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Great Western Electrification Progress

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DidcotDickie

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Autotransformer feeder substation connections by the look of it.

Don't think so, it's more likely for section switching. There are many of these along the line placed between the autotransformer stations (ATS). For example, there's one at Challow, west of the A417 bridge where the four-track section reduces to two, while there are autotransformer stations either side at Wantage Road and Uffington. Also some at Didcot East Junction, nowhere near the feeder at Foxhall Junction.

I'm not familiar with how the line west of Chipping Sodbury is being supplied but the diagram I have from ABB (suppliers of the electrical supply equipment) shows ATS at Hullavington, Badminton, and a Mid-Point ATS (MPATS) representing the boundary between two National Grid feeder sections at Westerleigh Junction. However this is some years old and may not represent the current installation.
 

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D1009

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My understanding of JN114's post was that even if sections are completed before Christmas they will not be available for use by passenger trains before the Jan 19 timetable change.
 

jimm

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My understanding is that the aim is to get most, if not all, of the overhead wiring to Newbury and Bristol Parkway and Cardiff ready by September, in order to allow time for testing and snagging work to make sure that is is all signed off for passenger service use when the new GWR timetable starts at the beginning of January - a timetable that is being built around the capabilities of the 800 and 802s when running on electric power.

Don't think so, it's more likely for section switching. There are many of these along the line placed between the autotransformer stations (ATS). For example, there's one at Challow, west of the A417 bridge where the four-track section reduces to two, while there are autotransformer stations either side at Wantage Road and Uffington. Also some at Didcot East Junction, nowhere near the feeder at Foxhall Junction.

I'm not familiar with how the line west of Chipping Sodbury is being supplied but the diagram I have from ABB (suppliers of the electrical supply equipment) shows ATS at Hullavington, Badminton, and a Mid-Point ATS (MPATS) representing the boundary between two National Grid feeder sections at Westerleigh Junction. However this is some years old and may not represent the current installation.

Fair enough. I'm no expert. Just that the high uprights look like what's installed at the ATS sites further east. Sitting between the MPATS location at Westerleight and an ATS at Badminton, Old Sodbury would seem like a logical section switching location.
 

Thatcham Xing

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Work in progress at several places on the B&H around Ufton Nervet, Aldermaston and Midgham from what I could see whilst driving along the A4 between Theale and Thatcham earlier this evening.

Hope they're cracking on with the intention that they can reduce the total no. of blockades needed.
 

alxndr

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According to the Network Rail Western twitter feed they're also doing work at Bedwyn to lengthen the turnback siding.

This week Team Orange are upgrading the railway at #Bedwyn The work includes an extension to the turnback which, once complete, will allow @GWRHelp new IET trains to run, meaning more seats and better journeys #RailwayUpgradePlan

https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/973127469787176960
 

Mintona

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Cardiff by December still looks incredibly optimistic. I went along the Hullavington route yesterday, and whilst loads has been done, there also looks to be an awful lot that hasn’t, before you get started with the complete lack of progress in certain areas of Wales.
 

Unclepete

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Hi all,
piling work was taking place from Newbury Racecourse to Newbury station last evening as I went past.
 

Thatcham Xing

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For those on Railcam, the Newbury camera is showing some work-in-progress (piling) as I type just by the Boundary Road overbridge (which is between Newbury and Newbury Racecourse).

Edit: the camera also pans up and down the line, so if it's looking east (towards the Racecourse Station) you won't be able to see the above!
 
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3973EXL

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Steventon today.

Looking west from the bridge. Just a couple of SPS bits missing.
DSC00649.JPG DSC00650.JPG

Looking east. In the second picture you can just make the A34 bridge in the distance. Wires start the other side.
DSC00651.JPG DSC00652.JPG

Causeway looking east to Stocks Lane and Steventon bridge.
DSC00653.JPG DSC00654.JPG

Causeway looking west. Wires start the other side of where the power lines cross the railway.
DSC00655.JPG DSC00656.JPG
 

59CosG95

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So, with @3973EXL's latest excellent updates, I thought I'd post up a "state of play" list of the progress so far. This post is for the "main" lines west of Didcot, through Swindon, and west to Thingley Jct & Cardiff; a separate post will be done for the B&H.

