Railways. Anybody here from the UK?

[Richard8655]

I live in rail central of the U.S. Midwest, and never once heard of leaves on tracks stopping a train or shutting down a rail line. Not to say it doesn't happen there.

But as mentioned, the difference might be in mass and weight. Our locomotives are mostly deisel-electric and are massive, often pulling double deck passenger cars. I've seen those lightweight electrified British trains and in comparison look much more flimsy.

But it's the severe subzero temps that affect tracks here that cause slow-downs and major disruptions in Winter.

 

[KaliYoni]

Looks like leaves can be a railway problem anywhere there are deciduous trees, no?

Trees won’t leaf South Shore trains alone, causing slippery tracks and delays

South Shore Line trains are plagued with the same problem as last autumn – falling leaves are making rails slippery and causing delays.

www.chicagotribune.com

How fallen leaves affect our service

Fallen leaves lead to slippery rails, so we may need to run trains more slowly.

www.mta.info

 

[Richard8655]

I checked our system and there is something to this.

"Fallen leaves on Metra tracks create slippery conditions by releasing an oily substance that reduces wheel grip. This requires engineers to brake earlier and accelerate slower to prevent wheel slip. To maintain traction, Metra locomotives automatically dispense sand onto the rails to increase friction and avoid major delays."

 

[TheIntruder]

I've never ridden on a domestic route in the UK, but have taken the Eurostar from and to St. Pancras, as well as the TI/DB route from Italy to Germany through the Brenner Pass.

One of the things I enjoy is traveling to places with well-developed rail and underground systems. Also love the architecture of the great train terminals.

It's depressing when coming back to the U.S. and seeing the state of its rail service in comparison. That's also true of other forms of public transportation.

Given the luxury of time and leisure, I'd prefer a train over a plane. Plane travel today is not a great experience in modern day steerage class, and anything above that is obscenely expensive. The romantic days of air travel when it was considered a treat, everyone dressed up, and behaved properly, are long past. The sole thing that could make it even worse is if smoking were to be allowed onboard today.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I've never ridden on a domestic route in the UK, but have taken the Eurostar from and to St. Pancras, as well as the TI/DB route from Italy to Germany through the Brenner Pass.

One of the things I enjoy is traveling to places with well-developed rail and underground systems. Also love the architecture of the great train terminals.

It's depressing when coming back to the U.S. and seeing the state of its rail service in comparison. That's also true of other forms of public transportation.

Given the luxury of time and leisure, I'd prefer a train over a plane. Plane travel today is not a great experience in modern day steerage class, and anything above that is obscenely expensive. The romantic days of air travel when it was considered a treat, everyone dressed up, and behaved properly, are long past. The sole thing that could make it even worse is if smoking were to be allowed onboard today.

I remember smoking on planes and in cinemas. Seems odd when you think about it now.

 

[MarkC426]

I remember smoking on planes and in cinemas. Seems odd when you think about it now.

Yeah and upstairs on the bus.
That little curtain on a plane ‘totally separated’ smoking from non…. 🤣

 

[theluggage]

Yeah and upstairs on the bus.
That little curtain on a plane ‘totally separated’ smoking from non…. 🤣

...or the period when one carriage on a train that allowed smoking, but all of the other carriages were rammed, so your choices were (a) sit down and choke on second hand smoke or (b) stand shoulder-to-shoulder and breathe.

 

[romanof]

The railway leaves issue is not a hoax nor a way to haze non-UK residents…

Leaves on the line - Network Rail

Leaves on the line are the rail equivalent of black ice on the roads. Find out how we keep you moving on the railway in Autumn.

www.networkrail.co.uk

Specialist trains clear leaves, snow and ice from railway lines

Network Rail says a fleet of 'leaf-busting' trains will help keep passengers moving this autumn.

www.bbc.com

Ok, I stand corrected. Interesting links, and without doubt. I have seen locomotives (US) plow through 6 feet of snow, hurricane rain, ice, logs and trucks without being bothered. Usually they are only stopped by derailing or whacking into another consist. But I would never have thought that mere leaves would be a problem for a modern train.

 

[romanof]

I'm a big rail fan as well. Here in the Chicago metro area, the commuter rail system is very good. I ride it all the time, especially when going into the city (Loop) where I would never dream of driving to (too congested).

Ok that brought back a memory from, maybe the 80s. To start, my rail fanning started in the 1950s, and as a kid I would sit by the tracks and just watch them go by. Ok, scene set. But... I never saw a passenger train or a working steam engine. And my watching was of major railroads. SP, Cottonbelt, IC, etc. Both varieties were gone from the south even by then, I guess.

But once I was in Chicago for company school, and I found a passenger train that ran from Chicago to Minneapolis (I think that was the destination). On a Saturday, I bought a roundtrip ticket just for the ride. Very enjoyable and the crew in back were fantastic, giving me a place in the top of an absolutely empty observation car and much info about the system. Metro something it was called, maybe? Only time I ever rode a passenger service. Or saw one for that matter.

 

[Richard8655]

Ok that brought back a memory from, maybe the 80s. To start, my rail fanning started in the 1950s, and as a kid I would sit by the tracks and just watch them go by. Ok, scene set. But... I never saw a passenger train or a working steam engine. And my watching was of major railroads. SP, Cottonbelt, IC, etc. Both varieties were gone from the south even by then, I guess.

