Signal Failure Strains: Nearly One Million Minutes Lost to Delays Sparking Calls for Rail Fare Freeze

Over the past five years, train travelers have experienced close to one million minutes of delays due to signal failures. During this period, signal issues have led to the cancellation of almost 15,000 trips, sparking demands for a halt on increases to train ticket prices.

Political journalist @alixculbertson

Monday, August 12, 2024, 5:

Over the last five years, signal malfunctions have resulted in train travelers experiencing almost one million minutes of delays.

Network Rail data reveals that since the financial year 2018-19, signal failures have been responsible for 988,419 minutes of train delays throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.

The information was released following a Freedom of Information request made by the Liberal Democrats to the firm.

The group is advocating for a halt on train ticket prices in response to substandard service.

Since the start of the fiscal year in April, over 1,000 instances of signal failures have occurred, resulting in passengers experiencing almost 40,000 minutes of delays, according to recent statistics.

During the previous fiscal year, malfunctioning signals led to approximately 190,000 minutes of delays.

According to data from Network Rail, there have been over 36,000 signal failures since the 2018-19 period, resulting in almost 15,000 train service disruptions. This includes 10,078 instances of partial cancellations and 4,266 instances of complete cancellations.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson, MP Wera Hobhouse, commented: "Travelers have endured years of intolerable delays and exorbitant train ticket prices. They are compelled to spend excessively for a service that is unreliable."

"These shocking statistics reveal the extent of deterioration the Conservative Party allowed our railways to fall into, forcing passengers to bear the costs.

"Amid numerous instances of signal failures, it is evident that our railway system is failing to meet the needs of commuters who depend on these trains for their daily activities."

"This is why it's essential to prioritize passengers and guarantee that services operate efficiently, preventing any further burdensome delays. It's also unfair for passengers to face higher costs for a service that isn't functioning properly, which is why an immediate halt on rail fare increases is necessary."

Discover more: Runaway tortoise leads to train holdups; demands increase for penalties against water companies violating sewage licenses.

What leads to signal malfunctions?

Railway signals function as traffic lights for trains, indicating to the conductor whether it's safe to move forward.

They are crucial for maintaining safe distances between trains, with signals placed at the start of each track segment to guarantee that only one train occupies that section at any time.

Malfunctioning signals can lead to a scenario where a train is stopped at a red signal despite the track ahead being clear. When a train is halted because of a red signal, it can rapidly lead to a cascade of subsequent delays.

Typical reasons for signaling malfunctions include issues with track circuits, which involve minor electrical currents flowing between the rails and trains, and axle counters that monitor the number of axles and wheels entering and exiting a segment.

These may lead to additional holdups since each incident must be separately examined to determine and resolve the underlying issue.

Water accumulation on the tracks might trigger the track circuit to falsely detect a train, leading to the signal turning red.

High temperatures may lead to a loss of power in axle counters, resulting in their inability to recognize trains upon reactivation. This necessitates a manual reset, which is time-consuming.

Malfunctions in track switches, the components that allow trains to transition from one track to another, often lead to signal breakdowns.

Theft of cables for scrap metal sales also leads to signal disruptions, with the theft of copper cables costing Network Rail millions annually.

A spokesperson for Network Rail stated, "Travelers expect and are entitled to a secure and dependable rail system. As a unified industry, we are committed to improving the railways, minimizing disruptions and cancellations, and offering a consistently reliable service."

Travelers who face delays because of signaling or points problems are eligible for a complete or partial refund from their train operator. In turn, the train operator receives compensation from Network Rail for disruptions stemming from their infrastructure.

The Labour Party has pledged to bring all passenger rail operations back under public ownership as current private agreements expire.

Private rail companies including Thameslink, Great Western Railway, East Midlands Railway, and Avanti West Coast are set to be progressively transitioned into government control.

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Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has suggested that a unified entity be responsible for managing both rail operations and infrastructure in the future.

Currently, the responsibility for the UK's railway infrastructure is divided, with the publicly owned Network Rail managing the tracks, wires, and signals, while various private firms operate the train services.

The majority of railway stations are owned by Network Rail, although they are managed by the specific train operators that service them. However, Network Rail directly manages 20 stations, mainly those located in London and other significant urban areas.

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