Ely Down Loop Diversion

[Maltazer]

Looks like fun times at Ely today, with down trains from Cambridge having to go through the down freight loop, and the Ely terminators using platform one before reversing into three.

Presumably a points / signal failure?

Good job they included the loop in the electrification - a lesson for the future there!

The trains take a good few minutes to go through the loop - do they have to stop for instructions from the signaller, or are there severe speed restrictions?

Mal

 

[TheBigD]

Trains are stopped at the protecting signal. Signaller then authorises train through the goods loop and then clears the signals through the loop. Not 100% sure or the linespeed.

Edit : Rail defect is the cause. 20mph through the goods loop.

 

[Maltazer]

Thanks for that. They seem to also stop at the signal before leaving the loop.

 

[Junglemornings]

The Ely down goods loop diversions have been going since about 3pm yesterday (17/5), there is an issue on a set of points which the loop bypasses. As a result down trains can only enter platform 1 which resulted in most of the GN ely terminators not happening at first and various other delays as a result.

Further to this today the same issue was discovered on a crossover at coldhams lane just north of cambridge station, again in the down direction and another stroke of luck meant this too is bypassable with a loop.

It is currently possible to get a train from cambridge to ely and bag yourself 2 nice bits of track if you are that way inclined!

1T42 and 2h40 are the ones to look at in the diagram for anyone unfamiliar with the area.