Thames Valley infrastructure problems causing disruption elsewhere - 2017

[whole diary]

[broadgage]

Preventative Maintenance doesn't seem to be in NR^» (Network Rail - home page)'s vocabulary. Vegetation is known to grow during summer months particularly.

And we all know that in autumn, small detachable parts of many types of vegetation fall off. These pieces are known as "leaves" Wet and windy weather accelerates the falling off of these leaves.
Perhaps they might be prepared this year !

[IndustryInsider]

Vegetation clearance has gotten noticeably worse over the last few years, from my observations at least.

[eightf48544]

Run a few steam trains with coal that produces "jaffas" Although you need dry weather.

[Jason]

Overhead wire damage was caused by vegetation.

Triffids ?

[TaplowGreen]

NR^» (Network Rail - home page) will want to forget about July!

So will its customers.

They are the first to be forgotten about.

[Electric train]

Preventative Maintenance doesn't seem to be in NR^» (Network Rail - home page)'s vocabulary. Vegetation is known to grow during summer months particularly.

Vegetation clearance has gotten noticeably worse over the last few years, from my observations at least.

Track access is the problem to do some of the de-veg along with NIMBYs who do not want the veg cut back and go to extraordinary lengths the stop NR and their contactors carrying out the work even to the extent of Section 60 (Noise abatement) complaints to local authorities

But is track access that is the biggest problem

[ChrisB]

Been plenty of closures this year....

[TaplowGreen]

Been plenty of closures this year....

Perhaps during severe disruptions customers could be issued with chainsaws and pointed in the direction of the nearest overhanging shrubbery?

Might give them something constructive to do whilst waiting for hours for TMs^‡(resolve) to finish their tea breaks (yes, we've all heard about it! ;-) ) the signals/points/pigeon damage to be fixed?

[grahame]

Been plenty of closures this year....

Perhaps during severe disruptions customers could be issued with chainsaws and pointed in the direction of the nearest overhanging shrubbery?

Might give them something constructive to do whilst waiting for hours for TMs^‡(resolve) to finish their tea breaks (yes, we've all heard about it! ;-) ) the signals/points/pigeon damage to be fixed?

I do wonder if bushes and trees grow faster and stronger in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) these days with the trend to a rise in temperature, and whether Network Rail has had to (or should) significantly increase its work on keeping trackside bushes under control

Via WikiPedia - graph is declared as public domain:



I don't recall very much trains brushing bushes in the good old days when I used to travel a good bit by train; these days there are certains places I could be blindfolded yet identify by the sound of the bushes.  Perhaps the short term solution for minor lines would be to use smaller, narrower stock such as ex London Underground or even tube trains, which should sort out the issue for a control period or election cycle.

[TaplowGreen]

I am heartily Sycamore excuses for poor service 

[ellendune]

Perhaps the short term solution for minor lines would be to use smaller, narrower stock such as ex London Underground or even tube trains, which should sort out the issue for a control period or election cycle.

Only if the election cycle is less than a growing season - which might be possible at the moment! 

How narrow would you make the trains?  Have you seen how fast some trees grow?

[chuffed]

I am heartily Sycamore excuses for poor service 

With Mark Carne at the 'elm, who is surprised ?

Yew wood knot bet against other loggers on this thread leafing through their forest of tree related puns. I won't ah- bore-e-all with mine !

[BBM]

http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/gallery/burnham/118671/fire-crews-put-out-train-fire-near-burnham.html

Fire crews put out train fire near Burnham
Will Taylor
09:23AM, Thursday 27 July 2017

Rail passengers en route to London suffered an unusual delay after the engine in a driver cab on their train caught fire.

Firefighters from Slough, Maidenhead and Bracknell attended the blaze at about 11.20pm last night (Wednesday), with the train stopped between Burnham and Taplow.

Trains going through the area were stopped as fire crews attended the incident.

The Slough crew initially fought the fire, which was in the rear cab, with fire extinguishers.

The firefighters were unable to use water until the newly-installed overhead electrical wires were shut down by Network Rail.

Once they received word they were down, the crew was able put out the blaze.

All 52 people on board, who were travelling from Bristol to London, were fine and let off at Slough station.

They had been unable to disembark earlier from the train as it was in the middle of the track.

The train guard had moved passengers down the train away from the fire, and were seen to by the South Central Ambulance Service's Hazardous Area Response Team.

The Slough fire crew left the incident by 4am.

[patch38]

The firefighters were unable to use water until the newly-installed overhead electrical wires were shut down by Network Rail.

I hadn't thought of that one as a side-effect of electrification. But then, wouldn't they normally use foam on an engine fire?


And we won't even go here...

the engine in a driver cab on their train caught fire

[a-driver]

Any member of the emergency services normally will not go on a railway line if the overheads are still live.

Probably not a good idea to use form as the engine room still contains electrics. The power cars are fitted with Inergen fire extinguishers.