Olympic bullet train passengers terrified by 140mph ‘wobble’
Ross Lydall and Miranda Bryant
08.09.10

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...0mph-wobble.do

London's Olympic bullet trains have been modified after commuters
raised concerns over “frightening and alarming” wobbles at 140mph.

The passengers — who pay premium fares to use Britain's fastest
domestic service — complain of “turbulence” as the trains pass through
tunnels between St Pancras and Kent.

Rail operator Southeastern today admitted the trains were suffering
“sideways movement” — an embarrassment for Japanese manufacturer
Hitachi, which is hoping to win a contract to replace the UK's fleet
of intercity trains.

Nicki Carpenter, 35, a part-time student from Canterbury, said: It's
quite concerning actually because it doesn't feel particularly safe. I
haven't felt nauseous on the train but it can be quite frightening and
alarming.”

Pam Millington, 45, who commutes from Ashford to St Pancras, added:
“You feel like you're on one of the old fashioned trains it's swaying
so much.”

The problems emerged only months after Southeastern trains began
running services on the high-speed track between St Pancras and the
Channel Tunnel used by 186mph Eurostar trains.

On-board computer monitors alerted engineers to the problem, which was
also noticed by train staff, while passengers began complaining about
the uncomfortable ride.

The 29 six-carriage trains, each costing about £9 million, are being
fitted with “dampeners” to reduce the wobble. They have been returned
to Southeastern's depot in Ashford on a rolling basis for repairs to
prevent disruption to the timetable. Ten trains have been modified so
far.

The trains were heralded as “London's new bullet train” when they were
first ordered in 2004. They began running in a trial service in June
last year and were officially unveiled in December by Gordon Brown.

They will form the “Olympic Javelin” service in 2012, taking
spectators from St Pancras to the Olympics park in Stratford in seven
minutes. The problem is believed to be caused because the trains have
to switch between the high-speed line and conventional tracks at
Ashford and Ebbsfleet.

The train suspension appears unable to cope with the demands of the
different track, and each carriage is being weighed down to minimise
the wobble.

A Southeastern spokesman said there were “absolutely no safety issues
at all” and said the trains were being worked on during routine
maintenance checks. He added: “Considering this is a brand new train,
it's more of a teething problem.”

"CJB" wrote in message
...
Olympic bullet train passengers terrified by 140mph ‘wobble’

125 mph wobble surely, it's only a few months since everyone was complaining
that they don't actually do 140 mph...

I'd also propose that NO trains have been 'sidelined' at any time. Some are
modified, and some aren't, that's all.

Paul S

On 8 Sep, 17:27, CJB wrote:

The 29 six-carriage trains, each costing about £9 million, are being
fitted with “dampeners” to reduce the wobble.

Won't the upholstery get mildew? What an amazingly crap piece.

Hmm... swaying, wobble and Gordon Brown.

I think I see the problem.

On Wed, 8 Sep 2010 09:27:40 -0700 (PDT) someone who may be CJB
wrote this:-

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...0mph-wobble.do

I see that the campaign for the mass media to not call these trains
Javelins at the moment seems to have had an effect.

Rail operator Southeastern today admitted the trains were suffering
“sideways movement” — an embarrassment for Japanese manufacturer
Hitachi,

Which ISTR tells us that their trains will "work straight out of the
box".

The problem is believed to be caused because the trains have
to switch between the high-speed line and conventional tracks at
Ashford and Ebbsfleet.

Trains have to switch between high-speed lines and "conventional
tracks" at quite a large number of places around the world. What is
it about Ashford and Ebbsfleet that makes them different?



--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000...#pt3-pb3-l1g54

In message
, at
09:27:40 on Wed, 8 Sep 2010, CJB remarked:
Olympic bullet train

.....

London's Olympic bullet trains

Is this the new name?

The problems emerged only months after Southeastern trains began
running services

So they didn't wobble to start with?

The trains were heralded as “London's new bullet train�

Were they? Didn't they have some other name... er...

They will form the “Olympic Javelin� service

.... oh yes, that sounds more familiar.

taking spectators from St Pancras to the Olympics park in Stratford in
seven minutes.

To the Park. Really? Surely that's only going to get as far as the
station, near the park.

The problem is believed to be caused because the trains have
to switch between the high-speed line and conventional tracks at
Ashford and Ebbsfleet.

Dodgy points then. Do they have no "wobble" anywhere else?

--
Roland Perry

Which ISTR tells us that their trains will "work straight out of the
box".


It’s still an unfortunate fact that most of the recently imported
foreign technology has worked a darn sight better from day one than
anything home produced we have encountered before.

The days of newly delivered stock parked up for months on end, for one
problem or another, before finally entering service does seem to be a
thing of the past.

On 08/09/2010 18:48, David Hansen wrote:
On Wed, 8 Sep 2010 09:27:40 -0700 (PDT) someone who may be CJB
wrote this:-

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...0mph-wobble.do

I see that the campaign for the mass media to not call these trains
Javelins at the moment seems to have had an effect.

Rail operator Southeastern today admitted the trains were suffering
“sideways movement” — an embarrassment for Japanese manufacturer
Hitachi,

Which ISTR tells us that their trains will "work straight out of the
box".

What manufacturer is going to say otherwise? (maybe AnsaldoBreda!)

The problem is believed to be caused because the trains have
to switch between the high-speed line and conventional tracks at
Ashford and Ebbsfleet.

Trains have to switch between high-speed lines and "conventional
tracks" at quite a large number of places around the world. What is
it about Ashford and Ebbsfleet that makes them different?

Didn't a Turkish high speed train derail while moving to or from the
classic lines a few months ago?


--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK

On Sep 8, 6:17*pm, allantracy wrote:
Hmm... swaying, wobble and Gordon Brown.

I think I see the problem.

Ho ho ho, your wit knows no beginnings. Got any more? I bet everyone
loves chatting to you down the pub.

On Sep 8, 6:53*pm, Roland Perry wrote:
[snip]
taking spectators from St Pancras to the Olympics park in Stratford in
seven minutes.

To the Park. Really? Surely that's only going to get as far as the
station, near the park.

Yes, to the Park (Really) - Stratford International is bang on the
edge of the Olympic Park.


The problem is believed to be caused because the trains have
to switch between the high-speed line and conventional tracks at
Ashford and Ebbsfleet.

Dodgy points then. Do they have no "wobble" anywhere else?

Did you read the article?