2151 Hereford to London Paddington due 0120: Overnight 27/28 Oct 14

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

What the hell happened to this train & did it ever reach PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains), and at what time?

From Journeycheck

has been delayed at Worcester S Hl & is now 131 mins late.

[PhilWakely]

Realtime trains seems to think otherwise...........

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C40823/2014/10/28/advanced

left Shrub Hill 7L and arrived at Paddington just 4L

[bobm]

Realtime trains seems to think otherwise...........

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C40823/2014/10/28/advanced

left Shrub Hill 7L and arrived at Paddington just 4L

The one the night before arrived 142 minutes late at 03:39 after being caught behind a train struggling with slippery rails.

Mod Edit: I have modified the title to clear up any confusion.  bobm

[Worcester_Passenger]

The one the night before arrived 142 minutes late at 03:39 after being caught behind a train struggling with slippery rails.

According to RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website), the one coming the other way, the 20:22 from Paddington to Great Malvern, left Evesham 8 late at 22:27 but was 124 late when it passed Norton Junction at 00:36. Presumably this was the one that was suffering with slippery rails.

The 21:51 from Hereford left Shrub Hill 23 late at 23:07 and would have to wait for the 20:22 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains)-GMV to clear the single line. It eventually passed Norton Junction 131 late at 00:59.

Meanwhile the 21:48 from PAD to Shrub Hill arrived at Evesham 17 late at 00:10 and had to wait until 01:13 before the 21:51 cleared the single line. It left Evesham 78 late at 01:13 and arrived at Shrub Hill at 01:36, some 83 late.

[IndustryInsider]

The route cause of the problem was 2G99, 22:28 WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains)-GCR^» (Gloucester - next trains) having a SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger) at the signal protecting Norton Junction.  Passed it by 40 yards, with the driver alleging that it was wheelslip that led to the delay.  Rather than just set back behind the signal and let the other trains coming the other way through, those responsible decided that the railhead needed to be examined before the train could be moved hence delays of some two hours.  Smacks of TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)/NR^» (Network Rail - home page) infighting to me (i.e. not wanting to take the blame for the SPAD) and that impacting very heavily on the poor passengers!  Not sure the Class 150s (assuming that what it was) are fitted with a 'black box' are they?  Obviously the download of that would have provided the evidence needed if fitted.

[Network SouthEast]

Not sure the Class 150s (assuming that what it was) are fitted with a 'black box' are they?  Obviously the download of that would have provided the evidence needed if fitted.

Yes the class 150s are fitted with an OTDR^▸ (On Train Data Recorder) (on train data recorder) aka black box in each driving cab. As is common practice after a SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger) or any other incident it will be downloaded as part of the investigation.

I believe since 2007/8 it has been mandatory for every mainline train to be fitted with a data recorder.

[CLPGMS]

Thanks, IndustryInsider for the detail.  From Realtime Trains, it looks as if this had the potential to have been a serious incident.  The Gloucester train, running on time, was due to pass Norton Junction at 2234.  It appears that the route and signals had been set to allow the Paddington to Great Malvern train to cross the junction first.  It was due at 2231, but was running 8 minutes late from Evesham.  Had the Gloucester train overshot the crossover as well as the signal, presumably damaging it in the process, it could have turned onto the Cotswold Line and met the GMV train head on!  Presumably, when the signaller at Norton Junction saw what was happening he set everything to danger and managed to stop the GMV train before it passed the signal protecting the junction.

[IndustryInsider]

Not sure the Class 150s (assuming that what it was) are fitted with a 'black box' are they?  Obviously the download of that would have provided the evidence needed if fitted.

Yes the class 150s are fitted with an OTDR^▸ (On Train Data Recorder) (on train data recorder) aka black box in each driving cab. As is common practice after a SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger) or any other incident it will be downloaded as part of the investigation.

I believe since 2007/8 it has been mandatory for every mainline train to be fitted with a data recorder.

Indeed, or course they have been - sorry, having a bit of a moment when I posted that!

Thanks, IndustryInsider for the detail.  From Realtime Trains, it looks as if this had the potential to have been a serious incident.  The Gloucester train, running on time, was due to pass Norton Junction at 2234.  It appears that the route and signals had been set to allow the Paddington to Great Malvern train to cross the junction first.  It was due at 2231, but was running 8 minutes late from Evesham.  Had the Gloucester train overshot the crossover as well as the signal, presumably damaging it in the process, it could have turned onto the Cotswold Line and met the GMV train head on!  Presumably, when the signaller at Norton Junction saw what was happening he set everything to danger and managed to stop the GMV train before it passed the signal protecting the junction.

Yes, had there been a serious overrun there was the chance of a collision, though the distance is over 200m from the signal to where the down train would have been crossing over (so the train would have had to slid well over four times the distance it did), and the train the other way would have only been doing 25mph at that point.