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Great Western Electrification Progress

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Richard Scott

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Looks like a mast missing by Undy vets where footbridge is as quite a gap between the two masts there?
 
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3973EXL

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Outstanding work from the eastern end.

Tilehurst Rd bridge northern parapet nearly done. Last advertised road closure this coming weekend.
Might get done!
DSC01725.JPG DSC01726.JPG DSC01727.JPG DSC01728.JPG

Associated with electrification was improved access for Reading West station. Work is still ongoing,
new stairs from the downside to Oxford Rd have gone in.
DSC01734.JPG DSC01733.JPG DSC01731.JPG DSC01730.JPG DSC01732.JPG DSC01729.JPG
 

59CosG95

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Outstanding work from the eastern end.

Tilehurst Rd bridge northern parapet nearly done. Last advertised road closure this coming weekend.
Might get done!
View attachment 60758 View attachment 60759 View attachment 60760 View attachment 60761

Associated with electrification was improved access for Reading West station. Work is still ongoing,
new stairs from the downside to Oxford Rd have gone in.
View attachment 60762 View attachment 60763 View attachment 60764 View attachment 60765 View attachment 60766 View attachment 60767
Very informative as ever, @3973EXL! I assume the 'zig zag' path in the last 2 photos will be for a wheelchair ramp?
 

3973EXL

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I assume the 'zig zag' path in the last 2 photos will be for a wheelchair ramp?

Remains of the old ramped access and temporary works access from the road. Something appears to going on. I'll be interested to see what work is done.
 

Linda.smith

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Just a quick update from the Newport end. Was up around Severn tunnel yesterday, and the up main has now developped a lengh of atf wires, but stops some distance before Severn tunnel station. By severn tunnel station itself, they are pressing ahead with the instalation of ground trunking in preparation for the electrical feed.

At Magor, a lot of masts and booms have gone up recently, though a few gaps still remain, where masts have been put in place only.This is where the old Magor station used to be.

At the Bishton Level crossing, the up main now has a second earth cable fitted, in readiness for when the up main is eventually wired.

At Newport station, most of the remainaing masts and booms are now in place. When i looked yesterday, there was only 1 mast & maybe 2 booms left to put into place.

Currently the biggest gap is still from the chepstow Rd bridge ( maindee triangle) to the east usk sidings.

54520732_10217041833171348_3573356113883561984_n.jpg
54523188_10217041833571358_3924262526879006720_n.jpg
55851220_10217041833851365_8806232632540004352_n.jpg
 

59CosG95

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GWML Electrification: State of Play, as of 25/3/19.
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. The envelope of "live" wires continues along the South Wales Main Line to Filton Jct (inc. Bristol Parkway), and to the Limits of Wiring on the Berks & Hants line and Reading-Basingstoke Line; 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. These are part of the works for the Elizabeth Line.
  • 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 (bar the goods lines north of P1, where provision is provided).

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.
  • Parapet Work extended upwards at Southbury Lane Bridge, Ruscombe; the wing walls remain unfinished. Original Coping stones have now been replaced.
  • Platforms are being extended at Cholsey (country end), Goring & Streatley (London end), Pangbourne (country end), & Tilehurst (1 & 4 country end; 2 & 3 London end).
  • Few masts and cantilevers now up on the Didcot Avoiding Line, which finish at Appleford; Appleford LC being the limit of structures for the time being.
  • Oxford Lines west of Didcot Pkwy wired as far as the loco fuelling sdg; Down Oxford as far as 53m 31ch, Up Oxford as far as 53m 42ch. 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. Wires west of Causeway Crossing are only authorised for passenger service on 80x trains in both directions, however, 387s are allowed to run empty to/from Cocklebury sidings under AC. The discussion continues.
  • Overruns through Swindon Jct (77m 36ch) onto the Golden Valley Line have also been wired.
  • Swindon Cocklebury Sidings in operation for Class 387 stabling as of 2/1/19.

