Easter engineering works and subsequent ongoing disruption - April / May 2015

[whole diary]

[IanL]

I have read elsewhere that the actual cause the points were run through by a XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) train was due to a bird in the points preventing them to operate correctly.

No that was a separate incident at Yarnton Sandy Lane where the level crossing failed with the barriers down and the lights flashing.

[a-driver]

Shouldn't that have prevented the route signalling clearing to green?

If they can't get detection on the set of point for a particular route the signal will not clear.  Two possible scenarios I think:
1.  Once the train passes the controlling signal it is still possible for the points to lose detection. 
2.  It is possible that the track could drop enough under the weight of a passing train to cause the points to lose detection.

I've had it before where on oncoming train has gone over a set of points and there has been enough movement of those points that the signal I was approaching went back to red.   

[TaplowGreen]

Delays to services between London Paddington and Slough
Due to signalling problems between London Paddington and Slough fewer trains are able to run on the Reading bound slow line.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 15 mins. An estimate for the resumption of normal services will be provided as soon as the problem has been fully assessed.

........pretty much a daily event (again) now, judging from reports the delays are considerably longer than 15 minutes and loads of the Reading - Paddington stoppers are being cancelled.

[a-driver]

Axle counters again.

Delays will get longer depending on how many trains they're trying to push through the area.

[Chris from Nailsea]

... oncoming train has gone over a set of points and there has been enough movement of those points that the signal I was approaching went back to red.   

That must have been a somewhat disconcerting moment, a-driver: I commend the restraint in your post about it. 

[NickB]

Delays on London bound fast at Iver due to "signalling problems".

[TaplowGreen]

New day same old story.

Cancellations to services between Slough and London Paddington
Due to signalling problems between Slough and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on some London bound lines.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 40 mins. An estimate for the resumption of normal services will be provided as soon as the problem has been fully assessed.

[ellendune]

It would be interesting to see the numbers of signalling failures by the control area (e.g. Slough, Slough New etc.) and whether they were just recontrolled or have been replaced (relocked).

[Chris from Nailsea]

Admins is it worth a merge?

Not sure if it's "merge" ... or splitting off from Easter Engineering as it's no longer Easter and this isn't Engineering. As I'm only on the briefest of swing-by-s, suggestion noted but I'm not going to try to do it in the time I have - otherwise I'll overrun ...

Seriously, until all the old "stuff" has been replaced, aren't we going to see problems where new interfaces to the fading-out old and the now-fragile old has to interface to the sophisticated new for a while?

Thanks, grahame. 

As it's a very topical / ongoing discussion, I've now merged both topics here - in the interests of continuity, at least in the short term.

I'll review the situation in a few days, to see if there's a better way of documenting what's happening.

CfN. 

... and, having continued to review the situation, I've reached the conclusion that there is really no natural break in this topic, which would avoid a rather disjointed subsequent discussion emerging.

I therefore suggest that we continue to discuss this ongoing topic here, while I simply amend the heading to improve clarity.

CfN. 

[IndustryInsider]

I'm led to believe that the new axle counters are struggling to always give the correct readings due to quality of the track - especially in the West Drayton area - and then fail safe.  I'm sure that when they bed down then matters will improve significantly, but the on-going disruption is disappointing.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for that useful 'insider' confirmation of the situation, IndustryInsider. 

[a-driver]

You'd  have thought it would be possible to run dual systems whilst it's bedding in.  Axle counters working in the background giving them opportunity to iron out any problems before it goes live. 
I'm sure NR^» (Network Rail - home page) ran both alongside each other between Twyford and Maidenhead when the flooding occurred on that stretch. 

[TaplowGreen]

Just in time for the weekend!!!

Delays to services between Slough and London Paddington

Due to signalling problems between Slough and London Paddington the London bound relief line is blocked.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 15 mins. Disruption is expected until 15:00 15/05.

[tomL]

Just in time for the weekend!!!

Delays to services between Slough and London Paddington

Due to signalling problems between Slough and London Paddington the London bound relief line is blocked.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be delayed by up to 15 mins. Disruption is expected until 15:00 15/05.

Seems to be a varied mixture of problems today!

[IndustryInsider]

Rather better than the Chiltern line today (unusually) which has seen trains over two hours late and multiple cancellations from 8:30am this morning following problems at Wembley and Banbury.  Good job it wasn't the play-off final today!