Great Western Electrification Progress

[JN114]

Is there a diagram of what Bath station lines will look like, after these improvements? It always seemed to me to be unfortunate that there would not be a restitution of a middle passing line or layover siding.

Exactly the same as they do currently, but with wider platforms.

 

[Hellzapoppin]

And eventually longer. The down platform is to be extended to accommodate the longer trains. Not being done as part of the upcoming TPOD though.

 

[MarkyT]

Is there a diagram of what Bath station lines will look like, after these improvements? It always seemed to me to be unfortunate that there would not be a restitution of a middle passing line or layover siding.

Only a short mid section was ever capable of accomodating additional centre tracks.

Exactly the same as they do currently, but with wider platforms.

Luckily the wider interval between the remaining tracks coincides well with the busiest middle portion of the platforms, where the stairs and lifts from the subway emerge. This gives some scope to move the tracks a little closer, adding a some width to the platforms at this very busy station and avoiding significant heritage protected canopy alterations in connection with electrification clearances. Unfortunately that also means there will no doubt be a larger gap beyond the unaltered canopies to the new edges.

And eventually longer. The down platform is to be extended to accommodate the longer trains. Not being done as part of the upcoming TPOD though.

Which end is the extension?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I have been on Google earth and am still struggling to visualize what the layout will look like.

Google maps makes it seem like TTCs in the middle would avoid alterations to the canopies.

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.3782079,-2.3556001,18z

 

[HowardGWR]

Did not Bath, way way back, have a Brunellian overall roof? That would take care of the rain. I see nothing heritage-worthy about the interior of the station, other than the inner walls, which are of stone, IIRC.
https://www.google.com/maps/@51.377...-no-pi-0-ya4.098288-ro-0-fo100/!7i8332!8i4166

 

[Hellzapoppin]

The Bristol end MarkyT. I can't remember the exact length but I'll find out and let you know.

 

[jamieintercity]

i've seem to be a bit late with the subject but has the maidenhead to airport junction section been switched on yet or will it been switched on next month going what I have seen a few pages back.

When are expected to see electric services to maidenhead/reading/didcot?

 

[JN114]

i've seem to be a bit late with the subject but has the maidenhead to airport junction section been switched on yet or will it been switched on next month going what I have seen a few pages back.

When are expected to see electric services to maidenhead/reading/didcot?

The flash notices were in the WON for 5th Feb energisation, but those notices were withdrawn. The good money is now saying early March.

 

[superkev]

The flash notices were in the WON for 5th Feb energisation, but those notices were withdrawn. The good money is now saying early March.

Wouldn't it be nice to read that something had happened early rather than late.
The GW electrification shambles has probably destroyed future schemes.
K

 

[D1009]

Did not Bath, way way back, have a Brunellian overall roof? That would take care of the rain. I see nothing heritage-worthy about the interior of the station, other than the inner walls, which are of stone, IIRC.

The roof depicted on this web page was removed in 1897.

http://spellerweb.net/rhindex/UKRH/GreatWestern/Broadgauge/Bath.html

Best of luck if you're advocating its reconstruction! Whether or not you see anything heritage worthy, the walls are from the original 1840 station, hence the listing.

 

[HowardGWR]

The roof depicted on this web page was removed in 1897.

http://spellerweb.net/rhindex/UKRH/GreatWestern/Broadgauge/Bath.html

Best of luck if you're advocating its reconstruction! Whether or not you see anything heritage worthy, the walls are from the original 1840 station, hence the listing.

Well, I wrote about the walls, if you look back at my posting. My memory is not disappearing then, phew. Yes, I think that would be a magnificent project and incidentally would restore a building to nits historical accuracy.

Of course not part of modernisation, but worthwhile nonetheless. It doesn't get in the way of the wires either but probably best left until that work is done.

 

[3973EXL]

Quick update from observations today.

Return conductor started going in on the up side of Sonning cutting.

Twyford, masts all appear to be up now in the station. Just some portals/cantilevers to go up.

 

[JN114]

And further West -

Some piling looks to have taken place recently between Swindon and Bourton.

Bourton to Uffington piling appears complete, with I'd guesstimate ~80% of uprights erected.

Uffington to Challow looks to be almost complete on the Down Main, all steelwork (including SPS) is in place, return conductor is installed throughout and both contact and Catenary wire are installed for the majority of that section.

Challow to Wantage Road steelwork is complete, return conductor installed in places.

Wantage Road to Milton piling is complete, but very little steelwork.

 

[leomartin125]

And further East -

Auto Transformer wires have appeared recently at Maidenhead above the Up and Down relief lines, although they are hanging from the catenary and are not yet physically attached to the transformer itself.

