Hi, I heard it on the news the other day new signage will display Imp' and Metric for bridges etc. As all road signs are replaced about every ten years due to wear and tear then the new ones will go up. I don't think it will be long before road distances are in km's either
..............bloody Europe!
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The railway is also looking to go into metric signage as well. Although I never did get the hang of milage and chains!
22yds in a Chain, 10 Chains in a Furlong and 80 Chains in a mile.
Each week we working notices informing us of all the relevent engineering thats taking place where we are running etc and its measured in miles and chains. So for example a particular bit of work will be taking place on the UP line at 156miles and 26 chains. So thats just over 156 1/4 miles ...............................from LONDON!!!! Except if you happen to be on the ex Great Central then it would be CLEETHORPES. cos thats where the original companys headquaters were based
Good in't it?
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This is from the "RAIL NEWS":-
End of the line for the mile, the chain and the yard
PLANS being prepared by Network Rail will see the eventual end of the Imperial mile, chain and yard on the National Rail network, as a metric switchover takes effect during the next couple of decades.
The move will be triggered by the progressive installation of the European Rail Traffic Management System on selected routes between now and the 2030s.
The decision has been taken by the industry’s Technical Standards Leadership Group, Railnews has been told.
Although it will be necessary to permit the spread of metric-only ERTMS, the change will bring speeds and also locations, as presently indicated by mileposts, into line with the measurements already used on the rest of the railway.
Metres, kilos and litres have been standard for some time in such areas as civil engineering and rolling stock construction and maintenance, while the current Rule Book uses metric measurements as the primary units for distances, although speeds are still shown in mph.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch also uses metric units by default, and translates the remaining Imperial terms where necessary.
The Rail Safety and Standards Board will now be assessing the implications of a further revision of the Rule Book and other documents to complete the changeover. At this early stage there are no firm costs or detailed timetable.
The traditional mileposts are expected to be replaced over time by new location markers at intervals of 500m or 1km. However, lineside speed restriction signs will become unnecessary in ERTMS areas, where information is given to the driver by screens in the cab instead.
Network Rail does have a derogation under the interoperability rules to show mph on cab screens as well, but a spokesman told Railnews that this option is ‘unlikely to be exercised’.
Thought this was interesting too:-
The basic unit of English length is the yard, which is often taken as the distance between Henry I's (1068-1135) nose and the tip of his outstretched arm.
Lengths
1 nail = 2¼ inches
4 inches = 1 hand
12 inches = 1 foot
3 foot = 1 yard
5.5 yards = 1 rod
6 foot = 1 fathom
22 yards = 1 chain
100 links = 1 chain
10 chains = 1 furlong
8 furlongs = 1 statute mile
6080 foot = 1 nautical mile
Topic: Road signage changes - any truth (Read 3650 times)