SSR resignalling

[Dstock7080]

The first section of the long awaited SSR resignalling, Thales CBTC Signal Migration Area 0.5 from Hammersmith-Latimer Road goes live with the first trains tomorrow morning.
Hammersmith signal cabin (OZ) will close after the last train tonight. >insert tears from bluegoblin7<

A normal weekend timetable will operate but trains will initially run empty from Paddington-Hammersmith until passenger approval is gained, hopefully sometime on Sunday.

The contract was signed on 3 August 2015:
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/...-sub-surface-lines-resignalling-contract.html

Maximum line speed will be increased to 50mph in this section, from the previous 35-40mph. Restrictions obviously remain on certain infrastructure and pointwork.

 

[Dstock7080]

Unfortunately things haven’t gone well today!
So a return to legacy signalling tonight, passenger operation remains with green signals!

 

[rebmcr]

Unfortunately things haven’t gone well today!
So a return to legacy signalling tonight

Oh, that is bad news indeed.

Are you able to post any further detail?

 

[bluegoblin7]

Oh, that is bad news indeed.

No it isnt!

 

[Dstock7080]

Oh, that is bad news indeed.

Are you able to post any further detail?

Some trains that were presented at the boundary point were not fitted with CBTC equipment or were fitted but the VOBC (Vehicle On Board Computer) failed to respond and on some occasions drivers requested an Instructor to help them through the area, all leading to delays of over 60mins for a journey to Hammersmith and back.

Passenger operation Hammersmith-Paddington will resume in the morning, using legacy signalling and Hammersmith signal cabin will reopen!

 

[bluegoblin7]

Some trains that were presented at the boundary point were not fitted with CBTC equipment or were fitted but the VOBC (Vehicle On Board Computer) failed to respond and on some occasions drivers requested an Instructor to help them through the area, all leading to delays of over 60mins for a journey to Hammersmith and back.

Passenger operation Hammersmith-Paddington will resume in the morning, using legacy signalling and Hammersmith signal cabin will reopen!

No non-VOBC trains were meant to make it down (we reformed the last one off about 0600) but there were lots of problems changing over, some train borne and others with the track tags relating to the system. Combined with the decision to reinstate legacy signalling one non-VOBC train did make it down just before the service was suspended. It was a good opportunity to test the procedure!

Hammersmith cabin will re-open exactly 57 years after it first opened...!

 

[jamesst]

What's the latest with the Ssr resignalling? Was it fixed in the end?

 

[Dstock7080]

What's the latest with the Ssr resignalling? Was it fixed in the end?

Another try is going to be made this coming weekend 21-22 July.

 

[rebmcr]

Another try is going to be made this coming weekend 21-22 July.

Presumably the same plan — ghost running + RRBs for only as long as necessary?

 

[bluegoblin7]

Another try is going to be made this coming weekend 21-22 July.

This weekend has been downgraded to system testing on the branch, as well as a larger shut down into the City. There are no plans to launch the signalling into revenue service.

The shutdown will span the whole weekend and will not be lifted early. Rail replacement buses have not been provided for any shut downs on the Hammersmith road for some time now.

 

[Mag_seven]

What's the latest on this? (was thinking of having a trip along from Padd to Hammersmith tomorrow to check it out)

 

[bluegoblin7]

What's the latest on this? (was thinking of having a trip along from Padd to Hammersmith tomorrow to check it out)

Still conventional signalling across the entire SSR.

The weekend of September 22/23 is still pencilled in for the next attempt, although there are rumours that it may be pushed back again (I've been off sick recently so I don't know how substantiated they are).

 

[Mag_seven]

Still conventional signalling across the entire SSR.

The weekend of September 22/23 is still pencilled in for the next attempt, although there are rumours that it may be pushed back again (I've been off sick recently so I don't know how substantiated they are).

Thanks for the quick response. Sounds like its developing into a bit of a saga!

 

[axlrosen]

Will there be more trains per hour once it’s done?

 

[Dstock7080]

Will there be more trains per hour once it’s done?

Yes, once fully implemented the peak pattern should be:
Ealing-Upminster 8tph
Richmond-Upminster 8tph
Wimbledon-Barking 8tph
Wimbledon-Edgware Rd 8tph
Circle from Hammersmith/Edgware Rd 8tph
Hammersmith & City 8tph
Uxbridge 12tph
Watford 10tph
Amersham 4tph
Chesham 2tph
this would give:
32tph Baker Street-Liverpool Street
32tph Gloucester Road-Tower Hill.
Other uplift will be introduced after the Circle Line is completed, and then as major sections are finished.

 

[axlrosen]

Thanks! Let me ask the very specific question that I’m personally interested in: How many trains are there from Hammersmith to Baker St (and beyond) now, and in the future? And when is the future expected to be?

 

[Dstock7080]

Thanks! Let me ask the very specific question that I’m personally interested in: How many trains are there from Hammersmith to Baker St (and beyond) now, and in the future? And when is the future expected to be?

Currently there are 12tph Hammersmith-Baker Street, this will rise (as shown above) to 16tph in the peak.
15tph is likely after SMA 6 (Signalling Migration Area 6, Stepney Green-Becontree) has been completed, currently around August/September 2019.
16tph will be available once SMA 9 is converted, around September 2020.

 

[rebmcr]

Signalling Migration Area

For the benefit of other readers, here's an excerpt from this TfL PDF where I found a diagram.

 

[LU_timetabler]

They think part of the problem with the new signalling has been trains "appearing"/starting in the morning at Hammersmith depot. To avoid this, the next attempt will outstable all of Hammersmith depot's trains and introduce them to the line from the Edgware Road end, it is hoped that this will overcome some of the problems.

 

[DavyCrocket]

And how would this work on the next day and the day after?
Can all the trains that come from Hammersmith depot always come from Edgware Road?

 

[LU_timetabler]

Once they are introduced correctly the computer can continue with them, enabling them to stable and restart from Hammersmith.

 

[DavyCrocket]

But then in the morning they will have to be re inputted in to the computer? What you say doesn’t make sense.
And what about the other depots.

 

[LU_timetabler]

No, then the next morning the computer knows where they are from the night before!

 

[DavyCrocket]

But on the next day, the train will be a different number so would have to be launched as a new train.

 

[rebmcr]

But on the next day, the train will be a different number so would have to be launched as a new train.

Do you have internal knowledge of how the Thales system works?

 

[bluegoblin7]

They think part of the problem with the new signalling has been trains "appearing"/starting in the morning at Hammersmith depot. To avoid this, the next attempt will outstable all of Hammersmith depot's trains and introduce them to the line from the Edgware Road end, it is hoped that this will overcome some of the problems.

There are far more pressing and complex issues than just this, I can assure you.

 

[DavyCrocket]

Do you have internal knowledge of how the Thales system works?

Absolutely.

 

[jamesst]

So is the new signalling up and running yet?

 

[Dstock7080]

So is the new signalling up and running yet?

The first section from Hammersmith-Latimer Road has been rescheduled for 17/18 November.

 

[bluegoblin7]

The first section from Hammersmith-Latimer Road has been rescheduled for 17/18 November.

...for now. (I'm on annual leave, *dances a dance*)