Winter 2019 - how we prepare the rail network for cold weather

[@DM00SE]

Everyone that boards a train should see this to know how much effort we put into it to get everyone home in time

[@transportmerseyside6020]

keeping the network safe once again by the awsome team at network rail

[@OlivierGabin]

I love those videos. You always learn something watching them, and you are straight into everyday's life of the british rail network. We don't have this in France. Our national network managers don't give a blast about even basic information, like warning people when a train is not running for any kind of reason. UK : "we owe you explanations, and here they are". France : "Pay your fare and go **** yourself"...

[@Andrewjg_89]

It's been such a while Network Rail. Since you last uploaded your video. But yes cold weather can be a issue with our railways during the winter months every year. Do keep it coming.

[@Andrewjg_89]

Who? No you got the wrong person.

[@lewis72]

Network Rail must have it easy compared to the railway companies in Austria, France, Switzerland etc.

[@formidable38]

Not really, our railway carries many more passengers and is far busier than any railway in Austria, Switzerland and probably many other EU countries.

[@lewis72]

@@formidable38 Most of the UK is fairly flat and our weather rarely drops much below freezing. Austria, France, Switzerland, Germany have regions where there is heavy snow & landslides. Spain seems to manage with hot weather not buckling their tracks

[@formidable38]

@@lewis72 I'll dispel another myth for you. Spain, as well as France and Germany, have many issues with heat and rails in the height of the summer months. The laws of physics do not change as soon as you get to the other side of the channel. Steel rail is still steel rail no matter what country you're in. They had problems this last summer same as we did, it's just that you won't hear it on the news here. I'm a NR track engineer BTW incase you wondered.

[@lewis72]

@@formidable38 I didn't expect the laws of physics to change... what I did expect to be different was the investment, maintenance and implement of new infrastructure across different countries. Just look at what they're building in Austria with the Brenner Base Tunnel and the Koralm Railway.

[@formidable38]

@@lewis72 Rail is installed and hydraulicly tensioned by s certain measured amount to a stress free temp. That means, in the UK at 27 degrees C rail temp, the rail is neither under compression or tension. If you raise that SFT, you risk more problems when it gets cold like broken rails and 'pull aparts', on the other hand, if you lower it, you'll get buckles when it gets hot. This is the tight rope every country walks with regards to their track. It matters not how much you spend on it! Like I said, its basic physics. (we had rail temps here of 42 degrees C this summer, 'heat related speed restrictions are imposed as a precaution, far better than derailment!)

[@thomasm1964]

We do all we can to minimise delays - then South Western go on strike anyway ....

[@Andrewjg_89]

thomasm1964 even West Midlands Trains (West Midlands Railway & London Northwestern Railway) are also going on Strike.