Great Western Electrification Progress

Talkingtobearz · 3 Apr 2018

Great discussion great reading, I also saw the ITV report on the 1970s signal easter upgrade, always on the look out for any news, especially Bristol to Bath Line.

RailUK Forums

ATW158Xpress · 3 Apr 2018

A lot of masts starting to go up between Severn Tunnel Junction and Bishton Flyover over the Easter weekend finally.

59CosG95 · 4 Apr 2018

GWML Electrification: State of Play, week beginning 2/4/2018

Paddington to Didcot - LIVE

All platforms at Paddington & approach tracks from Westbourne Park are live.
TTCs near Ealing Broadway over the Down Main to replace headspans.
Mains & Reliefs all done to Reading, where all through lines and western bays are wired.
Current live wires end at 54m 34ch (just short of Milton Jct; 55m 19ch).
Paddington-Didcot signed off for Class 387 operation since 28/12/17, IETs running on AC as far as Moreton Cutting from 8th Jan. Up IETs are allowed to pan up in Didcot if stopping there.
Reading TCD 100% live (Underframe clean road wired over 2nd/3rd of April); Reading Curve now fully wired & live (FGW_DID & Dren Ahmeti, thanks to you both!). B&H not yet complete; see below.

Small Points

First few yards of Windsor and Marlow branches wired.
AT wires in operation from Maidenhead to Didcot; Kensal Green to Maidenhead currently only using return conductors but will be AT-ready in the near future.
- Hayes & Harlington to Maidenhead closed off over the May Bank Holiday; to prepare for the Elizabeth Line running to Maidenhead. Paddington to H&H will also be closed on May 6th, presumably for the ATF installation and finishing of Platform Extensions.
On May 20th, all lines between Paddington and H&H will be closed until 0800.
Twyford platform, canopy and bridge parapet works in progress.
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.

Didcot to Swindon - due to go live August 2018
Steventon excepted, all steelwork (including SPS) looks to be complete from Didcot to Swindon.
A note on Steventon: The railway over the Level Crossings & under the High St Bridge (aka the "Brunel Bridge") WILL be electrified; however, the bridge may well be demolished in CP6. The discussion continues.

Steventon-Uffington-Swindon

In the Steventon area (between MP55 3/4 and MP57 1/4), all masts are up, with just a few last bits of SPS to go up west of *ahem* that bridge.
Update: Down Main wired over Causeway Crossing, with earth wire continuing to *that* bridge.
Wires over both tracks resume after MP57 1/4 (400m west of Causeway Crossing), with a break on the Up line just east of Uffington X-overs.
West of Uffington, after MP67 1/2, the wires continue to approx MP72 1/4, with a small gap just east of Bourton X-overs.
West of Bourton the wires resume and continue, almost through Swindon:
- Down Main & Up Main wired to the western end of Swindon Stn (see below).
- The USGL at Stratton (Swindon Up Goods Loop) is also wired.

Swindon Station

SPS continues to be installed; from east to west as far as the old Swindon B signal box.
Wires up through P4 (Down Main) & the through Road (Up Main).
Only one cantilever boom/portal boom needs to be put up at the western end; still awaiting confirmation as to whether this has indeed been rectified.
Three bare tall masts (one at London end of P4, 2 at Bristol end of P4); presumably for power supply feed.

Swindon-Wootton Bassett Jct

East of Wootton Bassett, a lot of the SPS (where wires aren't up) is now up, along with the earthing/ATF wire (albeit on temp. pulleys).
Rushey Platt (78m 36ch) has a single wire run from the UM (Up Main) onto the loop, while the DM (Down Main) through it has 2 wire runs finishing further west.
The UM has another wire run, from MP79 to MP82 1/2; the gap between MP79 3/4 and MP 81 3/4 must have been filled in.
Wootton Bassett Jct (83m 07ch) was wired over the weekend of 24/25th March. The outstanding steelwork there, mainly portals, isn't complete but still looking quite near complete.

The "Main Line"; Wootton Bassett Jct - Chippenham - Thingley Jct

In the Down Cess just west of Wootton Bassett Jct, a lot of SPS is stored on pallets, ready to be installed. (Thanks to "haddock1000" for spotting this)
Track lowering and drainage work at Dauntsey completed.
Nr Tockenham Wick, pretty much all the masts are up, TTCs, STCs and portals alike; most have SPS fitted now.
First few headspans (?) erected over 25/6th of Feb '17 at Dauntsey Bank (87m ish), and some (not all) of the missing masts have gone up too, plus brackets for fittings.
East of Chippenham, in the Langley Burrell (Crossing Rd) area, all masts appear to be up, fully dressed with SPS; works compound established at Langley Green L.C.
- Single earth wire on the Down side from Langley Burrell to Christian Malford.
- Masts also up south of Langley Burrell to Cocklebury Lane Bridge (last bridge east of Chippenham), but no SPS up on them yet.
- As yet, no masts west of the bridge but piles are in.
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)

Piles continue westwards to the next bridge.
Piles also in (and have been for over a year) at Ashley (beyond Box Tunnel).

Thingley Jct - Bath
Nothing yet, for the foreseeable future.

Bath to Bristol
Piles in, particularly around Saltford. Not due to see use for a while after the wiring delay.

South Wales Main Line (Wootton Bassett Jct-Bristol Parkway-Severn Tunnel-Newport-Cardiff)
Wootton Bassett Jct - Bristol Parkway; apparently set to go live in September 2018.

