Berks and Hants Track Condition

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

Is it just me or is the track condition on the B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) between Castle Cary and Newbury getting worse.  There seem to be many track twists and wet spots that are making for a very uncomfortable ride in places (even in a MK3 coach) and I speak as one who has been travelling that stretch for over 30 years now.

Particularly bad sites seem to be on the approach to Castle Cary (Up) (yes, I know there are earthworks underway there), Witham to Blatchbridge Junction (Up and Down), Frome Avoiding Line (Up), Fairwood Junction (Up and Down), Lavington (Up and Down) and Kintbury (Up).

I'm on the verge of reporting it to NR^» (Network Rail - home page) (waste of time), ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) and RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch).

[JayMac]

Will be travelling over some of those sections tomorrow in the Up direction. And as I'll be dining it's likely I'll notice any rough riding.

I'll report back.

[broadgage]

I have noticed a poor ride just past Castle Cary in the down direction, (same location as noted by the O/P but in the other direction)

[Godfrey Tables]

It's interesting someone should mention this. I live in Pewsey and frequently use this line in various directions, and I too was thinking how rough the ride was.
It also seems quite rough from Theale to Midgham, where a few weeks ago unfortunate timing combined with a sudden jolt in motion caused me to spill load of tea down my shirt.

The section of track through Kintbury has always been like this, I was told this was due to the trackbed being on very marshy land there making it prone to slight movement over time.

There seem to be many track twists and wet spots that are making for a very uncomfortable ride in places (even in a MK3 coach) and I speak as one who has been travelling that stretch for over 30 years now.

Just out of interest... what are wet spots?

[ChrisB]

Places where signal posts corrode & collapse....

[SandTEngineer]

A wet spot is a site where water collects and doesn't drain away over time.  The passage of trains naturally moves the sleepers up and down as they pass.  This acts like a pump which draws the water to the surface.  During this process the ballast gets moved around and in consequence grinds itself away into a pulp.  This then makes the wet spot worse.  The cycle then starts again..........

You end up with an effect like a wet sponge....very soggy and soft....which leads to poor ride due to no support for the sleepers.....

[phile]

The ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) has today criticised Network Rail Scotland over it's track maintenance.

[SandTEngineer]

Not the B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) but it could be a reflection on what's happening elsewhere on NR^» (Network Rail - home page):

From the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) website:

While the condition of the track in Scotland is sufficient to allow safe operation of the network, standards have declined in recent years. ORR has taken enforcement action to ensure improvement and Network Rail is implementing a 24 point plan to improve track risk management and reduce the number of repeat twist faults.

.....and from the NR Monitor Report.....

At this stage we are satisfied that immediate safety risk arising from poor track geometry is being controlled adequately, but in an inefficient and largely reactive way that sometimes does not address the underlying causes of faults and misses opportunities to address identified weaknesses. This increases the reliance on routine inspection and maintenance activities to manage risk.

....mmm. There's that 'twist' word again

The full ORR report can be found here: http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/15230/network-rail-monitor-2014-15-q1.pdf

Personally I think the report from Page 17 onwards is quite concerning (and I speak here as an ex-maintainer).

Anyway back to the B&H.  I hope BNM enjoyed his lunch today and didn't spill too much wine and coffee

[JayMac]

I can't say that I noticed any particularly rough riding on my Up trip earlier today as far as Westbury. That maybe because I was on a service (1A85) that called at both Castle Cary and Westbury so it wouldn't have been running at line speed at those points.

Beyond Westbury though, between Pewsey and Newbury, It did seem just a little bit bouncy. Noticeable as I was sipping my coffee and brandy on the Pullman!

Happy to report that all the pegs remained upright today. 

[bobm]

Hope you had the cheese and the port before the coffee and brandy!

[JayMac]

I forewent a third course. The Gnocchi was too filling. But that's for a another thread.

Back to bouncy Berks & Hants...

[SandTEngineer]

Thanks BNM.  Whereabouts were you sat in the coach?

It might just be my impression then.  I'm next up on a non-stop service so I might conduct the 'stand a pencil up on the table' test 

I'll report back in two weeks time.

[TRAINMAN57]

back to the rough riding, i have noticed since the reduction of first class coaches that the ride does appear to be a lot bumpier, its very noticeable when you see the customer host trying to poor tea and the serving of food in the restaurant. Could this be a consequence of being closer to the leading power car???

[old original]

I see there's a few closures between Reading and Westbury coming up on weekends and also between christmas and the new year.

[Timmer]

I see there's a few closures between Reading and Westbury coming up on weekends and also between christmas and the new year.

Possibly more to do with work at Reading but it does give opportunity to do other work along the route that is required.