Great Western Electrification Progress

[59CosG95]

Not a huge section, but I don’t think it’s been picked up on yet:

From 0005 on Sunday 14th October the current limit of electrification at Oxford Road Junction (Reading) to Southcote Junction will be energised at 25000v AC and must be considered live at all times from that point.

That definitely went under the radar! Does "Southcote Junction" include the Basingstoke overrun?

 

[Mintona]

That definitely went under the radar! Does "Southcote Junction" include the Basingstoke overrun?

I honestly have no idea. I don’t know that area too well.

 

[alxndr]

Was it definitely on AC or checking registration with the pan up but still using diesel for propulsion.

It was using AC, but a fairly low speed run.

 

[FGW_DID]

That definitely went under the radar! Does "Southcote Junction" include the Basingstoke overrun?

From the sound of it, Southcote Jn isn’t included, the structure the ‘live’ OLE will be running to is short of the Junction on the Reading side but it will include Reading West Stn.

Last live structure is at 37 miles 23 chains.
Southcote Jn is at 37 miles 62 chains.

 

[Dren Ahmeti]

From the sound of it, Southcote Jn isn’t included, the structure the ‘live’ OLE will be running to is short of the Junction on the Reading side but it will include Reading West Stn.

Last live structure is at 37 miles 23 chains.
Southcote Jn is at 37 miles 62 chains.

The limit is probably to do test reversals with the 387’s at RDW via the crossover, maybe?

 

[JN114]

The limit is probably to do test reversals with the 387’s at RDW via the crossover, maybe?

More likely the limit is where a series of section isolation switches are located.

 

[snowball]

More likely the limit is where a series of section isolation switches are located.

Logically I would expect that to be on the south side of the junction, because the routes diverge as you go south, or converge as you go north.

 

[JN114]

Logically I would expect that to be on the south side of the junction, because the routes diverge as you go south, or converge as you go north.

I think you’re misunderstanding how small some of these sections can be - I’d expect the junction as a whole is it’s own section per-line with further switches beyond as you describe.

 

[3973EXL]

Tall masts in the mid distance should give a clue to the limit.

A4 Bath Road bridge looking towards Reading West.

 

[FGW_DID]

Tall masts in the mid distance should give a clue to the limit.

A4 Bath Road bridge looking towards Reading West.
View attachment 52660

Indeed, the A4 Bath road bridge is at 37m 29c so what will be the 'live' OLE stops just short of the bridge.

 

[59CosG95]

GWML Electrification: State of Play, as of 17/9/18.
All mileages given from Paddington, except where noted.
Paddington to Wootton Bassett Jct - LIVE

• All main line tracks wired as far as Wootton Bassett Jct, and are to be considered "live" as such. Wires towards Bristol Parkway continue past Westerleigh Jct (107m 14ch) to the Winterbourne area; details are given below.
• TTCs have replaced/been replacing headspans at various locations within London - locations include Westway (beneath the A40), Acton Main Line, Ealing Broadway, and between Southall & H&H.
• Everything wired at Reading (bar P4-6 which were never in the plan). Includes the TCD & the curves, down to Reading West (see B&H section).
• West of Didcot Parkway, all lines are wired & live heading towards Swindon.
• Everything wired at Swindon; P1-4, and the Through Road. Switchgear at the Bristol end of P1-4 is now live.

Small Points

• ATF wires in operation from Maidenhead to Wootton Bassett; Kensal Green to Maidenhead currently only using return conductors but will be AT-ready in the near future. Some AT wires up along this stretch now; whether they are live remains to be seen.
  • In preparation for the Elizabeth Line running to Maidenhead, Hayes & Harlington to Maidenhead was closed off over the Early May Bank Holiday (5/5 to 7/5); this included renewals of S&C at West Drayton & Slough West Jct, alongside HOPS work at Langley. Paddington to H&H was also closed on May 6th, and encompassed final OLE works for Crossrail, alongside (presumably) ATF installation, finishing of Platform Extensions, lift shaft installation, passenger footbridge installation, and ticket hall foundation installation.
• Parapet Work ongoing at Southbury Lane Bridge, Ruscombe.
• Parapet Work has yet to commence on Butts Hill Rd Bridge, Woodley.
• Few masts and cantilevers now up on the Didcot Avoiding Line, which finish at Appleford; Appleford LC being the limit of wires for the time being.
• Oxford Lines west of Didcot Pkwy wired as far as the loco fuelling sdg; Down Oxford as far as 53m31ch, Up Oxford as far as 53m42ch. Didcot avoiding lines have sprouted masts (4 portals, 2 TTCs), with a wire pair over the Down Didcot Avoider.
• A note on Steventon: Wires up under the High St Bridge (aka the "Brunel Bridge"); however, the bridge may well be demolished in CP6. "Temporary" parapet work now complete to protect passers-by from stray currents; the discussion continues.
• Overruns through Swindon Jct (77m 36ch) onto the Golden Valley Line have also been wired.
• Another note on the OLE to Wootton Bassett - although testing with IETs is now underway (the first 2 IETs reached Swindon on AC over the night of 12th/13th September), entry of IETs in AC passenger service is unlikely before December.

The "Main Line"; Wootton Bassett Jct - Chippenham (Cocklebury Lane Bridge)
Until further notice, the 25kV transmission wires will run in a trough from Cocklebury Lane Bridge (just east of Chippenham) to Thingley Jct. Large steelwork is expected to remain in situ until wiring is authorised west of Thingley, but some specific items may be poached if required elsewhere (and duplicates aren't stored at RAF Wroughton). Details given in the "Postponements" section.

