[locojoe]

Originally Posted by lnwr20

Hello all, As an ex-member of staff at Network Rail just to let you in on what the Rule book says, is that it an Overhead Line Isolation an a Possession of the Line is taken an men are working even if it is planned then the only trains allowed to pass through are works trains in conjunction with the works in a worksite. An under no circumstances can a passenger train pass through or coast through with there pantograph lowered.

Hi Phill This is the message I quoted from, sent to me by a chap I know.



{QUOTE Network Rail is too divorced from the passengers who actually travel on the railway. I recall attending a meeting around five years back to discuss train service alterations as a result of Network Rail declaring Kings Cross would be closed for three days over an Easter holiday period. All main line and suburban trains were to be turned back at Finsbury Park causing a great deal of congestion, reduction in train service frequency and huge inconvenience to passengers. Luggage had to be humped up staircases and passengers had to wait on platforms at Finsbury Park with limited cover from the rain.

I dared to ask a question exactly what work Network Rail was undertaking necessitating the blockage of four tracks between Finsbury Park and Kings Cross. I was initially reminded that the scope of the meeting was to discuss train service alterations but again enquired what work was actually taking place. The Chair of the meeting rather embarrassingly admitted that just one of the four lines, the Down Slow, on the West side of the four track railway at Holloway was being relaid. I asked why Down trains could not use the Up Fast Line under Single LIne Working arrangements and all Up Trains be routed over the Up Slow. The Chair admitted that it had been decided to deploy numerous road/rail vehicles in connection with the track relaying and the road access point to the work site involved crossing the Up Slow and Up Fast lines so all lines were blocked. Network Rail chose not to use Engineering Trains for the relaying job as they would not have to hire in so many Trains and Drivers to work the trains. The dis-benefit to passengers was of no interest to them.

There we have it. I'm glad to report the "Let them ride buses" mentality of some Network Rail
planners has actually changed a little for the better. There was recently a remarkable outbreak of common sense with planned renewal of track and overhead power lines at Hitchin. Instead of busing passengers for miles Network Rail agreed to allow drivers of electric trains to lower their pantographs and coast through the section of line where the overhead power line was isolated.

Regards Dave QUOTE}