From a railway correspondent pal, this might help explain it, Why LU cannot is anyones's guess.The basic problem is as follows:-"The trains have been slipping on wet leaves stuck on the tracks. When the train slides on the wet leaves under braking, some wheels will lock which means the metal to metal contact acts like a file and creates a flat spot on the wheel.It's not uncommon but clearly more than one thing in LU operating practice has led to this affecting too many trains for the second consecutive year.Some drivers are not as good as others in having a 'feel' for their unit. Whilst all are fully trained and competent, for some it's just a job and the affinity with the equipment is not something that can be taught.It is a growing problem in an age where digital electronics have distanced operators from electro mechanics.A 'flat' wheel is not unusual, often you can hear it when riding a train that makes a constant banging noise. But several 'flats' can not only render the train unsafe causing damage to it's brakes and equipment, but also damage the track.Train wheels have tyres, they are metal instead of rubber and when they wear they are either reprofiled using a wheel lathe or replaced which can only be done at the works.These trains have run the same tracks since 1975 with far worse autumn and winter conditions and it has always happened but not to a degree rendering a sizeable % of the fleet unserviceable.They are a highly reliable and well built fleet but are way past the designed in major overhaul dates.LU have chosen to make do and muddle pending new stock which may be a gamble as this is still going to be several years away.In actuality, a full overhaul would give the stock at least 20 more years reliable service.The Night train service will also place a higher demand of units and service rotas but this has not yet happened on the Picc.LU have rail adhesion trains for leaf fall but far too few and they too suffer the same problem. But LU have been very poor at maintaining them and ensuring they are fully serviceable for the season they are needed. Most emphasis has been directed to the Metropolitan Line equipment. A lot of heavier maintenance has been transferred to depots from central works but it seems that they can only just about cope with the workload for the daily passenger service fleets. Evident by how grubby the usually presentable trains are now externally and internally. Too many short cuts are being taken and of course, all this catches up one way or another."So it looks like a catalogue of issues that have not been addressed by LU.
Raymond Havelock ● 3176d