Monday/Tuesday morning problems

[genehuntisking]

Oct 8, 2008 9:48:14 GMT Neil said:

Thanks Richard

I guess I know these things happen but it does slightly make my point

Are the trains checked before they are brought out of the depot or is this one of those things that just occurred at the platform?

Oct 7, 2008 16:01:36 GMT Richard Trevithick said:

Hello,

I've been asking around my etheral world and am led to believe the problem was caused by a defective passcom switch in one of the toilets. it was flooded wit water and could not be reset.

Perhaps the good Mr Hunt can fill us in with a little more information if he has it...

RT

I'll attempt to answer both to the best of my knowledge.

When a train has been stopped for a considerable length of time there is a time allowance for it to be prepared from berth (PB), and in this case as it was berthed overnight, it would have been allowed for in the drivers time. Whether in this case it was the driver who worked it, or (as is often the case) a night turn driver who goes round prepping several trains I don't know.

I am sure one of our drivers can give a more details explanation on what they ave to check when they "PB" a train.

In the case in question the 06.30 Ramsgate - Victoria stock on Monday this week comes Empty from Ashford where it berths overnight. As I understand it the passcom fault (as reported by RT) happened on the way over from Ashford to Ramsgate, and the driver requested fitters to the train on arrival at Ramsgate. As previously reported it was a fault in the toilet which wouldn't reset due to water getting in. I can't remember if it rained overnight on Sunday night, or it could even have been caused by a leak from the toilet water tank.

As it was the fitters were unable to fix the fault, and by 06.50 other trains had already departed Ramsgate towards Faversham and it was put away in the depot. From memory the stock was fixed around 09.30, and the train ran ECS to Victoria for the return working in the afternoon (ECS Victoria to Cannon St then 18.30 Cannon St - Dover).

Again perhaps one of our drivers can give a more detailed explanation, but the 375 units computer (known as Mitrac) brings up various faults and grades them accordingly, in effect from something as comparatively minor as the toilet tank water tank is empty to a serious seized motors. Depending on the severity of the fault, depends whether the train can keep going. Passcoms rate fairly highly as it is a passengers way of stopping the train in an emergency. While the train can run empty with a defective passcom it can't go in passenger service.

The Gene Genie

[Neil]

Thanks Gene - comprehensive and interesting as always!!

I would say, though, that it doesn't quite tie in with my experience. I got on the train about 5 minutes before it was due to go and all seemed well. Driver and guard on board and train powered up. It didn't go on time and after a few minutes they said there was a train fault that they were trying to rectify. Ten or so minutes later they told us they were getting the fitters in. They ambled along and immediately decided the train was out of action.

Once again, the guard was good - and kept us abreast of what was going on and told us if the 6.50 got the green light before us he would tell us. Given the train was out completely we ended up on that one

Sounds like a possible comms breakdown somewhere!!