Deepgreen
Established Member
Yesterday evening the North Downs line service was completely suspended from about 1745 owing to what we were told was a broken down car on a level crossing at Chilworth. Now, aside from the question of why the car could not be pushed clear to allow the crossing to operate (had it crashed, rather tha simply broken down as we were told, perhaps?), I am wondering why it was felt necessary to curtail the service right back to Reigate, when there is a crossover at Gomshall (the station before Chilworth).
I am aware that this crossover is only passed for non-passenger workings, but I am interested to know why the train I was on could not have continued to Gomshall (serving Betchworth, Dorking Deepdene and Dorking West en route) and reversed there, working ECS over the crossover and back eastwards, either shunting into the EB platform at Gomshall, or re-entering service at Dorking West. Is that crossover only controlled from a ground frame (as is the one at Betchworth)? If so, it does call into question the value of having the facility if it can't be used to manage the service during disruption.
As it was, no replacement transport was provided and information was sparse to say the least (nothing whatsover at Reigate, for example!). Meanwhile, passengers for the intermediate stations had to make their own arrangements in the pouring rain.
I am aware that this crossover is only passed for non-passenger workings, but I am interested to know why the train I was on could not have continued to Gomshall (serving Betchworth, Dorking Deepdene and Dorking West en route) and reversed there, working ECS over the crossover and back eastwards, either shunting into the EB platform at Gomshall, or re-entering service at Dorking West. Is that crossover only controlled from a ground frame (as is the one at Betchworth)? If so, it does call into question the value of having the facility if it can't be used to manage the service during disruption.
As it was, no replacement transport was provided and information was sparse to say the least (nothing whatsover at Reigate, for example!). Meanwhile, passengers for the intermediate stations had to make their own arrangements in the pouring rain.