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.
  • Both lines are due to be considered LIVE (but not signed off for passenger use) from Wootton Bassett Jct to Christian Malford (93m 31ch) as of 0800 on 07/04/2019.
  • Catenary, contact & Earth wires are up over/adj. to both lines from Cocklebury Lane to Wootton Bassett Jct.
  • Limit of AT Feeding: the Auto-Transformer at Christian Malford.

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 to Filton Jct (inc. Bristol Parkway) - LIVE
  • Wires from Wootton Bassett Jct to Bristol Parkway in passenger service since 30/12/18.
  • All 6 through Lines at Bristol Parkway have been wired and are live.
  • Live wires continue to Filton Jct & Stoke Gifford IEP Depot; Chipping Sodbury Goods Loop and the Cheltenham Curve overrun (as far as the limit of wiring) are also fully wired and live.
    • Limit of Live Wires on the Filton Lines (+ Down Bristol Parkway Relief): 112m 23ch.
    • Limit of Live Wires on the Charfield Lines (from Westerleigh Jct): 120m 59ch.
  • Filton Bank bridge works (mileages all from Temple Meads):
    • Easton Rd Overbridge (1m 18ch) completely rebuilt.
    • Narroways FB (2m 12ch) & Ashley Hill FB (3m 11ch) replaced.
    • Bonnington Walk Overbridge (3m 62ch) - parapets raised.
    • FB south of Filton Abbey Wood (4m 18ch) will need work if wiring is to occur.
Filton Jct - Severn Tunnel
  • Stoke Gifford IET Depot all wired - only the arrival road & sidings are energised. Some roads may also be energised, however the wheel lathe road is dead from the lathe shed to the buffer stops.
  • Patchway Tunnels conductor rail installed.
  • Wires extend westwards from Filton Jct through Patchway and Pilning (across all lines) to the Severn Tunnel (at least on the Down Line); Ableton Lane Tunnel (10m 51ch to 10m 55ch; from Bristol Temple Meads), which carries the A403 over the line and is the last tunnel before the Severn Tunnel is still assumed to be the limit of wires on the Up Line.
  • Cattybrook Brickworks Bridge closed since 18/3/18.

Severn Tunnel - Newport
Due to have IETs in AC service by next year - hopefully sooner!
  • Severn Tunnel Conductor rail in place. A number of masts on both sides of the Tunnel line (perhaps all of them?) are now up at Caldicot, just before the Western tunnel mouth; these now extend westwards towards the eastern end of the platforms at STJ.
  • All large steelwork now appears to be in position at Severn Tunnel Junction; roughly 85-90% of the cantilevers/SPS/Tensorex is also up. (NB: This includes the overruns towards Caldicot on the lines to Chepstow.)
  • Ground trunking currently being installed at STJ in preparation for the electrical feed.
  • Feeder cables now hang from both the eastern set and western set of Switchgear Masts.
  • Masts going up between the M4 Bridge & Bishton Flyover. These include:
    • Between Undy (Church Rd Bridge) and the M4 viaduct; these are mainly TTCs but also include an MPA Portal. Looks pretty much wire-ready.
    • Two opposing pairs of TTC masts have gone up between Church Rd Bridge & the Playing Fields Footbridge.
    • 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.
    • 4 TTCs are up west of "the ramp" bridge; at least 3 bear SPS. West of these, a Portal (due to take mid-point anchor terminations) has gone up.
    • 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.
    • Around the aforementioned doomed signal gantry, another MPA Portal and a 3-track portal have gone up, as well as more 4-track Portals & TTCs - the gap is closing!
    • 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). A "Slim" TTC is up over the centre pair of lines just east of Redwick Rd bridge. OTP is in place for a masting operation by Redwick Rd compound.
    • This area of MAgor (the site of theold station)
    • Plenty of TTCs (all of them, perhaps?) and a 4-track portal are up between the A4810 and the bridge over the eastern end of Bishton Flyover. Steelwork (mainly TTCs) continues to a large Tensorex Anchor Portal at the eastern end of Bishton Flyover.
    • 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. A run of Earth wire is now up on the Up side at Bishton; the Down Side Earth Wire (adj. to the Down Relief) now extends eastwards from Bishton LC.
    • On the Down incline on the west of the Bishton Flyover, Earth & ATF wires are now up.
  • A run of Earth Wires & ATF wires have been strung up on the Relief side (adjacent to the DR) between Llanwern Works East Connection & Llanwern West Jct.
  • All 4 lines are now wired past Llanwern Steelworks. On the Mains, this continues westwards over Llanwern West Jct, to the area just west of the A48 bridge. On the Reliefs, this continues eastwards, crossing Llanwern Works East Connection and Bishton LC to end just short of Bishton FLyover.
  • 6-track portals, probably 'Vierendeels', going up around 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 - 20/7/18 to 30/11/18 (done), and then January ‘19 to March ‘19 (done?).
  • 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".
  • A gap is still present between the Maindee Triangle & East Usk Yard - the largest in the Newport area.
  • Fixings for masts have now been installed on the Usk Bridge; the first masts and booms for 4 track portals are now going in as of 17/2/19. A Tensorex portal is up immediately east of the bridge.

