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Holyhead to Crewe 25kv

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Ascot

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Apparently underground sources have said there is an idea of 25kv'in the Holyhead to Crewe line for the Euro network to connect Dublin to Holyhead straight through. There is no deffinate this would happen though but has been on the drawing board for a time.
 
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Techniquest

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It won't happen for a good few years if ever. The only electric traction that gets close to the route is 390s. If ATW considered getting some EMUs for it on the basis the route would be OHLE'd, the business case would be there in a stronger sense. Otherwise it's just not worth it.

TBH, it's currently as likely as the Rosslare to Fishguard freight tunnel.
 

Aureol

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I hope it doesn't happen, the route is such a lovely one to ride along without the constant flypasts of OHLE posts, so very scenic as well.
It has a great atmosphere when riding along it behind 6233 and that would be lost. Though wouldn't the sea air be a problem to the support structures?
 

AlexS

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No more than it is along the West Coast and East Coast mainlines, as well as the Scottish electrified lines that go by the sea, the London and South East electrified lines and so on and so forth.
 

class 313

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AlexS said:
No more than it is along the West Coast and East Coast mainlines, as well as the Scottish electrified lines that go by the sea, the London and South East electrified lines and so on and so forth.

London and south east use DC 3rd rail so dont need support structures;)
 

Met Driver

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class 313 said:
London and south east use DC 3rd rail so dont need support structures;)

I imagine Alex was referring to the likes of c2c, WAGN, parts of the NLL and so forth...
 
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class 313, London & South East counts as the the former region of Network South East ya know.
 

Guinness

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I don't think it would happen time soon as the only real benefit is for the London Euston 390s as said earlier, which is pointless considering the amount of OHLE needed for a small number of Pendolino services a day.

Adding on to the ATW Electric idea, one thought I had was when 323s in the Manchester area needed replacing (which is some time away yet I hope!;)) then you could possibly build a EMUD at Llandudno, Chester, Crewe or Holyhead and when trains needed heavy maintenance would use Longsight. The 175s Likely to be still around to replace or displace ATW 158s. This could be at least 5 years away, even longer.

So in conclusion, OHLE for North Wales would only be economical if ATW had a lot of benefit of it.
 

Lewisham2221

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Unless somebody in charge suddenly had the urge to massivley increase the number of WCML Pendolino services to Holyhead, or to provide additional or replacement EMU's to ATW (both of which are unnecassary and not viable IMO) then I can't see this happening.

To be perfectly honest, I'm quite surprised that Holyhead still forms part of the WCML network, for the fairly low number of passengers that seem to make the through journies fron the Holyhead branch to London and vice-versa it would seem more sense (to me at least) to have Holyhead as a XC line instead.
 

class 313

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tubechallenger said:
class 313, London & South East counts as the the former region of Network South East ya know.
No i didnt know... But thanks for the info :) (learn something new every day)
 

Tom B

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So you thought places like Essex weren't in London / the South East ?!?!
 

Karl Bough

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I would have thought that with climate change being such a universally important political issue right now - coupled with the record price of oil (recently over the $78/barrel mark) - there would have been a great deal of impetus for electrification projects. If the project were ever to come to fruition, then VT4 would be London Euston-Dublin Heuston! It would also mean that Eire is linked to continental Europe when the CTRL is completed.
 

Nick W

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Let's start using the channel tunnel properly (direct trains from other parts of great britain to other parts of europe and as much freight as possible), before we start building any more £bn tunnels.
 

Karl Bough

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It amazes me, whenever driving along certain sections of the A55 that run alongside the railway, that there are still semaphore signals controlling some sections of the line. Are there any plans to re-signal the NWCL? If so, they should also be electromagnetically immunised, to allow for future electrification.
 

CosherB

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Let's start using the channel tunnel properly (direct trains from other parts of great britain to other parts of europe and as much freight as possible), before we start building any more £bn tunnels.

Quite so. The no.1 UK rail infrastructure project shouldbe HS2 - an LGV from St Pancras to Scotland via the midlands and north west (leaving the present WCML for freight and local services only).

Phase 2 would be the same but replacing ECML, phase 3 would be a second channel tunnel for passenger traffic only (with line speeds over 200mph) leaving the present tunnel for freight and shuttles.

I can dream......

CS
 

devon_metro

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There also need to be a severe upgrade between London and Bristol/Wales. The line is still in the times of Brunel and has so much more potential. First Step: Flatten Reading and build from the ground!
 

Nym

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There also need to be a severe upgrade between London and Bristol/Wales. The line is still in the times of Brunel and has so much more potential. First Step: Flatten Reading and build from the ground!

Do you mean reading station or all of reading?
 

Karl Bough

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Another reason to electrify the line (and therefore to run Class 390s along it) is that two of the Pendolino trains are named after cities along the route - City of Chester and City of Bangor/Dinas Bangor. It would seem unusual to have trains which can no longer visit the places they are named after! Also, for that matter, will the daily Euston-Edinburgh service still run after December 2008, as another Pendolino is named City of Edinburgh?
 

me123

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I think the WCML services to Edinburgh will continue; I'm sure I've read it somewhere.

I agree with the proposal to electrify North Wales. In the long run, it's better than loco-hauling the trains along the line which uses up fuel, and probably increases running costs (?). And, as passenger services grow, will voyagers be able to keep up with demand?
 

CosherB

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I don't think named Pendos are a factor. Virgin changed class 87 names from time to time, and hasn't at least one Pendo been re-named already?*

It would be great if the North Wales line was electrified, but the traffic levels just don't justify the cost of electrification. Electrifying Manchester - Preston would make more sense.

CS

*Edit - Pendolino 390010 , Ex -Chris Green, was renamed "A Decade of Progress" to celebrate 10 years of Virgin trains existence, with a book of the same name by John Balmforth- proceeds in aid of the 'Railway Children Charity'.
 

voyagerdude220

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It would be great if the North Wales line was electrified, but the traffic levels just don't justify the cost of electrification. Electrifying Manchester - Preston would make more sense.

Exactly, apart from allowing local Northern services to run on electricity, but it would also fill in a vital link, between Preston and Manchester, for Virgin XC/WC trains, and also provide an electrified diversion route for Pendolinos, if there was ever a problem/engineering work between Euxton and Crewe.

*Edit - Pendolino 390010 , Ex -Chris Green, was renamed "A Decade of Progress" to celebrate 10 years of Virgin trains existence, with a book of the same name by John Balmforth- proceeds in aid of the 'Railway Children Charity'.


Also, 390047 was renamed "Virgin Angels, and 390045 is now called "101 Squadron"- It used to be called "Virgin Valiant."
 

me123

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Another Pendo has been renamed; Gizmogle actually started a post in about it. 390045 was renamed from "Virgin Valient" to "101 Squadren".

PS; according to Wikipedia 390010 is "Commonwealth Games". Is this old information?
 

voyagerdude220

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Another Pendo has been renamed; Gizmogle actually started a post in about it. 390045 was renamed from "Virgin Valient" to "101 Squadren".

PS; according to Wikipedia 390010 is "Commonwealth Games". Is this old information?

If you actually look at earlier posts, and in particular, my post, before adding to this thread, you'd realise that i've allready mentioned that :roll:
 

Karl Bough

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Virgin has missed one of the cities along its route - Milton Keynes. I think they also ought to have trains named after some of the significant towns, like Rugby, Stafford and Crewe.

Also, is 390 033 City of Glasgow repaired and back in service yet? It is now six months after the Grayrigg derailment.
 
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