ScotRail maintenance frenzy, many lines affected next few weekends

[David M]

I see that Network Rail are undertaking an enormous amount of
maintenance work affecting ScotRail services pretty much all around
Scotland over the next few weekends, starting from this weekend.

http://www.journeycheck.com/firstscotrail/


In particular, it especially looks as though major works are taking
place around the Larbert triangle, resulting in bus replacements for
Central Scotland services and extended detours for intercity services
from Glasgow to the north. (Oh, what fun..)

In recent weeks, I've seen large amounts of temporary metal protective
matting appearing in the field next to the north junction of the triangle.
Does anybody know what work is being carried out? I presume it must be
replacement of the points at one or more corners of the triangle?

Given that the Larbert triangle is *the* major node through which the
majority of Scotland's cross-country services pass, it seems surprising
that there just aren't any viable diversionary routes which can avoid
the junctions when work is being carried out.

While east-west services can go via Falkirk High when needed, there are
no such alternatives for west-north and east-north (local) services. The
only diversionary route for these is via the Forth Bridge and Perth or
Dundee as appropriate, but this misses out the significant destination of
Stirling and environs, requiring bus transfer. (Maybe at some time in
the future, Forth Bridge - Alloa - Stirling might work as an east-north
diversionary route..)


Given the significant role that this triangle plays in Scotland's rail
network, it does seem very surprising that there aren't any easy ways to
get around it when necessary. How did the railways deal with repairs to
the junction previously without causing chaos?

[Railsigns.co.uk]

Post by David M
In recent weeks, I've seen large amounts of temporary metal protective
matting appearing in the field next to the north junction of the triangle.
Does anybody know what work is being carried out? I presume it must be
replacement of the points at one or more corners of the triangle?

Yes - Larbert Junction is being renewed and remodelled as a 'parallel'
junction. The intention had been to transfer control of the junction to
Larbert North signal box at the same time, but this has now been
postponed. Larbert Junction signal box will remain open in the meantime
and retain control of the junction after it is relaid.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Railway Signs and Signals of Great Britain: http://www.railsigns.co.uk/

[David Hansen]

On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 16:38:26 +0100 someone who may be David M

Post by David M
While east-west services can go via Falkirk High when needed, there are
no such alternatives for west-north and east-north (local) services. The
only diversionary route for these is via the Forth Bridge and Perth or
Dundee as appropriate, but this misses out the significant destination of
Stirling and environs, requiring bus transfer.

Or a train from Perth to Larbert. Of course these days the bus
companies that largely run the railways seldom bother with such
things.

Before it was ripped up to build a road, the Glenfarg line provided
an alternative that probably added little to overall journey times
from Glasgow to Aberdeen if still serving Perth. The current trundle
via Ladybank does.

Note that, in its wisdom, BR was happy to route Edinburgh to
Inverness trains via Larbert. It was only because of freight that
the line via Newburgh still existed to be revived in the late BR
era.

Post by David M
Given the significant role that this triangle plays in Scotland's rail
network, it does seem very surprising that there aren't any easy ways to
get around it when necessary.

Glasgow to Inverness avoiding this triangle with similar journey
times was always difficult, but the railways have made diversions
worse for Glasgow to Aberdeen.

Post by David M
How did the railways deal with repairs to
the junction previously without causing chaos?

[Mad Mac]

Post by David Hansen
It was only because of freight that
the line via Newburgh still existed to be revived in the late BR
era.

Closure was seriously looked at mid-80s. It ended up surviving because
of the existance of a main BR telecomms cable (EDN-PTH) which would have
cost an absolute fortune to reroute circuits via Dundee and/or Stirling.

[David Hansen]

On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 12:53:16 -0700 someone who may be Mad Mac

Post by Mad Mac

Post by David Hansen
It was only because of freight that
the line via Newburgh still existed to be revived in the late BR
era.

Closure was seriously looked at mid-80s. It ended up surviving because
of the existance of a main BR telecomms cable (EDN-PTH) which would have
cost an absolute fortune to reroute circuits via Dundee and/or Stirling.

Thanks for that. I have occasionally wondered why Airdrie - Bathgate
was closed around that time while Ladybank - Perth was not. On the
surface both had been kept open for freight but this was on the
wane.

Of course that was the time of a number of kamikaze ideas from BR,
including the Strathclyde "Serpell report" (which had one advantage
in that it led to the Strathclyde manning Agreement) and a few
singlings/closures that were said to be foolish at the time and have
proved to be foolish.

[Harry G]

Post by David Hansen
Of course that was the time of a number of kamikaze ideas from BR,
including the Strathclyde "Serpell report" (which had one advantage
in that it led to the Strathclyde manning Agreement) and a few
singlings/closures that were said to be foolish at the time and have
proved to be foolish.

There was another report in the early 80's (possibly Serpell also) that
had the brainwave of closing the West Highland Lines north of
Crianlarich on the grounds that traffic on each of the lines north of
that point was around half of that carried south towards Glasgow. Pure
genius!

[David Hansen]

On 19 Sep 2006 04:18:31 -0700 someone who may be "Harry G"

Post by Harry G
There was another report in the early 80's (possibly Serpell also) that
had the brainwave of closing the West Highland Lines north of
Crianlarich on the grounds that traffic on each of the lines north of
that point was around half of that carried south towards Glasgow. Pure
genius!

