Is the section of gwml beteen Paddington and reading the worst maintained line in the country?

[Sly Old Fox]

Aslef will be stopping their members working over the tracks if Network Rail don’t get a grip on things.

 

[Bald Rick]

Presumably that's why the ORR has launched an inquiry which is exactly the right thing to do before we go around asserting what the issue is.

Thing is, the ORR have already been deep in Wales and Western Region for over a year, reviewing performance plans, improvement activities etc; this is on top of all their reveiews of the perfromance planning activity they have been involved in for the new funding period that starts in April.

Aslef will be stopping their members working over the tracks if Network Rail don’t get a grip on things.

Is that speculation or inside knowledge?

 

[Sly Old Fox]

Is that speculation or inside knowledge?

Speculation, though I understand Aslef aren’t best pleased with it either.

 

[sh24]

After another delay repay journey to Plymouth last night I’m delighted the ORR are getting involved. It is much needed.

 

[Deepgreen]

It does seem pretty dire. I wonder if the ORR has the resources to get heavily involved here quickly as well as the other areas they are into at the moment.

Along with all the other factors mentioned, I do wonder if increased rates of acceleration and braking for modern stock also has an impact on rail wear/integrity. It will be far less than vertical movements, but may be yet another contributory factor. On roads, modern acceleration and braking forces do seem to be contributing to increased surface damage, along with greater vehicle weight.

 

[Horizon22]

It does seem pretty dire. I wonder if the ORR has the resources to get heavily involved here quickly as well as the other areas they are into at the moment.

Along with all the other factors mentioned, I do wonder if increased rates of acceleration and braking for modern stock also has an impact on rail wear/integrity. It will be far less than vertical movements, but may be yet another contributory factor. On roads, modern acceleration and braking forces do seem to be contributing to increased surface damage, along with greater vehicle weight.

I guess there's a lot of speculation on exactly why or which comination of factors are involved. Hopefully ORR will do a thorough investigation, including with all the TOCs and FOCs involved on the route. There's a lot to consider, and lots of theories in this thread alone. I imagine the exact answer is a complicated mix of many issues, some of which are structural, cultural, technical etc.

 

[Taunton]

Regarding TOC and FOC, every recent incident where the track was identified seems to have been reported on the Mains, or just outside Paddington, whereas the freights are confined to the Reliefs. Someone else wrote about inside-bearing bogies on the 800s. But the 345 on the Liz, also confined to the Reliefs, are also inside bearing. Though I do notice they ride over pointwork at speed far smoother than the 800s do.

 

[Horizon22]

Regarding TOC and FOC, every recent incident where the track was identified seems to have been reported on the Mains, or just outside Paddington, whereas the freights are confined to the Reliefs.

Yes that is the general trend, but I wouldn't call it universal.

 

[mrmartin]

Why isn't the ECML seeing the same level of issues though, as they also have a lot of 800s?

 

[Bald Rick]

After another delay repay journey to Plymouth last night I’m delighted the ORR are getting involved. It is much needed.

I wonder if the ORR has the resources to get heavily involved here

As I saud upthread, the ORR have been heavily involved for over a year.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Regarding TOC and FOC, every recent incident where the track was identified seems to have been reported on the Mains, or just outside Paddington, whereas the freights are confined to the Reliefs. Someone else wrote about inside-bearing bogies on the 800s. But the 345 on the Liz, also confined to the Reliefs, are also inside bearing. Though I do notice they ride over pointwork at speed far smoother than the 800s do.

Inside bogies reduce the amount of unsprung weight on the track which should be a positive

 

[Horizon22]

Inside bogies reduce the amount of unsprung weight on the track which should be a positive

Also max speed (90mph on a 345) might be a slight factor too.

 

[stuu]

Could it be something as simple as different acceleration and braking points for the 800s compared to HSTs has resulted in different locations needing work?

Although the luxuriant buddleia growth does hint that not all is as it should be on the maintenance side

 

[WelshBluebird]

This time issues on the western end between Bristol Parkway and Swindon based on what GWR are saying on Twitter. Assuming there will be knock on effects for the Reading - Paddington services. Not looking forward to my journey next week!

edit - and signaling problems at Iver.

