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Great Western Coffee Shop > Journey by Journey > London to South Wales > Emergency engineering in the tunnel
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Author Topic: Emergency engineering in the tunnel  (Read 5838 times)
devon_metro
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« on: January 27, 2011, 23:55:43 »
Any ideas what caused this earlier today, meant I had to wait at a freezing cold Bristol TM‡(resolve) for longer than I would have liked!
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JayMac
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« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2011, 08:49:20 »
Broken rail on the down line. I believe an ex Paddington was caped at BPW» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) and an ex Taunton was caped at BRI» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains). Other services were subject to delays and cancellations. Not sure as to the exact location. Was told by an 'on the cushions' driver on my return from Cardiff yesterday evening that the broken rail was actually in the tunnel. I was unable to get any further verification of this after speaking to staff at BPW.
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Tim
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« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2011, 09:22:50 »
Broken rail in the tunnel is not good.  I was under the impression that the track in the tunnel was maintained to such a high standard that such things wouldn't happen.
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eightf48544
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« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2011, 10:54:12 »
Isn't it slab track in the tunnel?
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Tim
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« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2011, 13:11:59 »
don't know.  Stanley Hall writes in one of his "accident books" that the track in the tunnel used to be removed long before its normal life-span had been reached and relaid somewhere else on the mainline.
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Tim
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« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2011, 13:17:07 »
In 1999 the HSE▸ (Health and Safety Executive) raised concerns about the state of the track in the tunnel.  http://www.gov-news.org/gov/uk/news/severn_tunnel_hse_prohibit_trains_running/46103.html

Because of the tunnel length and evacuation/rescue difficulties etc, this ought to be teh best maintained bit of track onteh whole of the GWML▸ (Great Western Main Line).
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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2011, 15:36:53 »
It probably is - remember that a "broken rail" can cover a whole range of situations from a slight crack in the rail head to a full break. I'm just guessing but it's possible that a relatively minor flaw was found and these measures put in place to be extra careful given that it's in the tunnel.

Not like America or Canada where on remote freight lines a broken rail is apparently often only discovered when the dispatch (signalling) centre loses the track circuit because the rail's completely broken.
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Toiletdriver
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« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2011, 15:48:35 »
Quote from: Tim on January 28, 2011, 13:17:07
In 1999 the HSE▸ (Health and Safety Executive) raised concerns about the state of the track in the tunnel.  http://www.gov-news.org/gov/uk/news/severn_tunnel_hse_prohibit_trains_running/46103.html

Because of the tunnel length and evacuation/rescue difficulties etc, this ought to be teh best maintained bit of track onteh whole of the GWML▸ (Great Western Main Line).

That was in Railtrack days, a lot better under Notwork Rail.
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Tim
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« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2011, 17:32:04 »
Quote from: inspector_blakey on January 28, 2011, 15:36:53
It probably is - remember that a "broken rail" can cover a whole range of situations from a slight crack in the rail head to a full break. I'm just guessing but it's possible that a relatively minor flaw was found and these measures put in place to be extra careful given that it's in the tunnel.

Not like America or Canada where on remote freight lines a broken rail is apparently often only discovered when the dispatch (signalling) centre loses the track circuit because the rail's completely broken.

good point.  Might be more diplomatic and less aarmist for the TOCs▸ (Train Operating Company) to talk about a "rail defect" if that is all it is
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matt473
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« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2011, 02:19:04 »
I was caught up in this and apparently was on one of the first few services allowed through tunnel. We were told there was a problem inside the tunnel so putting things together does suggest there was a broken line in the tunnel. No wonder there were severe delays
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158747
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« Reply #10 on: February 09, 2011, 23:35:13 »
Quote from: eightf48544 on January 28, 2011, 10:54:12
Isn't it slab track in the tunnel?
No, just normal concrete sleepers
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