Newport
  • All canopies now cut back.
  • Bar 1 mast and at least 1 boom, all steelwork in Newport is complete.
  • At least 90% of the SPS is up too.

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.
  • Almost all steelwork up from Ebbw Jct to Long Dyke Jct (169m 35ch) east of Cardiff Central; most SPS is now up too.
  • ATF wire installed on the Up Main between Lighthouse Rd & New Dairy Farm bridges. In the Up direction, the Earth Wire is in place until just before the bridge over the Ebbw River.
  • Wires up across all 4 tracks between Pengam Jct (168m 40ch) & Wentloog FLT (in the Rumney area) - lengths of these are all unknown.
  • About 4 or 5 portals have been erected just west of Pengam Jct; 5 masts are up on the Up side east of Rover Lane bridge, complemented by 2 on the Down side.
  • 1 run of C&C has gone up between Moorland Road Jct (168m 65ch) and Long Dyke Jct (169m 35ch) over the Reliefs; this is assumed to be a crossover as it crosses from one Relief line to the other.
  • At Long Dyke Jct, all masts are up, and the ATF wire is now up voer the Relief Lines.
  • In the Pellet St area, a Mid Point Anchor Portal Boom has now gone up.
  • Just east of St. Mary's St Bridge, 2 hexagonal Tensorex Portals have been erected over all tracks.
  • Over the bridge over St. Mary's Street in Cardiff (just east of Central), and immediately to the west of the bridge, 5 portal booms spanning all tracks have gone up.
  • Similar bespoke mast foundations are going in just east of Bute St Bridge, near the junction with the line from Queen Street.
  • Splott Rd Bridge upgrade work now complete.
Cardiff Central - Platforms 0-4 to be wired
  • 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.
  • An Anchor Portal (of the hexagonal "TGBU" variety) has gone up over P2/3, just east of the canopies. This is the first portal over the Through Lines.
  • Adjacent to that, a TTC for the P4 line has also been erected. Another TTC mast for P4 appears to have gone up at the country end.
  • Canopy cut-back work now underway (complete?) 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. A number of these now appear to have masts on them, as seen from a westward-facing shot from Central. Portals next?
  • Brickwork Sidings to be increased in length (and electrified) to accommodate GWR Class 387s; the first masts and cantilevers have now gone up, with around 2 boomed TTCs and 2 STCs in position.
  • Proposed Limit of Wiring: Leckwith Loop North Jct (171m 55ch) at a guess.
Swansea IEP Depot
  • New IEP Depot at Maliphant Sidings, Swansea now complete; all steelwork up. SPS, such as Insulators, Switchgear and Cantilevers have all been taken down, leaving only bare masts/booms in situ.

