Buses replace trains .... again

[British Bulldog]

The word "maintenance" sums it up really. It's a continual on-going process and if it did'nt need doing they would'nt do it.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

If they could REALLY sort the Brighton main line out, by doing things just north of East Croydon to segregate London Bridge trains from Victoria trains properly, the capacity and speeds on the two routes would be vastly improved.

But that would involve new flyovers and engineering works on a scale that would be REALLY disruptive.

 

[British Bulldog]

If they could REALLY sort the Brighton main line out, by doing things just north of East Croydon to segregate London Bridge trains from Victoria trains properly, the capacity and speeds on the two routes would be vastly improved.

But that would involve new flyovers and engineering works on a scale that would be REALLY disruptive.

Not sure that would make any difference LB. The portion of line that needs a complete modernisation is Preston Park to Balcombe Junction.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Not sure that would make any difference LB. The portion of line that needs a complete modernisation is Preston Park to Balcombe Junction.

I agree about Preston Park to Balcombe - the problem will always be the Ouse viaduct. There's no chance of that ever being more than two tracks.

Back in the late nineties, Railtrack did the outline calculations of the costs of upgrading the whole line. The figure in the 2000 Network Management Statement for a comprehensive upgrading of the Brighton main line is £534.3 million. That will have doubled by now. If all schemes went ahead, journey times between Brighton and Victoria would be reduced to 45 minutes.

 

[British Bulldog]

I agree about Preston Park to Balcombe - the problem will always be the Ouse viaduct. There's no chance of that ever being more than two tracks.

I doubt any of it will ever be more than 2 tracks but where the area could be improved is by installing scissor crossovers and back to back signalling to enable reversible working over short sections. It enables you to signal your way around problems and gives you the ability to get a fast train past a stopping service. Haywards Heath station needs to be made completely reversible as well.

 

[1959]

It happens every second weekend apparently. I swear, though, that it's been going on for twenty years. Seriously.

 

[bigc]

would it help if they re-opened the Lewes to Uckfield line?

I mean...is that any faster route of getting to London than the horrible Littlehampton saga.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

would it help if they re-opened the Lewes to Uckfield line?

I mean...is that any faster route of getting to London than the horrible Littlehampton saga.

From the cost of it, it would probably be cheaper to hire a fleet of helicopters each time there was engineering works!!

 

[Lord Bracknell]

would it help if they re-opened the Lewes to Uckfield line?

Only if they electrify it.

Most of the locals seem to be very happy with the brand new diesel trains that have now appeared on the Uckfield line - killing off the longstanding myth that only electric trains can deliver a decent service.

 

[bigc]

My friend HATED the diesel trains that ran from Ashford to Brighton, when he lived in Eastbourne and used to commute into college in Brighton each morning.

I'm not 100% sure why, he was very adament about it though.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

My friend HATED the diesel trains that ran from Ashford to Brighton, when he lived in Eastbourne and used to commute into college in Brighton each morning.

I'm not 100% sure why, he was very adament about it though.

And he was quite right.

The new diesel trains are superb ... and quiet.

 

[33057 Seagull]

It's not that it gets any more maintenance than other stretches of line, It's just that you notice it more between Three Bridges and Brighton because there's no alternative lines to use.

I understand that there was to be a track possession between Preston Park & Brighton over Easter in order to remove locos & stuff from the Former Pullman Car Works.

This got postponed but plans are still to demolish the entire building but this cannot be done until all the rolling stock is vacated and this means closing the line to pull them out by lorry across the mainline.

 

[bhaexpress]

My friend HATED the diesel trains that ran from Ashford to Brighton, when he lived in Eastbourne and used to commute into college in Brighton each morning.

I'm not 100% sure why, he was very adament about it though.

They were probably nearly as bad as the nasty old heap I used to have to use to get from Wigan to Liverpool (in fact I have seen that rolling stock is still in use there). They were slow, smelly, sparse and noisy. The new diesels are a different class.

 

[British Bulldog]

I understand that there was to be a track possession between Preston Park & Brighton over Easter in order to remove locos & stuff from the Former Pullman Car Works.

This got postponed but plans are still to demolish the entire building but this cannot be done until all the rolling stock is vacated and this means closing the line to pull them out by lorry across the mainline.

They've been on about doing that for years but it still never happens, I know at one stage there was big health and safety issues involved in it.

 

[bhaexpress]

My point was, just how much maintenance does a stretch of track possibly need?

You'd have thought that the whole bloody track could have been replaced during weekends over a couple of years, but the Brighton line closures seem to have been going on for decades. Why not just have one big push and get the work finished?

Take a look at the number of recent fatal rail accidents, I think that should give you an idea. Fact is that very little investment has gone into our rail system over the years. Whilst many people complain about it take my word for it there are a hell of a lot of countries (including the US and Canada) who wisgh they had a network like ours.

 

[Mr Blobby]

It is actually a right pain in the arse when you live in Mid Sussex.

Waiting at Preston Park Station Bus Stop yesterday after the game...three half empty buses are lined up, all apparently going straight through to Three Bridges, without stopping anywhere. Apparently they couldn't change their routes. Then what happened....another Three Bridges only bus pulled up. Lots of annoyed people .


Ended up getting on an actual non-train replacement bus that was going to Cuckfield, which stopped about 300 times.

Finally got to Haywards Heath at 6.10. I'm usually there by 5.25 after a match.

Trains, when it comes to getting to Withdean each week, are actually pretty good. Thank the Lord it isn't a bus journey every week!

I was also one of those stranded at Preston Park. Why have buses all going direct to Three Bridges. The bus drivers were the usual "nothing to do with me Guv", "our Radios arent connected to anyone today", then the one that really wound me up when he said to his mate "there is only one train an hour to Haywards Heath on a Saturday so I dont know what this lot are complaining about" ARGgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh just dont talk complete SHITE mate.

The nice bus driver who stopped was a star and we were in the Canton Chinese take away just after 6.10 and the crispy duck was fantastic as ever! Almost made up for another poor Withdean display!

 

[Les Biehn]

It pisses me right off, every f***ing weekend for about the last 2 years. There must be some point when they can stand back and go 'right that should keep us going for at least a few years'.

 

[Storer68]

It pisses me right off, every f***ing weekend for about the last 2 years. There must be some point when they can stand back and go 'right that should keep us going for at least a few years'.

thats bollox - its been done for two weekends this year

 

[British Bulldog]

It pisses me right off, every f***ing weekend for about the last 2 years. There must be some point when they can stand back and go 'right that should keep us going for at least a few years'.

I know it's frustrating Les but as I posted earlier they would'nt do it if they did'nt need to and at the end of the day you want a safe railway to travel on.

 

[Les Biehn]

thats bollox - its been done for two weekends this year

If you say so.