Recent content by gwr4090

Installation of ETCS throughout from Paddington to Didcot and Bristol Parkway should have been largely completed by now but appears to have been suspended or cancelled. There is no information that I can find in the public doamain about what is happening. I suspect that interference between...

Is the GWR-ATP interference problem with ETCS just in the Heathrow tunnels or is it more general ? I note that the fitting of ETCS to the GW main line from Paddington-Bristol Parkway has apparently been cancelled. It should have been completed by now but Network Rail is totally silent about...

Is it still intended to remove all the conventional signals ? This would allow some form of moving block to be implemented and line capacity to be greatly increased, but will prevent any non ETCS fitted stock including some heritage locos/units from being used.

ERTMS/ETCS on the GWML has apparently been abandoned. In 2012 the plan was to overlay ETCS on existing signalling in what was to be the first main line installation of ERTMS, in order to replace the obsolete GWR-ATP cab signalling. Paddington to Heathrow was due to be completed by Sep 2017, and...

I was a reasonably regular traveller on the Carmarthen-Aberystwyth line at the end of the steam era. My recollection is that passenger loadings were quite minimal north of Pencader. The line was kept open largely by the healthy milk and freight trafffic. I have fond memories of a Manor and 2...

The issue of Rail published last week implies that the problem with incompatibility of ETCS and GW-ATP in the Heathrow tunnels has still not yet been solved so the Class 345s fitted with ETCS are still unable to reach Heathrow ? The installation and testing of ETCS (in isolation) in the...

Any evidence that the ETCS problem with running Class 345s to Heathrow is nearing solution yet ? The installation of ETCS elsewhere on the GWML has apparently been abandoned, although this has not been acknowledged publicly.

I am told that A4s and Bulleid Pacifics are particularly uncomfortable for the footplate crew in hot weather. Open back cabs are much preferred ! The A4 will not be used much on the mainline apart from moccasionally blowing the whistle and looking after the braking.

For future reference, railtours which change to steam at 'Hanwell' do so at Hanwell Bridge Good Loops which is just east of Southall. You will not see steam at Hanwell station. Go to Southall instead. The steam depot is on the south side at Southall station. see www.uksteam.info/tours/

Yes ABANDONED ! As far as I can determine, there now appears to be no current plan to fit ETCS on the GWML. Originally ETCS overlay on the GWML was to be the first main line fitment of ERTMS with complete replacement of the obsolete GWR-ATP between Paddington and Bristol by 2018. Indeed I...

Buit ETCS has apparently been abandoned on the GWML (at least for the time beinmg). It should have been implemented by the end of the year to replace GW-APT ?

Where was this buffer stop collisio0n ?

Havn't noticed this before, but apparently at least five Class 153s are to move from GWR by 2019 for use on rural west wales services. Maybe these will be fitted with new disbabled retention toilets ? Are these in place of Class 150s perhaps ?

I gather that the Crossrail tunnel is now fully energised between Westbourne Park and Abbey Wood ? Have any Class 345s run through yet (on test). I suspect that signalling has yet to be fully implemented.

Do we know where the 21 GWR 9-car 800/3 units will be used when they are all in service ? Presumably they will be on longer distance services especially those with Pullman dining ?