WCML Signal 113 (near Primrose Hill tunnel) fault

[Railperf]

Can anyone shed light on why signal 113 is causing every fast northbound WCML to come to a stand before clearing, costing most trains a 2 -3 minute delay. And furthermore why is it taking so long to be fixed. Surely it is coming up to a month this has been faulty?

 

[185]

No answer but I too have been caught up in this a few times now on the DF ...and randomly brought to a stop coming into London on the Up Fast in last couple of days at same place.

 

[Bald Rick]

Can anyone shed light on why signal 113 is causing every fast northbound WCML to come to a stand before clearing, costing most trains a 2 -3 minute delay. And furthermore why is it taking so long to be fixed. Surely it is coming up to a month this has been faulty?

It doesn’t cause every train to come to a stand; I’ve been through 3 times this week and every time we were down to about 15-20mph before it cleared.

There were some major issues with the interlockign there a few weeks back, it might be related to that.

 

[Tilting007]

It doesn’t cause every train to come to a stand; I’ve been through 3 times this week and every time we were down to about 15-20mph before it cleared.

There were some major issues with the interlockign there a few weeks back, it might be related to that

It has approach control applied due to issues with the datalinks.

Down Fast and Up Fast both affected.

It has approach control applied due to issues with the datalinks.

Down Fast and Up Fast both affected.

5 weeks now.
clearly a complex issue.

 

[Railperf]

It has approach control applied due to issues with the datalinks.

Down Fast and Up Fast both affected.


5 weeks now.
clearly a complex issue.

Funny enough, I described it to a pal as seeming to clear in the same way as approach control. Is there no way of creating a slightly longer temporary block section linked to the signal after it?
Can anyone elaborate on what is meant by issues with the data links? Does that mean a cable is damaged from the relay room to the signal that tells it what aspect to display, or indeed suggest a problem in the relay room?
And is it a case after 5 weeks that the exact faulty component or cable has not been identified or that replacement requires parts that need to be manufactured or time requiring more than a night's possession to rectify?

 

[Nippy]

The reason the Approach Control is on is because the signal reverts to danger/randomly changes aspects then the drivers are approaching. WM116 on the UF is the same.

There is random electrical interference that causes the Datalink issue. The technicians have been working to find where that is coming from, but it covers the interlocking on the Fast Lines that goes from Park Street tunnels to Kensal Green Tunnel so it’s a large area to cover and it’s proving elusive. It’s frustrating for both drivers and us signallers.

 

[Bald Rick]

Can anyone elaborate on what is meant by issues with the data links? Does that mean a cable is damaged from the relay room to the signal that tells it what aspect to display, or indeed suggest a problem in the relay room?

There arent any relay rooms on the south end of the WCML!

 

[pnepaul]

I wonder you all make of this - taken from today's The Scotsman newspaper

https://www.scotsman.com/news/trans...attempt-postponed-by-signalling-fault-5110955

Rail campaigners have condemned the failure to speed up Glasgow-London rail journeys after Avanti West Coast was forced to postpone its attempt to break the record next week because of a signalling fault.
The train operator had hoped to better the three hours 52 minutes fastest time set 41 years ago after failing in a previous attempt in 2021 by just 21 seconds.

 

[Railperf]

The signalling issues at Camden cause more than 2 min delay to northbound fast line trains. The Carstairs TSR in 2021 cost 1.5 mins and was a factor in the record attempt being missed by 21 seconds. So a no brainer to postpone until the Camden issue is sorted - which seems to be eluding NR at the moment.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I wonder you all make of this - taken from today's The Scotsman newspaper

https://www.scotsman.com/news/trans...attempt-postponed-by-signalling-fault-5110955

Oh dear! After all the effort they've put into sorting the issues around the Carstairs area, something else thwarts next Wednesday's attempt.

 

[Flying Snail]

Good.

Frankly the idea of trying to eke out a "victory" by beating a 40 year old record by a matter of seconds is beyond pathetic. Come back when there is a real journey time improvement, until then leave the APT record stand.

*Not good that there is a persistent fault delaying service trains that people actually rely on however.

 

[The Planner]

Good.

Frankly the idea of trying to eke out a "victory" by beating a 40 year old record by a matter of seconds is beyond pathetic. Come back when there is a real journey time improvement, until then leave the APT record stand.

*Not good that there is a persistent fault delaying service trains that people actually rely on however.

Whats constitutes "real"?

 

[Tilting007]

The signalling issues at Camden cause more than 2 min delay to northbound fast line trains. The Carstairs TSR in 2021 cost 1.5 mins and was a factor in the record attempt being missed by 21 seconds. So a no brainer to postpone until the Camden issue is sorted - which seems to be eluding NR at the moment.

I agree. No point starting a 401 mile journey and knowing after three you have failed.
Anything can fail on the day to cause delay, but if there is a risk both NR and AWC know about it is absolutely the right to do.
Plan it after the hot weather.
There will no doubt be hidden benefits for work that had been done for next week on speed restrictions or other faults.

No doubt plenty of charitable causes will benefit from the run too!

 

[AndrewE]

Whats constitutes "real" [journey time improvement]?

Maybe a quarter or half an hour off a long-distance service - and without knocking out intermediate stops at important stations and junctions?

(Give us back our Crewe stops on the Class 1 Euston to Glasgows!)

 

[The Planner]

Maybe a quarter or half an hour off a long-distance service - and without knocking out intermediate stops at important stations and junctions?

(Give us back our Crewe stops on the Class 1 Euston to Glasgows!)

The only thing that could have delivered that has been canned.

 

[Mag_seven]

Just a gentle reminder that this thread is for the discussion of the ongoing issues at WCML Signal 113 (near Primrose Hill tunnel).

If anyone wants to discuss anything else then they are welcome to start a new thread elsewhere.