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Great Western Electrification Progress

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YourMum666

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To be Honest I think electrification should eventually go on as far as Exeter. Since it is easier and costly.
Also Network Rail should Electrify the Hereford and Cheltenham Branch. And GWR should start services to Birmingham And Wolverhampton as an upgrade. Also DfT should bring back Swansea Electrification along with the Temple Meads and Filton Branch . But yeah I think after Network Rail is done with the SWML they will now focus on CP5 and CP6
 
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59CosG95

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To be Honest I think electrification should eventually go on as far as Exeter. Since it is easier and costly.
Also Network Rail should Electrify the Hereford and Cheltenham Branch. And GWR should start services to Birmingham And Wolverhampton as an upgrade. Also DfT should bring back Swansea Electrification along with the Temple Meads and Filton Branch . But yeah I think after Network Rail is done with the SWML they will now focus on CP5 and CP6
Where to begin?
Swansea should definitely be put back on the agenda, and I wouldn't be averse to wiring up Cheltenham (from both Swindon & Bristol Parkway). As has been explained at length through the thread (make sure you're sitting comfortably!), Temple Meads isn't getting electrified until Bristol East Junction is remodelled (which needs Bristol PSB to close).

Yes, the pre-nationalisation GWR ran to Birmingham, Wolverhampton and beyond. However, they had their own route from London (now used by Chiltern, and the West Midlands Metro), so I think a return of GWR to the West Midlands is a non-starter.

Besides, you can't get much more of an upgrade than HS2...;)
 

Hellzapoppin

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Bristol East remodelling doesn't need Bristol PSB to close. The project is planned for completion in 2021 and enabling works are already underway.
 

R G NOW.

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Bristol East remodelling doesn't need Bristol PSB to close. The project is planned for completion in 2021 and enabling works are already underway.
I had thought Bristol PSB had closed back in April. I had assumed that the section between parson street through to Cogload Junction had moved to the PSB at Exeter. In readiness for that area to move on to Exeter's new ROC.
 

GRALISTAIR

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To be Honest I think electrification should eventually go on as far as Exeter. Since it is easier and costly.
Also Network Rail should Electrify the Hereford and Cheltenham Branch. And GWR should start services to Birmingham And Wolverhampton as an upgrade. Also DfT should bring back Swansea Electrification along with the Temple Meads and Filton Branch . But yeah I think after Network Rail is done with the SWML they will now focus on CP5 and CP6
Welcome to the forum - I see this is your first post.
 

JN114

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I had thought Bristol PSB had closed back in April. I had assumed that the section between parson street through to Cogload Junction had moved to the PSB at Exeter. In readiness for that area to move on to Exeter's new ROC.

No, there was some kind of “plan” to that effect; but it never got past the “this might be a good idea”.

Bristol Panel remains and controls Flax Bourton to Cogload.
 

fgwrich

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Unsure if the LTV (London and Thames Valley) platform extensions have been talked about in this thread, but a date had been set for the start of use for the extensions at Slough. These were due to come into use from November 12th (I.e today), however were still closed off this morning. I am working in the area tomorrow so will check if they have been opened overnight.

This means that:
Platform 1 (Windsor Bay) - No Change
Platform 2 (Down Main) will be 254m
Platform 3 (Up Main) will be 252m
Platform 4 (Down Relief) will be 254m
Platform 5 (Up Relief) will be 254m.

The extensions at Maidenhead also look complete and ready to use.
 

JN114

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Message in the late notice to say they're not being brought into use just yet, new dates to be published in the WON
 

Steve Tasker

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Unsure if the LTV (London and Thames Valley) platform extensions have been talked about in this thread, but a date had been set for the start of use for the extensions at Slough. These were due to come into use from November 12th (I.e today), however were still closed off this morning. I am working in the area tomorrow so will check if they have been opened overnight.

This means that:
Platform 1 (Windsor Bay) - No Change
Platform 2 (Down Main) will be 254m
Platform 3 (Up Main) will be 252m
Platform 4 (Down Relief) will be 254m
Platform 5 (Up Relief) will be 254m.

The extensions at Maidenhead also look complete and ready to use.


Goring and Streatley in use.
Also, what news about the up relief loop back of Iver and West Drayton stations which was being relaid recently. Is it now in use ?
 

3973EXL

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Also, what news about the up relief loop back of Iver and West Drayton stations which was being relaid recently. Is it now in use ?

Only the western end has been relaid. Sleepers are across the rails at the western end and still in the same location part way along.
There is still a section of Bullhead on concretes.
 

Snow1964

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There does seem to some vagueness about final electrification of the valley lines at Cardiff Central,with hybrids described as using electric North of Cardiff and diesel South of Cardiff,but with large numbers of high density residential/commercial properties adjacent to Central emissions might have a strong bearing on the final wiring

I thought the plan was to go one or two stations north of Queen Street, presumably in the very built up area. Although what will actually happen once it has been through detailed appraisal is anyone’s guess.
 

Tomos y Tanc

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I thought the plan was to go one or two stations north of Queen Street, presumably in the very built up area. Although what will actually happen once it has been through detailed appraisal is anyone’s guess.

No, everything north of Queen Street will be electrified with wires, barring some bridges and tunnels where trains will run on batteries. The only question is whether it will be wires or batteries between Central and Queen Street.

There are no further appraisals involved as ownership of the core valley lines is being transferred from Network Rail to the Welsh Government and the plans and the finance are already in place.
 