GWML/SWML Blockade Works (2018):
  • 6/7 to 3/12: Reduced capacity (2 lines only) for wiring work between Newport & Cardiff Ctl.
  • 15/9 to 6/10, and 13/10 to 14/10: Bristol Parkway electrified.
  • 27/10 to 18/11, 24-25/11, 1-2/12: Filton Bank 4-tracked.
  • 11/11: Bristol TM to Bath Spa resignalled.
  • December blockades at Bristol Parkway & Didcot Parkway done.
  • Christmas-New Year Blockade at Severn Tunnel Jct done.

GWML/SWML Blockade Works (2019):
  • 20/1/19, and 10/2/19: Newport to Bridgend blockaded (inc. Cardiff Central) for electrification work AT Cardiff Central; both done.
  • 17/2/19: Bristol Parkway to Newport blockaded for electrification work over the Usk Bridge at Newport; done.
  • 31/3/19: Newport to Bridgend blockaded (inc. Cardiff Central) for electrification work AT Cardiff Central.
  • 19/4/19 to 22/4/19: Bristol Parkway to Newport blockaded for electrification work in the Severn Tunnel.
  • 27/4/19 to 28/4/19: Bristol Parkway to Newport blockaded for electrification work in the Severn Tunnel.
  • More Blockades will follow; details as they become available.

Berks & Hants Line (Reading-Newbury) - LIVE
Electric trains in squadron service.
  • Wires from Oxford Rd Jct are LIVE to the limits of electrification (53m 42ch on the Newbury Lines, 38m 07ch on the Basingstoke Lines) since 0650 on 21/10/18.
  • Class 387s are now in service on Reading-Newbury services as of 31/12/18.
  • 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.
  • New stairs from Reading West's Down platform to Oxford Rd have been installed - work is ongoing for a permanent footbridge replacement.
  • Parapet work on Tilehurst Rd Overbridge has been completed, on the southern side. Completion of the northern side continues; last advertised closure comes the weekend of 30th/31st of March.
  • Platforms extended at Reading West, Theale, Aldermaston and Thatcham.
  • Newbury's new footbridge is now open.
  • Immunised signalling continues to about MP55 1/2. Bedwyn Turnback Siding now extended to accommodate 5-car IETs.

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. 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 - both done; the WSM stretch from Flax Bourton Tunnel to Cogload Jct remains outstanding), track remodelling and Filton Bank 4-tracking (done).
  • 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).
 

Linda.smith

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6 Nov 2018
Messages
23
Just a very quick update: I noticed this morning that all four roads on the eastern end of llanwern are now complete, though at this time i do not know if this extends past Llandevenny & the white house. Also in Newport itself, the first earth cable has gone up on the up main from the existing completed section at Lanwern, and past Lliswerry pond.

I have also noticed that a few masts are starting to go up on the line from the Caerlleon bridge to Maindee junction section.
 

GRALISTAIR

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Dalton GA USA & Preston Lancs
Just a very quick update: I noticed this morning that all four roads on the eastern end of llanwern are now complete, though at this time i do not know if this extends past Llandevenny & the white house. Also in Newport itself, the first earth cable has gone up on the up main from the existing completed section at Lanwern, and past Lliswerry pond.

I have also noticed that a few masts are starting to go up on the line from the Caerlleon bridge to Maindee junction section.

Great news and thanks for the update
 

oglord

Member
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13 Oct 2010
Messages
331
Location
Newport, Monmouthshire
The Up Tunnel Loop between Severn Tunnel Junction and the tunnel itself is now fully wired. The wires continue through the crossover to the Up main but they appear to terminate before the tunnel portal.
 

Linda.smith

Member
Joined
6 Nov 2018
Messages
23
That was the section that i was talking about, i just couldn`t remember the name for the east usk yard. And the up main through somerton, from lliswerry pond to llanwern now has a length of earth wire and one of the up main road has gained an atf feed. Btw can annyone identify these plastic discs as seen on the earth wire by lliswery pond this afternoon?
55453662_10217071277907448_7623851363134341120_n.jpg
55802445_10217071278147454_2616083013993234432_n.jpg
 
Last edited:

59CosG95

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That was the section that i was talking about, i just couldn`t remember the name for the east usk yard. And the up main through somerton, from lliswerry pond to llanwern now has a length of earth wire and one of the up main road has gained an atf feed. Btw can annyone identify these plastic discs as seen on the earth wire by lliswery pond this afternoon?
55453662_10217071277907448_7623851363134341120_n.jpg
55802445_10217071278147454_2616083013993234432_n.jpg
At a guess, the discs appear to be there to prevent birds roosting on the earth wire.
 