• All masts and earth wires are now up between Wootton Bassett Jct & Cocklebury Lane Overbridge with the majority of SPS fitted.
• On the Up Line, there is a mile of catenary wire only west of WB Jct, followed by 2 miles of no wires until just west of Dauntsey Lock, where Catenary & Contact wires then reappear and remain in situ until Cocklebury Lane.
• Over Sutton Ln Bridge, Kellaways (between Christian Malford & Langley Burrell), catenary & contact wires have been erected over both lines; these extend eastwards as far as the eye can see, and westwards to Langley Burrell over both lines.

Chippenham (Cocklebury Lane Bridge) - Thingley Jct

• No piles in Chippenham station, nor any masts affixed to the viaduct.
• All piles in and majority of masts (and cantilevers) up from the western end of the viaduct to Thingley Junction (where the feeder station will be). Most TTCs have booms from beyond the viaduct to Thingley East Junction. About 14 masts are up in the vicinity of Thingley Feeder Stn, 2 of which have TTC booms affixed. Another has an STC boom.
• Piles continue westwards to the next bridge.

Thingley Jct - Keynsham

• No wiring for the foreseeable future, but overbridges between Thingley Jct & Box Tunnel have all been rebuilt. Corsham Main Road Bridge needs its parapets raising. New aqueduct & footbridge at Corsham complete.
• Both Box & Middle Hill Tunnels have had track lowered.
• A new footbridge has been built at Ashley Box.
• Piles also in (and have been for over a year) at Ashley (beyond Box Tunnel) - these might well be trial piles.
• Bathampton Jct to beyond Sydney Gardens has had track lowered. A new signal gantry at Bathampton Jct was installed over Xmas 2017 but is not yet in use.
• Bath Spa platforms realigned & raised, with track also slewed.
• Track through Oldfield Park & Keynsham now lowered.
• A lot of piles are in along the embankment around Saltford and Keynsham in readiness for future wiring.

South Wales Main Line (Wootton Bassett Jct-Bristol Parkway-Severn Tunnel-Newport-Cardiff)

Wootton Bassett Jct - Bristol Parkway; now to be considered "live" to Westerleigh Jct from 0800 on October 1st, and to Filton Jct (inc. Bristol Parkway) from 1000 on October 13th.

• All catenary & contact wires up from Wootton Bassett Jct, past Westerleigh Jct (107m 14ch) to around the Winterbourne area; Chipping Sodbury Goods Loop is also fully wired. One ATF wire contines westwards over the junction for a short distance.
• From Westerleigh Jct to Bristol Parkway, all structures are up as far as approx. MP110, in Winterbourne Cutting.
  • On the curve towards Cheltenham Spa, all catenary & contact wires are now up from the Limit of Wiring to Westerleigh Jct. Earths & AT wires are not yet confirmed to be installed.
• Earth Wire (on the Down side) now accompanies the SPS up on the STCs and TTCs to the west & east of "The Dramway" footbridge nr Ram Hill (Coalpit Heath); a pair of single masts which seem to be destined for a portal boom can be found just east of the bridge (https://flic.kr/p/23WGyV5).
• Huckford Viaduct has had bespoke mast fittings applied.
• The "Blue Viaduct" over the M4 just east of BPW now has SPS up on the masts along it.
• Winterbourne Viaduct now also has masts up along its length.
• BPW Platforms extensions complete.
  • TTCs up over all platforms as of 20/3, along with the Down Bristol Goods Loop (opposite P1).
  • Portal now up at the eastern end over all lines through the station. Nothing more up further east on the approach though.
  • A number of masts & booms are up on the line towards Filton Abbey Wood, between Stoke Gifford Jct No.1 (111m 79ch) and Filton Jct No.1 (113m 01ch); these end just short of Filton Jct 1 and will presumably act as an overrun until electrification continues into Temple Meads.
  • Section Isolator Masts now installed immediately before Stoke Gifford Jct No. 1, for the proposed neutral section just west of Bristol Parkway.
• Filton Bank bridge works (mileages all from Temple Meads):
  • Easton Rd Overbridge (1m 18ch) completely rebuilt.
  • Narroways Footbridge (2m 12ch) replaced.
  • Ashley Hill Footbridge (3m 11ch) replaced.
  • Bonnington Walk Overbridge (3m 62ch) - parapets raised.
  • Footbridge south of Filton Abbey Wood (4m 18ch) will need work if wiring is to occur.

Bristol Parkway - Pilning

• The Patchway/Severn Tunnel Blockade is now complete.
• 2 boomed masts are up at the Welsh end of Bristol Parkway, and a concrete foundation awaiting a mast can be seen next to them.https://flic.kr/p/245kEME A twin track portal has also appeared near there, and the station masts are now gaining SPS.
• Stoke Gifford IEP Depot all wired.
• Patchway Tunnels conductor rail installed.
• Masts, booms and SPS up through Patchway. No wires yet.
  • Cattybrook Brickworks Bridge closed as of 18/3/18.
• At Pilning, during the Summer Tunnels blockade, all portals and masts have now been erected, and wires have gone up.