Steve Tasker

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Only the western end has been relaid. Sleepers are across the rails at the western end and still in the same location part way along.
There is still a section of Bullhead on concretes.

There are new rails waiting in the cess . Presumably this loop is to allow GW services to overtake Elizabeth line services in the new timetable come December ?
 

swt_passenger

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There are new rails waiting in the cess . Presumably this loop is to allow GW services to overtake Elizabeth line services in the new timetable come December ?
No obvious passenger overtakes according to RTT. AIUI the 5th tracking at West Drayton reflects the original plans for the station to be a reversing point for a certain number of trains, I think this has come up before, there’s possibly a certain amount of infrastructure that wouldn’t have been provided in hindsight...

However that’s drifting into Crossrail on network infrastructure and not really a GW electrification issue...
 
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MarlowDonkey

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Presumably this loop is to allow GW services to overtake Elizabeth line services in the new timetable come December ?

Or park freight trains out of the way.

Looking at the Slough to Ealing Broadway service, it's a mixture of Great Western and TfL services. Departure times from Slough are sufficiently spaced that there doesn't seem any scheduled overtaking.
 

Steve Tasker

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Or park freight trains out of the way.

Looking at the Slough to Ealing Broadway service, it's a mixture of Great Western and TfL services. Departure times from Slough are sufficiently spaced that there doesn't seem any scheduled overtaking.

Didcot to Paddington Great Western stoppers,off peak,according to Dec timetable will,from Reading, not be stopping at Taplow,Burnham,Langley,Iver,Southall,Hanwell,West Ealing,and Acton Main line , whereas Elizabeth line services will be stopping at some,if not all of these ,so would have thought the chances of GW services catching them up would be quite high ?
 

MarlowDonkey

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so would have thought the chances of GW services catching them up would be quite high ?


Whilst the current off peak service of 4 trains an hour is also every 15 minutes, that ceases to be the case in December.

So from Maidenhead, the departures are at 05 (TfL) 26 (GWR), 35 (TfL) and 53(GWR). For Paddington it's possible to change at Slough off the 26 and 53 departures for an earlier arrival into Paddington.

Timings are 42 minutes (TfL), 35 minutes (GWR through), 28/31 minutes (GWR change at Slough)

When, if ever, the central section opens with trains running through Paddington low level, Hayes or Ealing may become the optimal points to change from a GWR service to a TfL one, so as to possibly pick up a service running from Heathrow following the GWR service down the relief line.
 

Roast Veg

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Rather than laid off, I imagine the team will be contracted into other work - just not electrification. If the same company won contracts in the future they could be brought back in.
 

Optom1

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I thought the plan was to go one or two stations north of Queen Street, presumably in the very built up area. Although what will actually happen once it has been through detailed appraisal is anyone’s guess.
I thought the plan was to go one or two stations north of Queen Street, presumably in the very built up area. Although what will actually happen once it has been through detailed appraisal is anyone’s guess
I thought the plan was to go one or two stations north of Queen Street, presumably in the very built up area. Although what will actually happen once it has been through detailed appraisal is anyone’s guess.
Just the last mile to Cardiff to test and prob what remains of the hard won electrification team and plant layed off.
K
Just the last mile to Cardiff to test and prob what remains of the hard won electrification team and plant layed off.
K
More than testing needed,as trunk wiring not in place,and some wiring needed on approaches to platform 4,as well as the platform itself
 

59CosG95

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Rather than laid off, I imagine the team will be contracted into other work - just not electrification. If the same company won contracts in the future they could be brought back in.
A lot of overhead linesfolk working for one contractor/subcontractor might transfer between contractors/subcontractors, depending on availability of work, in addition to internal non-electrification related transfers.
 

Fougasse

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A lot of overhead linesfolk working for one contractor/subcontractor might transfer between contractors/subcontractors, depending on availability of work, in addition to internal non-electrification related transfers.

Unfortunately, there's not a lot of other electrification work available at the moment or in the near future. Many have already been paid off with plenty more to follow after Christmas.

Linemen are leaving the country for overhead work or going into non-electrification or non-railway work. Individuals may come back to the work if things pick up again, however the experienced teams will have been broken up and lost.
 

jimm

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superkev

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Unfortunately, there's not a lot of other electrification work available at the moment or in the near future. Many have already been paid off with plenty more to follow after Christmas.

Linemen are leaving the country for overhead work or going into non-electrification or non-railway work. Individuals may come back to the work if things pick up again, however the experienced teams will have been broken up and lost.
My thoughts entirely. When will our clueless politicians and other overpromoted clerks who seem to run things these days learn that skilled people whether doctors, nurses, engineers dont materialise out of thin air. End of moan.
K (retired electrical engineer)
 

GRALISTAIR

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My thoughts entirely. When will our clueless politicians and other overpromoted clerks who seem to run things these days learn that skilled people whether doctors, nurses, engineers dont materialise out of thin air. End of moan.
K (retired electrical engineer)
So terribly frustrating - it angers me, it really does.
 

Steve Tasker

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So terribly frustrating - it angers me, it really does.
It was ever thus. I stood on Lime St station ,1962,watching the overhead wires being erected. The WCML electrification was subsequently paused beyond Crewe for quite sometime before continuing .We can only hope common sense will prevail and a continuous program of electrification will get the go ahead once the General Election is done and dusted.
 
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