Emergency! Trains vs Weather - television programme

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

Programme on ITV next Wednesday 24th November, 2000 - 2100.

http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week48/emergency-trains-vs-weather

Emergency! Trains v Weather

What does it take to keep Britain^s railway services running through some of the worst winter weather on record ? This documentary follows the army of engineers and maintenance teams as they battle against the elements to keep the rail network open and prevent the delays which cause misery to millions of passengers every winter.

Using the latest technology and sheer old fashioned graft we see them tackling floods, hurricane force winds and tracks buried under 6 feet of snow not to mention the annual blight of leaves on the line.

With millions depending on the trains every day the maintenance teams are the unsung heroes of the rail network battling to keep the trains running whatever the British weather throws at them.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Because Mrs BB has a habit of recording two programs at once I was having a look around for something to watch and came across this program on ITV Hub (as I believe their catch up service is called on Sky)

I found it very interesting but in one of the segments which was shot in Scotland the engineers *appeared* to be cutting down trees that may not have have been on railway land. This is an assumption on my part and may not be correct but are there circumstances under which the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) team are allowed to remove trees etc where the roots are not on their land?

[trainer]

I agree it was an interesting watch and even though it is impossible to miss out the ads on catch-up, it would be worth looking this up to catch a glimpse of the positivity of our rail workers even under great adversity. The juxtaposition of what was happening out on the line with the 'twittering' being sent around was most enlightening. The smiling young lady in receipt of 'wind-up' messages showed that she was just the right person to do the job.

Not being on any social media, I noted for myself that sending lots of insistent messages does not make the trains run through water or prevent leaves falling.  I also re-learned that lack of clarity in communication is the thing that frustrates passengers the most.

[BerkshireBugsy]

I agree it was an interesting watch and even though it is impossible to miss out the ads on catch-up, it would be worth looking this up to catch a glimpse of the positivity of our rail workers even under great adversity. The juxtaposition of what was happening out on the line with the 'twittering' being sent around was most enlightening. The smiling young lady in receipt of 'wind-up' messages showed that she was just the right person to do the job.

Not being on any social media, I noted for myself that sending lots of insistent messages does not make the trains run through water or prevent leaves falling.  I also re-learned that lack of clarity in communication is the thing that frustrates passengers the most.

I agree with you 100% Trainer. Sadly I haven't seen the rest of it as my daughter insisted on watching a programme about ex-celebrities trying to revive their careers by going into a jungle and eating animal body parts

[Timmer]

Passengers get fustrated when they can't see what's causing them to be delayed and no one tells them anything. Social media, particularly Twitter, has helped to improve communication with passengers at times of disruption. Network Rail have latched onto this when severe weather has caused disruption by posting up pictures of trees down, flooded lines, snow drifts etc which then get posted by the affected TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company).

When it comes to a fatality, no pictures or explanations are needed as everyone (well most) accepts the tragic nature of the situation with the line reopening as and when Network Rail are able to do so.

[Tim]

Because Mrs BB has a habit of recording two programs at once I was having a look around for something to watch and came across this program on ITV Hub (as I believe their catch up service is called on Sky)

I found it very interesting but in one of the segments which was shot in Scotland the engineers *appeared* to be cutting down trees that may not have have been on railway land. This is an assumption on my part and may not be correct but are there circumstances under which the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) team are allowed to remove trees etc where the roots are not on their land?

I don't know if NR have any special powers (legal that is, not superpowers), but my understanding of English law is that you were legally allowed to cut branches overhanging your land (ie cut them back to the boundary line, not cut the whole tree down).  You are then supposed to offer the cut wood back to the neighbour otherwise your actions might be construed as theft.  I don't know if slinging the branches back over the fence is enough.

NB, this is not legal advice - I am not that kind of lawyer.

[Fourbee]

Not being on any social media, I noted for myself that sending lots of insistent messages does not make the trains run through water or prevent leaves falling.  I also re-learned that lack of clarity in communication is the thing that frustrates passengers the most.

The Scotrail service that got stranded demonstrated perfectly that trains are not amphibious!

As well as providing passengers with a medium to vent (it's not going to make the obstruction instantly disappear), it does allow the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) (SWT^▸ (South West Trains) in this case) to push information out of course. Personally I find journeycheck more concise.

Immediate refunds are something which would reduce the crowds at times of disruption. If I purchase a walk up ticket on the day from the ticket office then the job gets stopped, I hand it back for a refund and find an alternative mode of transport/go home/anything apart from hanging around waiting. If I hold a season ticket for the service, I am going to be more persistent because the cash is not going to be forthcoming. Put staff on the station exits processing refunds upon production of your season and appropriate bank card and the crowd/pressure would reduce.

[Red Squirrel]

So apparently a Class 37 puts out 17,000 horsepower. No wonder they make good snowploughs; but couldn't they just tow Scotland to sunnier climes?