Investigation TO get under-way
From the lack of notifications lighting up my Twitter feed right now would be an indication that the Electric Trains are running on the Onehunga Line with little issue right now. This is a good thing.
What has come up since the 10 day grounding of the Electric Train fleet though is that the Mayor has ordered Auckland Transport to start an investigation into the cause of the that grounding.
From Stuff and the diligent Jess Etheridge (and James Ireland)
Auckland train power fault probed
JAMES IRELAND AND JESS ETHERIDGE. Last updated 16:58 01/08/2014
A faulty train or power surges may be why electric trains on one of Auckland’s busiest rail lines were grounded for 10 days, Mayor Len Brown says.
Auckland Transport was investigating, he said.
The “intermittent power fault” occurred twice in a day and led to electric trains being temporarily replaced on the Onehunga Line from July 23.
…
Brown told Fairfax Media this afternoon there was a “possibility of one of the trains being faulty” and “possibility of difficulties around power surges”.
“So I want to be sure about Auckland Transport’s final report because this is critical.
“If it’s about power delivery then that is systemic and we’ve got a problem.”
If the issue was about one train “that wasn’t quite right then we need to really be laying [it] at the feet [of those responsible] and be really, really clear around their delivery.
“We haven’t had a finalised position on that,” he said.
“We need to make sure that analysis is absolutely spot-on. I expect that in days, not weeks.”
Knowing the exact issue was “critical” due to how busy the Onehunga line was, he said.
“I’ll expect people to be doing yeoman’s hours to make sure everything is all right.”
The fault caused delays but the electric trains were now back, Brown said.
Edmonds said minor issues such as the fault were to be expected during the commissioning phase of the new train fleet.
—–ends——
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/10338446/Auckland-train-power-fault-probed
So an investigation is under way into the 10 day grounding. Of interest last night I sent a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request to Auckland Transport seeking answers about the fault and subsequent grounding of the fleet.
From my LGOIMA Request on its way to Auckland Transport on the Recent Electric Train Fleet Grounding post
LGOIMA Request on its way to Auckland Transport on the Recent Electric Train Fleet Grounding
Time to find out the cause of the “intermittent power fault”
…
You can keep tabs on the LGOMIA request here: https://fyi.org.nz/request/1864-cause-of-the-recent-electric-trains-being-grounded-the-fix-and-what-mitigation-is-being-taken-to-prevent-it-in-the-future
Below is what I have sent to Auckland Transport on the Electric Train grounding saga:
From: Ben Ross
July 31, 2014
Dear Auckland Transport,
I am enquiring about the recent “intermittent power fault” that
grounded the Electric Train (EMU) fleet from Wednesday 23rd July
until the evening services of 31st July.Specifically please I am seeking the following information about
that grounding:1) What caused the intermittent power fault that lead the eventual
grounding of the EMU fleet on 23rd July.2) How was that intermittent power fault caused that lead the
eventual grounding of the EMU fleet on 23rd July.3) Why did the intermittent power fault happen when possible smaller
versions of the fault occurred ever since the EMU’s began revenue
service on the Onehunga Line in late April. These smaller faults
causing EMU’s to shut down and often force cancellations or delays
of other services such as seen on the 21st and 22nd of July. In
light of that could have the intermittent power fault been
prevented if proper tests were carried out before the EMU fleet
went into revenue service on the Onehunga Line4) What did Auckland Transport (and partners – if applicable) do to
fix the fault to allow EMU’s to resume revenue services as of 31st
July5) Will the fix mitigate against any future intermittent power
faults that could cause groundings of the EMU fleet6) Is Auckland Transport looking at other mitigation techniques
apart from the fix to prevent future intermittent power faults
grounding the EMU fleet again7) How many substations were built to power the electrified rail
system and the EMU’s8) How many substations WERE PLANNED to be built to power the
electrified rail system and the EMU’s.9) If less substations were built than planned then why was this
the case AND could the lack of substations be a mitigating factor
that caused the intermittent power fault10) Is Auckland Transport investigating whether the 110kv National
Grid line that follows the Onehunga Line from Penrose to Onehunga
Station could be causing the interference thus intermittent power
fault with the EMU’s.
If not why is Auckland Transport not investigating this.
If so what are the results or will we know the results publicly.I look forward to your reply
Yours faithfully,
Ben Ross
———–
So the LGOIMA request is under way from my end.
In the meantime taking a few quotes from the Stuff article
“If it’s about power delivery then that is systemic and we’ve got a problem.”
Well I did come up with this theory (which was updated) after some discussions. The theory can be seen here: Day 10 and the Electric Train Fleet is Still Grounded and Theory: Why Our Electric Trains are Grounded and Will Face Future Issues. So it will be interesting to see what the investigation comes up with and if it was a power delivery fault. If it is a power deliver fault I do wonder how bad and systemic it really is? Is it contained to the Onehunga Line or the ENTIRE electrified rail network. Spare a thought that the Electric’s start running on the Manukau Line mid August.
“We need to make sure that analysis is absolutely spot-on. I expect that in days, not weeks.”
Well I hope so Your Worship. But I do wonder both why the investigation was not started at Day One and if my LGOIMA request last night spurred the prompt investigation. Who knows and for me I doubt I will ever find out the answer to those two thoughts.
“I’ll expect people to be doing yeoman’s hours to make sure everything is all right.”
I feel sorry for the engineers having to fault find and fix it owing most likely to a planning cock-up and oversight that no doubt lead to the situation of the 10 day grounding in the first place. Hopefully my LGOIMA request will give the answers I am looking for so full accountability can be laid at those who caused the grounding when it should have never happened – not at 10 days with issues still this morning. The catch is Len will heads roll at the TOP if the investigations show oversight in the planning and testing stages of the network that would cause the eventual 10 day grounding of the fleet when it could have been prevented.
We await the conclusion of the LGOIMA and Auckland Transport investigation
Talking Southern Auckland 