Disruption 16th March

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Disruption 16th March Mar 16, 2012 17:53:09 GMT

Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 17:53:09 GMT

Hi

Today's been an interesting journey from Moorgate to the Uxbridge branch:

I understand that there are severe delays, but surely the issues I faced on my journey could be improved......

Starting at Moorgate, first train on the display board was a circle line and the second was Amersham All station train. I thought great, maybe I won't be delayed so much so I waited for the Amersham train! In comes the next train being a circle train, then the second train comes in as a circle line and the Amersham train disappearing from the boards...

At Baker Street, there was a small wait and the only train around the station was a Watford train. It seems like as soon as I got to Baker Street, that the fault was sorted with the signalling.

However there were huge gaps in the service and I believe the next northbound train after the Watford train was around 15-20minutes. What I couldn't understand was why at Baker Street and passing every train southbound while on the way to Wembley Park, as to why most of the trains were going to Aldgate. Surely in disruption, it's important to get the service going from Baker Street northbound, rather than worrying about Aldgate as there are clear alternatives. Once there is a good service from Baker Street, then start sending trains into the city. It seems to be that control are more keen to provide a good service on all lines in 30 minutes, rather than get a good service now with a poor service however there are decent alternatives.

But the fun really began at HOTH!

First off, I understand in times of disruption, that you shouldn't expect regular trains, however when trains do arrive, you hope they would go to a decent mix of destinations!

Once arriving on the Watford Train at HOTH, the Uxbridge Platform was very busy with the next train being 20minutes away

In this time, we saw another
Watford train arrive and leave,
Then a Chesham service
couple of minutes later an Amersham
Then a couple of minutes later, just to rub it in, another Amersham
Finally before a rammed packed Uxbridge train rolls into the platform

Time for playing sardines and around 1/5 of the passengers on the platform couldn't even get on the train

While its very busy in the control room, if there are a few trains running, could they not ensure that the trains go to a fair mixture of destinations?

Looking at the TFL website, there is only severe disruption between HOTH & Uxbridge with minor elsewhere, why is this?

?? Did Uxbridge pasengers get forgotten about

Another question, in times of disruption like at Baker Street, why can't trains be lined up ready to go into Baker Street? IE have an empty train waiting at Finchley road, Willsden Green, Neasdon with a driver waiting? I understand there may be issues if drivers are unable to drive the train if they over do their hours leaving a train without any drivers. But this would make it easier to get the service going, rather than having to wait for a train to leave from Wembley. Can anyone provide any infomation about getting the service back together?

Last Edit: Mar 16, 2012 17:58:06 GMT by Deleted

citysig
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Disruption 16th March Mar 16, 2012 23:09:11 GMT

Post by citysig on Mar 16, 2012 23:09:11 GMT

Still not guilty as I am still languishing on leave, however, to hopefully answer a couple of general queries...

Some of the points you make are the same ones made time and again by those on here (from various destinations). And rest assured that I and a couple of my colleagues do read what is written. However we generally find that whatever we do following a shut-down, we are more than likely upsetting half of the customers until we get the service right-time.

I don't know what caused today's disruption, but in general what we try to do is provide everyone with a train once we start moving. We start off seeing where all trains are, and try to re-position some of them. You mention driver hours, and this can sometimes be a factor.

The very start of restoring a service on the Met can create huge gaps simply by the line's very nature and size. We may visualise a train entering at x, another turning to go back from y and a further train arriving from z - all to serve each branch in turn - and of course, right in the middle of it all, you realise you don't have a Chesham train.

But sometimes it doesn't always pan out that way. And the trouble is, you get twice as many complaints if you change your plan (because Mr Amersham was on his train at Aldgate and doesn't want it to go to Uxbridge from Harrow) than if you stick to it. So we are forever making brush strokes we think may look good, but sometimes won't create the picture we wanted.

It is 30+ minutes from the city to Harrow, 20 from Baker Street, 5-10 from Wembley (Neasden depot). Harrow is, obviously, the last place we look at on the north where all trains go. North of there becomes the individual services. We are working with a fair number of variables which don't always work out.

Later on into fixing the service, we will generally have more trains to play with, and some will be on time, so decisions become much easier without affecting people quite as much.

