On-Sight working on Manchester Metrolink

In the Metrolink supplement issued in the recent
'Tramways and Urban Transit' magazine, it says that
Stagecoach propose to remove all the signals and
associated safety devices on the Bury and Altrincham
lines and use 'on-sight' working at line speed
throughout the system, as they do already in the
City Centre.

This surprises me slightly, since they do run quite
fast (40 - 50 mph?) between some of the wider-spaced
stations such as Stretford and Dane Road. Is this sort
of thing common elsewhere?

Charlie

Charlie Hulme wrote:
> In the Metrolink supplement issued in the recent 'Tramways and Urban
> Transit' magazine, it says that Stagecoach propose to remove all the
> signals and associated safety devices on the Bury and Altrincham lines
> and use 'on-sight' working at line speed throughout the system, as they
> do already in the
> City Centre.
>
> This surprises me slightly, since they do run quite
> fast (40 - 50 mph?) between some of the wider-spaced stations such as
> Stretford and Dane Road. Is this sort of thing common elsewhere?

Certainly Tramlink in Croydon and environs runs entirely on sight (apart
from junction and single line controls), and has stretches of running at
that sort of speed. Provided the brakes and sight lines are up to it
(which they almost certainly are), I see no reason not to.

Robin

"Charlie Hulme" <info@davenportstation.org.uk> wrote in message
news:4AGfk.3352$Oe5.235@newsfe21.ams2...
> In the Metrolink supplement issued in the recent 'Tramways and Urban
> Transit' magazine, it says that Stagecoach propose to remove all the
> signals and associated safety devices on the Bury and Altrincham lines and
> use 'on-sight' working at line speed throughout the system, as they do
> already in the
> City Centre.
>
> This surprises me slightly, since they do run quite
> fast (40 - 50 mph?) between some of the wider-spaced stations such as
> Stretford and Dane Road. Is this sort of thing common elsewhere?
>
There are no conventional "safety signals" on the Sheffield system except
for single line sections. There are signals for level crossings and junction
indicators. Running is normally "on sight".

Peter Fox

On Jul 17, 5:05 am, Charlie Hulme <i...@davenportstation.org.uk>
wrote:
> In the Metrolink supplement issued in the recent
> 'Tramways and Urban Transit' magazine, it says that
> Stagecoach propose to remove all the signals and
> associated safety devices on the Bury and Altrincham
> lines and use 'on-sight' working at line speed
> throughout the system, as they do already in the
> City Centre.
>
> This surprises me slightly, since they do run quite
> fast (40 - 50 mph?) between some of the wider-spaced
> stations such as Stretford and Dane Road. Is this sort
> of thing common elsewhere?
>
> Charlie


If true, this is a backwards move IMHO.

"Paul Rigg" <g0tvb@m> wrote in message
news:Ye-dnbkOQZKF--LVnZ2dnUVZ8qPinZ2d@bt.com...
> Might be ok at the Altrincham end but I think it would be quite difficult
on
> the Bury Line. Quite a few curves and tunnels exist. For example, when
> you go out of Victoria nad into the tunnel to go under Miles Platting bank
> they'd have to go pretty slowly as it's on a sharp curve,. And then
you've
> got the depot access before you get to Woodlands Road.
>
Tramlink has tunnels, though at least they're straight, and some sharpish
curves. Although it's had its share of mishaps I don't recall any that were
a result of driving on sight.

Peter