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Timmer
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« on: April 16, 2007, 22:12:21 » |
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I see from the Oldfield Park blog that things didnt go too well for local commuters in the Bath area this morning and one of my colleagues was late for work as a result. http://oldfieldparktrains.blogspot.com/Anyone know why the 6.47 ex Frome got cancelled? |
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whistleblower
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« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2007, 23:14:15 » |
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Anyone know why the 6.47 ex Frome got cancelled? It was a train failure. It got as far as Bradford-on-Avon and the service was terminated there. I'm afraid I don't know the specific technical reason. |
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tramway
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« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2007, 11:41:13 » |
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Brakes was the announcement on the train, as told by a colleague who was there. Although with 143's it's normally the doors until they get a good kicking.
We sat outside Bradford a good 10-15 mins waiting for it to clear, so things were obviously quite busy by the time we hit Bath. This train should have been Filton only but finally became the Cardiff train, so full and standing and much confusion at BTM▸ .
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whistleblower
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« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2007, 13:41:35 » |
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Brakes was the announcement on the train, as told by a colleague who was there. Although with 143's it's normally the doors until they get a good kicking. Bloody 143s. I hate them. It was probably the doors affecting the brakes. There is a safety device that involves microswitches on the doors. If the switches do not connect positively the brakes will come on. It's to prevent the train moving with an open door. If you have got a dodgy switch it could put the brakes on every time you go over a big bump. Two 143s coupled together compound the problem and often each train is OK on its own. Trouble is the 143 doors rattle about so much and the switches get dirt in them and you just don't know which one is causing the problem. Hence you try opening and closing them a couple of times and then the driver tries for brake release but if it still doesn't work you check that nobody's pulled an emergency handle then you go and kick the doors. Not necessarily in that order. After that, the only way to move the train is to isolate the safety device, but unfortunately you can't carry passengers in that situation as a door could conceivbly come open while the train is moving. So that's why you may be asked to leave the train and you then see it drive away quite happily with nobody on it. It's off to the depot to have it's doors kicked by a trained fitter. |
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Timmer
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« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2007, 18:32:49 » |
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Until 143s are replaced sadly we will continue to see this happen. They were never designed for heavy commuter usage and are long overdue for replacement but they are cheap and thats why they still run on our rails. Its relief for Portsmouth and Weymouth passengers that FGW▸ cant run them to these destinations because they are banned from Sounthern metals but long suffering Bristol commuters/rail staff have to put up with them everyday.
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tramway
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« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2007, 16:50:23 » |
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Happened again this morning, but this time the stock was working the 0723 Warminster - Cardiff. A big jolt going round the junction outside Bath and we came to a grinding halt. (I assume it was the same set from Monday that hadn't had the fault fixed properly). We finally rolled into Bath about 15-20 min late which impressed TonyA no end. We were all entertained a little watching a slow waste metal freight go through. (anyone know if that was from Westbury or London) We then looked forward to the following train to be made up of 2 coaches, but were a tad disappointed when it turned up as a 2 x 158 and we could all get on. Now full and standing with Oldfield and Keynsham to come, some left at Keynsham, finally arrived Filton approx 50 min late.
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Timmer
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« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2007, 17:54:58 » |
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When the FGW▸ franchise was let it was announced that there would be NO new rolling stock during the life of the franchise. Surely the Dft dont expect these life expired 143s to last another 8 years in service or are they hoping the ROSCOS will come up with a new cheap alternative?
Why is Northern allowed to have our 158s so they can lay off their 142s? It just dont make sense!
Like I said in an earlier post above, breakdowns will continue with these units until they are replaced. Train managers, drivers and maintanance staff must hate them more than the passengers!
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Jim
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« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2007, 22:08:22 » |
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Bloody 143s. I hate them. It was probably the doors affecting the brakes. There is a safety device that involves microswitches on the doors. If the switches do not connect positively the brakes will come on. It's to prevent the train moving with an open door. If you have got a dodgy switch it could put the brakes on every time you go over a big bump. Two 143s coupled together compound the problem and often each train is OK on its own.
Trouble is the 143 doors rattle about so much and the switches get dirt in them and you just don't know which one is causing the problem. Hence you try opening and closing them a couple of times and then the driver tries for brake release but if it still doesn't work you check that nobody's pulled an emergency handle then you go and kick the doors. Not necessarily in that order.
After that, the only way to move the train is to isolate the safety device, but unfortunately you can't carry passengers in that situation as a door could conceivbly come open while the train is moving. So that's why you may be asked to leave the train and you then see it drive away quite happily with nobody on it. It's off to the depot to have it's doors kicked by a trained fitter.
Sounds about right, had that problem once at Filton, the brakes came off though, but he could not take power. After last time I suggested something (when on the last train back one night) when the driver was puzzeled over something and getting a mouthfull back from him I don't give out advice like that anymore, even if the traincrew have not thought of it, it was not worth the hassle, but I won't go in to it here Also on the 1627 from Filton 1 day, we had a nice emergancy brake application twice going each side of Bristol |
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« Last Edit: April 18, 2007, 22:13:26 by Jim »
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Cheers Jim  AG's most famous quote "It'll be better next week" |
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Lee
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« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2007, 15:46:21 » |
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A transport pressure group has called for CCTV▸ to be installed and disabled access improved at two busy commuter railway stations in the Bath area.The Campaign for Better Transport - which until earlier this month was called Transport 2000 - this week published research highlighting problems with run-down stations across the country , along with examples of places where train companies and local councils had worked together to improve them (link below.) http://thisisbath.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=163490&command=displayContent&sourceNode=163316&contentPK=18487945&folderPk=89126&pNodeId=163047David Redgewell , the campaign's local spokesman , said that while much needed improvements were being made at Bath Spa Railway Station , action was also needed to make Oldfield Park and Keynsham stations safer and easier to use. He wants to see CCTV cameras installed at both and work to installed ramp access to the platform at Keynsham speeded up. He acknowledged that physical improvements had been made to Oldfield Park station by voluntary group On Board and First Great Western. But he said more still needed to be done to encourage people to swap their cars for trains. For information on the Campaign for Better Transport visit www.bettertransport.org.uk |
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Graz
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« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2007, 23:39:44 » |
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Well, people won't swap cars for trains if they feel intimidated, so they must remove the barrage of offputting Penalty Fares posters (1 is fine per platform, but I saw 3 the other day just on one platform!). I think CCTV▸ would be very welcome too. But the main issue is tickets- I cannot honestly see many people wanting to use the station if they have to buy tickets from those awful machines ...  Ticket offices at both stations should be open from 6am till at least 2pm. |
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Lee
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« Reply #11 on: October 15, 2007, 17:34:30 » |
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Timmer
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« Reply #12 on: October 15, 2007, 18:13:36 » |
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Gosh a post on the Oldfield Park Blog! I gave up checking months ago so obviously things have been going so well there was nothing to post  I doubt that. |
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Timmer
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« Reply #13 on: December 03, 2007, 19:36:50 » |
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The Oldfield Park blog has fired up again reporting on a challening journey home this evening as well as the publicity being handed out by FGW▸ regarding services from next week. Just in time for next week's TT change me thinks. http://oldfieldparktrains.blogspot.com/ |
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Timmer
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« Reply #14 on: December 04, 2007, 18:01:16 » |
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http://oldfieldparktrains.blogspot.com/Another bad morning's commute for John and his fellow Oldfield Park commuters. At least there was a FGW▸ 'service delivery manager' at Oldfield Park this morning and would have left in no doubt about the current feeling among Bath-Bristol commuters in case FGW weren't already aware of the depth of feeling.
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