I've said it so many times before, we don't sit there and wonder how many people we can fit on one train. We also don't laugh when we cancel an Amersham or Chesham. Our managers hear your complaints, and if your complaint seems reasonable, they come to us for explanations

Deleted Deleted Member Posts: 0	Disruption 16th March Mar 16, 2012 23:22:52 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 23:22:52 GMT Thanks MetControl, always appreciate its a hard cookie getting the service going with trains everywhere

Harsig

Posts: 983

Disruption 16th March Mar 17, 2012 3:05:15 GMT

Post by Harsig on Mar 17, 2012 3:05:15 GMT

The problem was a failure of the signals coming into Baker Street from the north. No routes could be set into any of the platforms 1 to 4. Trains could still depart northbound, but obviously only those trains already at Baker Street or between there and Aldgate. However it soon became clear that it would be necessary for staff to enter the tunnel north of Baker St to deal with the southbound train stuck at the failing signal. This meant that northbound services also had to be suspended. The 'phantom' Amersham that was shown on the train describers at Moorgate was undoubtedly held, at short notice, in the platform at Aldgate because of the northbound service suspension. Had it been allowed to leave Aldgate it would have been unable to reach the platform at Baker Street and would thus have blocked the Hammersmith & City and Circle line trains heading for Edgware Road. As it happens these two lines escaped any knock on disruption on this occasion.

The failure was traced to a defective relay and a replacement was ordered from the Underground's signal stores. While awaiting delivery of the replacement (which was delivered and installed in about an hour from when ordered) another identical relay was 'borrowed' from another signal, in order to allow the service to resume at the earliest possible moment. In effect the signal failure was transferred to a location where it would cause less disruption. The location chosen was one of the bay platforms, platform 1. Thus when services resumed it was possible to signal trains normally into platforms 2, 3 & 4, but not platform 1, still a distinct improvement on when the failure first occurred. Because platform 1 remained unavailable for an hour after the service resumed only a limited number of Baker Streeet trains could be run, but a full Aldgate service could be accommodated, hence your observation that most southbound trains seemed to be Aldgates rather than Baker Streets.

Last Edit: Mar 17, 2012 3:08:54 GMT by Harsig

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Disruption 16th March Mar 17, 2012 10:04:16 GMT via the ProBoards App

Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2012 10:04:16 GMT

Not withstanding what has already been sent.

A senior manager was seen helping Met customers at Baker Street. Station staff, who weren't on the track, were out helping customers with alternate travel advice The Emergency Response Unit who attended where, I believe, the new blue light unit which assisted in getting them to Baker Street quicker.

An ambulance was called for those stuck on the trains held outside Baker Street - but wasn't needed. Water was handed out to anybody wanting one from the affected trains.

I believe the delayed trains were held outside Baker Street for around 45 mins.

On Wednesday, I was held on a FCC train for 50 mins while somebody decided to go for a walk in the tunnels at Welwyn. While the driver made good announcements, no water, no ambulance, no FCC staff and then as my train ran fast north of Stevenage a further delay to the majority of the passengers on the train.

I would say the response from LU yesterday was text book and superior to what is experienced on the mainline.

kabsonline

Best SSL Train: S Stock Best Tube Train: 92 Stock

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Disruption 16th March Mar 18, 2012 12:14:12 GMT

Post by kabsonline on Mar 18, 2012 12:14:12 GMT

Let me tell you my story lol:

I was travelling from Baker Street to Chalfont. Arrived at Baker St around 6.30pm. No Cheshams or Amershams on the board so I ask a member of staff. He tells me the next train in that direction will be a Chesham starting at Wembley Park due to the disruption and take the first train to Wembley Park. This happened to be an Uxbridge. I head up to the platform which is jam solid (never actually seen the Met that busy before!). The train was due in 9 minutes which was pretty accurate. S Stock (21096) pulls in displaying its destination as Harrow on the Hill. Absolutely jammed but I push on. The DVA announces that Baker Street is now Hillingdon and the next station is Ickenham. The driver tells us over the tannoy that the train is definatly an Uxbridge and the next station is Finchley Road. However people still on the platform can't hear this and can't decide whether to get on or not, which means the driver is unable to close the doors until the third attempt as people are in the way deciding where to get on or not.

We head towards Finchley Road and the DVA announces again that the next station is again Hillingdon. Again the same confusion at another jam solid Finchley Road. Finally I get to Wembley Park and head across to Platform 1. The next Chesham is actually an Amersham and is not due for 15 minutes. So I get on an S Stock heading to Watford in an attempt to get to Harrow on the Hill to wait there. As the train starts to pull out of the station the emergency alarm is pushed* and the train comes to an emergency stop (I don't know what happened as it was very crowded and I couldn't see that far down the train). I do see though the driver come out and a few station staff rush down to the platform. After around 5-10 minutes the train departs with no explaination as to what happened (just hope no one was taken ill). Finally I reach Harrow where after a 10 minute wait an Amersham Fast pulls in and I got home.

*I know the alarm was pushed as the driver got out at Harrow to reset it

Not moaning btw. I love being on the train. Just sharing my experience of a pretty hectic night on the Met

Visit my website: www.kabstubemaps.webs.com

Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 17:53:09 GMT

Post by citysig on Mar 16, 2012 23:09:11 GMT

Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2012 23:22:52 GMT

Post by Harsig on Mar 17, 2012 3:05:15 GMT

Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2012 10:04:16 GMT

Post by kabsonline on Mar 18, 2012 12:14:12 GMT