Circle Line failure hits return-to-work commuters (6 April 2010)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Thousands of commuters endured severe delays after the Easter break when London Underground's Circle Line had to be shut down.
The problem was caused by a computer failure at Aldgate station in east London.
It also led to the suspension of the section of the Hammersmith & City Line between Moorgate and Barking.
Transport for London (TfL^» (Transport for London - about)) said it could not give a time when a full service would resume.
A TfL spokesman said: "Computers which control the points in the Aldgate area were involved in the work that was carried out over the weekend."
The Circle Line had been closed over the Easter weekend so work could be carried out to prepare for the arrival of new, longer, air-conditioned trains later this year but after briefly reopening, the computer failure led to the complete suspension of services.

[eightf48544]

Circle still seemed to have problems today at 13:30 approx. 8 minute gap in Eastbound Hammersmiths at KX.

When we got to Edware Raod two Wimbledons in platforms, passed one outer rail  probably Cirle or Barking  before Pread Street Jn  trains, Outer Circle waiting for us to pass Pread Sreet Junction.

Lot of bewildered people got off our train at Edgware Road wanting to go Circle Inner Rail.

These observation would suggest T cup doesn't work.

Lots of people going through barriers at Padd so quite busy on bridge.

Had to wait on bridge at Padd for platform for 14:12 Twyford. Good job we did as it was 10!

[paul7575]

The London media seem to have got it into their head to go after the T-cup following any incidents on the SSR. AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) there were two failures, one was to do with newly installed points not working at Aldgate East, and the other was a total signalling failure at Aldgate due to a power surge damaging interface PCBs .

The reversionary mode of operation was to terminate the H&C at Moorgate (which causes additional conflicting crossing moves), and terminate the Met at Aldgate, using local manual control of the points.  A full District service ran through on the south of the triangle, with the junction at Aldgate East clipped for that direction.  The Circle ran between Edgware Rd and Mansion House.

This gets distilled down from 'SSR in chaos' to 'Circle cancelled' - and the blame is then levelled at the T-cup.  In my experience this sort of incident would have previously led to complete withdrawal of the Circle anyway, but they kept it going partially.

Paul

[Btline]

The London media seem to have got it into their head to go after the T-cup following any incidents on the SSR. AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) there were two failures, one was to do with newly installed points not working at Aldgate East, and the other was a total signalling failure at Aldgate due to a power surge damaging interface PCBs .

The reversionary mode of operation was to terminate the H&C at Moorgate (which causes additional conflicting crossing moves), and terminate the Met at Aldgate, using local manual control of the points.  A full District service ran through on the south of the triangle, with the junction at Aldgate East clipped for that direction.  The Circle ran between Edgware Rd and Mansion House.

This gets distilled down from 'SSR in chaos' to 'Circle cancelled' - and the blame is then levelled at the T-cup.  In my experience this sort of incident would have previously led to complete withdrawal of the Circle anyway, but they kept it going partially.

Paul

Quite right! The new system is so obviously MUCH better, why have the press found this so difficult to grasp?