11 odd miles worth of wires up from Wootton Bassett (MP 83 1/2) to just west of (and including) Hullavington loops.
- All masts and most SPS appears to be up around Acton Turnville.
- O/H Conductor rail installed in Chipping Sodbury Tunnel.
Progress as well around Chipping Sodbury/Old Sodbury:
- many masts up, some with booms attached.
- SPS now appearing too.
From Westerleigh Jct to Bristol Parkway; fewer than 20 bases are mastless now. Most SPS is concentrated at the Westerleigh end.
- A run of masts (all boomed) has sprouted on the curve towards Cheltenham Spa.
The "Blue Viaduct" over the M4 just east of BPW now has SPS up on the masts along it.

BPW Platforms extensions underway.
- TTCs up over all platforms.
- TTCs facing south on the P1/2 island cover 2 lines; the Down Bristol Parkway Passenger Loop (through P1) and the Down Bristol Parkway Goods Loop.
- TTCs facing north on the P1/2 island cover P2/P3; the Down Badminton & Up Badminton Lines respectively.
- TTCs by the car park cover 2 lines; the Up Bristol Parkway Passenger Loop & the Platform 4 line. Some may still need to be installed at the east end.

Bristol Parkway - Pilning

Stoke Gifford IEP Depot all wired.
Patchway Tunnel conductor rail to be installed, 18/6/18 to 8/7/18.
Masts, booms and SPS up through Patchway.
- Cattybrook Brickworks Bridge closed as of 18/3/18.
At Pilning, piling and masts appearing towards both Cattybrook & Severn Tunnel, Platform 2 now closed. SPS going up on some portals and masts too.

Approx. 70% masts now up between BPW and Severn Tunnel.

Severn Tunnel - Newport

Severn Tunnel Conductor rail in place .
All bridge rebuilding complete from Severn Tunnel Jct (149m 14ch) to Bishton Flyover (152m 30ch).
Update from last week: Masts beginning to go up between Severn Tunnel Jct & Bishton Flyover, as of 3/4/18.
- 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.
  https://flic.kr/p/23NSDKD and https://flic.kr/p/23NSCRp.
Some masts have sprouted near Llanishen pond.
Cluster of piles in opposite the Down Relief between the Maindee Jcts (157m 74ch to 158m 16ch).

Newport

Canopies all cut back; thanks "oglord" for the confirmation.
Masts and portals now appearing at the western end of the station, some with SPS attached.
Some concrete bases in between stn & tunnels, perhaps for portals.
Old stn footbridge still in situ.

Newport - Cardiff

Approx. 97 masts from Ebbw Jct (160m 7ch) to Marshfield (163m 60ch). Booms & SPS starting to appear in the area too.
Green Lane Bridge (Marshfield) reopened to traffic after reconstruction.

Some of them, near Duffryn, have SPS affixed.

- 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).

Cardiff Central

Re-signalling completed. Platform 0 now open. 3 masts now up over P0/1 with TTC booms.

Swansea IEP Depot

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

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

Through Reading West to Southcote Jct, perhaps 60% (up from 50%) of masts at best up.
- These are mainly between Tilehurst Rd Bridge and the A4 (Bath Road) Bridge south of Reading West; a cluster of about 6 (5 on the Down side, one on the Up) are also up just short of Southcote Jct (37m 62ch).
- 4 additional masts on the Up (Reading) side parallel to Southcote Jct.
- Long-standing mast at Southcote Jct by the Up line from Newbury has recently had a support added..

Southcote Junction - Theale - Aldermaston

From Southcote Jct past Calcot Mill FP crossing to Theale, most masts are now up (less than 10% left to erect). Still some portals and cantilevers to go up.
- First SPS up in this area at around MP 38 1/2; SPS work is about 50% complete, continuing sporadically to Wigmore Lane, at the western end of Theale Goods Loop (42m 8ch).
- Lots of SPS now up between 38 1/2 and the M4 bridge.

Masts have gone up on the Loop Platform at Theale; only bases so far on the Down side platform. These should be taking TTCs in that case.
From Theale Goods Loop to Ufton Lane Bridge, steelwork looks pretty complete; only 3 booms are missing - which should all be installed in the April Blockade (see below). Ready for wires with those errors excepted!
At Ufton (Towney) Loop (42m08ch to 44m11ch), all the missing masts over the Up Line opposite and over the western end of the loop are now in place.
- SPS continues part way down the loop, with a gap at the Aldermaston end.
The gap on the loop excepted, the majority of SPS is now up between Wigmore Rd & Aldermaston. Some patches still here and there where it does need to go up.

Aldermaston - Midgham - Thatcham - Newbury Racecourse

The Down platform extension at Aldermaston is mostly in, unlike at Thatcham. One concrete panel is missing before the joint to the existing platform.

From Aldermaston to east of Midgham LC, all steelwork appears to be up;
- masts and SPS have gone up in Aldermaston Station alongside the platform extensions.

Both lines are fully wired from east of Midgham LC, through Thatcham, to just east of Kennet Viaduct (nr Newbury Racecourse).
- All 3 level crossings (Midgham, Colthrop, Thatcham) are now wired.
- A short wire run from just east of Racecourse to just east of the overbridge linking the RC to Hambridge Lane has appeared on the Up line;
- there is still a gap between this section and the main wired "Thatcham Section" over Kennet Viaduct.

