Save the Melksham Train
Archived Save the Train forum articles - 2005 to 2010. See below
Inquiry Over Speeding Arriva Train Claim - 4206/7851
Written by Lee on Thursday, 27th September 2007

Rail investigators are looking into claims a train broke the speed limit on a restricted piece of track in Powys (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/7015809.stm

The Aberystwyth to Birmingham Arriva Trains service is said to have reached 80mph (128km/h) between Newtown and Caersws in a 20mph (32km/h) zone.



Re: Inquiry Over Speeding Arriva Train Claim - 4206/7962
Written by admin (Graham Ellis) on Tuesday, 2nd October 2007

It should be added that the 20 m.ph. limit was a temporary one - just as important as a regular speed limit, I'm sure, but perhaps the driver overlooked it.

Re: Inquiry Over Speeding Arriva Train Claim - 4206/7974
Written by Industry Insider on Wednesday, 3rd October 2007

Yes, Graham. Speeding over a temporary speed limit, even by that margin, is unlikely to be 'dangerous' as it's probably a limit put in place due to worn out/recently replaced track and one train going over it at the normal speed would not be a problem. A permanent speed restriction of 20, say over points, or very severe track curvature would be a different matter - the train would not have remained on the track at that speed!

Re: Inquiry Over Speeding Arriva Train Claim - 4206/7975
Written by Lee on Wednesday, 3rd October 2007

[quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=4206.msg7962#msg7962 date=1191362402]It should be added that the 20 m.ph. limit was a temporary one - just as important as a regular speed limit, I'm sure, but perhaps the driver overlooked it.[/quote]

How common is it for drivers to overlook temporary speed restrictions?

Re: Inquiry Over Speeding Arriva Train Claim - 4206/7981
Written by Industry Insider on Wednesday, 3rd October 2007

[quote author=Lee link=topic=4206.msg7975#msg7975 date=1191407327]
[quote author=Graham Ellis link=topic=4206.msg7962#msg7962 date=1191362402]It should be added that the 20 m.ph. limit was a temporary one - just as important as a regular speed limit, I'm sure, but perhaps the driver overlooked it.[/quote]

How common is it for drivers to overlook temporary speed restrictions?
[/quote]

For each temporary speed restriction the driver receives a lineside warning which is set at the Service Braking Distance for that route (i.e. the distance it would take for the train with the least braking performance to adequately slow down). Additionally where Automatic Train Protection (ATP) is fitted the train's speed is monitored by the on-board computer to ensure the driver slows the train down enough.

However, as with anything that has a human element attached, mistakes sometimes happen. For example, if it is a 20mph restriction on a 125mph section of track the warning board will obviously be some distance from the actual restriction and elements such as stations in-between, and other distractions means it is possible for the driver to forget. It is, However, quite rare.

 
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Save the Train was the campaign to bring an approriate train service back to and through Melksham.

Most big contributors are still around writing at the Coffee shop forum where new members are very welcome.

The train has been saved - sort of - we have stepped back up from an unusable service to a poorish one but it's doing very well. We did that through setting up the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. That fulfilled its early objectives; it has been taken over by local and regional government types who are now doing medium and long term work. The team from this forun can also be found at the Melksham Rail User Group (which was the Melksham Rail Development Group at the time these articles were written and we had no users.

We mustn't loose sight, though, that the train service remains poor and needs our community support in marketing and campaigning to keep it going in a positive direction ... and all the more so when we're expecting to find a different normallity once we get out of the Coronavirus Pandemic and head for zero carbon via the climate crisis. Yes, it's saved ... it's now a key community facility ... the need for enhancement and the strong and near-universal local support remain, and the rail industry and goverment remain slow to move and provide the enhancements even to level us up with other towns. Please support the Melksham Rail User Group - now very much in partnership rather than protest with the rail industry and local government, including GWR, TransWilts and unitary and town councils. And please use the trains and buses, and cycle and walk when you can.

-- Graham Ellis, (webmaster), February 2021


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