Muppetry at Thatcham Level Crossing Today, What on earth was going on? Options

[Blake]

Had a **** of a delay at Thatcham level crossing today from about 9.20am and was very late for work. Three trains went and the barriers failed to open...at all! This is the second time in less than a year that this muppetry has happened and the rail company fails to tell drivers what on earth is going on, how long it will take to be fixed or if we need to do a U-turn and divert.

Instead, we are wholly dependent on the goodwill of fellow motorists who alert those further along what became a huge tail back that the barriers are broken.

Shameful performance. Time we had a bridge. It's the only rational solution.

[On the edge]

Don't hold your breath! Nice to see that MPs have caught up at last and can see the clapped out trains we have to put up with round here, even after a cheap paint job, are just rubbish.

The start of the thread was about delays at Thatcham crossing. Nothing here suggests there is any help on the way, at all.

One of the usual responses to the issue, from the rail community, is that the traffic speeds and levels on road over the crossing has changed dramatically since it was first crossed by the railway! Actually, so has the railway. Does that mean that one realistic answer would be to impose some strict speed limits on the trains using the tracks through here? What's sauce for the goose.....

[Biker1]

Does that mean that one realistic answer would be to impose some strict speed limits on the trains using the tracks through here? What's sauce for the goose.....

Then we could keep our "clapped out" trains eh OTE?
No need for speed as they will all have to slow down for level crossings!
(Which actually means they would be down for longer .)
Unfortunately OTE there are many trains in other parts of the country that are older (or more "clapped out") than the ones we have. But we have had that debate before.
Personally I think the turbos are very reliable. Rarely is there a cancellation or even delay due to a mechanical problem.
Still, you are entitled to your view, and anyway, they will be gone soon. (Unless you are travelling West beyond Newbury!)

[On the edge]

Then we could keep our "clapped out" trains eh OTE?
No need for speed as they will all have to slow down for level crossings!
(Which actually means they would be down for longer .)
Unfortunately OTE there are many trains in other parts of the country that are older (or more "clapped out") than the ones we have. But we have had that debate before.
Personally I think the turbos are very reliable. Rarely is there a cancellation or even delay due to a mechanical problem.
Still, you are entitled to your view, and anyway, they will be gone soon. (Unless you are travelling West beyond Newbury!)

I certainly agree that delays due to mechanical failure are very few and far between. However, they are dirty, uncomfortable and noisy. Frankly, all issues that have been around for years and could be solved with some effective management attention and very little investment. Then again, why should they; it's only passengers affected after all and we all know what they can do if they don't like it. Trebles and bonuses all round!

[motormad]

I certainly agree that delays due to mechanical failure are very few and far between. However, they are dirty, uncomfortable and noisy. Frankly, all issues that have been around for years and could be solved with some effective management attention and very little investment. Then again, why should they; it's only passengers affected after all and we all know what they can do if they don't like it. Trebles and bonuses all round!

They are also woefully under-carriaged for the given journey
Ever caught the 9:03 from Thatcham (starts at Bedwyn) going to London padding... you try getting a seat at Thatcham!!! always bloody full. 3 pathetic carriages in a tight train where i can't actually sit properly because the backs of the seats infront are bending my kneecaps back into my leg.

cheapskate pricks.

[Biker1]

They are also woefully under-carriaged for the given journey
Ever caught the 9:03 from Thatcham (starts at Bedwyn) going to London padding... you try getting a seat at Thatcham!!! always bloody full. 3 pathetic carriages in a tight train where i can't actually sit properly because the backs of the seats infront are bending my kneecaps back into my leg.

Agreed. But that still doesn't make them "clapped out"
Also they will now have less seats due to them being made DDA (wheelchair) friendly, although the 166 class had 16 seats changed from first to standard..

cheapskate pricks.

How do you suggest that more rolling stock is provided?
It is out of the TOC's hands as to how much rolling stock they are allocated.
They don't own them, they are leased by the three rolling stock leasing companies (ROSCOs): Angel Trains · Eversholt Rail Group · Porterbrook. (All owned by banking groups - not all British I believe.)
Also, there is an additional problem that the turnback siding at Bedwyn (which for some reason is a little village where most of the Paddington trains originate) can only accommodate 3 carriages.
Let's hope electrification improves things, well, unless you travel to Kintbury, Hungerford or Bedwyn!!

