Great Western Electrification Progress

[83G/84D]

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.

Electrification to Land's End, you've started something now!

 

[HowardGWR]

Bristol Post reports on Filton Bank four tracking

Crucial rail project is going ahead as planned - despite electrification blow

A crucial rail scheme IS going ahead as planned despite the delays to electrification in the Bristol area, Network Rail has confirmed.

The £33million Filton four-tracking project is a vital piece of the jigsaw for the MetroWest project to re-open disused track and stations to ease traffic congestion.
It will allow local trains to operate without disrupting mainline services between Paddington, the south west and South Wales.

When Transport Secretary Chris Grayling revealed before Christmas that electrification would be delayed, it raised questions whether the four-tracking project would be affected.
This is partly because the electrification work was due to go ahead alongside the four-tracking.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "Work is well underway. We have already completed a number of bridges and we are on with one of the major earthworks."

He added that the project is due for completion in December 2018.

The £33 million cost is for the civil engineering work and does not include signalling, train haulage, rail, sleepers and ballast, road closure fees, land access, possession costs and additional works for the bridges.

I find this a confusing report and wondered what prompted its inclusion. Interesting about the accountancy aspects. I suppose the items excluded relate to electrification only?

 

[contrex]

Letter from NR to "Railway neighbour" dated 7 Feb 2017 describing the timeline for demolition and replacement of the Stapleton Road viaduct (July 2017-Oct 2018). It's a scanned image PDF so no copying of the text is possible

http://www.fosbr.org.uk/files/20170207_staproad_viaduct.pdf

 

[jyte]

What services do you expect these to be?

I was under the impression the current rush hour Hayes-Padd services would be extended to Maidenhead first and then a regular shuttle service would be introduced with those paths eventually taken over by Crossrail in a few years.

 

[swt_passenger]

I was under the impression the current rush hour Hayes-Padd services would be extended to Maidenhead first and then a regular shuttle service would be introduced with those paths eventually taken over by Crossrail in a few years.

I thought that a few weeks ago we worked out from the track access application that the Hayes trains wouldn't actually be extended, the next step would be to use EMUs to replace the existing off pattern peak extras that run to Slough or Maidenhead etc.

Hence the various services that have stopped being through trains in the current timetable?

 

[jyte]

I thought that a few weeks ago we worked out from the track access application that the Hayes trains wouldn't actually be extended, the next step would be to use EMUs to replace the existing off pattern peak extras that run to Slough or Maidenhead etc.

Hence the various services that have stopped being through trains in the current timetable?

I don't know. I only stop by here when I want to feel depressed about the state of modernisation of the GWML and our rail network in general.

 

[adc82140]

How many DMUs are likely to be freed up when the Maidenhead peaks go over to 387s? I presume we're talking services that were formerly through to Bourne End.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Plan in May is for selected peak workings (mostly fast / semi fast) to go over to 387 operation with various connecting Turbo shuttles interchanging at Maidenhead. So for instance one of the Paddington-Henley peak workings becomes a Padd-Maidenhead EMU with a Maidenhead-Henley connection.

No change to the Hayes & Harlington locals, they remain unchanged. These don't alter now until May 2018 when they and the Heathrow Connect services are taken over by the Elizabeth Line, which will initially run 4tph from the Paddington terminus.

How many DMUs are likely to be freed up when the Maidenhead peaks go over to 387s? I presume we're talking services that were formerly through to Bourne End.

I believe the answer is about three 3-car units. This coincides with the introduction of 2 diagrams on the Severn Beach line plus a further unit for mods.

 

[D1009]

I'm a bit confused now, what is the target date for completion of Paddington to Didcot electrification?

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Maidenhead to Didcot is programmed to be commissioned by the end of December 2017 so you're looking at a full relief line EMU timetable plus peak fasts to Didcot from Jan 2018.

 

[D1009]

Maidenhead to Didcot is programmed to be commissioned by the end of December 2017 so you're looking at a full relief line EMU timetable plus peak fasts to Didcot from Jan 2018.

