Speed restrictions on 8th July 2013

[whole diary]

[Timmer]

Today it's at the other end of the South West Trains network and between Salisbury and Basingstoke that there are speed restrictions:
From www.journeycheck.southwesttrains.co.uk/

Owing to speed restrictions between Dorchester South and Weymouth trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.
Impact:
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 20 mins at short notice. Disruption is expected until 19:00 09/07.

Owing to speed restrictions between Salisbury and Basingstoke trains have to run at reduced speed on all lines.
Impact:
Train services running through these stations may be delayed by up to 20 mins at short notice. Disruption is expected until 19:00 09/07.
Customer Advice:
Due to the speed restrictions, trains have to run at reduced speed between Salisbury and Grateley. This is causing delays of up to 20 minutes to all trains between Salisbury and Basingstoke.

[TonyK]

I have read elsewhere that this sort of problem does not affect well-maintained and properly ballasted lines. Is that the problem?

[Electric train]

I have read elsewhere that this sort of problem does not affect well-maintained and properly ballasted lines. Is that the problem?

There may have been a track renewal or re-ballasting where the rails have not been stressed fully yet or has not been fully tamped.  There are a number of reasons other than "badly maintained track"

[stuving]

I have read elsewhere that this sort of problem does not affect well-maintained and properly ballasted lines. Is that the problem?

There may have been a track renewal or re-ballasting where the rails have not been stressed fully yet or has not been fully tamped.  There are a number of reasons other than "badly maintained track"

OK, so it's being maintained, not badly, but not thoroughly either. Is this just that the difficulty of getting in and doing the work means that there is a perpetual backlog? I assume that this stretch of track is all (with no backlog) to appropriate modern standards.

[TonyK]

I have read elsewhere that this sort of problem does not affect well-maintained and properly ballasted lines. Is that the problem?

There may have been a track renewal or re-ballasting where the rails have not been stressed fully yet or has not been fully tamped.  There are a number of reasons other than "badly maintained track"

My education continues. This is a heavily used part of the route, and must take some looking after.