John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
Of course as the work exceeds the current boundary a development consent order is needed, these supersede Transport and Works Act Orders - but you knew that...
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Norton Bridge Flyover
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John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
basil
don't mention the blinds
Well I'm about to purchase a hotel on Park Lane ......Of course as the work exceeds the current boundary a development consent order is needed, these supersede Transport and Works Act Orders - but you knew that...
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
You could end up with a boot in your water works.
The Hawk
Well-Known Forumite
Reading up from the bottom right, shouldn't that read quick, quick, slow?
John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
Shall we dance?
John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
Does anyone really need to travel so fast
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
Not at that point, apparently - allegedly doing 190 km/h in a 80 km/h limit....
proactive
Enjoying a drop of red.
Easily done...
Is there not the technology available now to limit the maximum speed of a train, dependent on its position on the track and override the driver?
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
Sometimes, the more technology you have taking care of what you should be doing, the more you have to go wrong and the less likely you are to spot it when it's not working...
proactive
Enjoying a drop of red.
True, but a piece of technology preventing you from exceeding the speed limit wouldn't require any additional thought for the driver, quite the contrary in fact as it would allow him/her to concentrate on other things.
That's certainly what I've found since I've been driving a car that is equipped with a speed limiter as part of the cruise control system.
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
It's swings and roundabouts - though, generally positive, of course. Few modern drivers would cope with an old car with a choke, no synchromesh, cross-ply tyres, no power-steering, glow-worm lighting and piss-poor brakes.
But, it might equally be possible to rely on a speed-limiter set at, say, 60 and find yourself in a sneaky 30...
proactive
Enjoying a drop of red.
Using GPS technology would make that impossible, as the limiter would be set automatically based on position, the driver would have no input. Obviously the driver always has the option of 'lifting off' should circumstances dictate that the maximum speed limit is not safe for whatever reason.
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
henryscat
Well-Known Forumite
Cab signalling does that, but other than Channel Tunnel Rail Link it isn't used over here.
Train Protection Warning System applies the brakes in certain circumstances like approaching a signal at danger too fast.
henryscat
Well-Known Forumite
"Lifting off" isn't quite the same in a train!! You can coast for miles on a level or descending gradient. The speeding allegation on Spain isn't yet verified. That aside there isn't generally an issue with train drivers recklessly speeding in the same way as with cars. However, a loco driver did SPAD spectacularly at Stafford not long back and was going significantly faster than he should have been, with a loco that had faults on it, didn't have the up to date route knowledge all of which ended up in approaching the signal at high speed followed by brown trousers heavy braking and passing the signal.
proactive
Enjoying a drop of red.
I realise that, I was merely trying to illustrate that having such a system did not mean that you HAD to drive at the maximum permitted speed. As for the 'temporary roadworks' argument in G's post, unlike roads where anyone can seemingly come along and dig a big hole, causing chaos, the railways are maintained by one single authority. Surely it would not be beyond their remit to add temporaryrestrictions into the speed-limiting system. After-all, the world seems to be one great big internet cloud now.
'Cab signalling does that, but other than Channel Tunnel Rail Link it isn't used over here. '
Why is that HC? Is it incompatible with our present rail network? Are there downsides to it?
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
Money?
henryscat
Well-Known Forumite
On cab signalling it is down to investment. The technology is all available off the shelf. On mainlines it would be a benefit as you can run at higher speeds and operate more trains. The original West Coast upgrade plans included cab signalling but it never happened. Basically the driver is given a speed to drive at, which is updated each time the train passes a trackside beacon, the speed given ensures a safe distance is maintained from the train in front. You can run trains faster and closer together so line capacity is improved. One of the arguments against HS2 is that cab signalling could be put in on the West Coast and line speed increased to 140mpg.