Freightliner off the rails at Eastleigh.

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

Another example of diversions round the Eastleigh blockage, that is quite interesting.

Car carriers to Southampton eastern docks via Reading, Wokingham, Guildford, Havant and Fareham:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/85467/2020-02-01/detailed

As shown these are running onto the “Southern” via the Reading low level underpass. Is that used much by freight normally?

I believe these are possibly the only regular freight services that can run that way round, as much of the route via Havant is only W6 gauge, so any container traffic would be completely ruled out.

Paul

[paul7575]

Interesting that buses are still replacing trains between Salisbury and Southampton despite XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) trains being diverted on this route.

My guess because it was too late to cancel replacement buses and change staff rosters to run trains between Salisbury and Southampton.

That seems probable.  SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) had intended to run Romsey to Romsey stoppers, I suspect that Southampton to Romsey only might be possible with a single unit so there must be another reason that’s not running?  Not enough expected passengers at intermediate stops maybe?

Paul

[stuving]

Another example of diversions round the Eastleigh blockage, that is quite interesting.

Car carriers to Southampton eastern docks via Reading, Wokingham, Guildford, Havant and Fareham:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/85467/2020-02-01/detailed

As shown these are running onto the “Southern” via the Reading low level underpass. Is that used much by freight normally?

I believe these are possibly the only regular freight services that can run that way round, as much of the route via Havant is only W6 gauge, so any container traffic would be completely ruled out.

Paul

I've seen a few goods workings, but usually going to/from London when the Reading-Acton line is blocked, and I don't recall any going via Guildford. But nothing too big and heavy, as it is indeed all W6 (or selectively W6A).

In fact I've not heard any of those passing today or yesterday, but then modern wagons running at 30 mph wouldn't be noisy, and by the time it's all cleared the PSR^▸ (Permanent Speed Restriction) the loco would be well down the line.

[bradshaw]

This link shows that the down fast has been reinstated as plain line. So no trains can access it from the down platform lines

https://twitter.com/paulcliftonbbc/status/1223650039333081089?s=21

[paul7575]

This link shows that the down fast has been reinstated as plain line. So no trains can access it from the down platform lines

https://twitter.com/paulcliftonbbc/status/1223650039333081089?s=21

Real time trains is now showing Monday’s timetable, Romsey to Salisbury via Southampton and Waterloo to Poole trains will not call, their up direction equivalents will of course operate normally.

Paul

[grahame]

This link shows that the down fast has been reinstated as plain line. So no trains can access it from the down platform lines

https://twitter.com/paulcliftonbbc/status/1223650039333081089?s=21

Real time trains is now showing Monday’s timetable, Romsey to Salisbury via Southampton and Waterloo to Poole trains will not call, their up direction equivalents will of course operate normally.

Paul

Doubleback easement in place?

[stuving]

This link shows that the down fast has been reinstated as plain line. So no trains can access it from the down platform lines

https://twitter.com/paulcliftonbbc/status/1223650039333081089?s=21

Real time trains is now showing Monday’s timetable, Romsey to Salisbury via Southampton and Waterloo to Poole trains will not call, their up direction equivalents will of course operate normally.

Paul

Doubleback easement in place?

But trains turning left via Hedge End will still call, of course. Which is covered by the SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) Journeycheck page (though the update has left this page a bit of a mess). I think they could make this a bit clearer, though, and perhaps will before Monday:

Latest Update (Last updated at 21:00) Next update at 07:00
Temporary repairs to the railway through Eastleigh continue, to enable a partial resumption of services through the station from Monday morning, but as a result, not all services will be able to call at the station. The following pattern of services applies from Monday morning until further notice:
1. Any train that heads towards Southampton from the Basingstoke direction will not be able to call at Eastleigh. Trains will be able to call at Eastleigh in the London bound direction from Southampton ONLY. Customers travelling to Eastleigh from the London / Basingstoke / Winchester direction will need to travel on a Portsmouth Harbour / Portsmouth and Southsea via Basingstoke service or alternatively to Southampton Airport Parkway and return back on a northbound service. This may entail an approx. 30 minute maximum wait at Southampton Airport Parkway but should be an average of 5-10 minutes.
a. Trains from Romsey to Salisbury via Chandlers Ford will be unable to call at Eastleigh
b. Services from Waterloo to Poole will be unable to call at Eastleigh
2. There will be some additional peak time services that will also be unable to call at Eastleigh or may have to be cancelled throughout.

