|
|
Post by heofgreatwisdom on Jan 7, 2010 9:30:50 GMT
Roger Gale on RK this am having a pre election blast at SET. He is arranging a meeting with C Horton to show his displeasure!!Says he can't understand why South Western was able to run a near normal service yesterday and run it later in the evening whilst SET was bleating that it was not able so to do.
HOGW
|
|
Duvel
New Member
Posts: 20
|
Post by Duvel on Jan 7, 2010 10:00:17 GMT
I wonder whether it is something to do with only South Eastern having Cl.375s.
My impression is that they are particularly poor in cold temperatures. Does anyone know anything about these units (and Southern's 377s)?
Do they for instance have an 'Ice Mode' which temporarily reduces the sensitivity of the techie stuff on board to help reduce problems from power fluctuations when arcing on icy third-rail? Or is there anything else which makes them particularly sensitive to cold weather?
|
|
|
|
Post by NoOnions on Jan 7, 2010 21:56:01 GMT
I can't answer Devel's questions about the pros and cons of the current stock but it does seem as if the more advanced our trains get, the less they can cope with anything other that a slight breeze.
As a Cannon St. station user I got a St. P High Speed train home yesterday. It was a good job I didn't need the toilet. We were informed that EVERY toilet on the train was out of action, as the equipment to empty and clean the toilets was frozen.
How in this day and age, when we have our lovely HS Link, can they not be able to provide working toilets on a train?
The mind boggles!
Regards,
NoOnions
|
|
Duvel
New Member
Posts: 20
|
Post by Duvel on Jan 7, 2010 22:07:45 GMT
Very true NoOnions. As an interlude, here's another pic from the snow of 1987 with some slam-door stock coping admirably with heaps more than a slight breeze on the Sheerness Branch: www.flickr.com/photos/74009/4234048782/375s? Pah! |
|
|
|
Post by Richard Trevithick on Jan 8, 2010 0:24:51 GMT
With regard to roger gales ill-informed, desperate-to-get-reelected-hoping-everyone-in-his-constituancy-is-as-thick-as-him-to-get-a-few-extra-brownie-points/votes rant, if there's solid ice on the conductor rail, then NO electric train is going to be able to get moving! There have been issues with the Colas de-icing trains that cover the South-Eastern, perhaps SWT aren't having so many problems over there...
Regarding ice mode, the Electrostars do have an ice mode. Apparently in normal conditions, the traction converters are permitted to shut down (due to arcing, etc.) and then automatically reset a few seconds later 10 times within a set time period (1hr?). Ice mode increases this to around 15 times. Once it reaches this, the unit is dead. It is possible to force a reset, but it's often quicker to just get it recovered/assisted by another unit. The traction packages are supposed to be very expensive, so the train is shutting itself down to prevent any damage to itself. So much for progress!
RT
|
|
Duvel
New Member
Posts: 20
|
Post by Duvel on Jan 8, 2010 10:53:28 GMT
Thank-you Mr Trevithick for the description of the 'Ice Mode' feature.
I was told the other night that the latest builds of the 375/376/377/378 family had an 'Ice Mode' facility that was deemed to be fairly effective, but I didn't find out exactly what it did or whether it was fitted to all classes of unit. Seems it might not actually be much of a benefit at all.
With regard to the de-icing, it is perhaps a sensitive subject when one part of the process fails when one of a number of private companies has problems (given the slanging match that Eurotunnel tried to start recently with Eurostar and Kent Police for example), but if there is a problem with delivery of de-icing services I feel it would ultimately be better for the rail industry to be honest and a bit more transparent about what is going on rather than just shut up shop around 2100-2200.
(and admit perhaps that to enjoy the 'benefits' of modern trains one has to accept that they won't be much good in cold weather, compared to the previous generation of main line stock).
|
|
|
|
Post by sibodkent on Jan 8, 2010 13:26:19 GMT
An absolute shambles this morning.
Every other service was either cancelled or severely late to St Pancras this morning. The 8:13 that I caught came in 11 minutes late, and was so packed that people were hanging off the light fittings to stay upright!
