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Great Western Coffee Shop > All across the Great Western territory > The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom > Trains slowed by overheated rails around Bath - 27 March 2012
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Author Topic: Trains slowed by overheated rails around Bath - 27 March 2012  (Read 4976 times)
Chris from Nailsea
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« on: March 27, 2012, 23:41:40 »
From the Bath Chronicle:

Quote
Trains approaching Bath Spa station are being slowed down by the mad March heat.

In a move already dubbed ^the wrong kind of sun^ by some commuters, Network Rail has imposed a speed restriction on a stretch of line.

Operator First Great Western says the affected area is between Filton Abbey Wood and Stapleton Road in Bristol, but there have also been delays in Wiltshire.

FGW▸ (First Great Western) said that it was the only such speed restriction on its network and had been implemented because of the effect of the spring heatwave on the tracks.

The problem has been mentioned in announcements on trains coming into Bath Spa station, although today passengers on an eastbound service were told of the restriction as their train inched through Wiltshire.

One traveller said: ^From Chippenham to here it was a snail^s pace - the driver said overheating track problems.^

FGW said the problem was causing only minor delays.
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William Huskisson MP▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
JayMac
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« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2012, 23:52:52 »
I'd wager that no one but the Bath Comical was dubbing the problem 'the wrong kind of sun'.  Roll Eyes

Oh, and nice of a driver to take the time to explain the problem to a traveller....  Roll Eyes

Shockingly poor journalism.
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"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2012, 23:57:39 »
Wot - journalists, taking liberties in their text?  Shocked  Whatever next?  Roll Eyes
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William Huskisson MP▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
JayMac
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« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2012, 23:59:51 »
You line 'em up Chris. I'll shoot 'em down.  Grin
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"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
tramway
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« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2012, 10:50:27 »
They hadn't only slowed down around Filton yesterday they were stationary with buses between Parkway and BRI» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) for a while according to NRE▸ (National Rail Enquiries).

Emergency engineering works was the reason given but whether this was due to the sun or not I'm not sure, but it was pretty much back to normal by about 17:00.
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John R
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« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2012, 12:00:17 »
And some XC▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) trains diverted via Swindon during the afternoon.

The speed restriction between Bathampton Jn and Bath Spa is just over a mile long at 20mph, so adding around 3 to 4 minutes.
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Louis94
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« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2012, 12:48:35 »
Quote from: tramway on March 28, 2012, 10:50:27
They hadn't only slowed down around Filton yesterday they were stationary with buses between Parkway and BRI» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) for a while according to NRE▸ (National Rail Enquiries).

Emergency engineering works was the reason given but whether this was due to the sun or not I'm not sure, but it was pretty much back to normal by about 17:00.

That was due to a broken rail in the Stapleton Road area, the 1300 to Manchester and the 1330 to Dundee both diverted via Swindon.
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bobm
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« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2012, 13:24:53 »
Out of interest where did they go after Swindon - via Didcot West and Oxford or reverse to go via Kemble?
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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2012, 15:50:44 »
I don't know the answer, but in terms of regaining their booked route as soon as possible it would make most sense (at least to me) if they had been reversed at Swindon and sent up the Golden Valley line via Kemble to Cheltenham. I would guess that there's also more spare capacity on this route than via Oxford.
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Louis94
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« Reply #9 on: March 28, 2012, 17:20:13 »
Quote from: bobm on March 28, 2012, 13:24:53
Out of interest where did they go after Swindon - via Didcot West and Oxford or reverse to go via Kemble?

Via Kemble!
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Btline
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« Reply #10 on: March 29, 2012, 14:59:33 »
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2122174/UK-weather-Britons-bask-glorious-weather--SNOW-coming-Easter.html
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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #11 on: March 29, 2012, 16:23:41 »
Btline, I never had you down as a Daily Fail reader... Wink
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