 

[Taunton]

On Wednesday, regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) launched an investigation into train performance on Network Rail’s Wales and western route, which stretches from Paddington to Penzance in Cornwall and Swansea.

ORR director of performance and planning, Feras Alshaker, said: “While Network Rail has begun making good progress in stabilising performance elsewhere on the network, performance in the Wales and western region has continued to deteriorate, meaning poor reliability and punctuality for passengers and freight.”

Network Rail’s managing director for the route, Michelle Handforth, said: “We welcome this cross-industry review which recognises the importance of Network Rail and the train operating companies working effectively together to deliver a reliable railway for the thousands of passengers and freight customers who depend on it every day.

From ... https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/ne...S&cvid=7aeefa16221e431399594f01f0213f98&ei=12

Unbelievable. An actual formal investigation, by the regulator, analogous to being put into "Special Measures" in other public functions, and all the Managing Director can say is some PR-speak gibberish about it being a "cross industry review", followed by completely unnecessary self-congratulation about "working together".

For goodness sake. Out in the real world such an event would have the relevant MD out on their ear by the end of the day, and replaced. With that calibre of sweep-it-under-the-carpet upper management, no wonder they have a problem

 

[Horizon22]

From ... https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/ne...S&cvid=7aeefa16221e431399594f01f0213f98&ei=12

Unbelievable. An actual formal investigation, by the regulator, analogous to being put into "Special Measures" in other public functions, and all the Managing Director can say is some PR-speak gibberish about it being a "cross industry review", followed by completely unnecessary self-congratulation about "working together".

For goodness sake. Out in the real world such an event would have the relevant MD out on their ear by the end of the day, and replaced. With that calibre of sweep-it-under-the-carpet upper management, no wonder they have a problem

Pretty sure the MDs are fairly new - as is a reasonable amount of upper management - so don’t think that would solve anything.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

From ... https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/ne...S&cvid=7aeefa16221e431399594f01f0213f98&ei=12

Unbelievable. An actual formal investigation, by the regulator, analogous to being put into "Special Measures" in other public functions, and all the Managing Director can say is some PR-speak gibberish about it being a "cross industry review", followed by completely unnecessary self-congratulation about "working together".

For goodness sake. Out in the real world such an event would have the relevant MD out on their ear by the end of the day, and replaced. With that calibre of sweep-it-under-the-carpet upper management, no wonder they have a problem

The industry has been working together for decades and practices it pretty effectively amongst most TOCs/Routes so we don't need to reinvent the wheel again and create some new initiative just practice what is preached.

 

[800001]

Maybe this is normal for this time of year but getting greater mainstream media publicity?

 

[Horizon22]

Maybe this is normal for this time of year but getting greater mainstream media publicity?

It's not.

 

[Annetts key]

Lets be clear, if the ballast has turned to mud (wet beds), or a concrete sleeper has broken, cracked or been smashed up due to the ballast not being sufficiently packed, then assuming the formation was good originally, then the root cause is only one thing - poor maintenance.

Yes, in some places (typically embankments) the material that the embankments are formed from, or the natural ground may be the problem. But these places are generally already known about.

Broken rails and cracks are more complex, as some are unrelated to maintenance. But where they occur and there are other problems, such as the ballast not being sufficiently packed to properly support sleepers (especially web beds), then again, this is due to poor maintenance.

The vibration that results from sleepers getting hammered into poorly packed ballast is unbelievable until you see it for yourself. Especially if trains are running at a high speed. If a train has 40 axles, that’s 40 impacts per train. For every train that goes over that portion of line. Every single day. With that amount of vibration and flexing, eventually something will give and break.

Oh, and Steam locomotives cause far more wear and damage to the track than electric or diesel trains do. I don’t think the different types of passenger trains that now run on the GWML are having any significant effect on the track.

If trains were being controlled by an automated train control system, and hence applying the brakes or accelerating at exactly the same places, then yes, this would (and does) cause excessive damage to rails. Hence the control software has to be designed to prevent this.