RC east X-overs still need wiring. Piles for the Loop line at Newbury RC are in through the platform.

Newbury Racecourse - Newbury

Piles almost all in, masts down to single figures.

At Newbury, the new footbridge is now up; piling also taking place within the station, on the platforms. Old footbridge not yet removed.

The electrical substation/PSU at Boundary Rd is now under construction; @Unclepete captured the concrete bases curing on the Up side. Thanks very much Pete!

Proposed Limit of Wiring: 53m 51ch.
Gives ample room to reverse even a 12-car 387 formation.
Immunised signalling continues to about MP55 1/2.

B&H Blockades:

12/3 to 15/3; done.

23/4 to 26/4,

4/6 to 7/6,

9/7 to 12/7,

16/7 to 5/8

28/8 to 30/8,

8/10 to 11/10,

19/11 to 22/11.

Project Postponements

Appleford LC to Oxford paused, pending track realignment and resignalling of Oxford (due summer 2018); if CP6 accounts allow for wiring to be extended to Oxford, it would be very likely to happen.

Bristol Temple Meads to Bath & Bristol Parkway paused, dependent on Bristol resignalling (Taunton-Bristol Parkway done; Temple Meads to Both in October 2018), track remodelling and Filton Bank 4-tracking (to be completed by December 2018).

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)

Mag_seven · 4 Apr 2018

59CosG95 said:
GWML Electrification: State of Play, week beginning 2/4/2018

Paddington to Didcot - LIVE

All platforms at Paddington & approach tracks from Westbourne Park are live.

TTCs near Ealing Broadway over the Down Main to replace headspans.

Mains & Reliefs all done to Reading, where all through lines and western bays are wired.

Current live wires end at 54m 34ch (just short of Milton Jct; 55m 19ch).

Paddington-Didcot signed off for Class 387 operation since 28/12/17, IETs running on AC as far as Moreton Cutting from 8th Jan. Up IETs are allowed to pan up in Didcot if stopping there.

Reading TCD 100% live (Underframe clean road wired over 2nd/3rd of April); Reading Curve now fully wired & live (FGW_DID & Dren Ahmeti, thanks to you both!). B&H not yet complete; see below.

Small Points

First few yards of Windsor and Marlow branches wired.

AT wires in operation from Maidenhead to Didcot; Kensal Green to Maidenhead currently only using return conductors but will be AT-ready in the near future.

Hayes & Harlington to Maidenhead closed off over the May Bank Holiday; to prepare for the Elizabeth Line running to Maidenhead. Paddington to H&H will also be closed on May 6th, presumably for the ATF installation and finishing of Platform Extensions.

On May 20th, all lines between Paddington and H&H will be closed until 0800.

Twyford platform, canopy and bridge parapet works in progress.

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.

Didcot to Swindon - due to go live August 2018
Steventon excepted, all steelwork (including SPS) looks to be complete from Didcot to Swindon.
A note on Steventon: The railway over the Level Crossings & under the High St Bridge (aka the "Brunel Bridge") WILL be electrified; however, the bridge may well be demolished in CP6. The discussion continues.

Steventon-Uffington-Swindon

In the Steventon area (between MP55 3/4 and MP57 1/4), all masts are up, with just a few last bits of SPS to go up west of *ahem* that bridge.

Update: Down Main wired over Causeway Crossing, with earth wire continuing to *that* bridge.

Wires over both tracks resume after MP57 1/4 (400m west of Causeway Crossing), with a break on the Up line just east of Uffington X-overs.

West of Uffington, after MP67 1/2, the wires continue to approx MP72 1/4, with a small gap just east of Bourton X-overs.

West of Bourton the wires resume and continue, almost to Swindon:

as far as Highworth Jct (76m 32ch) on the Down and

as far as the western end of Swindon Dn Yard (76m 64ch) on the Up.

The USGL at Stratton (Swindon Up Goods Loop) is also wired.

Swindon Station

SPS is starting to be installed; from east to west as far as the old Swindon B signal box.

Wires up through P4 (Down Main) & the through Road (Up Main).

Only one cantilever boom/portal boom needs to be put up at the western end; still awaiting confirmation as to whether this has indeed been rectified.

Three bare tall masts (one at London end of P4, 2 at Bristol end of P4); presumably for power supply feed.[/COLOR]

Swindon-Wootton Bassett Jct

Update: Wootton Bassett Jct (83m 07ch) was wired over the weekend of 24/25th March; not sure on exact lengths, or which lines were wired, but thanks can be given to "@25Kv" on Twitter for the information.

Rushey Platt (78m 36ch) has a single wire run from the UM (Up Main) onto the loop, while the DM (Down Main) through it has 2 wire runs finishing further west.

The UM has another wire run, from MP79 to MP82 1/2; the gap between MP79 3/4 and MP 81 3/4 must have been filled in.

Wootton Bassett's steelwork, mainly portals, isn't complete but still looking quite near complete.

East of Wootton Bassett, a lot of the SPS is now up, along with the earthing/ATF wire (albeit on temp. pulleys).

The "Main Line"; Wootton Bassett Jct - Chippenham - Thingley Jct

In the Down Cess just west of Wootton Bassett Jct, a lot of SPS is stored on pallets, ready to be installed. (Thanks to "haddock1000" for spotting this)

Track lowering and drainage work at Dauntsey completed.

Nr Tockenham Wick, pretty much all the masts are up, TTCs, STCs and portals alike; most have SPS fitted now.