Ploughman

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Near where the 3 ridings meet
They are Bird Flight Deflectors.
To stop birds flying into the wires, I think they are only installed on the return conductor.
It seems that birds have a problem in seeing the wires so these are installed in riskier areas, such as known low to ground level routes, or where there are long standing Pigeon lofts and similar.

I looked after the installation of some of these on Leeds NW back in the 90's near Bingley.
 

edwin_m

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Nottingham
I seem to recall some wires at the side of the track have yellow triangles on them, which I believe denotes a bare 25kV feeder rather than being a bird-scarer.
 

oglord

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331
Location
Newport, Monmouthshire
Summarising the position at Newport: the wiring is now continuous on the up main between the Somerton Road bridge and the Bishton flyover: a distance of nearly 4½ miles.
 

Envoy

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2,478
The Liswerry pond has swans and these - like ducks - take off at low altitude - so, I presume that with similar discs on the section by the Kennet & Avon Canal, they must be a measure to prevent birds hitting the wire in known high risk areas.
 

kevin_roche

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26 Feb 2019
Messages
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ETCS will definitely be fitted on the Heathrow branch, therefore also to the new Heathrow Express trains, which explains the first item.

There will be a need to transition to and from TPWS at the eastern end of Crossrail, so I would have though making the same transition in the west makes things esaier rather than more difficult (the only transitions needed are ATO-TWPS and TPWS-ETCS - introducing ETCS out from Paddington would create the need for ATO-ETCS as well).

I went to a talk by Peter Gracey of Bechtel last Wednesday at the IET in Portsmouth who confirmed your response.
 

Mintona

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CP6 today then... when do we find out if Bristol TM and Oxford will get wired in this control period?
 

kevin_roche

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Last edited:

3973EXL

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Reading West today -

Tilehurst Rd bridge still not finished. Mountings look finished though.
DSC01738.JPG DSC01739.JPG
To complete, looks like they are going back in time!
DSC01737.JPG
The off indicator on the down platform has been moved from the old footbridge to its own post.
DSC01740.JPG
Murphy's busy with cable routes, attaching new conduit at the London end of both platforms. Would hope, it's a sign the temporary cable bridge is on the way out. Give them room to play on the down side slope.
 

HowardGWR

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30 Jan 2013
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Yes it does, (actually page 12 of only 14) - but I think people were more interested in an actual list of agreed enhancements.
Yes, I need new specs! It is an encouraging amount though, as previously I thought I had read estimates of about 7 billion at most and the larger sum would allow at least TM and Filton Bank to be done, if not the rest (east to Chippenham).
 

59CosG95

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GWML Electrification: State of Play, as of week commencing 1/4/19.
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. The envelope of "live" wires continues along the South Wales Main Line to Filton Jct (inc. Bristol Parkway), and to the Limits of Wiring on the Berks & Hants line and Reading-Basingstoke Line; 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. These are part of the works for the Elizabeth Line.
  • 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 (bar the goods lines north of P1, where provision is provided).