Severn Tunnel - Newport

• Severn Tunnel Conductor rail in place. A number of masts on both sides of the line are now up at Caldicot, just before the Western tunnel mouth.
• All bridge rebuilding complete from Severn Tunnel Jct (149m 14ch) to Bishton Flyover (152m 30ch).
• Masts beginning to go up between Severn Tunnel Jct & Bishton Flyover, as of 3/4/18. These include:
  • At least 11 between Undy (Playing Fields Footbridge) and the M4 viaduct over the mains; one just east of the "white house" has a TTC boom. It can be assumed that its 8 comrades will be similarly adorned. Another mast over the Reliefs west of the "white house" has now gained a TTC boom with 1 SPS assembly; it has a twin over the Mains.
  • Two large uprights have gone up between Undy Playing Fields footbridge & "the ramp" bridge at Magor on opposite sides of the line; these may well take a portal boom.
  • Another 3 masts (two for a portal boom, one a TTC with boom up) have appeared east of "the ramp" bridge at Magor; these join the sole TTC on the Up side by the bridge.
  • The 3 TTCs west of "the ramp" bridge (2 on the Down, 1 on the Up) have gained SPS.
  • The signal gantry at Magor (west of the West End Footbridge) has been replaced by 4 signals on posts; this should mean its removal prior to electrification is imminent. A TTC with SPS is up over the Mains there too.
  • 1 mast is up to the west of Redwick Rd Bridge (by the Down Relief), and a mast due to bear a portal is up to the east of Whitewall Footbridge (by the Up Main). OTP is in place for a piling/masting operation by Redwick Rd compound.
  • Masts (with SPS fitted) up between Bishton Flyover (including over it) and Llanwern West Jct (156m 20ch). 5 masts are currently up on the curve down from the flyover at its eastern end.
  • Plenty single masts (with SPS fitted & folded) up along the Mains between the Flyover and Bishton LC.
• Around the Bishton LC (153m 01ch) to Llanwern Works East Connection (153m 05ch) area, masts are around 80-85% up, and many have booms and SPS; further west towards Llanwern Works West Connection/Llanwern West Junction (156m 03ch to 156m 20ch), masts are going/have gone up at the double. Portal structures/TTCs etc. are up just east of the utility bridge between the Llanwern Connections, and to the west. SPS has gone up too on lots of them; not easy to find exact numbers though.
• Some masts have sprouted near Lliswerry pond.
• 6-track portals, probably TGBUs (aka Thumpin' Great Big-Uns) going up aroung East Usk Yard (approx. MP157 1/2).
• Between the Maindee Jcts (157m 74ch to 158m 16ch), a cluster of piles is in beside the Down Relief; these are complemented by masted piles on the Main side (adjacent to the Up Main).
• Caerleon Rd Overbridge to be refurbished in 2 phases - 20/7 to 30/11, and then January ‘19 to March ‘19. Not sure what impact on wiring this will have.
• Some SPS has now gone up between Maindee West & Maindee East; between Maindee West Maindee North Jct (41m 03ch from the former Rotherwas Jct, just south of Hereford; the ELR for the southern part of the Marches Line), masts with TTCs on are also going up (as overruns) over the Marches Line; the termination mast & associated TTC are just north of signal "NT 1559".
• Fixings for masts have now been installed on the Usk Bridge.

Newport

• P1 Canopies all cut back; P2 & P3 canopies still in progress.
• Masts and portals now appearing at the western end of the station, some with SPS attached. More started to appear in mid-April; additionally, two at the Cardiff end & two through the P1 canopy on the weekend of April 28th/29th.
• 4-track portal now up over the southern 4 tracks, just east of the new station footbridge.
• Two six-track portals have now gone up over the western throat of the station, just short of a 4-track portal (uprights of) & a TTC (with SPS) adjacent to Clytha Park Rd.
• Old stn footbridge now removed; 4-track portal of the "TGBU" (Thumpin' Great Big 'Un) variety has been installed in its place.
• A new portal has gone up at the east end of Newport, with all the fixings for switchgear affixed at the top. Droptubes for registration arms are also on.

Newport - Cardiff

• Plenty masts up around Gaer Jct (159m 32ch) north of Cardiff Rd Bridge (the B4237):
  • one by the Down Relief;
  • two by the Up Main (one of which is a boomed TTC with SPS);
  • three by the Gaer Jct - Park Jct Chord.
• Around 6 piles are in adjacent to the Up Main between Gaer Jct and Ebbw Jct (160m 07ch); these will probably take masts for portal booms. One such boom appears to have gone in! Currently unknown if Alexandra Dock Jct Yard will be electrified.
• Lots of steelwork up immediately behind the signal gantry adjacent to the Up Main at Ebbw Jct; this includes a full portal boom and a TTC acting as an overrun mast on the Ebbw Vale branch.
• Over 100 masts from Ebbw Jct to Marshfield (163m 60ch). Booms & SPS starting to appear in the area too.
• Green Lane Bridge, nr Marshfield (164m 57ch) reopened to traffic after reconstruction. Masts (with SPS) up around here too.
• Lots of masts (with booms, SPS & ATF brackets) now up near Mardy Rd Bridge, Rumney.
• Two TTCs, one on each side of the tracks, have been erected by the bridge at Rhymney River Bridge Jct (167m 61ch).
• About 4 or 5 portals have been erected just west of Pengam Jct (168m 40ch); 5 masts are up on the Up side east of Rover Lane bridge, complemented by 2 on the Down side. Some of the portals now have booms, and bear SPS; one of these has all its registration arms up.
• A handful of masts are also up around Long Dyke Jct (169m 35ch); some have now gained TTC booms and SPS as well.
• Splott Rd Bridge upgrade work now complete.

Cardiff Central

• Re-signalling completed. Platform 0 now open. 3 masts now up over P0/1 with TTC booms.
• Piling underway at the extreme ends of P1/2 & P3/4 for future masts. One can assume portals will bridge the gap between P2 & P3, over the Through lines.
• Canopy cut-back work now underway on P2.
• Brackets appear to be in place on the coping stones on the Taff Viaduct (at the western end of the station).