First few headspans (?) erected over 25/6th of Feb '17 at Dauntsey Bank (87m ish), and some (not all) of the missing masts have gone up too, plus brackets for fittings.

East of Chippenham, in the Langley Burrell (Crossing Rd) area, all masts appear to be up, fully dressed with SPS; works compound established at Langley Green L.C.

Single earth wire on the Down side from Langley Burrell to Christian Malford.

Masts also up south of Langley Burrell to Cocklebury Lane Bridge (last bridge east of Chippenham), but no SPS up on them yet.

As yet, no masts west of the bridge but piles are in.

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)

Piles continue westwards to the next bridge.

Piles also in (and have been for over a year) at Ashley (beyond Box Tunnel).

Thingley Jct - Bath
Nothing yet, for the foreseeable future.

Bath to Bristol
Piles in, particularly around Saltford. Not due to see use for a while after the wiring delay.

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

Wootton Bassett Jct - Bristol Parkway; apparently set to go live in September 2018.

11 odd miles worth of wires up from Wootton Bassett (MP 83 1/2) to just west of (and including) Hullavington loops.

All masts and most SPS appears to be up around Acton Turnville.

O/H Conductor rail installed in Chipping Sodbury Tunnel.

Progress as well around Chipping Sodbury/Old Sodbury:

many masts up, some with booms attached.

SPS now appearing too.

From Westerleigh Jct to Bristol Parkway; fewer than 20 bases are mastless now. Most SPS is concentrated at the Westerleigh end.

A run of masts (all boomed) has sprouted on the curve towards Cheltenham Spa.

The "Blue Viaduct" over the M4 just east of BPW now has SPS up on the masts along it.

BPW Platforms extensions underway.

Update from last week: TTCs up over all platforms as of 20/3; thanks "oglord" for the confirmation!

TTCs facing south on the P1/2 island cover 2 lines; the Down Bristol Parkway Passenger Loop (through P1) and the Down Bristol Parkway Goods Loop.

TTCs facing north on the P1/2 island cover P2/P3; the Down Badminton & Up Badminton Lines respectively.

TTCs by the car park cover 2 lines; the Up Bristol Parkway Passenger Loop & the Platform 4 line. Some may still need to be installed at the east end.

Bristol Parkway - Pilning

Stoke Gifford IEP Depot all wired.

Patchway Tunnel conductor rail to be installed, 18/6/18 to 8/7/18.

Masts, booms and SPS up through Patchway.

Cattybrook Brickworks Bridge closed as of 18/3/18.

At Pilning, piling and masts appearing towards both Cattybrook & Severn Tunnel, Platform 2 now closed. SPS going up on some portals and masts too.

Approx. 70% masts now up between BPW and Severn Tunnel.

Severn Tunnel - Newport

Severn Tunnel Conductor rail in place .

All bridge rebuilding complete from Severn Tunnel Jct (149m 14ch) to Bishton Flyover (152m 30ch).

Update from last week: Masts beginning to go up between Severn Tunnel Jct & Bishton Flyover, as of 3/4/18.

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.
https://flic.kr/p/23NSDKD and https://flic.kr/p/23NSCRp.

Some masts have sprouted near Llanishen pond.

Cluster of piles in opposite the Down Relief between the Maindee Jcts (157m 74ch to 158m 16ch).

Newport

Canopies all cut back; thanks "oglord" for the confirmation.

Masts and portals now appearing at the western end of the station, some with SPS attached.

Some concrete bases in between stn & tunnels, perhaps for portals.

Old stn footbridge still in situ.

Newport - Cardiff

Approx. 97 masts from Ebbw Jct (160m 7ch) to Marshfield (163m 60ch). Booms & SPS starting to appear in the area too.

Green Lane Bridge (Marshfield) reopened to traffic after reconstruction.

Some of them, near Duffryn, have SPS affixed.

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).

Cardiff Central

Re-signalling completed. Platform 0 now open. 3 masts now up over P0/1 with TTC booms.

Swansea IEP Depot

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

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

Through Reading West to Southcote Jct, perhaps 60% (up from 50%) of masts at best up.

These are mainly between Tilehurst Rd Bridge and the A4 (Bath Road) Bridge south of Reading West; a cluster of about 6 (5 on the Down side, one on the Up) are also up just short of Southcote Jct (37m 62ch).

4 additional masts on the Up (Reading) side parallel to Southcote Jct.

Long-standing mast at Southcote Jct by the Up line from Newbury has recently had a support added..

Southcote Junction - Theale - Aldermaston

From Southcote Jct past Calcot Mill FP crossing to Theale, most masts are now up (less than 10% left to erect). Still some portals and cantilevers to go up.

First SPS up in this area at around MP 38 1/2; SPS work is about 50% complete, continuing sporadically to Wigmore Lane, at the western end of Theale Goods Loop (42m 8ch).

Update: lots of SPS now up between 38 1/2 and the M4 bridge.

Masts have gone up on the Loop Platform at Theale; only bases so far on the Down side platform. These should be taking TTCs in that case.

From Theale Goods Loop to Ufton Lane Bridge, steelwork looks pretty complete; only 3 booms are missing - which should all be installed in the April Blockade (see below). Ready for wires with those errors excepted!

At Ufton (Towney) Loop (42m08ch to 44m11ch), all the missing masts over the Up Line opposite and over the western end of the loop are now in place.

SPS continues part way down the loop, with a gap at the Aldermaston end.