Maybe this is normal for this time of year but getting greater mainstream media publicity?

Rails in LWR/CWR (long welded rail / continuous welded rail) areas are supposed to be stressed to the correct value. If this has been done correctly, they should be able to handle our typical winter weather conditions and should not break due to our normal weather temperatures.

Having said that, rails will be under maximum stress when the temperature is low, such as freezing temperatures. Hence rail breaks are more common in winter during cold weather.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Lets be clear, if the ballast has turned to mud (wet beds), or a concrete sleeper has broken, cracked or been smashed up due to the ballast not being sufficiently packed, then assuming the formation was good originally, then the root cause is only one thing - poor maintenance.

Yes, in some places (typically embankments) the material that the embankments are formed from, or the natural ground may be the problem. But these places are generally already known about.

Broken rails and cracks are more complex, as some are unrelated to maintenance. But where they occur and there are other problems, such as the ballast not being sufficiently packed to properly support sleepers (especially web beds), then again, this is due to poor maintenance.

The vibration that results from sleepers getting hammered into poorly packed ballast is unbelievable until you see it for yourself. Especially if trains are running at a high speed. If a train has 40 axles, that’s 40 impacts per train. For every train that goes over that portion of line. Every single day. With that amount of vibration and flexing, eventually something will give and break.

Agree but its not unusually to have wet beds occurring on any route especially those where underlying geology makes the formation more susceptible. The real issue here is whether there has been an adequate management regime in place to manage these sites and ORR's investigation should be reviewing this if it is to be of any use. This is a Cat 1A route so it should be receiving the highest frequency of NMT and UTU inspections so there will be plenty of data being generated and I would imagine immediate action interventions being needed looking at some of the pictures which would mean it would have gone higher up the local Track team hierarchy as well. Of course access or resources could be an issue and if so TSRs should be applied.

 

[Benjwri]

Having said that, rails will be under maximum stress when the temperature is low, such as freezing temperatures. Hence rail breaks are more common in winter during cold weather.

Not to mention the cold temperatures will reduce the ductility, and especially with very quick transition we experienced from warmer weather the stresses from contraction will have had a greater impact.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I only travelled Reading-Bedwyn and Reading-Basingstoke on Thursday as a result. Delays were fairly minor, and I caught a few late-running services that worked in my favour (Kennet Day Ranger)

 

[sh24]

Crawling at 20mph through Ladbroke Grove on the 1A96…due to a “cracked crossing” in the words of the guard. Another one!

And yet another delay repay qualifying journey for me.

 

[Horizon22]

Crawling at 20mph through Ladbroke Grove on the 1A96…due to a “cracked crossing” in the words of the guard. Another one!

And yet another delay repay qualifying journey for me.

There's one near Acton and another speed restriction near Hayes but on the Relief lines. GWR still slightly disrupted in the aftermath of yesterday's washout across most of the West Country.

 

[FGW_DID]

Crawling at 20mph through Ladbroke Grove on the 1A96…due to a “cracked crossing” in the words of the guard. Another one!

And yet another delay repay qualifying journey for me.

No, nothing of that nature reported today (Tuesday).

 

[JN114]

There’s been a speed restriction for condition of track in both the Ladbroke Grove and Acton areas for a while now - long before the recent noteworthy issues.

 

[Jamiescott1]

The past few days, the signaller has directed the fast train I was on from Paddington (1650) down the reliefs as far as Acton before crossing to the mains.

 

[800301]

The past few days, the signaller has directed the fast train I was on from Paddington (1650) down the reliefs as far as Acton before crossing to the mains.

That’s a common routing out of Pad, mainly if you end up leaving from a high-numbered platform or there is congestion, with the issue with Line 2 at the moment it has been used quite a lot. Yesterday I don't think I got above 20 from Southall coming into Pad

Edit - Seemed to have only posted part of my actual post

 

[Horizon22]

That’s a common routing out of Pad

Wouldn’t say it’s common - especially with how intense the Elizabeth line timetable is now - but also not rare