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.
  • Parapet Work extended upwards at Southbury Lane Bridge, Ruscombe; the wing walls remain unfinished. Original Coping stones have now been replaced.
  • Platforms are being extended at Cholsey (country end), Goring & Streatley (London end), Pangbourne (country end), & Tilehurst (1 & 4 country end; 2 & 3 London end).
  • Few masts and cantilevers now up on the Didcot Avoiding Line, which finish at Appleford; Appleford LC being the limit of structures for the time being.
  • Oxford Lines west of Didcot Pkwy wired as far as the loco fuelling sdg; Down Oxford as far as 53m 31ch, Up Oxford as far as 53m 42ch. 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. Wires west of Causeway Crossing are only authorised for passenger service on 80x trains in both directions, however, 387s are allowed to run empty to/from Cocklebury sidings under AC. The discussion continues.
  • Overruns through Swindon Jct (77m 36ch) onto the Golden Valley Line have also been wired.
  • Swindon Cocklebury Sidings in operation for Class 387 stabling as of 2/1/19.

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.
  • Both lines are due to be considered LIVE (but not signed off for passenger use) from Wootton Bassett Jct to Christian Malford (93m 31ch) as of 0800 on 07/04/2019.
  • Catenary, contact & Earth wires are up over/adj. to both lines from Cocklebury Lane to Wootton Bassett Jct.
  • Limit of AT Feeding: the Auto-Transformer at Christian Malford.

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 to Filton Jct (inc. Bristol Parkway) - LIVE
  • Wires from Wootton Bassett Jct to Bristol Parkway in passenger service since 30/12/18.
  • All 6 through Lines at Bristol Parkway have been wired and are live.
  • Live wires continue to Filton Jct & Stoke Gifford IEP Depot; Chipping Sodbury Goods Loop and the Cheltenham Curve overrun (as far as the limit of wiring) are also fully wired and live.
    • Limit of Live Wires on the Filton Lines (+ Down Bristol Parkway Relief): 112m 23ch.
    • Limit of Live Wires on the Charfield Lines (from Westerleigh Jct): 120m 59ch.
  • Filton Bank bridge works (mileages all from Temple Meads):
    • Easton Rd Overbridge (1m 18ch) completely rebuilt.
    • Narroways FB (2m 12ch) & Ashley Hill FB (3m 11ch) replaced.
    • Bonnington Walk Overbridge (3m 62ch) - parapets raised.
    • FB south of Filton Abbey Wood (4m 18ch) will need work if wiring is to occur.
Filton Jct - Severn Tunnel
  • Stoke Gifford IET Depot all wired - only the arrival road & sidings are energised. Some roads may also be energised, however the wheel lathe road is dead from the lathe shed to the buffer stops.
  • Patchway Tunnels conductor rail installed.
  • Wires extend westwards from Filton Jct through Patchway and Pilning (across all lines) to the Severn Tunnel (at least on the Down Line); Ableton Lane Tunnel (10m 51ch to 10m 55ch; from Bristol Temple Meads), which carries the A403 over the line and is the last tunnel before the Severn Tunnel is still assumed to be the limit of wires on the Up Line.
  • Cattybrook Brickworks Bridge closed since 18/3/18.

