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David Hansen · February 9th 04, 11:58 AM posted to uk.transport.london,uk.railway

On 9 Feb 2004 01:54:48 -0800 someone who may be
(Ian Johnston) wrote this:-

Only car-on-car. Remember train crashes often see the line closed for days.

It now seems to be weeks.

Care to give an example?

Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield. Potters Bar I'm not sure of (the Railway
Inspectorate used to be sufficiently proud to mention the time taken
to clear sites in their reports, the so-called health and safety mob
are rather less keen).

And don't try Great Heck,

Ah, someone else who thinks that they can read my mind. In that case
I might be persuaded that the long closure was worth it.

However, compare all these cases, including Great Heck, with the way
services were restored after Harrow & Wealdstone, Lewisham St Johns
and Clapham Junction. I don't think the world is better off because
of the long periods lines are closed for and neither does it help
discover the causes any better.

Bear in mind as well that roads are hard to damage and can quickly be
patched up if they are damaged. Neither is true of railway lines,

Debatable.

particularly where pointwork

Hence the substitution of plain line. However, if components are
available, such as suitable switches, then it does not take that
long to install switch and crossing work.

or overhead are concerened.

Overhead is quick and easy to install, even if masts have been
destroyed. One may need a speed restriction for a few days until a
proper repair is made, but that is a process that is easy enough to
manage.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
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