[JontyMort]

But trains turning left via Hedge End will still call, of course. Which is covered by the SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) Journeycheck page (though the update has left this page a bit of a mess). I think they could make this a bit clearer, though, and perhaps will before Monday.

It is clear, surely, in referring to trains to Southampton not calling, and also saying that anyone coming from London/Basingstoke will need to travel on a Portsmouth service.

Presumably the Portsmouths turn off the main line north of Eastleigh station and use the eastern side of the island platform?

[paul7575]

Presumably the Portsmouths turn off the main line north of Eastleigh station and use the eastern side of the island platform?

Under normal circumstances, trains towards Fareham and Portsmouth via Botley would use P3, and from those stations would usually use P2,  although both platforms can be used in either direction.  However there is a train length limitation on P3 in the up direction only, because there’s a set of points giving access to the yard in the down direction.  I think an 8 car train can probably fit at the up direction signal.

One significant limitation caused by P2 being out of use is that the route towards Eastleigh east yard for freights from Southampton is lost, there’s no other crossover from up fast to either down line.  So as well as problems for northbound freights whose destination is the yard, they also won’t be able to cross over through freight trains to recess in the yard during the peaks.   I suspect the only real alternative access is with some sort of shunt up near Allbrook, the running junction at the up end of the yard...

Paul

[Timmer]

Video update from Mark Hopwood:
https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-for-improving-your-journeys

[eightf48544]

Heared rumours that the points which were damaged and are now plainlined contain non standard parts which will have to be specialy manufactured.

Be interesting to see if it were the track, wagons or both  to blame, i understand that it occured at a relatively low speed.

[Timmer]

Paul Clifton reporting that Network Rail are taking responsibility for the derailment:
https://twitter.com/PaulCliftonBBC/status/1225403560751484929

Network Rail Wessex accepts full responsibility for failure of a bolt on a set of points, causing gauge spread and a freight train falling off the track. Closed the
main line for 6 days last week.

[eightf48544]

Good job it was low speed.

[stuving]

Network rail have now put out their official description of what happened:

The main railway line reopened through Eastleigh on Monday following the derailment of a freight train at the station and six days of emergency repair works.

Initial findings by Network Rail have found the cause of the incident to be an infrastructure fault, when a small number of fastenings gave way. This led to track spread - meaning that the two rails were no longer the correct distance apart.

This particular type of fastening is only used in a limited number of locations. Since the incident, Network Rail has conducted enhanced precautionary inspections of all similar fastenings across the Wessex route, with no additional areas of concern identified through this work.

During the incident teams worked around the clock to reopen the railway. Hydraulic jacks and cranes were used to lift the wagons back on to the track before they were removed from site.

The derailed train caused extensive damage to several sets of points, which allow trains to cross from one track to another. These had to be removed completely and a new set will be built off site to a bespoke design, this is expected to be delivered over coming weeks.

In the meantime, over 160 metres of temporary track has been laid to allow the reopening of the railway, however, without the critical points in place, not all trains can call at Eastleigh station. Passengers using Eastleigh station are advised to check www.southwesternrailway.com  before travelling.

Not exactly a mea culpa.

[paul7575]

Further down the linked article the following appears (my bolding):

“We now understand the cause of the derailment. A small number of
fastenings holding the track to the rail gave way causing
track spread and the two rails were pushed apart.”

I thought track and rail were synonymous?    Can anyone expand on what he might mean?

Paul