RMT & TSSA Rail Strikes
Discussion
i sense a disturbance in the force...
[/emperor]
So the RMT & TSSA have announced 4 days of strikes, with Maintenance on complete walkout, and signallers on 6am-10am, 6pm-10pm strikes.
i can see how this thread will go already, but i want to get my 2p in first.
Balloting was a smart move bt the RMT, it forced NWR to the table, but now, NWR have nothing to lose, and talks will die off.
Balloting was unavoidable due to the company's attitude an behaviour towards its maintenance staff, but i really hope talks will continue enough to call this off.
[/emperor]
So the RMT & TSSA have announced 4 days of strikes, with Maintenance on complete walkout, and signallers on 6am-10am, 6pm-10pm strikes.
i can see how this thread will go already, but i want to get my 2p in first.
Balloting was a smart move bt the RMT, it forced NWR to the table, but now, NWR have nothing to lose, and talks will die off.
Balloting was unavoidable due to the company's attitude an behaviour towards its maintenance staff, but i really hope talks will continue enough to call this off.
Cartard said:
The ORR have slapped NR with 2 improvement orders for safety of the line in Wales and in the South East.
How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
the company needs to change, but NOT the way they are doing it!!!!!How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
we had a "failsafe" LOWS kit fail an nearly kill 3 of our guys last week... its only a matter of time.

JB! said:
Cartard said:
The ORR have slapped NR with 2 improvement orders for safety of the line in Wales and in the South East.
How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
the company needs to change, but NOT the way they are doing it!!!!!How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
we had a "failsafe" LOWS kit fail an nearly kill 3 of our guys last week... its only a matter of time.

One thing I've always wondered about was in the 21st century, why can NWR and other people on track not develop a system such as the signallers use, which will allow you to see where a train is on your section based on the signalling system? A portable one of those would be brilliant, surely much safer?
Hell27 said:
JB! said:
Cartard said:
The ORR have slapped NR with 2 improvement orders for safety of the line in Wales and in the South East.
How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
the company needs to change, but NOT the way they are doing it!!!!!How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
we had a "failsafe" LOWS kit fail an nearly kill 3 of our guys last week... its only a matter of time.

One thing I've always wondered about was in the 21st century, why can NWR and other people on track not develop a system such as the signallers use, which will allow you to see where a train is on your section based on the signalling system? A portable one of those would be brilliant, surely much safer?
not cool when dealing with 125mph trains. in inherently dodgy areas.
JB! said:
Hell27 said:
JB! said:
Cartard said:
The ORR have slapped NR with 2 improvement orders for safety of the line in Wales and in the South East.
How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
the company needs to change, but NOT the way they are doing it!!!!!How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
we had a "failsafe" LOWS kit fail an nearly kill 3 of our guys last week... its only a matter of time.

One thing I've always wondered about was in the 21st century, why can NWR and other people on track not develop a system such as the signallers use, which will allow you to see where a train is on your section based on the signalling system? A portable one of those would be brilliant, surely much safer?
not cool when dealing with 125mph trains. in inherently dodgy areas.
Hell27 said:
JB! said:
Hell27 said:
JB! said:
Cartard said:
The ORR have slapped NR with 2 improvement orders for safety of the line in Wales and in the South East.
How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
the company needs to change, but NOT the way they are doing it!!!!!How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
we had a "failsafe" LOWS kit fail an nearly kill 3 of our guys last week... its only a matter of time.

One thing I've always wondered about was in the 21st century, why can NWR and other people on track not develop a system such as the signallers use, which will allow you to see where a train is on your section based on the signalling system? A portable one of those would be brilliant, surely much safer?
not cool when dealing with 125mph trains. in inherently dodgy areas.
know the guys manning the kit at the time too.
other places have been told it was their fault... i thought there was a ban on using it, in our DU, but saw it out again today.
Hell27 said:
JB! said:
Cartard said:
The ORR have slapped NR with 2 improvement orders for safety of the line in Wales and in the South East.
How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
the company needs to change, but NOT the way they are doing it!!!!!How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
we had a "failsafe" LOWS kit fail an nearly kill 3 of our guys last week... its only a matter of time.

