Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 08:15 29 Mar 2024
- Bus plunges off South Africa bridge, killing 45
- Easter getaway begins with flood alerts in place
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
29th Mar (1913)
Foundation of National Union or Railwaymen (*)

Train RunningCancelled
07:20 Reading to Gatwick Airport
08:13 Newbury to Bedwyn
08:46 Bedwyn to Newbury
09:00 Gatwick Airport to Reading
09:54 Bedwyn to Newbury
10:22 Newbury to Bedwyn
11:29 Newbury to Bedwyn
11:57 Bedwyn to Newbury
12:52 Bedwyn to Newbury
Short Run
04:54 Plymouth to London Paddington
05:23 Hereford to London Paddington
05:33 Plymouth to London Paddington
05:55 Plymouth to London Paddington
06:37 Plymouth to London Paddington
07:03 London Paddington to Paignton
07:24 Exmouth to Paignton
07:40 Bristol Temple Meads to Westbury
08:35 Plymouth to London Paddington
08:41 Westbury to Bristol Temple Meads
09:45 Bristol Temple Meads to Salisbury
10:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
Delayed
05:03 Penzance to London Paddington
06:05 Penzance to London Paddington
07:10 Penzance to London Paddington
07:38 Bristol Temple Meads to Penzance
08:03 London Paddington to Penzance
08:15 Penzance to London Paddington
09:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
09:37 London Paddington to Paignton
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
11:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
12:15 Penzance to London Paddington
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 29, 2024, 08:26:37 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[77] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[72] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[70] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
[63] Return of the BRUTE?
[56] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[44] 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury...
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 2 3 [4]
  Print  
Author Topic: Bridge strike Plymouth 30 August  (Read 6775 times)
Bob_Blakey
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 783


View Profile
« Reply #45 on: September 01, 2021, 09:17:34 »

The sloping nature of the road under the bridge appears to be completely irrelevant to this incident because both bridge portals are quite clearly fitted with duplicate height restriction signs in both imperial & metric...unless of course the individual(s) who erected the signage took the measurement from the south portal and applied it to both sides of the bridge!

I think it would be a good idea for Network Rail to apply for a prohibition of any vehicles other than private motor cars (and motorcycles, scooters & bicycles obviously) from this section of road. Are they permitted to do that sort of thing?
Logged
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5398



View Profile
« Reply #46 on: September 01, 2021, 10:18:02 »

The sloping nature of the road under the bridge appears to be completely irrelevant to this incident because both bridge portals are quite clearly fitted with duplicate height restriction signs in both imperial & metric...unless of course the individual(s) who erected the signage took the measurement from the south portal and applied it to both sides of the bridge!

I think it would be a good idea for Network Rail to apply for a prohibition of any vehicles other than private motor cars (and motorcycles, scooters & bicycles obviously) from this section of road. Are they permitted to do that sort of thing?

Presuming that the height restriction signs were accurate, then I agree that the slope is irrelevant. The driver of the truck should lose their licence, and be required to sit a new test before being allowed to drive again.

Banning all vehicles larger than a car sounds attractive but might not be allowed. A 5 MPH speed limit for goods vehicles on the approach to, and under the bridge would help, firstly by giving "thinking time" and secondly by reducing the force of the impact when the driver presses on regardless. Enforce this by speed trap cameras.

I remain firmly of the opinion that very substantial financial penalties would greatly reduce the frequency of this sort of event. A few claims for a million pounds or more (bridge repairs, delays, costs of road transport and other costs could easily come to that much) would concentrate minds in the road haulage industry.

Sat nav systems are available that warn of low bridges are available and might help, but ultimately the driver needs to read, understand, and act upon the height restriction signs.
Logged

A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
onthecushions
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 977


View Profile
« Reply #47 on: September 01, 2021, 11:17:46 »


The gradient of the road under the bridge is entirely relevant in that it explains physically what happened and why the damage to the side of the bridge was so extensive. One hopes that the masonry is reinstated rather than just shuttered and concreted.

The gradient does not in any sense excuse what happened - presumably the bridge was stationary and the lorry moving. It is particularly blameworthy of a large vehicle driver to ignore (or be unaware of) road signs of any type, even if only paid £12/hr.

I still think that a sacrificial arch before such bridges is worth considering, as well as a height sticker in the windscreen.

OTC
Logged
LiskeardRich
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 3457

richardwarwicker@hotmail.co.uk
View Profile
« Reply #48 on: September 01, 2021, 11:21:49 »

Will say, from what I’m hearing from friends and family, GWR (Great Western Railway) have put some work into sourcing replacement road transport.
A friend was at Plymouth station at 0515 this morning and was boarding a Pewsey Vale coach!  That’s a journey down from their coach depot of around 150 miles.

