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Title: Network Rail failing to check safety of bridges Post by: TaplowGreen on May 16, 2023, 21:28:14 Very worrying given recent events in Oxfordshire
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12087485/Regulator-warns-Network-Rail-failing-check-safety-bridges-putting-passengers-risk.html Title: Re: Network Rail failing to check safety of bridges Post by: stuving on May 16, 2023, 22:47:23 Very worrying given recent events in Oxfordshire https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12087485/Regulator-warns-Network-Rail-failing-check-safety-bridges-putting-passengers-risk.html That article's an exercise in missing the point: Quote Network Rail has been warned by the industry regulator that it is failing to properly check the safety of some 70,000 monitored pieces of rail infrastructure, putting passengers at potential risk and causing delays to services across the network. Well, no, as the ORR's letter (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwivwp7-4_r-AhXITcAKHfa4BfEQFnoECAsQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.orr.gov.uk%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2023-05%2Fnetwork-rail-non-compliance-with-structure-examinations-2023-05-15.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0naFmauFkye-xIlKxaD0GO) is solely about the backlog of inspections, though it talks about non-compliance with NR's standard for inspections. This backlog isn't new - the ORR has been going on about it for years. Their prodding about using new technology was aimed at speeding up inspections, not observing more of what is going on. Nuneham is a red herring, as it had been inspected, and was not part of any backlog. Better inspection methods for foundations is about the only thing that would have helped in that case. Title: Re: Network Rail failing to check safety of bridges Post by: Red Squirrel on May 16, 2023, 22:56:16 Hmm.
(https://fosbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/sea_mills_viaduct_20230226.jpg) Title: Re: Network Rail failing to check safety of bridges Post by: JayMac on May 17, 2023, 01:04:58 Sea Mills?
Title: Re: Network Rail failing to check safety of bridges Post by: Electric train on May 17, 2023, 06:51:50 Hmm. (https://fosbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/sea_mills_viaduct_20230226.jpg) Personally for me I would want to know what the steel "bracing" was installed for, it may now no longer be of importance. I work with our structures engineers who are constantly inspecting bridges, tunnels, viaducts etc their time is constrained by the duration and time of the access they can have. The ORR do speak with forked tongue they are both the safety authority, the railways version of the HSE also the ORR are the performance regulator who often warn NR of the impact it has on train services Title: Re: Network Rail failing to check safety of bridges Post by: Red Squirrel on May 17, 2023, 22:48:40 Sea Mills? Indeed. Personally for me I would want to know what the steel "bracing" was installed for, it may now no longer be of importance. I work with our structures engineers who are constantly inspecting bridges, tunnels, viaducts etc their time is constrained by the duration and time of the access they can have. The ORR do speak with forked tongue they are both the safety authority, the railways version of the HSE also the ORR are the performance regulator who often warn NR of the impact it has on train services There is a huge tidal range here, and this is the entrance to a harbour used by small craft. My guess is that this bracing was installed to protect the structure from the effects of the tide, possibly combined with floating objects. At the last spring tide they closed the line and sent down divers. Doesn't fill one with confidence. Title: Re: Network Rail failing to check safety of bridges Post by: Electric train on May 18, 2023, 08:51:19 Sea Mills? Indeed. Personally for me I would want to know what the steel "bracing" was installed for, it may now no longer be of importance. I work with our structures engineers who are constantly inspecting bridges, tunnels, viaducts etc their time is constrained by the duration and time of the access they can have. The ORR do speak with forked tongue they are both the safety authority, the railways version of the HSE also the ORR are the performance regulator who often warn NR of the impact it has on train services There is a huge tidal range here, and this is the entrance to a harbour used by small craft. My guess is that this bracing was installed to protect the structure from the effects of the tide, possibly combined with floating objects. At the last spring tide they closed the line and sent down divers. Doesn't fill one with confidence. One of the problems with bridge piers that sit in flowing water is they get undermined by strong currents, I would be more worried if you had not seen divers inspecting the bridge This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. 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 content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net |