But once I was in Chicago for company school, and I found a passenger train that ran from Chicago to Minneapolis (I think that was the destination). On a Saturday, I bought a roundtrip ticket just for the ride. Very enjoyable and the crew in back were fantastic, giving me a place in the top of an absolutely empty observation car and much info about the system. Metro something it was called, maybe? Only time I ever rode a passenger service. Or saw one for that matter.

Great to hear your story and history with trains.

That train you took from Chicago to Minneapolis was probably the Empire Builder run by Amtrak. It stops in Minneapolis with final destination Seattle. I also took it to Minneapolis years ago for an IT class. Before 1971, it was privately owned and run by the Great Northern Railway. I see Amtrak recently started a second daily train to Minneapolis called the Borealis (2024).

Yes, unfortunately much of the U.S. does not have passenger rail service. But unlike Europe and the UK, the distances here are huge and the population much more spread out. So it's not that cost effective or practical to run trains everywhere. But here in Chicago with a history as the transcontinental rail hub dating back to the 19th century, there are still quite a few passenger rail lines running to and through.

 

[Macky-Mac]

Great to hear your story and history with trains.

That train you took from Chicago to Minneapolis was probably the Empire Builder run by Amtrak. It stops in Minneapolis with final destination Seattle. I also took it to Minneapolis years ago for an IT class. Before 1971, it was privately owned and run by the Great Northern Railway. I see Amtrak recently started a second daily train to Minneapolis called the Borealis (2024)....

There was indeed a time when it stopped on Minneapolis, but now it only stops in St Paul before heading further west

 

[Richard8655]

There was indeed a time when it stopped on Minneapolis, but now it only stops in St Paul before heading further west

By Minneapolis, I guess I meant MSP.

 

[KaliYoni]

Given the luxury of time and leisure, I'd prefer a train over a plane. [...] The romantic days of air travel when it was considered a treat, everyone dressed up, and behaved properly, are long past.

💵 💵 I'd say this is for you, then... 💵 💵

Belmond- Trains

versus

;-)

 

[martin2345uk]

Ok, I stand corrected. Interesting links, and without doubt. I have seen locomotives (US) plow through 6 feet of snow, hurricane rain, ice, logs and trucks without being bothered. Usually they are only stopped by derailing or whacking into another consist. But I would never have thought that mere leaves would be a problem for a modern train.

One thing that’s changed a lot on the U.K. railway is vegetation clearance. In steam days there were no trees etc right next to the line, as it was a fire risk, but nowadays trees often encroach right up to the lineside, so leaf fall in autumn can be a massive issue.

On the line I drive on, HS1, vegetation is kept well way away from the tracks so leaves on the line is pretty much never an issue for us.

 

[Madonepro]

So yes the UK train service is pretty hit and miss. Every year the costs go up much more than inflation and the service is no better.

They have to pay the extortionate salaries of train drivers.

Especially when compared to many European countries, whose railways are definitely worse than their reputation!

The French trains, in particular the high speed ones, are awesome. Then you have the many sleeper version luxury trains, that travel intercontinental, unbelievably good. Don't understand why more 'cruise ship' holidayers, don't do the train instead.

 

[theluggage]

One thing that’s changed a lot on the U.K. railway is vegetation clearance.

Yes - that's probably the underlying cause of the issue - but also (as I said before) the system is being run with such ruthless pseudo-efficiency that any minor disruption quickly snowballs into gridlock.

Last year, I was on a train delayed by leaves on the line. To be fair, the leaves in question were still attached to the tree which makes it a bit more understandable. Still, probably ultimately down to letting trees grow too close to the line.

In steam days there were no trees etc right next to the line

Plus, I suspect, there's nothing like a quick blast of live steam on the rail to get it clean (& I think the locos were set up to do that)...

 

[martin2345uk]

Yes my French colleagues are allowed to strike with no notice at all!

 

[romanof]

💵 💵 I'd say this is for you, then... 💵 💵

Belmond- Trains

;-)

Ok. The third picture is obviously current, giving the crowdedness that all are saying that exists. (And the skintights on the girl also place it in time.) The second, being black and white, must be from a few decades ago. But with the first, I don't think that could ever have been in general service, even as first class plus. Has to be some rich dude's private car from forever ago. It is spectacular, though and now obviously a museum display or such.

Later. Finally got the link to resolve. So the first picture is of a railcruise equipment. Looks fantastic. I would like to engage a trip on it

 

[KaliYoni]

Later. Finally got the link to resolve. So the first picture is of a railcruise equipment. Looks fantastic. I would like to engage a trip on it

A funny thing is, as you probably saw, all the photos are from the present day! But I betcha the actual people who take that trip are 3x as old as the pictured models, ha.

And now that Belmond train has a (French) competitor. I’m not so sure I would want to entrust an ultra-expensive trip to the SNCF and Accor though…

Luxury Train Travel | Orient Express Iconic Journeys

Step aboard legendary Orient Express carriages for luxury train travel, immersive journeys and a luxury train experience across iconic routes.

www.orient-express.com