The gap on the loop excepted, the majority of SPS is now up between Wigmore Rd & Aldermaston. Some patches still here and there where it does need to go up.

Aldermaston - Midgham - Thatcham - Newbury Racecourse

The Down platform extension at Aldermaston is mostly in, unlike at Thatcham. One concrete panel is missing before the joint to the existing platform.

From Aldermaston to east of Midgham LC, all steelwork appears to be up;

masts and SPS have gone up in Aldermaston Station alongside the platform extensions.

Both lines are fully wired from east of Midgham LC, through Thatcham, to just east of Kennet Viaduct (nr Newbury Racecourse).

All 3 level crossings (Midgham, Colthrop, Thatcham) are now wired.

A short wire run from just east of Racecourse to just east of the overbridge linking the RC to Hambridge Lane has appeared on the Up line;

there is still a gap between this section and the main wired "Thatcham Section" over Kennet Viaduct.

RC east X-overs still need wiring. Piles for the Loop line at Newbury RC are in through the platform.

Newbury Racecourse - Newbury

Piles almost all in, masts down to single figures.

At Newbury, the new footbridge is now up; piling also taking place within the station, on the platforms. Old footbridge not yet removed.

The electrical substation/PSU at Boundary Rd is now under construction; @Unclepete captured the concrete bases curing on the Up side. Thanks very much Pete!

Proposed Limit of Wiring: 53m 51ch.
Gives ample room to reverse even a 12-car 387 formation.
Immunised signalling continues to about MP55 1/2.

B&H Blockades:

12/3 to 15/3; done.

23/4 to 26/4,

4/6 to 7/6,

9/7 to 12/7,

16/7 to 5/8

28/8 to 30/8,

8/10 to 11/10,

19/11 to 22/11.

Project Postponements

Appleford LC to Oxford paused, pending track realignment and resignalling of Oxford (due summer 2018); if CP6 accounts allow for wiring to be extended to Oxford, it would be very likely to happen.

Bristol Temple Meads to Bath & Bristol Parkway paused, dependent on Bristol resignalling (Taunton-Parkway over Easter 2018; Temple Meads to Both in October 2018), track remodelling and Filton Bank 4-tracking (to be completed by December 2018).

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)

Top marks for a really comprehensive update - as a regular user of this line I don't really pay much attention to whats going on OLE wise when I know I should!

jyte · 4 Apr 2018

1) Are we sure the TTCs around Ealing Broadway are replacing the headspans? Currently both are supporting the wires.

2) I was surprised with how much had been done on the B&H when I travelled over it recently (at 45mph, stuck behind a mendip train :/)

3) My train was routed onto the UR randomly on its approach to Paddington and then back down to P1, both fast lines were in use. Anyone have any idea why this was? View media item 3074

gwr4090 · 4 Apr 2018

59CosG95 said:
GWML Electrification: State of Play, week

Very many thanks for the very comprehensive report. Can someone remind me what is the status of the Southcote Jn-Basingstoke electrification - deferred or cancelled ?

Mag_seven · 4 Apr 2018

gwr4090 said:
Very many thanks for the very comprehensive report. Can someone remind me what is the status of the Southcote Jn-Basingstoke electrification - deferred or cancelled ?

According to the Network Rail December 2017 Enhancements Delivery Plan assumed to be CP6 i.e. deferred.

swt_passenger · 4 Apr 2018

gwr4090 said:
Very many thanks for the very comprehensive report. Can someone remind me what is the status of the Southcote Jn-Basingstoke electrification - deferred or cancelled ?

“Assumed CP6” according to the last CP5 enhancement plan in January. It has never been described as cancelled.

D1009 · 4 Apr 2018

59CosG95 said:
GWML Electrification: State of Play, week beginning 2/4/2018

BPW Platforms extensions underway.

A small point, the platform extensions were completed in January, although the doors on the rear coach of a 10 car IET are still not being released.

Otherwise many thanks for your comprehensive reports.

GRALISTAIR · 4 Apr 2018

swt_passenger said:
“Assumed CP6” according to the last CP5 enhancement plan in January. It has never been described as cancelled.

Needed anyway IMHO even without Electric Spine going ahead

Unclepete · 4 Apr 2018

Hi, did a Newbury-Reading trip today and the Thatcham platform extensions are progressing with concrete curing.
Lots of sps along the line from Theale & orange army, so must be putting more up each night.
Also, had a look past Southcote Jn and did not see any piles in place heading towards Basingstoke? I thought there would be.

59CosG95 · 4 Apr 2018

Unclepete said:
Hi, did a Newbury-Reading trip today and the Thatcham platform extensions are progressing with concrete curing.
Lots of sps along the line from Theale & orange army, so must be putting more up each night.
Also, had a look past Southcote Jn and did not see any piles in place heading towards Basingstoke? I thought there would be.

I imagine piles down that way will go in place in one of the future blockades.

Sean Emmett · 5 Apr 2018

Re State of Play - Thanks for the update.

Thingley - Bath. Whilst not many visible signs I understand that the track has been lowered through Box Tunnel and Sydney Gardens in readiness and quite a bit of work done on the many overbridges between Thingley Jn and Corsham.

Also track lowered through Keynsham station.

On Filton Bank the Easton Rd overbridge has been completely rebuilt, parapets raised on Bonnington Walk bridge and two footbridges replaced.

