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Trains hit by lightning
1:16pm Thursday 1st May 2008
A lightning strike on a rail signal box at Wimbledon has created delays of more than an hour on trains across south-west London.
A South West Trains spokeswoman said lightning struck the signal box about noon, disrupting services through Wimbledon to as far afield as Clapham and Waterloo.
She said services were slowly being restored but passengers could expect delays to remain until 2pm.
Engineers believe the delays will be cleared in time for the evening peak.
Delays of up to 50 minutes have been reported on Southern trains between Victoria and Epsom. Tickets are being accepted on local buses.
South West Trains says services between London Waterloo and Epsom, London Waterloo and Guildford and between London Waterloo and Basingstoke have been hit by delays.
Tickets are being accepted on local bus routes and London Underground services.
- For the latest travel and traffic reports, see our Local Information section by clicking here
Your Say YourLocal Guardian
Jock, London says...
2:51pm Sat 3 May 08
AJPeter wrote:So you'd rather they just left the trains running with no properly functioning signals, would you??
Yesterday it was leaves, today a lighning strike tomorrow it will be a walk out.
Perhaps you should take charge, and take the blame for any crashes in such circumstances.
BlueBoris, London says...
1:50am Sun 4 May 08
Install them on all signal boxes now. I suppose that's not high-tech enough nowdays, or is it too bleeding obvious!
Jock, London says...
6:43pm Mon 5 May 08
BlueBoris wrote:Fantastic idea! Hope you're as eager to part with the money to finance the rods and other bits of kit and kaboodle required! Cos sure as hell, joe public would be funding it.
Do these engineers not know of lightning rods? They're not exactly a new idea! Look them up in any GCSE physics book. Install them on all signal boxes now. I suppose that's not high-tech enough nowdays, or is it too bleeding obvious!
Simon, Kingston says...
1:21pm Tue 6 May 08
You cannot predict where lightning is going to strike!
Lightning strikes disrupt train services all the time. Its not that the lightning hits the actual signalling boxes which causes the problem, its the fact the lightning hits the track and trackside equipment. So, do you suggest Network Rail install lightning conductors on every inch of track and on every signalling relay box?
Wimbledon Signal Box controls a very large area from Waterloo down to Barnes, Epsom, Kingston and Surbiton. It has many different 'panels' which control different areas - in this instance THREE panels were completely lost, these being Epsom, Wimbledon and Putney.
This was a truly disasterous day for travellers but it was not anyones fault!
Paul, Upper Norwood says...
4:21pm Tue 6 May 08
BlueBoris wrote:And what about the damage to semiconductor substrates due to the localised effects of electrostatic discharge, doubtless concentrated by the earth rod you have provided?
Do these engineers not know of lightning rods? They're not exactly a new idea! Look them up in any GCSE physics book.
Install them on all signal boxes now. I suppose that's not high-tech enough nowdays, or is it too bleeding obvious!
Your sayYourLocal Guardian
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AJPeter, Brum says...
11:23pm Fri 2 May 08
tomorrow it will be a walk out.