FOUR incidents in a six-day period during August, including three at London termini, brought delay and disruption to the rail network.
The first incident was at 14.20 on August 14 after a Felixstowe to Doncaster container train derailed at Ely West Jct when the last 12 wagons came off the track at a set of points which forms part of the junction.
More than a half a mile of track towards Ely North Jct was damaged, blocking both the cross-country route from Peterborough to Cambridge and Stansted Airport as well as services between King’s Lynn and London King’s Cross.
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A rail-mounted Kirow crane, owned by Colas, was brought in by Network Rail to remove the wagons and their containers. The line remained closed until the early hours of August 21 for repairs to be completed.
Just over 12 hours later came a second derailment. Class 456 No. 456015, working with two South West Trains Class 455 EMUs, was leaving platform 13 at London Waterloo at slow speed with the 05.40 to Guildford train when it collided with a works train. The works train was occupying part of platform 12 and the approach line in connection with the lengthening of Waterloo’s platforms 1 to 8 in order to handle 10-carriage trains (see ‘Waterloo upgrade’ story).
Read more in the September issue of The RM – on sale now!