One thing I've always wondered about was in the 21st century, why can NWR and other people on track not develop a system such as the signallers use, which will allow you to see where a train is on your section based on the signalling system? A portable one of those would be brilliant, surely much safer?
The only really safe method of working is total blockages if you can get them, very few people in my area are reluctant to work any other way after a colleague was killed late last year
I thought when using tows you had to confirm with the signaller that the track circuits in said area have been working correctly?
Anyway, I know what you are saying - 99% of SCWO track failures are down to rail head contamination so it should be discussed with the signaller if the equipment is operating as it should,
I've never had a technical brief about a TOWS failure in the fashion described above although that's not to say it couldn't happen, I think it would be very rare though.
Working down Grantham through to Stoke Tunnel we relied on TOWS every day with no problems, 125mph.
Anyway, I know what you are saying - 99% of SCWO track failures are down to rail head contamination so it should be discussed with the signaller if the equipment is operating as it should,
I've never had a technical brief about a TOWS failure in the fashion described above although that's not to say it couldn't happen, I think it would be very rare though.
Working down Grantham through to Stoke Tunnel we relied on TOWS every day with no problems, 125mph.
chris-ST220 said:
Hell27 said:
JB! said:
Cartard said:
The ORR have slapped NR with 2 improvement orders for safety of the line in Wales and in the South East.
How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
the company needs to change, but NOT the way they are doing it!!!!!How much more telling do they need to see that the safety of the line is on a knife edge?
we had a "failsafe" LOWS kit fail an nearly kill 3 of our guys last week... its only a matter of time.

One thing I've always wondered about was in the 21st century, why can NWR and other people on track not develop a system such as the signallers use, which will allow you to see where a train is on your section based on the signalling system? A portable one of those would be brilliant, surely much safer?
The only really safe method of working is total blockages if you can get them, very few people in my area are reluctant to work any other way after a colleague was killed late last year
was that the guy up in leeds?blocks are great, if you can get them, but even then we've had our guys nearly hit by speeding OTM!
Safety SHOULD be No.1, but i'm not convinced.
Either way, they need to get back to work.
Just sort it out. That's what meetings are for.
If the twits go on strike, they will lose even more customers.
This is not the economic climate to be lying in the furze.
Probably a good idea to put freight back on the rails and replace idiot monkeys with digital sensors.
f
king commie t
ts, get back to work. 
Just sort it out. That's what meetings are for.
If the twits go on strike, they will lose even more customers.
This is not the economic climate to be lying in the furze.
Probably a good idea to put freight back on the rails and replace idiot monkeys with digital sensors.
f
king commie t
ts, get back to work. 
tangent police said:
Either way, they need to get back to work.
Just sort it out. That's what meetings are for.
If the twits go on strike, they will lose even more customers.
This is not the economic climate to be lying in the furze.
Probably a good idea to put freight back on the rails and replace idiot monkeys with digital sensors.
f
king commie t
ts, get back to work. 
No please go on strike its gonna be a work of complete genius if the railways shut down on the day Winkey tells the Queen he wants to dissolve Parliament.Just sort it out. That's what meetings are for.
If the twits go on strike, they will lose even more customers.
This is not the economic climate to be lying in the furze.
Probably a good idea to put freight back on the rails and replace idiot monkeys with digital sensors.
f
king commie t
ts, get back to work. 
Now im in no way associated with or have any knowledge of the ins and outs of the whole safety thing. I do however have a slightly cynical view of what is happening between the unions and the Labour party ATM.
It does strike (pun inteded) me that the unions are bending his Winkeyness over and inserting a rather large marrow shaped vegetable into his political OXO towers (without the use of any form of lubricant to boot).
rs1952 said:
paulrockliffe said:
Is there a Glossary somewhere for this thread please?
Help!!!!As an ex-railwayman, I like a good railway thread, However, this one is leaving me behind

Please explain:
DU
LOWS
SCWO
OTM
Ta

LOWS - Lookout operated warning system (Zollner kit falls in this category)
SCWO - Don't know
OTM - On Track Machine. Tamper, Stoneblower, Regulator etc. Big yellow plant that moved track around.
Hell27 said:
rs1952 said:
paulrockliffe said:
Is there a Glossary somewhere for this thread please?
Help!!!!As an ex-railwayman, I like a good railway thread, However, this one is leaving me behind

Please explain:
DU
LOWS
SCWO
OTM
Ta

LOWS - Lookout operated warning system (Zollner kit falls in this category)
SCWO - Don't know
OTM - On Track Machine. Tamper, Stoneblower, Regulator etc. Big yellow plant that moved track around.
LOWS kits are a yellow box on site, with visual and aidible warnings, which is sent a signal from another box operated by someoen in advance of your position, to warn of apporaching traffic. if it fails, you are usually in a position where you cannot see the trains, and therefore are more likely to be hit.
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