Track at Finchley Central

A couple of weeks ago a wrote a strongly worded email to TFL customer care reporting the terrible condition of the track, especially Southbound, at Finchley Central. My concerns had previously been dismissed by a station supervisor. The chairs are, in a number of cases secured to the sleeper only by one bolt, the other two are not screwed home properly. Some of the sleepers are not in the best of health, there are numerous dipped joints, and one of the joints bounces by and a couple of inches when passed and is VERY loud (to someone waiting on the NB platform). This joint alone has been deteriorating for over a decade. I remember the 1959 stock bouncing over the joint, and the NDMs slipping over the section*. I suggested in my message at the very least that a tamper needed to pay a visit and made a terse comment comparing the track unfavourably to volunteer-maintained 25mph heritage lines.

I walk past the station this evening (25/2) to hear a diesel and some screeching, peering over the bridge parapet to see... a tamper working through the junction.

Is this just coincidence, or is there any way my message may have inspired action within such a short period (fitting in with a planned line closure)? What amazes me that this work was not done prior to the installation of the new signal cables.


*On another point, always wondered why the ‘59/’62 NDMs had a tendency to slip; if there was a motor ‘overpowering’ on acceleration it seldom seemed to be on a DM, and there were 3 more of them per train....

Thoughts/comments

Thanks
Chesham412 (professional lurker!)