So much for their 'revised' time table. At least if it stuck to the normal one there would be less chance of having to wait ages in the cold!
|
|
|
|
Post by jumpedup on Jan 8, 2010 16:20:12 GMT
An absolute shambles this morning. Every other service was either cancelled or severely late to St Pancras this morning. The 8:13 that I caught came in 11 minutes late, and was so packed that people were hanging off the light fittings to stay upright! So much for their 'revised' time table. At least if it stuck to the normal one there would be less chance of having to wait ages in the cold! Doesn't look like it's improved during the day... The 17:40 to Dover is cancelled and the 18:10 will be 6 coaches instead of 12. www.journeycheck.com/southeastern/ |
|
|
|
Post by Becs Faversham on Jan 8, 2010 18:00:43 GMT
Got the hi-speed today for first time. Well had no choice with no Cannon St trains. The journey to and from St Pancras, both trains were freezing, pumping out cold air. Is this normal?
If so I don;t fancy getting that regularly and freezing in the process. Ended up keeping, scarf, hat and gloves on!
|
|
|
|
Post by NoOnions on Jan 8, 2010 19:38:12 GMT
My two high-speed journeys journeys were not too bad, warm but not as warm as I think we'd all like.
However, the 17:58 home was short-formed. According to the guard (train manager?) a number of carriages have been damaged by the snow and ice and have been taken out of service to be repaired. Would this be the third-rail - arc problem damaging the shoes/motors?
|
|
|
|
Post by genehuntisking on Jan 10, 2010 19:59:35 GMT
My two high-speed journeys journeys were not too bad, warm but not as warm as I think we'd all like. However, the 17:58 home was short-formed. According to the guard (train manager?) a number of carriages have been damaged by the snow and ice and have been taken out of service to be repaired. Would this be the third-rail - arc problem damaging the shoes/motors? I understand a couple of units were damaged on Friday morning when there was an attachment and the nose cone doors didn't open. Not sure whether human or mechanical failure. Can't think that whizzing up and down in sub zero temperatures does a lot of good, and I believe there have been other instances of the nose cone not opening in the cold, although these have been found before an accompanying "bang" rather than afterwards. Interesting that the South Eastern website reports there may be short formations tomorrow. Just like any other day except colder really! The Gene Genie. |
|
|
|
Post by Ryan Webb on Jan 10, 2010 22:10:15 GMT
Does anyone know when the Sheerness Line is going to reopen?
An unidentified train was seen not too long ago going up the line towards Sheerness near Swale, with sparks flying. Is this a ghost train or did it have passengers on it, my source couldn't tell.
Thanks
Ryan
|
|
|
|
Post by sibodkent on Jan 11, 2010 9:42:04 GMT
Well it we have normnal (ish) service today.
Lots of delays according to the SET journeycheck, but significantly, thge HS1 service occupation is back to pre-emergency timetables!
|
|
|
|
Post by jumpedup on Jan 11, 2010 9:49:08 GMT
but significantly, thge HS1 service occupation is back to pre-emergency timetables! Yes, plenty of room to stretch out and reap the reward of the 20% excess charge for the privilege... On our 12 coach train (yes, count them...) the conductor (sorry Trsin Manager) apologised that he couldn't make it into the front 6 coaches as he'd had so many tickets to sell, queries to answer in the rear 6. Both travellers in the rear six must have required a ticket... |
|
|
|
Post by sibodkent on Jan 13, 2010 19:57:12 GMT
So it seems SET did the old bait and switch tonight! Absolute shambles!
This morning it seems as though there were no Cannon street services, at least as the north kent line is concerned, and very few, if any, Victoria services.
People were apparently told to go on the HS1 line, and there was an announcement at Gravesend stating that Normal tickets were being accepted today on HS1.
Anyway, come home time (the 16:58 form StP to Faversham) and I saw somthing like 30-40 people queueing outside the barriers having a 'discussion' with the barrier staff.
I had no idea what was going on, but I assumed that they were all getting passed through for the above reason.
Anyway, on the train, an argument broke out (quite civil) between several people on the train and the ticket inspector (train manager these days).
Apparently he had been told that normal tickets were no longer acceptable and that upgrades were required. However, everyone who had not got one stated that quite learly, staff at Canon street and Victoria had sent them there, and that the SET website was stating clearly that normal tickets are being accepted.
However, the train manager claimed that he was told at 16:52 that he was to require upgrades!
People were fuming, and in the end, one chap had a very long argument with a very adamant train manager about the subject, while everyone else moved further down the train to ensure they could get off without encountering him.
So it looks like SET management lifted their special measures at the last minute without giving all passengers enough time to make alternative arrangements on their travel.
One chap even demanded a penalty fair so that he could contest it!
|
|
