On recent trips between Ebbw Valley and Cardiff I have noticed more masts erected each time in recent weeks. Two or three bridges are being worked on and the last big one in Cardiff (Splott Road) is now underway. Piling mostly throughout but with still some gaps.
Observations from a trip from Newport to Reading on 20.2.17 to add to others' information:
Newport station - quite a lot of canopy altered apart from adjacent to old footbridge which is still in place - this on platforms 1,2 and 3. Masts erected between Llanwern West and Bishton crossing with some gaps. Piles alongside relief lines as well as mains including approaches to flyover as far as I could see. Most bridges complete or nearing completion except for the one adjacent to Severn Tunnel Junction station.
More masts around Pilning and more piles approaching Patchway Tunnels, where they are set between the two tracks on the multi-level section; similarly on the Patchway station side. Not much yet around curve to Bristol Parkway (the depot is rather distracting with all its wiring!). On a trip to Bristol two weeks ago, some piles between Patchway and Filton Junction on the other side of the triangle(which I wasn't expecting yet).
Not much evidence between Bristol Parkway and Badminton but piles and masts start soon after the latter, though again with some big gaps sporadically to Swindon, where there had been recent piling approaching the junction with the Kemble line. Still some bridge works on this stretch (e.g. Wootton Bassett)
After that, there were masts and gaps on the stretch which parallels the A420 near Shrivenham and I noticed much more progress on the four track section near Challow since my last trip a few weeks ago, with some registration arms and some wiring as well. A gap, then, as others have mentioned, at Steventon, before completed wiring at Didcot. And of course, the progress others have referred to at Reading.
Hope this is of assistance.
Observations from a trip from Newport to Reading on 20.2.17 to add to others' information:
Newport station - quite a lot of canopy altered apart from adjacent to old footbridge which is still in place - this on platforms 1,2 and 3. Masts erected between Llanwern West and Bishton crossing with some gaps. Piles alongside relief lines as well as mains including approaches to flyover as far as I could see. Most bridges complete or nearing completion except for the one adjacent to Severn Tunnel Junction station.
More masts around Pilning and more piles approaching Patchway Tunnels, where they are set between the two tracks on the multi-level section; similarly on the Patchway station side. Not much yet around curve to Bristol Parkway (the depot is rather distracting with all its wiring!). On a trip to Bristol two weeks ago, some piles between Patchway and Filton Junction on the other side of the triangle(which I wasn't expecting yet).
Not much evidence between Bristol Parkway and Badminton but piles and masts start soon after the latter, though again with some big gaps sporadically to Swindon, where there had been recent piling approaching the junction with the Kemble line. Still some bridge works on this stretch (e.g. Wootton Bassett)
After that, there were masts and gaps on the stretch which parallels the A420 near Shrivenham and I noticed much more progress on the four track section near Challow since my last trip a few weeks ago, with some registration arms and some wiring as well. A gap, then, as others have mentioned, at Steventon, before completed wiring at Didcot. And of course, the progress others have referred to at Reading.
Hope this is of assistance.