Didcot to Swindon - due to go live Easter 2018
Steventon excepted, all steelwork (including SPS) looks to be complete from Didcot to Swindon.
A note on Steventon: The railway over the Level Crossings & under the High St Bridge (aka the "Brunel Bridge") WILL be electrified; however, the bridge may well be demolished in CP6.

Steventon-Uffington-Swindon
From MP55 3/4 to MP57 1/4, most masts up in various states of fitting out. At Steventon, all masts are up, with just a few last bits of SPS to go up west of the bridge.
Wires start after MP57 1/4 (400m west of Causeway Crossing), with a break on the Up line just east of Uffington X-overs.
West of Uffington, after MP67 1/2, the wires continue to approx MP72 1/4, with a small gap just east of Bourton X-overs.
West of Bourton the wires resume and continue, almost to Swindon: as far as Highworth Jct (76m 32ch) on the Down and as far as the western end of Swindon Dn Yard (76m 64ch) on the Up. The USGL at Stratton (Swindon Up Goods Loop) is also wired.

Swindon
All masts and portal booms are up, and SPS is starting to be installed; from east to west as far as the old Swindon B signal box. Only one cantilever boom/portal boom needs to be put up at the western end. Three bare tall masts (one at London end of P4, 2 at Bristol end of P4); presumably for power supply feed.

Swindon-Wootton Bassett
Rushey Platt (MP 78 1/2) has a single wire run from the UM onto the loop, while the Down line through it has 2 wire runs finishing further west.
The Up Line also has two wire runs, from MP79 to MP79 3/4 and from MP 81 3/4 to MP82 1/2.
Wootton Bassett's steelwork, mainly portals, isn't complete but still looking quite near complete.

The "Main Line"; Wootton Bassett Jct - Chippenham - Thingley Jct

Track lowering and drainage work at Dauntsey completed.
Nr Callow Hill, pretty much all the masts are up, TTCs, STCs and portals alike; most have SPS fitted now.
First few headspans (?) erected over 25/6th of Feb '17 at Dauntsey Bank (87m ish), and some (not all) of the missing masts have gone up too, plus brackets for fittings.
Masts up just east of Chippenham, in the Langley Burrell area; works compound established at Langley Green L.C.
Quite a few masts (some with cantilevers) now up between Chippenham & Swindon, going most of the way from there to west of Swindon stn (except for a small section where signal ducting needs replacing)
~60+ masts up, 35% piling complete between Thingley Jct and Royal Wootton Bassett.

South Wales Main Line (Wootton Bassett Jct-Bristol Parkway-Severn Tunnel-Newport-Cardiff)
Wootton Bassett - Bristol Parkway - Cardiff set to go live in April 2018; chance would be a fine thing!.

Wootton Bassett Jct to Bristol Parkway
Almost all piles in, and 70% of them have masts.
11 odd miles worth of wires up from Wootton Bassett (MP 83 1/2) to just west of (and including) Hullavington loops.
O/H Conductor rail installed in Chipping Sodbury Tunnel.
Progress as well around Chipping Sodbury/Old Sodbury; many masts up, some with booms attached, and SPS now appearing too.
From Westerleigh Jct to Bristol Parkway; fewer than 20 bases are mastless now. Most SPS is concentrated at the Westerleigh end. A run of masts (all boomed) has sprouted on the curve towards Cheltenham Spa.
The "Blue Viaduct" over the M4 just east of BPW now has SPS up on the masts along it.
BPW Platforms extensions underway; TTCs up over P1.

Bristol Parkway to Pilning

Patchway Tunnel conductor rail installed. Masts, booms and SPS up through Patchway.
At Pilning, piling and masts appearing towards both Cattybrook & Severn Tunnel, Platform 2 now closed. SPS going up on some portals too.
Stoke Gifford IEP Depot all wired.
Piles/mast bases between BPW and Cardiff look almost complete.
Approx. 70% masts now up between BPW and Severn Tunnel.

