by up to 10 minutes. Another example a few weeks ago of a class 800 training run to Reading and back suppose to be reversing in P10, but due to delays to Paddington bound services this platform was full but they just held the 800 outside the station blocking P7/P8/P9 forcing fast Bristol/Oxford trains onto the down relief and P12, which of course blocked the up main even more. After about 15 minutes they decided to finally route the 800 into P9, which they should have just done from the beginning.

I would love to be a (traditional) signaller, but by the sounds of it its not as fun as it used to be.

[Billhere]

The workload rate is high at some locations and actually requires ARS^▸ (Automatic Route Setting) to help out, the idea being that it frees up the Signaller to deal with other matters.

Get involved with something else and the ARS will route the train as per the programme and a more obvious move gets overlooked.

For some of the reasons mentioned by  Electric train staff are difficult to come by, the natural progression from smaller boxes is quickly disappearing, and in some cases existing Signallers don't want to work in these places so won't apply for any vacancies and would rather sit down the ladder a bit but in more agreeable surroundings.

Staff are now recruited from 'off the street' into quite busy positions lacking the skills and railway knowledge to make the job go well. They may well be proficient and rules trained, and deemed competent but the Signallers art comes in when it starts going wrong and I am afraid that lack of knowledge shows sometimes.

There is a well known 'overlap trap' at the West end of Newbury Station where, if you let a train down one signal too far the safety features stop the job for two minutes by locking up the routes and signals. All perfectly safe, and doing what it is supposed to, but the inexperience shows when it happens, normally at about 1700 hrs in the evening as I used to see day after day. It was there when I worked Reading Panel years ago, it hasn't changed, and you can tell when the less experienced are on duty because all of a sudden everything stops. The B and H was a bore to work as an NX panel where everything had to be route set, just because it wasn't that busy. Now it is an operator looking at a screen with the ARS running the show. It must be mind destroying. The Crossing Keepers at Colthrop and Kintbury are far, far busier overall, but don't get paid for it!

[Bmblbzzz]

What is an NX panel? Presumably not National Express! And no, it's not in the acronyms list.

[rower40]

What is an NX panel? Presumably not National Express! And no, it's not in the acronyms list.

Entrance-Exit.  On the signaller's illuminated diagram of the railway, there's a button next to each signal.  He presses the button at one signal, then the button at the next signal, and the route between them sets if it's safe to do so.  The points in the route then swing to the direction required; once they've all moved to the correct position, and all the track sections between the two signals are clear of trains, (and a bit more besides - called the overlap), and lots of other checks-n-tests, then the signal at the entrance of the route can change from red to a "proceed" aspect - yellow, double-yellow, or green.

Other kinds of signaller's panel exist - e.g. Turn-push, OCS^▸ (One Control Switch) (One Control Switch).  But they all tend to get called "NX", just like all vacuum cleaners get called Hoovers.

[Bmblbzzz]

Thanks. Very clear explanation!

[Worcester_Passenger]

Agree about the clarity of that - can we have the explanation in the list of acronyms as well?

[Billhere]

Sorry for the jargon, it comes naturally after a while, even if it doesn't apply anymore.

Three weeks into retirement, and never given it a thought. My replacement who was due to start today bailed out yesterday morning, so the few that remain will be working extra hours to provide the cover required to keep the job going.

If you might be looking for a little job that pays reasonable well, lovely location, decent public to deal with then keep an eye on the vacancy list for NR^» (Network Rail - home page). Downside 24/7 cover on rotating eight hour shifts including a week of nights every five weeks, and two Sundays in five.

[johoare]

From Journeycheck:

Cancellations to services between Southall and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Southall and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until 10:30 08/09.
Last Updated:08/09/2016 09:04

[Jason]

There were pretty bad delays leaving Paddington yesterday evening due to signalling problems.
Not a good 'back to school' time.

[patch38]

It seemed to be a combination of things, starting with the fatality at Tilehurst earlier in the day and then being compounded by points issues. I was on 1C23 (17:00 to Bristol Temple Meads) which left P9 on time, stopped at Westbourne Grove, the driver changed ends, brought it back into the bay, changed ends again and then eventually left on a different path. Mind you, I had to smile at the legion of people who leapt off to seek other services when we returned to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains): we were definitely first back out and there were then seats to spare!

[bobm]

From Journeycheck:

Cancellations to services between Southall and Slough
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Southall and Slough trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines.
Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 20 minutes. Disruption is expected until 10:30 08/09.
Last Updated:08/09/2016 09:04

Causing delays of around 20 minutes. Some fast trains being sent on the relief lines as far as Dolphin Junction or Slough West to try to avoid being talked past a signal on the down main. Therefore delaying a few London bound services as they cross back and forth.

[Adelante_CCT]

which left P9 on time, stopped at Westbourne Grove

Would that be Westbourne Park or Ladbroke Grove?

Or how about Ladbroke Park 

[bobm]

Perhaps it was occupying two track circuits... 

[patch38]

Would that be Westbourne Park or Ladbroke Grove?

Or how about Ladbroke Park 

See what the commuting is doing to my brain?