Severn Tunnel - Newport
Due to have IETs in AC service by next year - hopefully sooner!
  • Severn Tunnel Conductor rail in place. A number of masts on both sides of the Tunnel line (perhaps all of them?) are now up at Caldicot, just before the Western tunnel mouth; these now extend westwards towards the eastern end of the platforms at STJ.
  • The Up Tunnel Loop between STJ & the Tunnel is fully wired; OLE runs over the corssovers but terminates shy of the portal.
  • All large steelwork now appears to be in position at Severn Tunnel Junction; roughly 85-90% of the cantilevers/SPS/Tensorex is also up. (NB: This includes the overruns towards Caldicot on the lines to Chepstow.)
  • Ground trunking currently being installed at STJ in preparation for the electrical feed.
  • Feeder cables now hang from both the eastern set and western set of Switchgear Masts.
  • Masts going up between the M4 Bridge & Bishton Flyover. These include:
    • Between Undy (Church Rd Bridge) and the M4 viaduct; these are mainly TTCs but also include an MPA Portal. Looks pretty much wire-ready.
    • Two opposing pairs of TTC masts have gone up between Church Rd Bridge & the Playing Fields Footbridge.
    • 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.
    • 4 TTCs are up west of "the ramp" bridge; at least 3 bear SPS. West of these, a Portal (due to take mid-point anchor terminations) has gone up.
    • 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.
    • Around the aforementioned doomed signal gantry, another MPA Portal and a 3-track portal have gone up, as well as more 4-track Portals & TTCs - the gap is closing!
    • 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). A "Slim" TTC is up over the centre pair of lines just east of Redwick Rd bridge. OTP is in place for a masting operation by Redwick Rd compound.
    • This area of Magor (the site of the old station) still has a few gaps.
    • Plenty of TTCs (all of them, perhaps?) and a 4-track portal are up between the A4810 and the bridge over the eastern end of Bishton Flyover. Steelwork (mainly TTCs) continues to a large Tensorex Anchor Portal at the eastern end of Bishton Flyover.
    • 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.
    • Over Bishton LC (looking east, ALL wires (2 Earths, 2 ATFs, and 4 C&C pairs) are now up. This continues past LLanwern Steelworks on all lines, with the Up Main (and perhaps Down Main) now wired as far as Somerton Rd Bridge.
  • A run of Earth Wires & ATF wires have been strung up on the Relief side (adjacent to the DR) between Llanwern Works East Connection & Llanwern West Jct. The AEW on the Up side now continues to past Lliswerry Pond, where Bird Flight Deflectors have been installed.
  • 6-track portals, probably 'Vierendeels', going up around 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 - 20/7/18 to 30/11/18 (done), and then January ‘19 to March ‘19 (done?).
  • 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".
  • A gap is still present between the Maindee Triangle & East Usk Yard - the largest in the Newport area.
  • Fixings for masts have now been installed on the Usk Bridge; the first masts and booms for 4 track portals are now going in as of 17/2/19. A Tensorex portal is up immediately east of the bridge. Two booms and 1 mast remain to be installed at the western end.

Newport
  • All canopies now cut back.
  • Bar 1 mast and at least 1 boom, all steelwork in Newport is complete.
  • At least 90% of the SPS is up too.

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.
  • Almost all steelwork up from Ebbw Jct to Long Dyke Jct (169m 35ch) east of Cardiff Central; most SPS is now up too.
  • ATF wire installed on the Up Main between Lighthouse Rd & New Dairy Farm bridges. In the Up direction, the Earth Wire is in place until just before the bridge over the Ebbw River.
  • Wires up across all 4 tracks between Pengam Jct (168m 40ch) & Wentloog FLT (in the Rumney area) - lengths of these are all unknown.
  • About 4 or 5 portals have been erected just west of Pengam Jct; 5 masts are up on the Up side east of Rover Lane bridge, complemented by 2 on the Down side.
  • 1 run of C&C has gone up between Moorland Road Jct (168m 65ch) and Long Dyke Jct (169m 35ch) over the Reliefs; this is assumed to be a crossover as it crosses from one Relief line to the other.
  • At Long Dyke Jct, all masts are up, and the ATF wire is now up over the Relief Lines.
  • In the Pellet St area, a Mid Point Anchor Portal Boom has now gone up.
  • Just east of St. Mary's St Bridge, 2 hexagonal Tensorex Portals have been erected over all tracks.
  • Over the bridge over St. Mary's Street in Cardiff (just east of Central), and immediately to the west of the bridge, 5 portal booms spanning all tracks have gone up.
  • Similar bespoke mast foundations are going in just east of Bute St Bridge, near the junction with the line from Queen Street.
  • Splott Rd Bridge upgrade work now complete.
Cardiff Central - Platforms 0-4 to be wired
  • 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.
  • An Anchor Portal (of the hexagonal "TGBU" variety) has gone up over P2/3, just east of the canopies. This is the first portal over the Through Lines.
  • Adjacent to the London End Anchor Portal, a TTC for the P4 line has also been erected. Another TTC mast for P4 appears to have gone up at the country end.
  • Another TTC mast for P2 & the Up Through Line has gone up at the Country End of the station.
  • Canopy cut-back work now underway (complete?) 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. A number of these now appear to have masts on them, as seen from a westward-facing shot from Central. Portals next?
  • Brickwork Sidings to be increased in length (and electrified) to accommodate GWR Class 387s; the first masts and cantilevers have now gone up, with around 2 boomed TTCs and 2 STCs in position.
  • Proposed Limit of Wiring: Leckwith Loop North Jct (171m 55ch) at a guess.
Swansea IEP Depot
  • New IEP Depot at Maliphant Sidings, Swansea now complete; all steelwork up. SPS, such as Insulators, Switchgear and Cantilevers have all been taken down, leaving only bare masts/booms in situ.