Swansea IEP Depot

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

GWML/SWML Blockades:

• 6/7 to 3/12: Reduced capacity between Newport & Cardiff Central while electrification progresses; assume only 1 pair of lines open at a time.
• 15/9 to 6/10: Bristol Parkway blockaded to allow OLE to be installed within the station. RRBs in operation between Yate & Filton Abbey Wood, and between Swindon & Newport.
• 13/10 to 14/10: Bristol Parkway blockaded to allow OLE to be installed within the station. RRBs in operation between Yate & Filton Abbey Wood, and between Swindon & Newport.
• 27/10 to 18/11: Filton Bank blockaded for 4-tracking; worth posting on here as *some* OLE works might occur - not that I know for certain.
• 24/12/18 to 1/1/19: Bristol Parkway - Newport will be blockaded again for more OLE works.
• More Blockades will follow; details as they become available.

Berks & Hants Line (Reading-Newbury)
Reading-Newbury set to go live from December 2018; electric trains in service from January 2019.
Reading West - Southcote Junction - Theale

• Wires from Oxford Rd Jct due to go LIVE as far as 37m 23ch (just short of Southcote Jct; 37m 62ch) at 0005 on 14/10/18. This location is the first subsection break point west of RDW.
• Within Reading West, piles for the new footbridge (under Murphy's remit) are in, but have been "decapitated" (i.e. shortened) and capped until a new footbridge solution is found.
• Both the Down Westbury & Up Westbury lines are fully wired through Reading West & Southcote Jct, but stop short of joining the existing wiring around Theale East crossovers.
• Both B'stoke lines and crossovers at Southcote Jct fully wired to the end of the overruns.
• Reading West Crossover now wired. Extension to Reading West Up platform ongoing.
• The plain line around Theale East Crossover (on both lines) lack contact wires.
• Parapet work now complete on the A4 (Bath Rd) overbridge; Tilehurst Rd overbridge will require similar works.

Theale - Aldermaston - Midgham - Thatcham - Newbury Racecourse

• Wires over the main lines (DW/UW) from Reading West are now continuous to just east of Kennet Viaduct (nr Newbury Racecourse); approximately at MP 51 1/4.
• Theale Goods Loop is now fully wired, including over the pointwork at the Newbury end.
• Platform extension works complete (but not yet opened) at Theale and Thatcham.
• The platform extensions at Aldermaston are structurally complete; finishing works (e.g. levelling, fencing etc.) are all that remains to be done.
• After the gap over Kennet Viaduct, all wires (Catenary, contact, Earth) over all lines (Mains, crossovers and the DPL) resume at about MP51 3/4. These continue through to Newbury (see below).

Newbury Racecourse (excl.) - Newbury Town - Limit of Wiring

• The electrical substation/PSU at Boundary Rd looks roughly 80% complete; the feeder wires from the Substation to the railway have been installed.
• Bay platform and all through lines (DM, DPL, UM, UPL) fully wired through Newbury station to the limit of wiring. Newbury West Crossovers also wired.
• At Newbury, the new footbridge is now open (not the lifts yet). The canopy has now been completely cut back, and all the facing boards are removed.
• Proposed Limit of Wiring: 53m 51ch. Gives Ample room to reverse a 12-car 387 formation.
  • Immunised signalling continues to about MP55 1/2. Bedwyn Turnback Siding now extended to accommodate 5-car IETs.

B&H Blockades:

• 12/3 to 15/3; done.
• 23/4 to 26/4; done.
• 14/5 to 17/5; done.
• 2/6 to 10/6; done.
• 9/7 to 12/7; done.
• 16/7 to 5/8; done.
• 28/8 to 30/8; done.
• 8/10 to 11/10.

Project Postponements

• Thames Valley Branches: Windsor & Henley deferred to CP6. Marlow removed from scope of current programme. The first few yards of each branch (bar the Henley Branch) have been wired as an overrun.
• Southcote Jct to Basingstoke has also been deferred to CP6.
• Appleford LC to Oxford paused; if CP6 accounts allow for wiring to be extended to Oxford, it would be very likely to happen now that Oxford has been remodelled.
• Catenary & Contact wires between Chippenham (Cocklebury Lane Overbridge) & Thingley Jct have been deferred until (presumably) CP6; presumably this will wait until Bath-Bristol resignalling is complete. All Large steelwork to remain, unless required elsewhere.
• Bristol Temple Meads to Bath & Bristol Parkway paused, dependent on Bristol resignalling (Taunton-Parkway over Easter 2018; Temple Meads to Bath in October 2018), track remodelling and Filton Bank 4-tracking (to be completed by December 2018).
• Bristol Temple Meads' "Midland Shed" to be reopened in CP6, after Bristol resignalling is complete and the PSB is demolished.

As always, do let me know if I've missed anything!
(apologies to anyone who saw it in a state of source code chaos too).

 

[ATW158Xpress]

Some wiring work as been done on the relief lines between Moorland Road Junction and Long Dyke Junction over the last 2 Saturday nights.

 

[59CosG95]

Some wiring work as been done on the relief lines between Moorland Road Junction and Long Dyke Junction over the last 2 Saturday nights.

So are there any wires up there?

 

[3973EXL]

Southbury Lane Ruscombe

State of parapet work this morning.

 

[3973EXL]

GWML Electrification: State of Play, as of 17/9/18.
All mileages given from Paddington, except where noted.
Paddington to Wootton Bassett Jct - LIVE

Small Points

• A note on Steventon: Wires up under the High St Bridge (aka the "Brunel Bridge"); however, the bridge may well be demolished in CP6. It *MIGHT* need temporary parapet work to protect passers-by from stray currents;

Parapets were done before it went live.

Picture in Sept Modern Railways.

 

[59CosG95]

Parapets were done before it went live.

Picture in Sept Modern Railways.

Ahh, thanks very much @3973EXL; I'll amend the original post.