Sounds likely.

One of the most ridiculous things in the Serpell Report was that oil
products from Milford Haven would be taken by road all the way to
Cardiff and then put on trains for transport to the London area.
They did this to make their financial "models" easier. Of course it
was a quite ridiculous assumption, as anyone with a brain could see.

[Bevan Price]

Post by David M
I see that Network Rail are undertaking an enormous amount of
maintenance work affecting ScotRail services pretty much all around
Scotland over the next few weekends, starting from this weekend.
http://www.journeycheck.com/firstscotrail/
In particular, it especially looks as though major works are taking
place around the Larbert triangle, resulting in bus replacements for
Central Scotland services and extended detours for intercity services
from Glasgow to the north. (Oh, what fun..)
In recent weeks, I've seen large amounts of temporary metal protective
matting appearing in the field next to the north junction of the triangle.
Does anybody know what work is being carried out? I presume it must be
replacement of the points at one or more corners of the triangle?
Given that the Larbert triangle is *the* major node through which the
majority of Scotland's cross-country services pass, it seems surprising
that there just aren't any viable diversionary routes which can avoid
the junctions when work is being carried out.
While east-west services can go via Falkirk High when needed, there are
no such alternatives for west-north and east-north (local) services. The
only diversionary route for these is via the Forth Bridge and Perth or
Dundee as appropriate, but this misses out the significant destination of
Stirling and environs, requiring bus transfer. (Maybe at some time in
the future, Forth Bridge - Alloa - Stirling might work as an east-north
diversionary route..)
Given the significant role that this triangle plays in Scotland's rail
network, it does seem very surprising that there aren't any easy ways to
get around it when necessary. How did the railways deal with repairs to
the junction previously without causing chaos?

Overnight work, single line working, etc. Then the safety people took
control, so you can't have trains running on one track when someone is
working on the next track. Plus, somebody decided "who cares about customers
?" when it is cheaper to have all-day possessions than a succession of
overnight possessions.
Bevan

[Bob Scott]

Post by Bevan Price
Overnight work, single line working, etc. Then the safety people took
control, so you can't have trains running on one track when someone is
working on the next track. Plus, somebody decided "who cares about customers
?" when it is cheaper to have all-day possessions than a succession of
overnight possessions.
Bevan

AIUI they've got a series of overnight possessions for track renewal
between Carmuirs & Larbert North.

They're doing prep work at the moment and then, from 00.25 on Friday
till 04.45 Tuesday, it's S&C Renewal so there's a replacement bus laid
on, which means SWMBO will have to get up earlier for her commute.

There were letters sent to local householders detailing what they were
doing & when, presumably so we can look forward to the disturbed sleep.

[David M]

David M wrote in scot.general
about: ScotRail maintenance frenzy, many lines affected next few weekends

Post by David M
I see that Network Rail are undertaking an enormous amount of
maintenance work affecting ScotRail services pretty much all around
Scotland over the next few weekends, starting from this weekend.
http://www.journeycheck.com/firstscotrail/

..and still it goes on, seemingly endlessly into the future (although at
least the line I use is finally back to normal now)..

Just why is there *so much* repair work underway?

Is this all a backlog due to RAILTRACK's little 'maintenance holidays',
or has there been an increase in rail maintenance funding, meaning that
many jobs in the 'not strictly necessary, but useful in an ideal world'
category have suddenly been able to actually take place? It just seems
that an awful lot of work is taking place in an awful lot of places in
quite a short time.


David.

[Ianigsy]

Post by David M
David M wrote in scot.general
about: ScotRail maintenance frenzy, many lines affected next few weekends

Post by David M
I see that Network Rail are undertaking an enormous amount of
maintenance work affecting ScotRail services pretty much all around
Scotland over the next few weekends, starting from this weekend.
http://www.journeycheck.com/firstscotrail/

..and still it goes on, seemingly endlessly into the future (although at
least the line I use is finally back to normal now)..
Just why is there *so much* repair work underway?
Is this all a backlog due to RAILTRACK's little 'maintenance holidays',
or has there been an increase in rail maintenance funding, meaning that
many jobs in the 'not strictly necessary, but useful in an ideal world'
category have suddenly been able to actually take place? It just seems
that an awful lot of work is taking place in an awful lot of places in
quite a short time.
David.
--
David M. -- Edinburgh, Scotland. --[en,fr,(de) <-- corrections welcome]
*Please remove quotes not needed for context and interleave reply text*
*No-context, excess-quoted, slug-trailed, zero-content posts filtered.*

Possibly with a few big projects affecting most inter-city services in
the central belt most weekends, the expectation is that demand for
leisure travel will fall to the extent that they may as well do a few
other jobs here and there as well. The West of England is having its
annual maintenance blitz at the moment too by the looks of things,
although in that case for operational reasons it's unacceptable to
close lines in Devon and Cornwall during the summer so the work has to
be done in the autumn and winter- also makes a certain amount of sense
in that plant and machinery can be moved from one branch to another on
a week-by-week basis.