It's happened twice in the last year. Obviously how much it costs is going to be a highly relevant consideration, but it's hardly great to admit "we're going to skip this expense and accept that the Core will avoidably go tits-up twice a year"!
Twice a year is a tiny fraction of the number of trains that run through 'The Core'. For something with minimal impact, no loss of life or injury, and has an unacceptable cost ratio.. Then yes, they will absolutely skip the expense.
You could say the same about SPADs or overspeeds really. "Well they don't happen very often, and it would cost a lot to stop them, so we'll accept them as the cost of doing business". The installation of TPWS etc. (at considerable cost) proves that this is not an acceptable way of dealing with things.
How many lives has TPWS potentially saved? How many train crashes have been prevented by TPWS, How many SPADs have been prevented ?
... the 'do nothing' option, which is being advocated by some in this case.
Nobody is advocating 'do nothing' There is a difference between doing nothing and using a chainsaw to open your beer.
...if the wheels are moving under DC power. Which has been the root cause of each of these incidents.
Sorry, are you suggesting that the pan was raised on the move and you may have evidence to support this ? The pans are clearly raised and the unit moving but I have never seen anything posted that has stated the pans have been raised on the move. Also, this still wouldn't be the root cause of the incidents. You will need to go one step forward and ask why and how was the pan raised.
313s used to have the Buzzer when you were on Both AC/DC, that you could override with a button, briefly. That could be a solution between City and Farringdon.
The dual voltage alarms were also used on 319s yet they still smashed pantographs. It's a 'solution' that was tried and used on a regular basis but still didn't prevent incidents.
You would notice the power dropping out on the HMI. There is a motoring Icon which would change from White to Yellow, Then Black. So you be aware you'd lost power before you even got to Blackfriars...
As you are a 'Driver of sorts' and you have discussed GTR before I'll assume that you are at least clued up with the 700s. Surprisingly, it's VERY easy to miss. Even if it dropped to yellow you generally ignore it because you get the yellow icon on a regular basis. Even if you then got the 90 minute warning timer come up you would have a brief glance and quickly ignore it because of the number of times you see it without issue. The other issue is kinda obvious...
The lack of acceleration up hill would also be a clue.
Meh, I reckon I could coast it (if I wasn't stopping at that stupid signal !!!)
However.. The obvious issue is that the unit is still moving with the pan up. Even if the unit cuts out the unit.
It's about some more preventative measures..
Agreed, just ones on balance and that would a) work and b) not cost millions.
All I know is that I always turn the power selector switch to DC before I leave Smithfield’s and don’t change it back to auto until I’m at Blackfriars.
Weird isn't it. The unit had to be switched out of DC mode deliberately.....