So more Turbos will be cascaded to the Bristol area from then on?

 

[Clarence Yard]

So more Turbos will be cascaded to the Bristol area from then on?

Once Didcot is in the Bristol Turbo total will (current plan) be 22, 16 x 3 cars (166) and 6 x 2 cars, covering 14 and 4 diagrams respectively. Subject to the Mod programme and NR route clearance, these will be in full operation in March 2018.

Between January and March there will be a transition period involving 150/1 and 153 units back filling whilst Turbos are on Mod. or confined to Bristol routes that don't require SDO. The 150/1 units (apart from the 2 that are kept to Dec 2018) have to be away to Northern by the end of January 2018 so the pressure is really on.

 

[MatthewRead]

Once Didcot is in the Bristol Turbo total will (current plan) be 22, 16 x 3 cars (166) and 6 x 2 cars, covering 14 and 4 diagrams respectively. Subject to the Mod programme and NR route clearance, these will be in full operation in March 2018.

Between January and March there will be a transition period involving 150/1 and 153 units back filling whilst Turbos are on Mod. or confined to Bristol routes that don't require SDO. The 150/1 units (apart from the 2 that are kept to Dec 2018) have to be away to Northern by the end of January 2018 so the pressure is really on.

That must be where the mini HST's come in

 

[Clarence Yard]

That must be where the mini HST's come in

Not quite. The production batch of the GTi sets are not arriving until later in 2018, when they will start working on the Bristol to Penzance corridor prior to the introduction of the Cornish half hourly service.

After Didcot, the next tranche of Turbos will be released when Electrification reaches Newbury and the through Bedwyns become 80x units. Those Turbos are destined for the Pompey-Cardiff conversion.

 

[jyte]

That must be where the mini HST's come in

Err what?

Like shorter HSTs (3/4 cars) or a new class entirely? I'm confused....

 

[MatthewRead]

Err what?

Like shorter HSTs (3/4 cars) or a new class entirely? I'm confused....

Yes shorter HST's

 

[59CosG95]

Err what?

Like shorter HSTs (3/4 cars) or a new class entirely? I'm confused....

Shorter HSTs. Probably 4 or 5 cars in length, similar to what ScotRail are doing.

 

[jyte]

Shorter HSTs. Probably 4 or 5 cars in length, similar to what ScotRail are doing.

Wow those must pull away quickly!

Are they having new plug doors installed (like what Chiltern did) to improve dwell times or are they keeping the old ones? Do the old doors even meet the modern disability standards?

It's crazy to think they're life extending the HSTs even more....I guess if they're good trains keep them running.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Wow those must pull away quickly!

Are they having new plug doors installed (like what Chiltern did) to improve dwell times or are they keeping the old ones? Do the old doors even meet the modern disability standards?

It's crazy to think they're life extending the HSTs even more....I guess if they're good trains keep them running.

Yep.

Scotrail, XC and FGW have all teamed up together and are going to produce a standard way of modding HST Mk3s. Which is going to be cheaper and quicker than the Chiltern method.

 

[3973EXL]

Recent progress around Reading comprises more return conductor runs going up.
Platform 7 joins 15 with the return conductor up.
Main areas missing registration arms - Plat 15
Kennet bridge area

 

[4973]

Long time lurker here.

Went down to Newport yesterday. Some masts up between Filton and the tunnel (but not many). Some up between the tunnel and Newport but mainly between Bishton Flyover and Llanwern West Junction.

Quite a few piles in further West, indeed a cluster on the South side of the line between the Maindee Junctions.

Some concrete bases in between Newport Station and Newport tunnels, looks like they are going to use portals there.

Work on the station canopy going on in several places, but in short sections (about 30 feet). One or two sections are complete.

Locals believe the old station footbridge will be removed over Easter along with another footbridge further west.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Long time lurker here.

Went down to Newport yesterday. Some masts up between Filton and the tunnel (but not many). Some up between the tunnel and Newport but mainly between Bishton Flyover and Llanwern West Junction.

