BagOfCrisps 24 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Yes, there may have been times when trains in the UK have been delayed. But they have been due to very extreme circumstances. Like leaves on lines, animals on lines, a few cm of snow and other extremes. The latest one today... Quote: Heatwave forces trains to go slow Britain's heat wave has resulted in trains running slowly due to the risk of overhead wires overheating. A Network Rail spokeswoman said: "We're already doing weekend work on overhead wires on this route and the wires can overheat in very hot weather. "A speed restriction has been introduced and it may be lowered to 60mph in the hottest part of the day." Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Has it really been that hot?? Haven't heard anything about it. Link to post Share on other sites
pickled mushhead 0 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 It's the UK. Remember that about 25 degrees over there is probably "extreme". Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Saitama would be considered a fiery hell and damnation then I'm sure. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 And also remember that the train system is just utterly shite. I think that might be a bit part of it! Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 It was actually hot. 30 was mentioned. Not like a real hot. Just hot for UK. But anything outside the usual, even a bit, and it's chaos of course. Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Quote: Hottest day in FIVE YEARS: Sweltering 33c sun slows down trains, melts pavements and even sets flowers on fire Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Sets flowers on fire?! Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Apparently it's really serious. The climate crisis in the UK is so severe (according to the climate models) that London has been forced to invest in a desalination plant. The UK water crisis will come as a surprise to most Australians. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/02/thames-water-desalination-plant It's worse than we thought. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Trains are better than they used to be, has to be said. Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Don't you just love how you can be sure the trains will turn up on time every time here. Should be normal of course, which it is here. Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Japan finds a social value in investing in an efficient train system. The Yamagata shinkansen were replaced a couple of years ago after a service life of about 18 years. I contrast the UK attempts (fails) to run trains at a profit. I see that what were the Intercity 125 units, about 10 years old when I lived in Reading (late 80s) are still in service. Unreliability is hardly surprising when your rolling stock is 30 years old. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Is that a proper Shinkansen, or like a mini-Shink? Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Mini shinkansen. The originals were 400 Series. The new sets are E-3 2000. Very nice they are too. I like the colours. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamagata_Shinkansen Here is the E-3 2000 leaving Oishida. Link to post Share on other sites
@tokyo 14 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Interesting, no elevated like other shinks. Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 Ah yes, it (like the identical Akita shinkansen) has special magic powers. These two services run up and down the Tohoku main line at normal speed, coupled to the standard double decker sets. For Yamagata, they split the sets at Fukushima. The line to Yamagata is conventional standard gauge track, and it operates as an express rather than a Shinkansen. The trick is the mini shinks fit through the existing bridges and tunnels (mostly) so it became relatively cheap to feed into the mainline system. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts