No trains on the WCML at Weedon today (03/05)

[Hb06_]

I have not seen one train going past today through the West Coast Main Line, near the Rugby to Milton Keynes Central area at Weedon Bec. Is it just me going crazy or is it a network problem? Thanks.

 

[Mag_seven]

Engineering work - all services are via Northampton today.

 

[PeterY]

On my short cycle ride today, via Berkhamsted, trains were running From Hemel Hempstead to Euston, with a bus replacement between Hemel and Milton Keynes.
I don't know what work is being carried out though.

 

[87015]

Old line shut for two weeks, Kilsby tunnels works

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Was this planned before the Covid era?
A good use of the reduced traffic impact if not.
I can't remember an extended closure before, not even with WCRM.
I wonder if they'll enable 125mph EPS instead of the current 110mph blanket speed limit (presumably because of pressure waves in the tunnel)?
Some tunnels on the line manage it (Northchurch and Linslade), but not Watford, Stow Hill or Kilsby.

 

[JonathanH]

Wasn't there a time (ie in the 1990s) when all WCML services at weekends were given an extra ten minutes in their schedule at the weekend so they could all go via Northampton if necessary?

Was this planned before the Covid era?
A good use of the reduced traffic impact if not.
I can't remember an extended closure before, not even with WCRM.
I wonder if they'll enable 125mph EPS instead of the current 110mph blanket speed limit (presumably because of pressure waves in the tunnel)?
Some tunnels on the line manage it (Northchurch and Linslade), but not Watford, Stow Hill or Kilsby.

It is probably only maintenance, not major works to improve journey times or speeds. There is also work at Bletchley. It is not uncommon for the WCML to basically shut down at bank holidays to allow for engineering work since it is open most other weekends.

 

[DarloRich]

It is probably only maintenance, not major works to improve journey times or speeds.

ONLY maintenance? sigh. It is crucial work to keep the trains running.

Was this planned before the Covid era?

it has been planned for a while. There were posters up at my local station pre shut down

 

[yorkie]

ONLY maintenance? sigh. It is crucial work to keep the trains running.

Did anyone suggest otherwise?

 

[DarloRich]

Did anyone suggest otherwise?

The quoted poster by suggesting it was ONLY maintenance. It seems my views are unwelcome so I shall say no more.

 

[yorkie]

I think you are seeing something in @JonathanH's post that simply isn't there.

 

[fgwrich]

There is also work taking place on the East - West Flyover in Bletchley today, with a section crossing the WCML removed this morning.

Up, up and away: 1960s West Coast main line railway flyover has lift off

Huge sections of a concrete railway flyover are being lifted out by some of the largest cranes in Europe to build the first direct rail link between Oxford, Bedford, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury in more than 50 years.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

 

[The Planner]

Was this planned before the Covid era?
A good use of the reduced traffic impact if not.
I can't remember an extended closure before, not even with WCRM.
I wonder if they'll enable 125mph EPS instead of the current 110mph blanket speed limit (presumably because of pressure waves in the tunnel)?
Some tunnels on the line manage it (Northchurch and Linslade), but not Watford, Stow Hill or Kilsby.

No, it won't be 125mph after. The work is to replace track, sleepers and drainage in the last third at the Weedon end. It has been planned for ages but never been able to get to an agreed slot due to the length of time it needs.

 

[JonathanH]

The quoted poster by suggesting it was ONLY maintenance. It seems my views are unwelcome so I shall say no more.

Yes, 'maintenance' such as this is absolutely essential - I am sorry if I caused offence - I was trying to make the point that it wasn't some sort of major upgrade that would enable higher speeds - instead it is allowing the existing speeds to be maintained and lower speeds to be avoided.

 

[The Planner]

Wasn't there a time (ie in the 1990s) when all WCML services at weekends were given an extra ten minutes in their schedule at the weekend so they could all go via Northampton if necessary?

There still is overnight in the week.

 

[DarloRich]

Yes, 'maintenance' such as this is absolutely essential - I am sorry if I caused offence - I was trying to make the point that it wasn't some sort of major upgrade that would enable higher speeds - instead it is allowing the existing speeds to be maintained and lower speeds to be avoided.

No problem. No offence taken at all. I get annoyed with posters here sometimes dismissing important work done by hard working people without a thought. I suspect that is because it isn't sexy or fun. It is boring, dull, hard work done at horrible times and often in horrible weather.

 

[Carlisle]

It has been planned for ages but never been able to get to an agreed slot due to the length of time it needs.

That sounds slightly concerning given similar thinking allegedly contributed to the Hatfield derailment

 

[Elecman]

I have not seen one train going past today through the West Coast Main Line, near the Rugby to Milton Keynes Central area at Weedon Bec. Is it just me going crazy or is it a network problem? Thanks.

It’s closed for the next 2 weeks

 

[Hb06_]

Sorry about that, should have made the title a little clearer.

 

[Hb06_]

On my short cycle ride today, via Berkhamsted, trains were running From Hemel Hempstead to Euston, with a bus replacement between Hemel and Milton Keynes.
I don't know what work is being carried out though.

When attempting to check times, that is what I saw, yes.

 

[43096]

No problem. No offence taken at all. I get annoyed with posters here sometimes dismissing important work done by hard working people without a thought. I suspect that is because it isn't sexy or fun. It is boring, dull, hard work done at horrible times and often in horrible weather.

You've just fallen into the clichéd "hard working" mode so beloved of politicians.

On a similar point the use of "essential maintenance" as a phrase - you'd hope they are not doing "non-essential maintenance".