Severn Tunnel to Newport
Severn Tunnel Conductor rail in place .
All bridge rebuilding complete from Severn Tunnel West to Bishton Flyover.
No masts until 1 mile east of Llanwern, Masts going up between Bishton Flyover & Llanwern W Jct, and around Marshfield; approx. 97 from Ebbw Jct to Marshfield.

Maindee Jcts
Cluster of piles now in on the south side of the line.

Newport
Canopies cut back pending wires; being done in 30ft sections. Masts and portals now appearing at the western end of the station, some with SPS attached.
Some concrete bases in between stn & tunnels, perhaps for portals.
Old stn footbridge and another bridge further east gone.

Newport to Cardiff
Masts and portals appearing near Duffryn. Some with SPS.

Cardiff Central
Re-signalling completed. Platform 0 now open. Some masts now up over P0/1 with TTC booms.

Swansea IEP Depot
New IEP Depot at Maliphant Sidings, Swansea now complete; all steelwork up but no wires.

Do let me know if there's any changes I've missed!
 
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GRALISTAIR

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Gentlemen thanks you so much for these updates and pictures. This is as good as the Blackpool- Manchester thread. In at least two of those pictures the fence is leaning very badly (or appears to be) - is that ground conditions or other reason. Will the electrified railway be signed off with the fence in this condition?
 

3973EXL

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B&H cont.

Padworth Lane area.
DSC00638.JPG DSC00639.JPG DSC00631.JPG DSC00641.JPG DSC00640.JPG

Midgham. Up wired from west of the station over the LC.
DSC00643.JPG DSC00644.JPG DSC00645.JPG
 

Thatcham Xing

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Had a brief look at the Newbury Station area at lunchtime today. Some new (concrete-based) piles now in place, and others including a few to the west of the Station and beyond the western-end roadbridge - there is a cross-over here, so maybe a small extension of the wires to allow electric-only trains to reverse west of the station (or maybe it's just an over-run)?
 

3973EXL

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Gentlemen thanks you so much for these updates and pictures. This is as good as the Blackpool- Manchester thread. In at least two of those pictures the fence is leaning very badly (or appears to be) - is that ground conditions or other reason. Will the electrified railway be signed off with the fence in this condition?

I would think it's ground conditions. The first view of the HOPS is from Towney LC (UWC) which is also a FP crossing which maybe more of an issue (wide formation at this point with easy access to trackside).
 

HowardGWR

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Steventon-Uffington-Swindon
From MP55 3/4 to MP57 1/4, most masts up in various states of fitting out. At Steventon, all masts are up, with just a few last bits of SPS to go up west of the bridge.
Can anyone fill me in on why we had seemingly endless discussion about the bridge at Steventon and reports of the local PC and MP getting into a dudgeon, and then, seemingly over a weekend, all the masts and wiring are going up with no bother! I believe the track has been lowered somewhat. Is that what was done and why was that not just proposed from the outset, if so?
Any facts about this available please?
 

snowball

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Can anyone fill me in on why we had seemingly endless discussion about the bridge at Steventon and reports of the local PC and MP getting into a dudgeon, and then, seemingly over a weekend, all the masts and wiring are going up with no bother! I believe the track has been lowered somewhat. Is that what was done and why was that not just proposed from the outset, if so?
Any facts about this available please?

What is the basis for your claim that the masts and wiring have gone up "with no bother"? Surely the delay is itself evidence for "bother".

The adopted interim solution has been explained on here several times and I don't see any reason to assume that what is happening on the ground is different from those explanations.

It has been explained on here several times that the line was not in danger of remaining unwired under the bridge.

