MML disruption 20/8

[westcoaster]

Apparently a broken down freight train between Bedford and Wellingborough has blocked the northbound line all day, trains having to use the line via wymington. Anyone know why it's taken all day (until close of service) to move it. Seems odd.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Apparently a broken down freight train between Bedford and Wellingborough has blocked the northbound line all day, trains having to use the line via wymington. Anyone know why it's taken all day (until close of service) to move it. Seems odd.

Might be some track damage possibly, from a EMT tweet:

Network Rail staff are on site examining the broken down freight train, we are currently unable to move the train and our 1/2

 

[westcoaster]

Looks like it is the HOBC train.

 

[najaB]

Looks like it is the HOBC train.

That'll explain why it took so long to move, it ain't a small thing.

 

[70014IronDuke]

THIS from the EMT website

20.08.2015
Disruption to/from London St Pancras International due to a broken down freight train

Latest Information: 1530

A broken down freight train between Bedford and Wellingborough means some lines are closed and we are running a reduced service.

A reduced service will run between Sheffield and London St Pancras International.

Our trains departing 49 minutes past the hour from Sheffield to London St Pancras International and our trains departing 26 minutes past the hour from London St Pancras International to Sheffield are suspended.
Our services between London St Pancras and Corby will operate between London St Pancras and Kettering only.
A rail replacement bus service will operate between Kettering and Corby connecting into and out of trains at Kettering.

You can expect delays up to 20 minutes on all our trains to/from London St Pancras International.

If you are travelling on a Sheffield/London service that has been cancelled, you should travel via the following routes:

Sheffield to/from London Kings Cross via Doncaster,
Derby to/from London Euston via Birmingham,
Nottingham to/from London Kings Cross via Grantham,
Leicester to/from London Euston via Nuneaton

Other operators will accept East Midlands Trains tickets. These alternative routes will remain in place until further notice.

Advance purchase tickets may be used on other trains, than booked.

Network Rail have advised that staff are on site and have examined the broken down freight train. Movement of the train is not expected to take place until over night on Thursday 20 August and our services are likely to be affected until the end of today.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused following a mechanical issue with an engineering [freight] train in the early hours of the morning. The high output train was scheduled to renew track to the south of Wellingborough overnight when it suffered significant damage to the axle box. Given the extent of the damage and with the incident having occurred close to the start of morning services, the train has remained on the line throughout the day. Engineers have been on site working to fix the problem today and the train will be removed overnight, with normal service resumed from tomorrow morning.”

We apologise for the delays to your journey today

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Is the HOBC always kept coupled as a "set" only being uncoupled when maintenance is done on part of it?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Shall we say said "train" cannot be moved safely until end of service.

 

[GB]

Is the HOBC always kept coupled as a "set" only being uncoupled when maintenance is done on part of it?

Its usually split into pieces when its back at its yard.

Edit: Think the train concerned is actually the track relaying train (TRS) rather than the ballast cleaner (HOBC), thus I don't know if it it split or not.

 

[edwin_m]

Edit: Think the train concerned is actually the track relaying train (TRS) rather than the ballast cleaner (HOBC), thus I don't know if it it split or not.

It had some new sleepers stacked up on it so I presume it is the TRT, which was standing on (I presume) the Down Main just north of Sharnbrook. I wonder if it was actually replacing track at the time it failed, in which case there would be the small matter of reinstating the track underneath it after it was removed.

All seemed to be handled fairly expeditiously when I was on the 1415 from St Pancras today. Announcement on departure of likely 20min delay, to be clarified after the train had passed through the diversion. Stopped for a few minutes after crossing to the Wymington line at Sharnbrook, announced this was due to waiting for another train in front (is it all one long block?). Various latenesses between 18min and 22min announced, including reason, at the later stations.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Saw a clip of the HOBC on youtube being top and tailed by 66s, would it be anywhere near the limit for the weight of train that the two combined can handle?

 

[455driver]

Saw a clip of the HOBC on youtube being top and tailed by 66s, would it be anywhere near the limit for the weight of train that the two combined can handle?

I believe that only the loco on the front is powering, the one on the back is there for when the train reverses and saves the loco running around.