GWML/SWML Blockade Works (2018):
  • 6/7 to 3/12: Reduced capacity (2 lines only) for wiring work between Newport & Cardiff Ctl.
  • 15/9 to 6/10, and 13/10 to 14/10: Bristol Parkway electrified.
  • 27/10 to 18/11, 24-25/11, 1-2/12: Filton Bank 4-tracked.
  • 11/11: Bristol TM to Bath Spa resignalled.
  • December blockades at Bristol Parkway & Didcot Parkway done.
  • Christmas-New Year Blockade at Severn Tunnel Jct done.

GWML/SWML Blockade Works (2019):
  • 20/1/19, and 10/2/19: Newport to Bridgend blockaded (inc. Cardiff Central) for electrification work AT Cardiff Central; both done.
  • 17/2/19: Bristol Parkway to Newport blockaded for electrification work over the Usk Bridge at Newport; done.
  • 31/3/19: Newport to Bridgend blockaded (inc. Cardiff Central) for electrification work AT Cardiff Central; done.
  • 19/4/19 to 22/4/19: Bristol Parkway to Newport blockaded for electrification work in the Severn Tunnel.
  • 27/4/19 to 28/4/19: Bristol Parkway to Newport blockaded for electrification work in the Severn Tunnel.
  • 9/6/19: Details to follow
  • 16/6/19: Details to follow
  • 27/7/19 to 28/7/19: Details to follow
  • 25/8/19: Details to follow
  • 8/9/19: Details to follow
  • 14/9/19 to 15/9/19: Details to follow
  • 22/9/19: Details to follow
  • 29/9/19: Details to follow
  • 6/10/19: Details to follow
  • 13/10/19: Details to follow
  • 20/10/19: Details to follow
  • More Blockades will follow; details as they become available.

Berks & Hants Line (Reading-Newbury) - LIVE
Electric trains in squadron service.
  • Wires from Oxford Rd Jct are LIVE to the limits of electrification (53m 42ch on the Newbury Lines, 38m 07ch on the Basingstoke Lines) since 0650 on 21/10/18.
  • Class 387s are now in service on Reading-Newbury services as of 31/12/18.
  • 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.
  • New stairs from Reading West's Down platform to Oxford Rd have been installed - work is ongoing for a permanent footbridge replacement.
  • Murphy;s have installed/are installing a cable duct beneath the London end of Reading West's platforms, potentially meaning the temporary cable bridge is on the way out.
  • The "OFF" Theatre Indicator on the DOwn platform is now on its dedicated mast, rather than being attached to the old footbridge.
  • Parapet work on Tilehurst Rd Overbridge has been completed, on the southern side. Completion of the northern side continues; last advertised closure came the weekend of 30th/31st of March, but the northern parapet has yet to be finished. Mountings look complete, however.
  • Platforms extended at Reading West, Theale, Aldermaston and Thatcham.
  • Newbury's new footbridge is now open.
  • Immunised signalling continues to about MP55 1/2. Bedwyn Turnback Siding now extended to accommodate 5-car IETs.

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. 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 - both done; the WSM stretch from Flax Bourton Tunnel to Cogload Jct remains outstanding), track remodelling and Filton Bank 4-tracking (done).
  • 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).
 

JN114

Established Member
Joined
28 Jun 2005
Messages
3,355
Passenger use of OHLE to Chippenham east should be signed off for late April. If I get a firmer date I’ll let you know.
 
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