For the time being the wire will have a steeper gradient than desirable. The bridge may well be replaced in CP6,
 
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jimm

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Can anyone fill me in on why we had seemingly endless discussion about the bridge at Steventon and reports of the local PC and MP getting into a dudgeon, and then, seemingly over a weekend, all the masts and wiring are going up with no bother! I believe the track has been lowered somewhat. Is that what was done and why was that not just proposed from the outset, if so?
Any facts about this available please?

As has been mentioned many times above, the overhead installation under the existing bridge at Steventon is a temporary measure to allow electric services to run there - with a reduced speed limit in force - pending a decision being made on a replacement bridge. And work on the track and the overhead took a bit longer than a weekend.

The fundamental issues with the clearances under the Brunel bridge and the proximity of the level crossings have not gone away.
 

InOban

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I think if you read earlier posts, this is temporary solution involving a significant speed restriction as the catenary height is dropped from LC to the bridge.
 

Sean Emmett

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Have the Patchway Tunnels been done yet?!

NR/GWR websites saying 3 week closure from 18 Jun 2018 for work in the tunnels. What work is planned for this blockade?
 

59CosG95

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State of Play, Berks & Hants Line (Reading-Newbury); 13/3

With thanks to @3973EXL and everyone else for their observations.

Vast majority of masts now up between Reading & Newbury; Wires stretching to eastern end of Reading West (36m68ch).
1st Block West of Theale: 12/3 to 15/3.
2nd Block: 23/4 to 26/4.
3rd Block: 4/6 to 7/6.
More TBA.

Reading West-Aldermaston
Through Reading West to Southcote Jct, perhaps 50% of masts at best up; these appear in patches at the western end of Reading West.
From Southcote Jn (MP37.62) past Calcot Mill FP crossing to Theale, a lot of the missing masts have gone up but still some gaps/piles without masts. Some portals and cantilevers to go up.
From Theale West to MP43 3/4 (part way along Towney/Ufton Loop) all masts appear to be up; more SPS went up over first week of Jan '18. All booms appear to be up along that stretch.
Some SPS up to the east of Ufton Lane bridge, just before Towney Loop (42m08ch to 44m11ch).
From there to Aldermaston, progress is patchy; where masts have booms SPS has also gone up, but then there are 'naked' masts and gaps with no masts at all. The biggest gap is at the western end of Ufton (Towney) Loop, where masts are missing next to the loop and the Up line.

Aldermaston - Thatcham - Newbury
From Aldermaston to Thatcham, only the odd mast/cantilever/SPS remains; most of these are on the ground waiting to be installed.
Aldermaston to Midgham - Again all steel work not far off completion; masts and SPS going up in Aldermaston Station alongside the platform extensions.
Midgham to Thatcham - steel work including SPS complete. Masts and SPS up through both stations. Wires have started to appear west of Midgham; indeed, catenary & contact wires have been strung up on the Up line through Midgham, from west of the station over the L.C.

Thatcham to Newbury Racecourse is the most complete section with masts, SPS and wires over both tracks between them; from west of Thatcham LC (at MP49 3/4) to Kennet Viaduct (nr Newbury Racecourse). Some other wires up on other masts in that area. RC east X-overs still need wiring.
From Newbury RC to Newbury itself - piles all in, masts down to single figures.
At Newbury, the footbridge is now up; piling also taking place within the station.

Elec Substation still needs construction.

Again, do fill me in on any missed details!
 
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7ftBroad

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Hi all
This might of been answered before, but is there any plans for new track to allow 140mph
Thanks
 

Mordac

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Hi all
This might of been answered before, but is there any plans for new track to allow 140mph
Thanks
It's not the track that precludes 140mph running, it's the signalling. You'd need in-cab signalling for that, which these days means ERTMS, but installing that keeps getting pushed back.
 

Bald Rick

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It's not the track that precludes 140mph running, it's the signalling. You'd need in-cab signalling for that, which these days means ERTMS, but installing that keeps getting pushed back.

Pedantically, it is the track, and the signalling, and the underbridges, and the earthworks, and the level crossings, and the staff safety arrangements, and ... I’ll stop boring you all...
 
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