This should improve economics of completing Thingley Jn - Temple Meads and Parkway - Temple Meads as substantial costs already sunk. But will DfT / Grayling see it this way?

G_A_C_C_C · 5 Apr 2018

I'm not sure if this is covered anywhere else, apologies if it is. Why has Burnham station been reduced to 7 coach SDO by placing the drivers mirrors 2 whole coach lengths from the end of the platform? A 8 car 387s almost fit into the space (just the rear drivers door is off platform). What are they going to do when the 205m 345s are in use, leave a couple of coaches hanging off the end even when the entire train would probably fit?

JN114 · 5 Apr 2018

G_A_C_C_C said:
I'm not sure if this is covered anywhere else, apologies if it is. Why has Burnham station been reduced to 7 coach SDO by placing the drivers mirrors 2 whole coach lengths from the end of the platform? A 8 car 387s almost fit into the space (just the rear drivers door is off platform). What are they going to do when the 205m 345s are in use, leave a couple of coaches hanging off the end even when the entire train would probably fit?

Position of the mirror has no relevance; they’re not used for dispatch of 387s. SDO7 will be the door configuration required for the shortest platform at Burnham; as the trains cannot accurately distinguish which platform they’re in. It’s never been an 8 car platform at Burnham; SDO7 is the longest it’s been.

HowardGWR · 5 Apr 2018

Sean Emmett said:
Re State of Play - Thanks for the update.

Thingley - Bath. Whilst not many visible signs I understand that the track has been lowered through Box Tunnel and Sydney Gardens in readiness and quite a bit of work done on the many overbridges between Thingley Jn and Corsham.

Also track lowered through Keynsham station.

On Filton Bank the Easton Rd overbridge has been completely rebuilt, parapets raised on Bonnington Walk bridge and two footbridges replaced.

This should improve economics of completing Thingley Jn - Temple Meads and Parkway - Temple Meads as substantial costs already sunk. But will DfT / Grayling see it this way?

Indeed; as I understand it, the works at Bath station and Oldfield Park (including track lowering) were also for electrification. Perhaps 59CosG95 could include all these items in his appropriate section? If so thanks.

oglord · 5 Apr 2018

Some six-track portals are appearing at East Usk Yard in Newport.

59CosG95 · 5 Apr 2018

HowardGWR said:
Indeed; as I understand it, the works at Bath station and Oldfield Park (including track lowering) were also for electrification. Perhaps 59CosG95 could include all these items in his appropriate section? If so thanks.

I certainly shall; updates may be a bit patchy over the next 2 months however as the dreaded final year uni exams are rearing their ugly heads.

DidcotDickie · 8 Apr 2018

59CosG95 said:
GWML Electrification: State of Play, week beginning 2/4/2018

Didcot to Swindon - due to go live August 2018
Steventon excepted, all steelwork (including SPS) looks to be complete from Didcot to Swindon.
A note on Steventon: The railway over the Level Crossings & under the High St Bridge (aka the "Brunel Bridge") WILL be electrified; however, the bridge may well be demolished in CP6. The discussion continues.

Steventon-Uffington-Swindon

In the Steventon area (between MP55 3/4 and MP57 1/4), all masts are up, with just a few last bits of SPS to go up west of *ahem* that bridge.

Update: Down Main wired over Causeway Crossing, with earth wire continuing to *that* bridge.

Wires over both tracks resume after MP57 1/4 (400m west of Causeway Crossing), with a break on the Up line just east of Uffington X-overs.

West of Uffington, after MP67 1/2, the wires continue to approx MP72 1/4, with a small gap just east of Bourton X-overs.

West of Bourton the wires resume and continue, almost to Swindon:

as far as Highworth Jct (76m 32ch) on the Down and

as far as the western end of Swindon Dn Yard (76m 64ch) on the Up.

The USGL at Stratton (Swindon Up Goods Loop) is also wired.

SNIP lots of good stuff

The missing section on the up line from the Uffington crossovers to 500m east of the Baulking overbridge towards Challow was wired this weekend.

I don't know if the gap east of Bourton was also done.

59CosG95 · 8 Apr 2018

DidcotDickie said:
SNIP lots of good stuff

The missing section on the up line from the Uffington crossovers to 500m east of the Baulking overbridge towards Challow was wired this weekend.

I don't know if the gap east of Bourton was also done.

That's certainly encouraging news! Putting that in the changelog for tomorrow.

Non Multi · 8 Apr 2018

G_A_C_C_C said:
I'm not sure if this is covered anywhere else, apologies if it is. Why has Burnham station been reduced to 7 coach SDO by placing the drivers mirrors 2 whole coach lengths from the end of the platform? A 8 car 387s almost fit into the space (just the rear drivers door is off platform). What are they going to do when the 205m 345s are in use, leave a couple of coaches hanging off the end even when the entire train would probably fit?

IIRC, at Burnham & Taplow the 345s will use SDO. There was no budget provided by Crossrail for lengthening the platforms at these stations.

59CosG95 · 9 Apr 2018

GWML Electrification: State of Play, week beginning 9/4/2018

Paddington to Didcot - LIVE

All platforms at Paddington & approach tracks from Westbourne Park are live.
TTCs near Ealing Broadway over the Down Main to replace headspans.
Mains & Reliefs all done to Reading, where all through lines and western bays are wired.
Current live wires end at 54m 34ch (just short of Milton Jct; 55m 19ch).
Paddington-Didcot signed off for Class 387 operation since 28/12/17, IETs running on AC as far as Moreton Cutting from 8th Jan. Up IETs are allowed to pan up in Didcot if stopping there.
Reading TCD 100% live (Underframe clean road wired over 2nd/3rd of April); Reading Curve now fully wired & live (FGW_DID & Dren Ahmeti, thanks to you both!). B&H not yet complete; see below.