 

[veryoldbear]

Steventon bridge now has a sort of comedy toast-rack along the parapet to stop passers-by engaging with the live OLE

 

[D1009]

GWML/SWML Blockades:

• 6/7 to 3/12: Reduced capacity between Newport & Cardiff Central while electrification progresses; assume only 1 pair of lines open at a time.
• 15/9 to 6/10: Bristol Parkway blockaded to allow OLE to be installed within the station. RRBs in operation between Yate & Filton Abbey Wood, and between Swindon & Newport.
• 13/10 to 14/10: Bristol Parkway blockaded to allow OLE to be installed within the station. RRBs in operation between Yate & Filton Abbey Wood, and between Swindon & Newport.
• 27/10 to 18/11: Filton Bank blockaded for 4-tracking; worth posting on here as *some* OLE works might occur - not that I know for certain.
• 24/12/18 to 1/1/19: Bristol Parkway - Newport will be blockaded again for more OLE works.
• More Blockades will follow; details as they become available.

• Not sure RRBs are relevant to this thread, but there are no RRBs between Swindon and Newport, Bristol Parkway is served by RRBs to and from Patchway for all GWR and XC long distance services in both directions.

 

[59CosG95]

• Not sure RRBs are relevant to this thread, but there are no RRBs between Swindon and Newport, Bristol Parkway is served by RRBs to and from Patchway for all GWR and XC long distance services in both directions.

Apologies, I found the info regarding RRBs on GWR's website very confusing!

 

[D1009]

Apologies, I found the info regarding RRBs on GWR's website very confusing!

So did I, but I have the advantage of living near Bristol Parkway and suffering the disruption. I think you are doing a great job in documenting all of the known details of the project. I'd like to be able to provide more observations, but unfortunately my health has let me down of late and I have mobility issues.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Apologies, I found the info regarding RRBs on GWR's website very confusing!

​

So did I, but I have the advantage of living near Bristol Parkway and suffering the disruption. I think you are doing a great job in documenting all of the known details of the project. I'd like to be able to provide more observations, but unfortunately my health has let me down of late and I have mobility issues.

Hear, hear

 

[Telegram_Sam]

Not sure if it's worth pointing out as it'll presumably all go up in the near future with the Parkway blockade anyway....but the section of the line on the viaduct over Coalpit Heath going over Badminton Road has all catenary and contact wires up and the ATF wires. I don't know the state of play further along beyond Frampton Cotterell along the viaduct to Winterbourne Down but I'll no doubt see it if I'm driving round there.

 

[deltic08]

Are the Cardiffs going via Gloucester?

 

[ATW158Xpress]

Are the Cardiffs going via Gloucester?

Going via Dr Days Junction and Bath Spa

 

[Telegram_Sam]

Not sure if it's worth pointing out as it'll presumably all go up in the near future with the Parkway blockade anyway....but the section of the line on the viaduct over Coalpit Heath going over Badminton Road has all catenary and contact wires up and the ATF wires. I don't know the state of play further along beyond Frampton Cotterell along the viaduct to Winterbourne Down but I'll no doubt see it if I'm driving round there.

All the running wires and ATF wires now go west at least to the Bradley Viaduct over B4058 Bristol Road near Winterbourne Down and beyond as I saw yesterday. I didn't go down the M4 this weekend so didn't see whether they have made it to the blue bridge yet.

 

[deltic08]

Going via Dr Days Junction and Bath Spa

How is Cross Country diverting then, via Didcot?

 

[59CosG95]

How is Cross Country diverting then, via Didcot?

No, they were going via Newport.

 

[59CosG95]

GWML Electrification: State of Play, as of 24/9/18.
All mileages given from Paddington, except where noted.
Paddington to Wootton Bassett Jct - LIVE

• All main line tracks wired as far as Wootton Bassett Jct, and are to be considered "live" as such. Wires towards Bristol Parkway continue past Westerleigh Jct (107m 14ch) to the Winterbourne area; details are given below.
• TTCs have replaced/been replacing headspans at various locations within London - locations include Westway (beneath the A40), Acton Main Line, Ealing Broadway, and between Southall & H&H.
• Everything wired at Reading (bar P4-6 which were never in the plan). Includes the TCD & the curves, down to Reading West (see B&H section).
• West of Didcot Parkway, all lines are wired & live heading towards Swindon.
• Everything wired at Swindon; P1-4, and the Through Road. Switchgear at the Bristol end of P1-4 is now live.

Small Points

• ATF wires in operation from Maidenhead to Wootton Bassett; Kensal Green to Maidenhead currently only using return conductors but will be AT-ready in the near future. Some AT wires up along this stretch now; whether they are live remains to be seen.
  • In preparation for the Elizabeth Line running to Maidenhead, Hayes & Harlington to Maidenhead was closed off over the Early May Bank Holiday (5/5 to 7/5); this included renewals of S&C at West Drayton & Slough West Jct, alongside HOPS work at Langley. Paddington to H&H was also closed on May 6th, and encompassed final OLE works for Crossrail, alongside (presumably) ATF installation, finishing of Platform Extensions, lift shaft installation, passenger footbridge installation, and ticket hall foundation installation.
• Parapet Work ongoing at Southbury Lane Bridge, Ruscombe.
• Parapet Work has yet to commence on Butts Hill Rd Bridge, Woodley.
• Few masts and cantilevers now up on the Didcot Avoiding Line, which finish at Appleford; Appleford LC being the limit of wires for the time being.
• Oxford Lines west of Didcot Pkwy wired as far as the loco fuelling sdg; Down Oxford as far as 53m31ch, Up Oxford as far as 53m42ch. Didcot avoiding lines have sprouted masts (4 portals, 2 TTCs), with a wire pair over the Down Didcot Avoider.
• A note on Steventon: Wires up under the High St Bridge (aka the "Brunel Bridge"); however, the bridge may well be demolished in CP6. "Temporary" parapet work to protect passers-by from stray currents now complete; the discussion continues.
• Overruns through Swindon Jct (77m 36ch) onto the Golden Valley Line have also been wired.
• Another note on the OLE to Wootton Bassett - although testing with IETs is now underway (the first 2 IETs reached Swindon on AC over the night of 12th/13th September), entry of IETs in AC passenger service is unlikely before December.