I drove to Exeter to be safe and not be stuck and at Exeter there were coaches from as far afield as Southampton!
Logged

All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
Pb_devon
Transport Scholar
Sr. Member
******
Posts: 287


View Profile
« Reply #49 on: September 01, 2021, 12:06:30 »

About the gradient…
The point I was trying to make was that the steep gradient might have prompted the driver to have been accelerating, hence entering the arch at pace and with momentum.
I walked past a short while ago, and workmen were busy erecting scaffolding.
Methinks this is not going to be quick!
Logged
eXPassenger
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 547


View Profile
« Reply #50 on: September 01, 2021, 16:51:04 »

About the gradient…
The point I was trying to make was that the steep gradient might have prompted the driver to have been accelerating, hence entering the arch at pace and with momentum.
I walked past a short while ago, and workmen were busy erecting scaffolding.
Methinks this is not going to be quick!

and my point, which onthecushions confirmed, is that the gradient could explain why the driver thought he might fit regardless of the signs and why the damage appears to have been caused by an upward movement at the exit leaving the higher equipment on the lorry cab apparently undamaged.
Logged
Pb_devon
Transport Scholar
Sr. Member
******
Posts: 287


View Profile
« Reply #51 on: September 02, 2021, 20:55:44 »

There was a comprehensive report from the site on BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Spotlight this evening, about 10 minutes in. Available on iplayer until tomorrow.
An easy report for them to do as the BBC studios are only a few hundred yards away!
The NR» (Network Rail - home page) engineer interviewed was hopeful that repairs would be complete for a normal service from Saturday (with an appropriate caveat).
Logged
infoman
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1287


View Profile
« Reply #52 on: September 03, 2021, 05:10:47 »

So nice to see some one also watch's their local news's

More should do the same to find out whats going on in their area.

I watch BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) points west at 18:30pm and then watch BBC spotlight,and its not all about "grannys cat stuck up a tree story's"
Logged
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5398



View Profile
« Reply #53 on: September 03, 2021, 06:02:48 »

But was the cat OK ?
Logged

A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
Lee
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7519


GBR - The Emperor's New Rail Network


View Profile WWW
« Reply #54 on: September 03, 2021, 06:20:24 »

But was the cat OK ?

And did the tree remain intact and unharmed while the cat was rescued?
Logged

Vous devez être impitoyable, parce que ces gens sont des salauds - https://looka.com/s/78722877
bradshaw
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1450



View Profile
« Reply #55 on: September 03, 2021, 19:40:20 »

Reopening Saturday
Report here

https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/1433841468796456961?s=21
Logged
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5398



View Profile
« Reply #56 on: September 04, 2021, 03:17:01 »


I am impressed that the repairs were completed from BELOW. I was expecting that a section of the track would have to be removed to permit of access from above.
Network rail are not always as efficient as one might hope for, but praise when it is due.
Logged

A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
Electric train
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4356


The future is 25000 Volts AC 750V DC has its place


View Profile
« Reply #57 on: September 04, 2021, 07:29:19 »


I am impressed that the repairs were completed from BELOW. I was expecting that a section of the track would have to be removed to permit of access from above.
Network rail are not always as efficient as one might hope for, but praise when it is due.

NR» (Network Rail - home page) reacts very quickly in these circumstances, especially as in this case NR had specialist contractors they could redeploy from a project.  NR can move speedily in events like this because the normal tendering and governance process are relaxed, even the normal time to approve method statements etc is processed quickly and of course there is no design review and sign off needed.
Would the above be appropriate for normal, no, because it will be expensive as the contractors will be paid on a cost plus basses and not a frame work rate 
Logged

Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
Pb_devon
Transport Scholar
Sr. Member
******
Posts: 287


View Profile
« Reply #58 on: September 04, 2021, 08:33:12 »

There is a detailed report of the single line operating method applied here on the CRS news page here: http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/latest-input--news--old-pictures-etc

It’s dated 3rd September so you will need to scroll down the September news stories to locate it.

Logged
Pb_devon
Transport Scholar
Sr. Member
******
Posts: 287


View Profile
« Reply #59 on: September 04, 2021, 11:15:07 »

I’ve just been past the site, and the road remains closed with scaffolding and propping in place. No doubt the repair has to ‘set’. The parapet has yet to be rebuilt.
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: 1 2 3 [4]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page