Strange Computer Failure Leads to Massive Rail Chaos
Haymarket (UK):
A Mysterious fault in a state-of-the-art electronic signalling system at one of Scotland's busiest railway stations yesterday caused massive rush-hour disruption for thousands of passengers.
The computer failure at Haymarket lasted five-and-a-half hours and halted trains into and out of Edinburgh.
Network Rail ordered staff on to the flagship Glasgow to Edinburgh line to switch points physically and guide drivers manually through lights that had automatically turned red.
That allowed a half-hourly service on the inter-city link. Trains normally run every 15 minutes.
A similar operation was carried out on the busy Edinburgh to Bathgate line, providing an hourly service instead of the usual 30-minute timetable.
But elsewhere the rail network in central Scotland virtually ground to a halt.
First ScotRail, whose Fife circle and Dunblane services were also badly hit, suffered most from the disruption which also led to tailbacks on the roads as some commuters used their cars instead.The problems were compounded by First Bus running a reduced Saturday service in Edinburgh and the Lothians due to an ongoing pay dispute with drivers.
Initial reports suggested vandalism caused the lengthy chaos, which also hit GNER and Virgin passengers, but Network Rail later ruled that out.
The firm said a computer problem had been identified at 4am and had taken until 9.30am to rectify. A spokeswoman said: "The technicians who fixed it said they had never encountered this type of failure before, and an investigation is under way."
Ron McAulay, Network Rail route director, also apologised.
Sept 30 2005
Raymond Duncan & James Morgan, The Herald
Haymarket (UK):
A Mysterious fault in a state-of-the-art electronic signalling system at one of Scotland's busiest railway stations yesterday caused massive rush-hour disruption for thousands of passengers.
The computer failure at Haymarket lasted five-and-a-half hours and halted trains into and out of Edinburgh.
Network Rail ordered staff on to the flagship Glasgow to Edinburgh line to switch points physically and guide drivers manually through lights that had automatically turned red.
That allowed a half-hourly service on the inter-city link. Trains normally run every 15 minutes.
A similar operation was carried out on the busy Edinburgh to Bathgate line, providing an hourly service instead of the usual 30-minute timetable.
But elsewhere the rail network in central Scotland virtually ground to a halt.
First ScotRail, whose Fife circle and Dunblane services were also badly hit, suffered most from the disruption which also led to tailbacks on the roads as some commuters used their cars instead.The problems were compounded by First Bus running a reduced Saturday service in Edinburgh and the Lothians due to an ongoing pay dispute with drivers.
Initial reports suggested vandalism caused the lengthy chaos, which also hit GNER and Virgin passengers, but Network Rail later ruled that out.
The firm said a computer problem had been identified at 4am and had taken until 9.30am to rectify. A spokeswoman said: "The technicians who fixed it said they had never encountered this type of failure before, and an investigation is under way."
Ron McAulay, Network Rail route director, also apologised.
Sept 30 2005
Raymond Duncan & James Morgan, The Herald