The "Main Line"; Wootton Bassett Jct - Chippenham (Cocklebury Lane Bridge)
Until further notice, the 25kV transmission wires will run in a trough from Cocklebury Lane Bridge (just east of Chippenham) to Thingley Jct. Large steelwork is expected to remain in situ until wiring is authorised west of Thingley, but some specific items may be poached if required elsewhere (and duplicates aren't stored at RAF Wroughton). Details given in the "Postponements" section.

• All masts and earth wires are now up between Wootton Bassett Jct & Cocklebury Lane Overbridge with the majority of SPS fitted.
• On the Up Line, there is a mile of catenary wire only west of WB Jct, followed by 2 miles of no wires until just west of Dauntsey Lock, where Catenary & Contact wires then reappear and remain in situ until Cocklebury Lane.
• Over Sutton Ln Bridge, Kellaways (between Christian Malford & Langley Burrell), catenary & contact wires have been erected over both lines; these extend eastwards as far as the eye can see, and westwards to Langley Burrell over both lines.

Chippenham (Cocklebury Lane Bridge) - Thingley Jct

• No piles in Chippenham station, nor any masts affixed to the viaduct.
• All piles in and majority of masts (and cantilevers) up from the western end of the viaduct to Thingley Junction (where the feeder station will be). Most TTCs have booms from beyond the viaduct to Thingley East Junction. About 14 masts are up in the vicinity of Thingley Feeder Stn, 2 of which have TTC booms affixed. Another has an STC boom.
• Piles continue westwards to the next bridge.

Thingley Jct - Keynsham

• No wiring for the foreseeable future, but overbridges between Thingley Jct & Box Tunnel have all been rebuilt. Corsham Main Road Bridge needs its parapets raising. New aqueduct & footbridge at Corsham complete.
• Both Box & Middle Hill Tunnels have had track lowered.
• A new footbridge has been built at Ashley Box.
• Piles also in (and have been for over a year) at Ashley (beyond Box Tunnel) - these might well be trial piles.
• Bathampton Jct to beyond Sydney Gardens has had track lowered. A new signal gantry at Bathampton Jct was installed over Xmas 2017 but is not yet in use.
• Bath Spa platforms realigned & raised, with track also slewed.
• Track through Oldfield Park & Keynsham now lowered.
• A lot of piles are in along the embankment around Saltford and Keynsham in readiness for future wiring.

South Wales Main Line (Wootton Bassett Jct-Bristol Parkway-Severn Tunnel-Newport-Cardiff)

Wootton Bassett Jct - Bristol Parkway; now to be considered "live" to Westerleigh Jct from 0800 on October 1st, and to Filton Jct (inc. Bristol Parkway) from 1000 on October 13th.

• All catenary & contact wires up from Wootton Bassett Jct, past Westerleigh Jct (107m 14ch) to around the Winterbourne area; Chipping Sodbury Goods Loop is also fully wired. One ATF wire continues westwards over the junction for a short distance.
• From Westerleigh Jct to Bristol Parkway, all structures are up as far as approx. MP110, in Winterbourne Cutting.
  • On the curve towards Cheltenham Spa, all catenary & contact wires are now up from the Limit of Wiring to Westerleigh Jct. Earths & AT wires are not yet confirmed to be installed.
• Wires (C&C, earth & ATF) now up on both lines to the west & east of "The Dramway" footbridge nr Ram Hill (Coalpit Heath); extending eastwards to Westerleigh.
• Huckford Viaduct (between Coalpit Heath & Winterbourne (old station site)) is now fully wired; catenary, contact, ATF and earth wires up on both lines.
• Winterbourne Viaduct and the M4 now fully wired.
• BPW Platforms extensions complete.
  • TTCs up over all platforms as of 20/3, along with the Down Bristol Goods Loop (opposite P1).
  • Portal now up at the eastern end over all lines through the station. Nothing more up further east on the approach though.
  • A number of masts & booms are up on the line towards Filton Abbey Wood, between Stoke Gifford Jct No.1 (111m 79ch) and Filton Jct No.1 (113m 01ch); these end just short of Filton Jct 1 and will presumably act as an overrun until electrification continues into Temple Meads.
  • Section Isolator Masts now installed immediately before Stoke Gifford Jct No. 1, for the proposed neutral section just west of Bristol Parkway.
• Filton Bank bridge works (mileages all from Temple Meads):
  • Easton Rd Overbridge (1m 18ch) completely rebuilt.
  • Narroways Footbridge (2m 12ch) replaced.
  • Ashley Hill Footbridge (3m 11ch) replaced.
  • Bonnington Walk Overbridge (3m 62ch) - parapets raised.
  • Footbridge south of Filton Abbey Wood (4m 18ch) will need work if wiring is to occur.

Bristol Parkway - Pilning

• The Patchway/Severn Tunnel Blockade is now complete.
• 2 boomed masts are up at the Welsh end of Bristol Parkway, and a concrete foundation awaiting a mast can be seen next to them.https://flic.kr/p/245kEME A twin track portal has also appeared near there, and the station masts are now gaining SPS.
• Stoke Gifford IEP Depot all wired.
• Patchway Tunnels conductor rail installed.
• Masts, booms and SPS up through Patchway. No wires yet.
  • Cattybrook Brickworks Bridge closed as of 18/3/18.
• At Pilning, during the Summer Tunnels blockade, all portals and masts have now been erected, and wires have gone up.