 

[DarloRich]

You've just fallen into the clichéd "hard working" mode so beloved of politicians.

You are quite right. Shameful. That's 7-8 weeks of briefings by lots of politicians ( of all types) does that. Insidious.

On a similar point the use of "essential maintenance" as a phrase - you'd hope they are not doing "non-essential maintenance".

I have done plenty of non essential maintenance on my house this weekend! I make no warranty as to the quality. Sadly the essential work required is without my competency.

 

[The Planner]

That sounds slightly concerning given similar thinking allegedly contributed to the Hatfield derailment

Not really, poor drainage didnt cause Hatfield. This is allowing a substantial amount of work to take place in one go where normaly this sort of access is nigh on impossible to get.

 

[Taunton]

On a similar point the use of "essential maintenance" as a phrase - you'd hope they are not doing "non-essential maintenance".

I agree. I find the hyping up of routine scheduled work into "ESSENTIAL maintenance" to be inappropriate.

 

[backontrack]

I agree. I find the hyping up of routine scheduled work into "ESSENTIAL maintenance" to be inappropriate.

Perhaps Network Rail need to roll out the big guns, and get someone like Neil Oliver to big it up.

"This is maintenance on an UNPRECEDENTED scale..."

 

[The Chimaera]

I wonder if they'll enable 125mph EPS instead of the current 110mph blanket speed limit (presumably because of pressure waves in the tunnel)?
Some tunnels on the line manage it (Northchurch and Linslade), but not Watford, Stow Hill or Kilsby.

Stowe Hill tunnel is EPS125 already due to new ventilation (pressure relief) shafts being dug during the last WC upgrade, unfortunately due to its proximity to the 100 EPS110/120 curves at Weedon its effectiveness is somewhat limited on the up road. Kilsby tunnel could be upped to 125 we were told but only by capping the very large (60ft diameter?) ventilation shafts situated at 1/3 and 2/3 distance, as their presence upsets the pressure waves. Watford tunnel is EPS115 on the down but only 110 on the up.

 

[Dr Hoo]

I agree. I find the hyping up of routine scheduled work into "ESSENTIAL maintenance" to be inappropriate.

Although it is going rather off-thread, at least for somewhere remote from a station and on a high speed line (such as via Kilsby and Weedon) I do remember this turn of phrase even back into BR days.
There was an era of 'job creation', Manpower Services Commission, Youth Training Scheme, NSE 'Operation Pride', etc. jobs, often justified on 'environmental' grounds that did see people out and about in hi-vis. This did not usually involve possessions or materially affect services but did see a bit of 'push-back' from 'proper engineers' who were keen to distinguish their efforts as 'essential', rather than optional.

 

[Nippy]

On my short cycle ride today, via Berkhamsted, trains were running From Hemel Hempstead to Euston, with a bus replacement between Hemel and Milton Keynes.
I don't know what work is being carried out though.

One of the worksites was at Tring where the old station footbridge was being removed on Sunday.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I agree. I find the hyping up of routine scheduled work into "ESSENTIAL maintenance" to be inappropriate.

At least it's better than the industrial PR which accompanied station posters during the 1960s WCML electrification - "GETTING ON WITH THE JOB".

But nothing has ever been as good as 1974's "The Electric Scots Are Coming" teaser.

 

[Bald Rick]

Was this planned before the Covid era?
A good use of the reduced traffic impact if not.
I can't remember an extended closure before, not even with WCRM.
I wonder if they'll enable 125mph EPS instead of the current 110mph blanket speed limit (presumably because of pressure waves in the tunnel)?
Some tunnels on the line manage it (Northchurch and Linslade), but not Watford, Stow Hill or Kilsby.

There were plenty of extended closures for WCRM. All lines for a week in August(s), at least twice, somewhere south of Rugby.

It won’t be 125, partly because of the air pressure issue, and partly because Kilsby has very difficult geology (seams of running sand) and keeping the track fit for 125mph would be a significant challenge.

Wasn't there a time (ie in the 1990s) when all WCML services at weekends were given an extra ten minutes in their schedule at the weekend so they could all go via Northampton if necessary?

It’s not so long ago that midweek daytime trains had extra time in the schedules for a slow line weave to allow for maintenance on the fasts. Unthinkable now.

Stowe Hill tunnel is EPS125 already due to new ventilation (pressure relief) shafts being dug during the last WC upgrade, unfortunately due to its proximity to the 100 EPS110/120 curves at Weedon its effectiveness is somewhat limited on the up road. Kilsby tunnel could be upped to 125 we were told but only by capping the very large (60ft diameter?) ventilation shafts situated at 1/3 and 2/3 distance, as their presence upsets the pressure waves. Watford tunnel is EPS115 on the down but only 110 on the up.

Re the other tunnels, the Pendolinos are pressure sealed, so can operate at the higher speeds without passenger comfort issues. The pressure relief shafts were there to limit the impact of a Pendolino passing other types of train in the tunnels, most notably curtain sided swap bodies (eg the Tesco train) where the vehicles could have been damaged. Specific tunnels:

Linslade is sufficiently short that it didn’t need pressure relief shafts (and the down fast is single bore so wouldn’t need them anyway)

Northchurch: the early feasibility used some old maps, only later was it realised that a new housing estate had been built on the land above the tunnel. The top of the shaft can be seen clearly on google maps.

Stowe Hill: already had plenty of ventilation shafts, but not quite good enough aerodynamically; IIRC additional audits were mined between the tunnel side walls and the existing shafts.

 

[Silverlinky]

There was a bank slip in the Kilsby area a few months ago and work is being down to address the issues that this caused too.