Clay Cross Tunnel

RichmondCommu · 20 Sep 2019

Hi everyone,

For as long as I can remember there has always been a nasty little jolt whilst heading north bound through Clay Cross tunnel. Each summer when I travel along the line I hope it might have been fixed but my hopes are always dashed. Is there a reason for this?

Thanks for reading this.

RailUK Forums

Sad Sprinter · 20 Sep 2019

There was a similar jolt at Wandsworth Town about 10 years ago on the fast line that would throw people into the arms of strangers. As school kids we would stand in the shaky interconnecting corridor of the two EMUs for full effect-so I'd like to know also.

edwin_m · 20 Sep 2019

I don't often go through Clay Cross but there's a pronounced one in Cowburn Tunnel (Hope Valley) which I believe is because there is a big change of gradient at the summit of the route, and for some reason they can't get the vertical curve radius as big as they'd like. They come along and smooth it out from time to time but it tends to re-appear.

DPWH · 21 Sep 2019

My understanding is that p-way work inside tunnels is much more difficult than open air work. Though network rail should obviously not compromise on safety, it means that the ride quality in tunnels is frequently poor.

Tomnick · 21 Sep 2019

I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s down to subsidence. It is a very oddly shaped tunnel in places!

edwin_m said:
I don't often go through Clay Cross but there's a pronounced one in Cowburn Tunnel (Hope Valley) which I believe is because there is a big change of gradient at the summit of the route, and for some reason they can't get the vertical curve radius as big as they'd like. They come along and smooth it out from time to time but it tends to re-appear.

There’s three distinct bumps in Cowburn Tunnel on the Up, the change of gradient probably being the least significant. The other two have been there for years, I’m told, occasionally put right but soon reappear to some extent. There’s a TSR on for each of them at the moment.

M60lad · 23 Sep 2019

Have they sorted out the one in Cowburn Tunnel? You used to be able to feel the drop no sooner you entered the tunnel from Sheffield end heading towards Manchester but I dont think you feel it as much these days, I'm sure trains are still going as quick though.

civ-eng-jim · 25 Sep 2019

No jerk to speak of this morning travelling through Clay Cross tunnel. The rails sound a bit rough and the ride quality outside the tunnel is noticeably better than within. Possibly corrugation, shallow ballast and water ingress won't be helping matters.

(In a Voyager, better at smoothing out track irregularities than HST)

Hairy Bear · 25 Sep 2019

Well I didn't spill my tea or fall out of the seat, so it's not reportable. Far worse bits of track out there.

Dr Hoo · 25 Sep 2019

As a regular user of Clay Cross and Cowburn, the latter (eastbound) is far worse. Clay Cross hardly registers IMHO.

Clay Cross Tunnel

RichmondCommu

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Sad Sprinter

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edwin_m

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DPWH

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Tomnick

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M60lad

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civ-eng-jim

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Hairy Bear

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Dr Hoo

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