Severn Tunnel - Newport

• Severn Tunnel Conductor rail in place. A number of masts on both sides of the line are now up at Caldicot, just before the Western tunnel mouth.
• All bridge rebuilding complete from Severn Tunnel Jct (149m 14ch) to Bishton Flyover (152m 30ch).
• Masts beginning to go up between Severn Tunnel Jct & Bishton Flyover, as of 3/4/18. These include:
  • At least 11 between Undy (Playing Fields Footbridge) and the M4 viaduct over the mains; one just east of the "white house" has a TTC boom. It can be assumed that its 8 comrades will be similarly adorned. Another mast over the Reliefs west of the "white house" has now gained a TTC boom with 1 SPS assembly; it has a twin over the Mains.
  • Two large uprights have gone up between Undy Playing Fields footbridge & "the ramp" bridge at Magor on opposite sides of the line; these may well take a portal boom.
  • Another 3 masts (two for a portal boom, one a TTC with boom up) have appeared east of "the ramp" bridge at Magor; these join the sole TTC on the Up side by the bridge.
  • The 3 TTCs west of "the ramp" bridge (2 on the Down, 1 on the Up) have gained SPS.
  • The signal gantry at Magor (west of the West End Footbridge) has been replaced by 4 signals on posts; this should mean its removal prior to electrification is imminent. A TTC with SPS is up over the Mains there too.
  • 1 mast is up to the west of Redwick Rd Bridge (by the Down Relief), and a mast due to bear a portal is up to the east of Whitewall Footbridge (by the Up Main). OTP is in place for a piling/masting operation by Redwick Rd compound.
  • Masts (with SPS fitted) up between Bishton Flyover (including over it) and Llanwern West Jct (156m 20ch). 5 masts are currently up on the curve down from the flyover at its eastern end.
  • Plenty single masts (with SPS fitted & folded) up along the Mains between the Flyover and Bishton LC.
• Around the Bishton LC (153m 01ch) to Llanwern Works East Connection (153m 05ch) area, masts are around 80-85% up, and many have booms and SPS; further west towards Llanwern Works West Connection/Llanwern West Junction (156m 03ch to 156m 20ch), masts are going/have gone up at the double. Portal structures/TTCs etc. are up just east of the utility bridge between the Llanwern Connections, and to the west. SPS has gone up too on lots of them; not easy to find exact numbers though.
• Some masts have sprouted near Lliswerry pond.
• 6-track portals, probably TGBUs (aka Thumpin' Great Big-Uns) going up aroung East Usk Yard (approx. MP157 1/2).
• Between the Maindee Jcts (157m 74ch to 158m 16ch), a cluster of piles is in beside the Down Relief; these are complemented by masted piles on the Main side (adjacent to the Up Main).
• Caerleon Rd Overbridge to be refurbished in 2 phases - 20/7 to 30/11, and then January ‘19 to March ‘19. Not sure what impact on wiring this will have.
• Some SPS has now gone up between Maindee West & Maindee East; between Maindee West Maindee North Jct (41m 03ch from the former Rotherwas Jct, just south of Hereford; the ELR for the southern part of the Marches Line), masts with TTCs on are also going up (as overruns) over the Marches Line; the termination mast & associated TTC are just north of signal "NT 1559".
• Fixings for masts have now been installed on the Usk Bridge.

Newport

• P1 Canopies all cut back; P2 & P3 canopies still in progress.
• Masts and portals now appearing at the western end of the station, some with SPS attached. More started to appear in mid-April; additionally, two at the Cardiff end & two through the P1 canopy on the weekend of April 28th/29th.
• 4-track portal now up over the southern 4 tracks, just east of the new station footbridge.
• Two six-track portals have now gone up over the western throat of the station, just short of a 4-track portal (uprights of) & a TTC (with SPS) adjacent to Clytha Park Rd.
• Old stn footbridge now removed; 4-track portal of the "TGBU" (Thumpin' Great Big 'Un) variety has been installed in its place.
• A new portal has gone up at the east end of Newport, with all the fixings for switchgear affixed at the top. Droptubes for registration arms are also on.

Newport - Cardiff

• Plenty masts up around Gaer Jct (159m 32ch) north of Cardiff Rd Bridge (the B4237):
  • one by the Down Relief;
  • two by the Up Main (one of which is a boomed TTC with SPS);
  • three by the Gaer Jct - Park Jct Chord.
• Around 6 piles are in adjacent to the Up Main between Gaer Jct and Ebbw Jct (160m 07ch); these will probably take masts for portal booms. One such boom appears to have gone in! Currently unknown if Alexandra Dock Jct Yard will be electrified.
• Lots of steelwork up immediately behind the signal gantry adjacent to the Up Main at Ebbw Jct; this includes a full portal boom and a TTC acting as an overrun mast on the Ebbw Vale branch.
• Over 100 masts from Ebbw Jct to Marshfield (163m 60ch). Booms & SPS starting to appear in the area too.
• Green Lane Bridge, nr Marshfield (164m 57ch) reopened to traffic after reconstruction. Masts (with SPS) up around here too.
• Lots of masts (with booms, SPS & ATF brackets) now up near Mardy Rd Bridge, Rumney.
• Two TTCs, one on each side of the tracks, have been erected by the bridge at Rhymney River Bridge Jct (167m 61ch).
• About 4 or 5 portals have been erected just west of Pengam Jct (168m 40ch); 5 masts are up on the Up side east of Rover Lane bridge, complemented by 2 on the Down side. Some of the portals now have booms, and bear SPS; one of these has all its registration arms up.
• First Welsh Wire Run: 1 run of C&C has gone up between Moorland Road Jct (168m 65ch) and Long Dyke Jct (169m 35ch) over the Reliefs on the 15-16th September 2018; this is assumed to be a crossover as it crosses from one Relief line to the other.
• A handful of masts are also up around Long Dyke Jct; some have now gained TTC booms and SPS as well.
• Splott Rd Bridge upgrade work now complete.

