Idiot needs a query solving!
 

Hi,

I’m just wondering what happens to electric trains in the case of a blackout and no electricity is produced by the National Grid. I understand that there are back-up generators but how long will these function for?

Thanks for your help,

Melanie

Others on here are more expert than I but in the meantime the generators would be for signalling and telecomms. They could in no way supply enough power for trains.

As I understand it Network Rail has its own connections to the National Grid with its own contractual arrangements.

Not knowing anything about railways I can’t answer the question, but it did remind me about the “urban myth” that the government had mothballed a fleet of steam locomotives to be used in the event of say a nuclear attack, when no oil or electricity would be available. A programme on Radio 4, called Private Eye or something, where this sort of thing was investigated, I think, came to the conclusion that it was just a myth. The only thing I have learned over the years is that half you see and all you hear may not be true.

Hi Melanie.

The railway derives its own feed for traction current from the Grid. But if the grid isn't producing for some reason, then there'll be nothing for electric trains.

When the driver of a moving electric train sees the Line Light go out, he/she will make a decision to coast to somewhere convenient - hopefully a station if it's not too far. The air compressor(s) on the train will stop working, so the air supply (which usually feeds the brakes,suspension & doors) will run down. The internal lighting will go down to half level (emergency lighting) as it is now running off the on-board 120V batteries, as are all the driver's control circuits.

So - providing the battteries and air last long enough the train will coast to a station and the passengers will then alight and probably have to get a bus.

Obviously diesel (and steam) trains could still trundle round under their own power....until they got stuck behind an electric one.

I'm pretty certain that although the signalling centres have generators, the signals themselves wouldn't work, which would stop all trains anyway.

If you want to know any more just ask, there is NO such thing as a stupid question on the railway. ;)

Best wishes

Welcome to the forum Melanie2592. No question is stupid! All have a strong basis for knowledge and that is one thing you will surely find on this forum. Some great knowledgable members on here.
Hope you stay on board
All the best
Phil

Hello Melanie2592 and welcome to the Railway Forum. As Phil has said, "No question is stupid". To want to know something and not ask is stupid. When I joined this forum, I had almost no knowledge of British Railways working. I have learned a lot, but still know very little compared to most members. I would know even less if I had not asked.

Welcome to the forum Melanie2592

Hi Melanie and a (belated) welcome to the Forum. Fair question - and I believe in such a catastrophic scenario the trains would stop as well as almost everything else in the country! I dare say "they" have some contingency plans for such a situation but normal mortals like us are unlikely to learn about them.

On the subject, I read a fascinating account years ago about government plans drawn up during the Cold War (so perhaps 1960s/1970s) about what to do if a nuclear attack was expected to wipe out most life in the country. One train was planned to take selected top officials to a bunker which, if I remember correctly, was accessed off a line inside somewhere like Box Tunnel. I was sure I'd seen a book on this appropriately entitled The Last Train but I'm blowed if I can find a reference to this anywhere now.

That was a supposed storage area for the fabled strategic steam loco reserve fleet.:)

There's a Wiki link about Box Tunnel sidings here (see the paragraph marked "Defence Use") : Wiki