Travel By Train ...

... Hither and Thither Whativer The Wither!

The above headline popped up on fbb's screen a day or two ago.  Immediately the old bloke asked himself, "What's up at Crewkerne"?

The answer was that there is (or was) nothing untoward at Crewkerne itself, but the following explanation did, sort of, explain. The "up", that something was, involved a stretch of line west of Salisbury, namely from Gillingham to Axminster.

South Western Railway (SWR), now part of Great British Railways (but not quite yet!) explained it all.

But the station is not "shut" and the line is not "shut"; through trains are still running.

But trains can still run over it?

It appears (to fbb) that not stopping a Crewkerne saves a few precious minutes, so that trains can run slowly over wobbly track, but still keep to time elsewhere.

You reckon?

But fbb remains suspicious. The line is single track with passing loops and the timetable is very very "tight". It takes little more than a herd of gerbils illegally crossing the line to cause delays and the one-way operation goes to pot.

Then comes another headine.

"One hour longer"? It's slow enough already!

So fbb turned to the interwebnet and the SWR site for a note on the emergency arrangements.

There was no mention in the red frightener panel!

But scroll down and there was more information - presumably NOT an emergency???

The text would have been easier to follow if a large advert had not popped up obscuring the detail.

Eventually, fbb was able to find a minuscule "x" to click and away into the ether went the call to "Get on Board", singularly inappropriate for what appeared to be a massive service reduction.

SWR explains all!

We are sorry to announce that, due to temporary speed restrictions between Gillingham and Axminster, we are making timetable changes for services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids.

From Monday 11 August, one train will run every two hours between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids. This is reduced from one train per hour, and journeys will take approximately one hour longer than usual.

Why SO slow? Maybe there will be lots of hanging about waiting for single track section to clear, although surely the idea of a two hourly service is to mitigate those pathing problems. It looks like precautionary speed restrictions of a drastic number!

These timetables will run until further notice.

Why are you making these timetable changes?

We are experiencing some of the driest conditions for around 200 years, and across long stretches of track between Gillingham and Axminster, this has dried out and shrunk the clay soil embankments that support our tracks. This is a problem known as ‘soil moisture deficit’ ...

... which Network Rail explains with a video.

Here are some brief pictures from their video. An exciting lump of dry clay ...

... and another man in dayglo orange to explains what has already been explained by SWR (or maybe vice versa?).

There is a "still" which might be slightly wobbly track, or it might be fbb's ARMD visual problems!

Between Gillingham and Axminster, apparently.

Because track levels have been disturbed, our trains cannot travel safely at their normal speeds. Most of the route west of Salisbury is made of single track, with only a small number of places for trains travelling in opposite directions to pass each other.

Yes, we've got the message. Back to SWR ...

Our amended timetables have been designed to provide customers with a reliable service until the speed restrictions can be removed.

When will the normal timetables be restored?

These timetable changes will be in place until further notice.

Dry conditions are set to continue, so it is possible further speed restrictions will be required. Attempting to stabilise the track now would only provide a short-lived fix, as the soil continues to move. Once soil moisture levels improve and the ground begins to rehydrate and settle, engineers will carry out lasting repairs to stabilise the embankments and restore track levels, allowing the normal timetable to return.

But there is one benefit of slow, slow infrequent trains!

Will trains call at Crewkerne?

Yes, trains between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids will call at Crewkerne from Monday 11 August, once every two hours.

We await the new timetables with bated breath!

A Few Thoughts

Did this problem exist in the far hotter and drier Summer of 1976?

Is Notwork Rail doing a bit of backside protecting?

Are there no other bits of the GB rail network that are running over clay? If there are, have their timetables been reduced by over 50%?

If not why not?

Is Notwork Rail doing a bit of backside protecting?

Retrospectively, was it a daft move to single the line west of Salisbury?

Answers of a postcard (a large postcard) to the usual address!

A Poetic Celebration

l

"Poem penned by "a gentleman of quality".

Please Note:- There was some confusion (caused by an fbb change of mind!) in yesterday's posting. In fact we WILL go to the East Midlands tomorrow.

 Next Best-O-Leicester blog : Tues 5 Aug