(AUS)More rail chaos as train drivers hit the brakes

[Pakenhamtrain]

From the age:

 

More rail chaos as train drivers hit the brakes

Deborah Gough
Reporter for The Age

 

Eastern suburbs rail commuters should brace themselves for more delays
on the trip home, with train drivers instructed to go slow and automatic
emergency brake triggers switched off.

 

Metro says that buses will continue to replace trains between Camberwell and Alamein for the rest of the night.

The system will limp along with only one one train at a time
able to travel down the lines between Camberwell and Glenferrie stations
city-bound, and between Auburn and Glenferrie outbound, until the line
problem is solved.

The problem was caused by a bat flying into power lines on Tuesday morning.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/more-rail-chaos-as-train-drivers-hit-the-brakes-20130206-2dxk2.html#ixzz2K7OBz7mU

The issue was that a bat flew into the 22kv feeder wires that are above the normal 1500v traction yesterday at around 0518.
http://www.vicsig.net/photo/15948

{As seen here in a photo by Chris gordon. (Next structure along high above))

Presumably the path was down the structure into the track via the spark gap and through the signal relay boxes and out to earth. The relays naturally aren't rated for such a high voltage and were wrecked.

 

They've managed to get a block system in place until it's fixed. Trains are restricted to 25km/h (as per rule 1 section 3 of the rules and operating procedures)