Quite a few piles in further West, indeed a cluster on the South side of the line between the Maindee Junctions.

Some concrete bases in between Newport Station and Newport tunnels, looks like they are going to use portals there.

Work on the station canopy going on in several places, but in short sections (about 30 feet). One or two sections are complete.

Locals believe the old station footbridge will be removed over Easter along with another footbridge further west.

Welcome to the forum, been lured out into the open eventually !. How long have you been standing on the edge btw ?. I suppose you are beginning to see the reality of electrification down your way at last. I am assuming South Wales is where you are from ?.

 

[HowardGWR]

Long time lurker here.

Went down to Newport yesterday. Some masts up between Filton and the tunnel (but not many). Some up between the tunnel and Newport but mainly between Bishton Flyover and Llanwern West Junction.

Quite a few piles in further West, indeed a cluster on the South side of the line between the Maindee Junctions.

Some concrete bases in between Newport Station and Newport tunnels, looks like they are going to use portals there.

Work on the station canopy going on in several places, but in short sections (about 30 feet). One or two sections are complete.

Locals believe the old station footbridge will be removed over Easter along with another footbridge further west.

Yes, also welcome. When you write 'the tunnel' do you mean the Severn one or that at Patchway? Are there masts, footings, between Patchway tunnel and the Severn one?

 

[4973]

When you write 'the tunnel' do you mean the Severn one or that at Patchway? Are there masts, footings, between Patchway tunnel and the Severn one?

Sorry, got distracted coming past Patchway and didn't really notice until past Pilning so can't really comment on that section. The masts were between Pilning and the Severn.

BTW, work is ongoing on Severn Tunnel Junction's new footbridge. This is a major job as the old setup needed replacement for the station to be DDA compliant so NW have taken the opportunity of the electrification changes to sort that issue out. Very long approach slopes, even longer than Barnetby.

 

[HowardGWR]

Sorry, got distracted coming past Patchway and didn't really notice until past Pilning so can't really comment on that section. The masts were between Pilning and the Severn.

Thanks, that was the section that particularly interested me. This is very encouraging, as the Severn Tunnel is already 'wired', so it looks as though the entire stretch is well on the way to completion.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Thanks, that was the section that particularly interested me. This is very encouraging, as the Severn Tunnel is already 'wired', so it looks as though the entire stretch is well on the way to completion.

On my last trip there were no masts Parkway-west of Patchway tunnel, then quite a few down the hill to the Severn Tunnel.
During the Severn Tunnel blockade NR lowered the track in Patchway tunnel.
I got the impression the focus on bases/masts had shifted west of STJ.

 

[JonasB]

Maidenhead to Didcot is programmed to be commissioned by the end of December 2017 so you're looking at a full relief line EMU timetable plus peak fasts to Didcot from Jan 2018.

Are there any target dates set for the electrification beyond Didcot?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Are there any target dates set for the electrification beyond Didcot?

December 2018 for Didcot-Bristol Parkway-Cardiff, and Reading-Newbury.
There are some dates for test sections to be available before then.
But these are "Infrastructure Authorised for Passenger Use" dates.
The milestones for "First Timetabled Public Use of Infrastructure" are all "n/a".
You can find all this on the NR web site (if you can find it).

 

[hwl]

December 2018 for Didcot-Bristol Parkway-Cardiff, and Reading-Newbury.
There are some dates for test sections to be available before then.
But these are "Infrastructure Authorised for Passenger Use" dates.
The milestones for "First Timetabled Public Use of Infrastructure" are all "n/a".
You can find all this on the NR web site (if you can find it).

Indeed hard to find on the new website also worth noting Chippenham - Wooton Bassett in Feb '19 as the last item in CP5. Bath a few months later.

 

[cactustwirly]

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.

Observations from the 18th February:

Registration arms are starting to go up between Twyford and Maindenhead, and a short section is wired west of Maidenhead.
Masts are installed through Twyford station.