Scotfail

[Bittern]

Exciting times are exciting.

 

[me123]

We've been specuatling on this thread about the emergency timetable (which is different from the temporary timetable); seems that it will in fact be 1tph Edinburgh-Helensburgh rather than just Edinburgh-Airdrie, which would make a lot more sense in all fairness.

Exciting times are exciting.

Would be a lot more exciting if the 380s were all here, all in service, and there were to be 4tph to Edinburgh via Bathgate including a semi-fast from Milngavie. C'est la vie.

 

[First ScotRail]

Further rumours on scot-rail would suggest NO intermediate stations between airdrie and bathgate will open on time, not had safety tests etc yet.

 

[me123]

Hmm... that really wouldn't go down well. But it's possibly understandable; there's been two weeks where the area has been really badly affected by the weather, and everything was on track beforehand.

The more I read, the more I just want them to postpone the whole thing, even if only by a few weeks. People will surely understand that everything's just not falling into place. Better to have a late, but successful, opening than an opening that's on time and that realistically is going to be a bit of a shambles.

 

[MadCommuter]

I guess Stewart Stevenson will push for an ontime opening in the face of the recent flak he's been taking. But I agree, better to wait and do it right.

 

[me123]

^ Well, either way, he's going to get blamed for it (even though he has little control over any of the factors involved). He's made himself an easy target over the last few days. The media can and will spin this so that it looks bad whatever happens.

Personally, as I've said above, I think they should wait and do it right. If they go ahead, I fear they will just cock up and Scotrail will just take another blow that they don't need. But I'm sure a delayed opening

The trouble here is that we have the unusual situation of the line being ready (just about) on time. The Airdrie-Bathgate project is actually a shining example of how things should be done, risk assessments on intermediate stations aside. And it's suffering because of an entirely separate, but co-dependent, project (introduction of Class 380 trains to Ayrshire and Inverclyde) and to a lesser extent the adverse weather conditions.

 

[Failed Unit]

very bad day again today with very little running, hopefully the situation will improve this afternoon.

But out of Edinburgh we really only have Edinburgh - Glasgow stopping everywhere including Edinburgh Park, Lenzie and Bishopsbridge. I don't fancy the chances of anyone fitting on the train at the later 2 stations.

Edinburgh - North Berwick
Edinburgh - Aberdeen (every other hour)
Edinburgh - Inverness.

The temperatures are above freezing now so hopefully tomorrow some line may see trains that haven't for quite a while!

 

[kylemore]

From the look on Stewart Stevenson's face I really don't think he gives a toss about the AB opening, he looks as though he can't wait until his "retirement" in May! To be fair he's taking responsibility for things he really has little control over, are people really so naive that they think governments and ministers actually have real power anymore?
As for hopes things might get better on the railway is it not the fact that the main problems are that staff numbers are so tight now (sorry efficient!) that things can only operate in perfect conditions? There is no margin for dealing with anything other than perfect conditions, I don't know but would interesting to hear from those in the know!

 

[Failed Unit]

If you want interesting traction today on the Edinburgh - Glasgow line, most services have more than 3 coaches today which is a big relief (a solo 158 was used on at least one turn yesterday). Mainly 158 / 170 combos, but the 1000 Edinburgh - Glasgow QS is a 156 / 170 combo. Haven't done a 156 for a while on a mainline!

Here is the note on the front of the Scotrail Website

WEATHER RELATED SERVICE DISRUPTION

The extreme weather has worsened, with plummeting temperatures affecting rail services in most areas of Scotland.

Thursday 9th December, 2010

Please note the following service alterations:

The London Euston to Edinburgh service - Lowlander northbound - has tonight been cancelled.

The Fort William to London Euston service - Highlander southbound - has tonight been cancelled.

Customers who hold tickets for travel aboard these Sleeper services should call ScotRail Customer Relations on 0845 601 5929 for more information or to apply for a full ticket refund.

We apologise for the current disruption to services and would like to thank all our customers for their patience and understanding during this time.

For the latest rail travel information, visit JourneyCheck by clicking the link below.

Maybe someone should tell Scotrail that today the temperatures are about freezing for the first time since ?

 

[chris89]

Just wondering what is the chance of the Bathgate line being reopened?

chris

 

[First ScotRail]

Snow plough tried to get through yesterday but broke down had to be towed back, its unlikely therefore to reopen until either a thaw happens or a plough can get through however emphasis at present is on maintaining the E-G and Strathclyde routes by the looks of things.

 

[chris89]

Thank you for the quick responce. Got to keep postive then i guess for tomorrow.

 

[Failed Unit]

Just wondering what is the chance of the Bathgate line being reopened?

chris

The weather is much better and forecast is for it to stay that way.

However Scotrail have had a lot of failed units over the past weeks so they may not have enough units to run the service, I suspect a snow plough would need to visit the line. I would be surprised if an hourly service couldn't be restored to Bathgate tomorrow if the signalling system is not damaged. But you never know, services are not running to Stirling again. I understand one of the main reason Bathgate was withdrawn was to avoid points failures disrupting the mainline (but don't know the truth behind this)

As for running to Aidrie who knows. Do Scotrail have enough trains? is the overhead still in one piece? Have enough traincrew got route knowledge I suspect they have lost 2 weeks of training? Do they have enough EMUs?

I guess knowing how good Scotrail are at providing information over the past 2 weeks we will find out on Sunday morning!

 

[matchmaker]

I think Scotrail have to ask a lot of questions about the reliability of their stock and the failure of a lot of it to withstand winter weather, which although bad, was not very severe.