 

[jyte]

And further East -

Auto Transformer wires have appeared recently at Maidenhead above the Up and Down relief lines

I guess we shouldn't have expected switch on if the ATF wasn't installed.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

I guess we shouldn't have expected switch on if the ATF wasn't installed.

That can be done and happened on the Chat Moss route. It does mean that there is an electrical load limit below that of the design but that is not an issue until you are running a decent number of electric trains.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I went to Newbury today; pretty sure I saw a mast or two up near Racecourse station. Plus several more in a yard on their side, clearly freshly delivered and ready to be installed.

 

[Thatcham Xing]

Most masts are up from immediately west of Thatcham Xing to just east of Newbury Racecourse, and a few in the station area itself. Newbury itself still devoid though.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Newbury itself still devoid though.

Yes, and the staff said today that they didn't know when the new footbridge would be built - no sign of even any preparations today - and I gather that replacing the footbridge is a pre-requisite for wiring the station...

I'm not sure if NR have even completed the design process for what they are going to do at Newbury?

 

[Thatcham Xing]

I didn't realise a new footbridge is needed, but that's not a small job, with 4 tracks to span in the station.

Platform extenstions also due at Thatcham and Theale and no sign of that starting yet either.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I would personally hope that they find a way of retaining the existing footbridge at Newbury because it is such a nice looking design, but I understand it cannot be jacked up because of the way the staircases are built.

As I understand it, the new bridge would go at the country end of the station, would be built and opened first and then the existing bridge removed.

 

[QueensCurve]

Is there a diagram of what Bath station lines will look like, after these improvements? It always seemed to me to be unfortunate that there would not be a restitution of a middle passing line or layover siding.

The present timetable doesn't require that and hasn't for many years. Evidently they intend to take up part of the extended six-foot for the platforms.

 

[edwin_m]

The present timetable doesn't require that and hasn't for many years. Evidently they intend to take up part of the extended six-foot for the platforms.

Any Bath terminators from the Bristol direction can go to Bathampton to turn back. I think they can lay over in the loop there as well.

 

[3973EXL]

Observations from today starting with Maidenhead to Twyford, Mains only.

Airport Jn to Maidenhead wires go through the station for a short distance. There is then a short gap before the wires commence again. This is more advanced (towards Reading)on the UM than the DM. This finishes part way to Ruscombe. As far as Ruscombe all the registration arms are then fitted.
From Ruscombe to Twyford the masts are up but no registration arms and one portal missing at Twyford east.

No change through Twyford station.

DR/UR from Twyford to Kennet bridge: still some registration arms required to Lands End, then steel work looks complete to just before the bridge. Return conductor up most of the way through Sonning cutting.
DM/UM: no registration arms to Lands End and some missing through the cutting, includes one mast still in the cess. From the end of the cutting to Kennet bridge still some steel work to go but most up.

Over Kennet bridge no r/arms have been fitted. A few then missing DM/UM to just before New Jn.

From New Jn through the station, over the flyover, and on the reliefs to connect with existing wires at Tilehurst E, most of the steel work looks to be up.

There are no r/arms fitted through plat 15 yet. 13 & 14 are wired already.
1 to 3 & 7 to 12 look about ready for the wires.

 

[hassaanhc]

When I went on Saturday 4 February, there were still two old signal gantries between Maidenhead and Twyford that needed to be replaced. Appears to be progress on my previous trip that way (back in September), as I'm sure there were four back then (I did notice a couple of very shiny new gantries in the area this time).

 

[jyte]

Is NR likely to complete the electrification to Maidenhead before GWRs deadline of "summer 2017"?

Anyone here want to hazard a guess? It would be a shame if the introduction of these services is delayed.

 

[hwl]

Is NR likely to complete the electrification to Maidenhead before GWRs deadline of "summer 2017"?

Anyone here want to hazard a guess? It would be a shame if the introduction of these services is delayed.

Wires meant to go live in March at the moment.

 

[snowball]

Is NR likely to complete the electrification to Maidenhead before GWRs deadline of "summer 2017"?

Anyone here want to hazard a guess? It would be a shame if the introduction of these services is delayed.

Of course, one of Roger Ford's "Laws" says never trust forecasts based on the seasons.

However it helps that there are several different ways of defining the seasons. The Met Office uses summer = June, July, August, but the traditional definition is that summer extends from the solstice on June 21st or thereabouts to the equinox on Sep 21st or thereabouts.

In the expansion of Manchester's Metrolink a number of seasonal deadlines were narrowly met on the latter definition.

 

[Cosmicismsx]

Scaffolds are up around that pipe that crosses over the line just at end of Sonning Cutting.

 

[coppercapped]

Is NR likely to complete the electrification to Maidenhead before GWRs deadline of "summer 2017"?

Anyone here want to hazard a guess? It would be a shame if the introduction of these services is delayed.

What services do you expect these to be?