Small Points

First few yards of Windsor and Marlow branches wired.
AT wires in operation from Maidenhead to Didcot; Kensal Green to Maidenhead currently only using return conductors but will be AT-ready in the near future.
- Hayes & Harlington to Maidenhead closed off over the May Bank Holiday; to prepare for the Elizabeth Line running to Maidenhead. Paddington to H&H will also be closed on May 6th, presumably for the ATF installation and finishing of Platform Extensions.
On May 20th, all lines between Paddington and H&H will be closed until 0800.
Twyford platform, canopy and bridge parapet works in progress.
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.

Didcot to Swindon - due to go live August 2018
Steventon excepted, all steelwork (including SPS) looks to be complete from Didcot to Swindon.
A note on Steventon: The railway over the Level Crossings & under the High St Bridge (aka the "Brunel Bridge") WILL be electrified; however, the bridge may well be demolished in CP6. The discussion continues.

Steventon-Uffington-Swindon

In the Steventon area (between MP55 3/4 and MP57 1/4), all masts are up, with just a few last bits of SPS to go up west of *ahem* that bridge.
Down Main wired over Causeway Crossing, with earth wire continuing to *that* bridge.
Wires over both tracks resume after MP57 1/4 (400m west of Causeway Crossing), continuing to approx MP72 1/4, where a small gap just east of Bourton X-overs remains.
Update: The Uffington Gap has now been wired; thanks to "Didcot Dickie" for the clarification.
West of Bourton the wires resume and continue, almost to Swindon:
- as far as Highworth Jct (76m 32ch) on the Down and
- as far as the western end of Swindon Dn Yard (76m 64ch) on the Up.
- The USGL at Stratton (Swindon Up Goods Loop) is also wired.

Swindon Station

SPS is starting to be installed; from east to west as far as the old Swindon B signal box.
Wires up through P4 (Down Main) & the through Road (Up Main); these terminate in the Tensorex drums at the western end of the station.
Only one cantilever boom/portal boom needs to be put up at the western end; still awaiting confirmation as to whether this has indeed been rectified.
Three bare tall masts (one at London end of P4, 2 at Bristol end of P4); presumably for power supply feed.

Swindon-Wootton Bassett Jct

Wootton Bassett Jct (83m 07ch) was wired over the weekend of 24/25th March; not sure on exact lengths, or which lines were wired.
Rushey Platt (78m 36ch) has a single wire run from the UM (Up Main) onto the loop, while the DM (Down Main) through it has 2 wire runs finishing further west.
The UM has another wire run, from MP79 to MP82 1/2; the gap between MP79 3/4 and MP 81 3/4 must have been filled in.
Wootton Bassett's steelwork, mainly portals, isn't complete but still looking quite near complete.
East of Wootton Bassett, a lot of the SPS is now up, along with the earthing/ATF wire (albeit on temp. pulleys). Down Main has both wires up near Wootton Bassett from the M4.

The "Main Line"; Wootton Bassett Jct - Chippenham - Thingley Jct

In the Down Cess just west of Wootton Bassett Jct, a lot of SPS is stored on pallets, ready to be installed. (Thanks to "haddock1000" for spotting this)
Track lowering and drainage work at Dauntsey completed.
Nr Tockenham Wick, pretty much all the masts are up, TTCs, STCs and portals alike; most have SPS fitted now.
First few headspans (?) erected over 25/6th of Feb '17 at Dauntsey Bank (87m ish), and some (not all) of the missing masts have gone up too, plus brackets for fittings.
East of Chippenham, in the Langley Burrell (Crossing Rd) area, all masts appear to be up, fully dressed with SPS; works compound established at Langley Green L.C.
- Single earth wire on the Down side from Langley Burrell to Christian Malford.
- Masts also up south of Langley Burrell to Cocklebury Lane Bridge (last bridge east of Chippenham), but no SPS up on them yet.
- As yet, no masts west of the bridge but piles are in.
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)

Piles continue westwards to the next bridge.
Piles also in (and have been for over a year) at Ashley (beyond Box Tunnel).

Thingley Jct - Bath
No wiring for the foreseeable future, but overbridges between Thingley Jct & Corsham have all had clearance works, along with Box Tunnel (track lowering) and Sydney Gardens (track lowering).

Bath to Bristol
Piles in, particularly around Saltford. Not due to see use for a while after the wiring delay. Track lowered through Bath Spa, Oldfield Park & Keynsham in readiness for future wiring.

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

Wootton Bassett Jct - Bristol Parkway; apparently set to go live in September 2018.

11 odd miles worth of wires up from Wootton Bassett (MP 83 1/2) to just west of (and including) Hullavington loops.
- All masts and most SPS appears to be up around Acton Turnville.
- O/H Conductor rail installed in Chipping Sodbury Tunnel.
Progress as well around Chipping Sodbury/Old Sodbury:
- many masts up, some with booms attached.
- SPS now appearing too.
From Westerleigh Jct to Bristol Parkway; fewer than 20 bases are mastless now. Most SPS is concentrated at the Westerleigh end.
- A run of masts (all boomed) has sprouted on the curve towards Cheltenham Spa.
The "Blue Viaduct" over the M4 just east of BPW now has SPS up on the masts along it.