Have many of the problems been with frozen compressed air systems? Or is it something else?

And is it the case that the newer the stock, the more likely it is to fail?

 

[Wildrover]

Does anyone know if and when there will be a managment and sponsor review of performance over the past bad weather period? I enjoyed an excellent journey from London to Edinburgh on Thursday, but thereafter I found the preformance very poor and I would like to write to these reviews as I think the system might be broke, and in particular to be fair to the staff who have tried so hard, the response seems to be to call in BTP to keep order. Or should station trading remain the priority? If Grampian Country Bus cannot manage with the weather who can?

 

[CarterUSM]

I think Scotrail have to ask a lot of questions about the reliability of their stock and the failure of a lot of it to withstand winter weather, which although bad, was not very severe.

Have many of the problems been with frozen compressed air systems? Or is it something else?

And is it the case that the newer the stock, the more likely it is to fail?

Stock has managed reasonably well, certainly in my neck of the woods, it has been more of an infrastructure failure to be honest.

 

[Failed Unit]

I may be harsh but the turbos have not covered themselves in glory on the Edinburgh side. I understand the are banned from the highland mainline until the weather improves but no idea if that is true or not.

 

[First ScotRail]

The issue with the turbos is that they are permitted down to -17 but temperatures encountered on the HML was down to -20 which they operated in but were struggling hence the failures. I think by Monday we may see a return to normal service, weather for next week looks to be cold but no snow (fingers crossed!!)

 

[68000]

Stock has managed reasonably well, certainly in my neck of the woods, it has been more of an infrastructure failure to be honest.

It was hard to tell for me (at Newton) as every time I went ot the station or check journey planner, there was nonsense on display. When a train did turn up, it was a 3 car set when normally it would be a 6 car set. Infrastructure?

 

[CarterUSM]

It was hard to tell for me (at Newton) as every time I went ot the station or check journey planner, there was nonsense on display. When a train did turn up, it was a 3 car set when normally it would be a 6 car set. Infrastructure?

I wasn't clear enough, i meant my diesel routes! Though the fact you had a 3 car may have been more down to current stock shortage. If that is still even the case!

 

[The_Stig]

I think Scotrail have to ask a lot of questions about the reliability of their stock and the failure of a lot of it to withstand winter weather, which although bad, was not very severe.

Just the most severe in the last 20 odd years.

Have many of the problems been with frozen compressed air systems? Or is it something else?

It is a problem with a few things.

Water in the air systems, forced air cooling, snow getting into motors then melting and generally electronics that do not like the extreme cold.

Doors are pretty badly affected, snow melting then getting into door tracks and then freezing when the units get up to speed.

And is it the case that the newer the stock, the more likely it is to fail?

The 380's have no forced air cooling, plug doors and air dryers so some problems will hopefully be avoided. I had also heard that they were tested in the extreme cold.

Unfortunately until they are running in service we will not really know.

 

[MadCommuter]

It was hard to tell for me (at Newton) as every time I went ot the station or check journey planner, there was nonsense on display. When a train did turn up, it was a 3 car set when normally it would be a 6 car set. Infrastructure?

What I couldn't understand is the reduced service on many lines - 50% on the Hamilton circle - yet very few 6 car trains were operating. I might be wrong, but were 50% of units unavailable?

 

[MCR247]

Or needed on more important routes

 

[Wildrover]

I fully appreciate the seriousness of the weather, and the humidity problems of our Atlantic Island location. My experience was four days into the weather and communications should be independent of the weather. Congestion on gate stations, undermanning and boards that just said DELAYED don't help. Getting information at Glasgow Queens Street on services out of Central was really difficult, as was getting information on the trains for those of us on diversions. I just could not understand the announcements at Central, had the cold got to the Tannoy system?

 

[CarterUSM]

New tannoy system coming into operation at the Central soon incidently. It will have platform specific speakers also, which are currently in situ albeit with fresh plastic wrapping on. The announcements sound reasonable at some locations in the station but atrocious at others.

 

[The_Stig]

What I couldn't understand is the reduced service on many lines - 50% on the Hamilton circle - yet very few 6 car trains were operating. I might be wrong, but were 50% of units unavailable?

Monday I think they had some OHLE problems, that shut down shields, Corkerhill and central I believe. The next day the points at Yoker froze and they couldn't get any units out.

 

[MadCommuter]

Monday I think they had some OHLE problems, that shut down shields, Corkerhill and central I believe. The next day the points at Yoker froze and they couldn't get any units out.

Thanks, that's good information. I understand that the situation was ever changing this week, but it wouldn't hurt for ScotRail to put an update on their webpage at the end of the day to let us all know what went wrong. This wouldn't make the service better, but it would go a long way in helping their customers understand the problems they are up against.

 

[The_Stig]

Thanks, that's good information. I understand that the situation was ever changing this week, but it wouldn't hurt for ScotRail to put an update on their webpage at the end of the day to let us all know what went wrong. This wouldn't make the service better, but it would go a long way in helping their customers understand the problems they are up against.

It would have been. As a frustrated, and ill-informed, passenger for the last week or so has been rather frustrating to say the least!

 

[Failed Unit]

I wonder if we will really get the full service tomorrow morning the website implies or if it will be reduced. I half expect to turn up at the station on Monday morning and find E&G on half hourly. That alone wouldn't be too bad as long as they are 6 coach trains and not 3 like most of last week!

 

[me123]

In all fairness, I believe that they ran a full service yesterday, so it shouldn't be a problem. Indeed, apart from Inveness-Wick and Motherwell-Cumbernauld, everything ran yesterday which is a major improvement.