[On the edge]

Agreed. But that still doesn't make them "clapped out"
Also they will now have less seats due to them being made DDA (wheelchair) friendly, although the 166 class had 16 seats changed from first to standard..

How do you suggest that more rolling stock is provided?
It is out of the TOC's hands as to how much rolling stock they are allocated.
They don't own them, they are leased by the three rolling stock leasing companies (ROSCOs): Angel Trains · Eversholt Rail Group · Porterbrook. (All owned by banking groups - not all British I believe.)
Also, there is an additional problem that the turnback siding at Bedwyn (which for some reason is a little village where most of the Paddington trains originate) can only accommodate 3 carriages.
Let's hope electrification improves things, well, unless you travel to Kintbury, Hungerford or Bedwyn!!

Yes MM I still use that train a lot, it's dreadful. As you say, just another coach would do, but that's wholly beyond the dim witted management of today's railway. Can you imagine what would be happening behind the scenes if one of the major supermarkets ran out of a basic product every day. ***** would be kicked and things put right. But on our monopoly service railway? No way, it's all too hard and it's all someone else's fault. As for the trains not being clapped out; how many of us still drive 1980s cars? Remember, these quaint old 'turbos' use road transport technology!

[Biker1]

Yes MM I still use that train a lot, it's dreadful. As you say, just another coach would do, but that's wholly beyond the dim witted management of today's railway. Can you imagine what would be happening behind the scenes if one of the major supermarkets ran out of a basic product every day. ***** would be kicked and things put right. But on our monopoly service railway? No way, it's all too hard and it's all someone else's fault.

How do you put an extra carriage in a 25 year old, fixed formation train?
Not quite as easy as ordering a few more loaves of bread is it?
The "dim witted" management is mainly the DFT who dictate most railway policy..
As from the new May timetable there is to be a new HST service to London at around 09:15 starting at Newbury.
I don't suppose that will keep you happy though as they are 1970's!!

As for the trains not being clapped out; how many of us still drive 1980s cars? Remember, these quaint old 'turbos' use road transport technology!

Comparing trains with cars is ridiculous. They are built to last much longer. How many cars cost £3M each?
How many cars have done more that 4 million miles as have the HST's?
And no, the turbos don't use road technology except for the fact that the engines are also used in road transport in some instances.

[On the edge]

How do you put an extra carriage in a 25 year old, fixed formation train?
Not quite as easy as ordering a few more loaves of bread is it?
The "dim witted" management is mainly the DFT who dictate most railway policy..
As from the new May timetable there is to be a new HST service to London at around 09:15 starting at Newbury.
I don't suppose that will keep you happy though as they are 1970's!!

Comparing trains with cars is ridiculous. They are built to last much longer. How many cars cost £3M each?
How many cars have done more that 4 million miles as have the HST's?
And no, the turbos don't use road technology except for the fact that the engines are also used in road transport in some instances.

Well, there you are! 25 years old 'fixed formation' trains. In other words, designed for very different traffic conditions, so now time expired.

OK but if the coaches are really built to the much more robust and heavy railway technology even thinking road engine technology would be suitable was shortsighted to say the least. Equally, the passenger (sure they don't count for much) layout is poor and suited for short 'bus type' journeys only - again, against the original design brief just about adequate.

The rail franchise managers have access to the same media as the DfT, yet we see no critisicim of policy makers, or the suppliers of equipment. Nice they are all in it together so to speak, but playing patsy with them keeps the gravy train train on track, even if it doesn't deliver customer service.

[Biker1]

Well, there you are! 25 years old 'fixed formation' trains. In other words, designed for very different traffic conditions, so now time expired.

Fixed formation trains are, and have been for the last 30 years, the norm for British and most others countries railways.

OK but if the coaches are really built to the much more robust and heavy railway technology even thinking road engine technology would be suitable was shortsighted to say the least.

Road engine technology is now used in, I would estimate, 70% of UK passenger trains today. (The rest being electric or HST)

Equally, the passenger (sure they don't count for much) layout is poor and suited for short 'bus type' journeys only - again, against the original design brief just about adequate.

Agreed. The layout of modern trains is poor to say the least but the accountants no doubt want to cram as many in the space available. "Sweating the assets"?
Bit like the seats in economy air travel?

EDIT: Just had a thought OTE!
Here's a site that may interest you!