Union scare or real problem ?
 

Just seen this on the BBC web site.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-20577690

Looking at the photograph pre65 it looks like a real problem, Im going on the ECML this wednesday, hope they've fixed it by then.

Sorry, I meant real problem as in the whole network rather than that particular example.

Not making excuses for them, but rails break especially in cold weather.
In this case it looks like it was an Insulated Block Joint that cracked.
Slightly unusual in that the failure is not radiating from the bolt hole.
Problem easily rectified by replacing the rail affected and should take about 4 hours to cut out and weld in a replacement.
Can be temporarily replaced and clamped in about an hour but that will mean a speed restriction imposed for the duration until welded in.

I'm getting flak for suggesting this on Railchat.

Mainly because of the inflammatory text on the RMT's own web page. The BBC have done a much better job.

It would seem that initial signs were noted on two days but were not expected to deteriorate significantly before replacement work could be scheduled in the normal manner.

However it is suggested that there were a number of complaints by drivers after the 21st which should have rung alarm bells for Network Rail that the failure was becoming catastrophic.