Cardiff Central

• Re-signalling completed. Platform 0 now open. 3 masts now up over P0/1 with TTC booms.
• Piling underway at the extreme ends of P1/2 & P3/4 for future masts. One can assume portals will bridge the gap between P2 & P3, over the Through lines.
• Canopy cut-back work now underway on P2.
• Brackets appear to be in place on the coping stones on the Taff Viaduct (at the western end of the station).
• Plenty piles up adjacent to Cardiff Canton.

Swansea IEP Depot

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

GWML/SWML Blockades:

• 6/7 to 3/12: Reduced capacity between Newport & Cardiff Central while electrification progresses; assume only 1 pair of lines open at a time.
• 15/9 to 6/10: Bristol Parkway blockaded to allow OLE to be installed within the station.
• 13/10 to 14/10: Bristol Parkway blockaded to allow OLE to be installed within the station.
• 27/10 to 18/11: Filton Bank blockaded for 4-tracking; worth posting on here as *some* OLE works might occur - not that I know for certain.
• 11/11: Bristol TM to Bath Spa blockaded until 13:00 while the resignalling work is completed on this stretch.
• 24/12/18 to 1/1/19: Bristol Parkway - Newport will be blockaded again for more OLE works.
• More Blockades will follow; details as they become available.

Berks & Hants Line (Reading-Newbury)
Reading-Newbury set to go live from December 2018; electric trains in service from January 2019.
Reading West - Southcote Junction - Theale

• Wires from Oxford Rd Jct due to go LIVE as far as 37m 23ch (just short of Southcote Jct; 37m 62ch) at 0005 on 14/10/18.
• Within Reading West, piles for the new footbridge (under Murphy's remit) are in, but have been "decapitated" (i.e. shortened) and capped until a new footbridge solution is found.
• Both the Down Westbury & Up Westbury lines are fully wired through Reading West & Southcote Jct, but stop short of joining the existing wiring around Theale East crossovers.
• Both B'stoke lines and crossovers at Southcote Jct fully wired to the end of the overruns.
• Reading West Crossover now wired. Extension to Reading West Up platform ongoing.
• The plain line around Theale East Crossover (on both lines) lack contact wires.
• Parapet work now complete on the A4 (Bath Rd) overbridge; Tilehurst Rd overbridge will require similar works.

Theale - Aldermaston - Midgham - Thatcham - Newbury Racecourse

• Wires over the main lines (DW/UW) from Reading West are now continuous to just east of Kennet Viaduct (nr Newbury Racecourse); approximately at MP 51 1/4.
• Theale Goods Loop is now fully wired, including over the pointwork at the Newbury end.
• Platform extension works complete (but not yet opened) at Theale and Thatcham.
• The platform extensions at Aldermaston are structurally complete; finishing works (e.g. levelling, fencing etc.) are all that remains to be done.
• After the gap over Kennet Viaduct, all wires (Catenary, contact, Earth) over all lines (Mains, crossovers and the DPL) resume at about MP51 3/4. These continue through to Newbury (see below).

Newbury Racecourse (excl.) - Newbury Town - Limit of Wiring

• The electrical substation/PSU at Boundary Rd looks roughly 80% complete; the feeder wires from the Substation to the railway have been installed.
• Bay platform and all through lines (DM, DPL, UM, UPL) fully wired through Newbury station to the limit of wiring. Newbury West Crossovers also wired.
• At Newbury, the new footbridge is now open (not the lifts yet). The canopy has now been completely cut back, and all the facing boards are removed.
• Proposed Limit of Wiring: 53m 51ch. Gives Ample room to reverse a 12-car 387 formation.
  • Immunised signalling continues to about MP55 1/2. Bedwyn Turnback Siding now extended to accommodate 5-car IETs.

B&H Blockades:

• 12/3 to 15/3; done.
• 23/4 to 26/4; done.
• 14/5 to 17/5; done.
• 2/6 to 10/6; done.
• 9/7 to 12/7; done.
• 16/7 to 5/8; done.
• 28/8 to 30/8; done.
• 8/10 to 11/10.

Project Postponements

• Thames Valley Branches: Windsor & Henley deferred to CP6. Marlow removed from scope of current programme. The first few yards of each branch (bar the Henley Branch) have been wired as an overrun.
• Southcote Jct to Basingstoke has also been deferred to CP6.
• Appleford LC to Oxford paused; if CP6 accounts allow for wiring to be extended to Oxford, it would be very likely to happen now that Oxford has been remodelled.
• Catenary & Contact wires between Chippenham (Cocklebury Lane Overbridge) & Thingley Jct have been deferred until (presumably) CP6; presumably this will wait until Bath-Bristol resignalling is complete. All Large steelwork to remain, unless required elsewhere.
• Bristol Temple Meads to Bath & Bristol Parkway paused, dependent on Bristol resignalling (Taunton-Parkway over Easter 2018; Temple Meads to Bath in November 2018), track remodelling and Filton Bank 4-tracking (to be completed by December 2018).
• Bristol Temple Meads' "Midland Shed" to be reopened in CP6, after Bristol resignalling is complete and the PSB is demolished.

As always, do let me know if I've missed anything!
(apologies to anyone who saw it in a state of source code chaos too).

 

[Thatcham Xing]

Was just down near Kennet Viaduct on the B&H, various contractors on site, looking like work to raise the power lines that cross the railway there may be starting soon.

 

[Mintona]

The bridge over the M4 at Bristol Parkway seems to be finished now. All wires look to be in place on all lines from the motorway.