BPW Platforms extensions complete.
- TTCs up over all platforms as of 20/3.
- TTCs facing south on the P1/2 island cover 2 lines; the Down Bristol Parkway Passenger Loop (through P1) and the Down Bristol Parkway Goods Loop.
- TTCs facing north on the P1/2 island cover P2/P3; the Down Badminton & Up Badminton Lines respectively.
- TTCs by the car park cover 2 lines; the Up Bristol Parkway Passenger Loop & the Platform 4 line. Some may still need to be installed at the east end.

Bristol Parkway - Pilning

Stoke Gifford IEP Depot all wired.
Patchway Tunnel conductor rail to be installed, 18/6/18 to 8/7/18.
Masts, booms and SPS up through Patchway.
- Cattybrook Brickworks Bridge closed as of 18/3/18.
At Pilning, piling and masts appearing towards both Cattybrook & Severn Tunnel, Platform 2 now closed. SPS going up on some portals and masts too.

Approx. 70% masts now up between BPW and Severn Tunnel.

Severn Tunnel - Newport

Severn Tunnel Conductor rail in place .
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:
- About 3 west of "the ramp" bridge at Magor; 2 on the Down side, 1 on the Up side. https://flic.kr/p/2333VJs
- 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.
  https://flic.kr/p/23NSDKD and https://flic.kr/p/23NSCRp.
Some masts have sprouted near Llanishen pond.
Update from last week: 6-track portals, probably TGBUs (aka Thumpin' Great Big-Uns) going up aroung East Usk Yard (approx. MP157 1/2). Thanks "Oglord"!
Cluster of piles in opposite the Down Relief between the Maindee Jcts (157m 74ch to 158m 16ch).

Newport

Canopies all cut back; thanks "oglord" for the confirmation.
Masts and portals now appearing at the western end of the station, some with SPS attached.
Some concrete bases in between stn & tunnels, perhaps for portals.
Old stn footbridge still in situ.

Newport - Cardiff

Approx. 97 masts from Ebbw Jct (160m 7ch) to Marshfield (163m 60ch). Booms & SPS starting to appear in the area too.
Green Lane Bridge (Marshfield) reopened to traffic after reconstruction.

Some of them, near Duffryn, have SPS affixed.

- 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).

Cardiff Central

Re-signalling completed. Platform 0 now open. 3 masts now up over P0/1 with TTC booms.

Swansea IEP Depot

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

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

Through Reading West to Southcote Jct, perhaps 60% (up from 50%) of masts at best up.
- These are mainly between Tilehurst Rd Bridge and the A4 (Bath Road) Bridge south of Reading West; a cluster of about 6 (5 on the Down side, one on the Up) are also up just short of Southcote Jct (37m 62ch).
- 4 additional masts on the Up (Reading) side parallel to Southcote Jct.
- Long-standing mast at Southcote Jct by the Up line from Newbury has recently had a support added..

Southcote Junction - Theale - Aldermaston

From Southcote Jct past Calcot Mill FP crossing to Theale, most masts are now up (less than 10% left to erect). Still some portals and cantilevers to go up.
- First SPS up in this area at around MP 38 1/2; SPS work is about 50% complete, continuing sporadically to Wigmore Lane, at the western end of Theale Goods Loop (42m 8ch).
- Lots of SPS now up between 38 1/2 and the M4 bridge.

Masts have gone up on the Loop Platform at Theale; only bases so far on the Down side platform. These should be taking TTCs in that case.
From Theale Goods Loop to Ufton Lane Bridge, steelwork looks pretty complete; only 3 booms are missing - which should all be installed in the April Blockade (see below). Ready for wires with those errors excepted!

At Ufton (Towney) Loop (42m08ch to 44m11ch), all the missing masts over the Up Line opposite and over the western end of the loop are now in place.

SPS continues part way down the loop, with a gap at the Aldermaston end.
The gap on the loop excepted, the majority of SPS is now up between Wigmore Rd & Aldermaston. Some patches still here and there where it does need to go up.

Aldermaston - Midgham - Thatcham - Newbury Racecourse

The Down platform extension at Aldermaston is mostly in, unlike at Thatcham. One concrete panel is missing before the joint to the existing platform.

From Aldermaston to east of Midgham LC, all steelwork appears to be up;
- masts and SPS have gone up in Aldermaston Station alongside the platform extensions.

Both lines are fully wired from east of Midgham LC, through Thatcham, to just east of Kennet Viaduct (nr Newbury Racecourse).
- All 3 level crossings (Midgham, Colthrop, Thatcham) are now wired.
- A short wire run from just east of Racecourse to just east of the overbridge linking the RC to Hambridge Lane has appeared on the Up line;
- there is still a gap between this section and the main wired "Thatcham Section" over Kennet Viaduct.

RC east X-overs still need wiring. Piles for the Loop line at Newbury RC are in through the platform.

Newbury Racecourse - Newbury

Piles almost all in, masts down to single figures.

At Newbury, the new footbridge is now up; piling also taking place within the station, on the platforms. Old footbridge not yet removed.

The electrical substation/PSU at Boundary Rd is now under construction; @Unclepete captured the concrete bases curing on the Up side. Thanks very much Pete!

Proposed Limit of Wiring: 53m 51ch.
Gives ample room to reverse even a 12-car 387 formation.
Immunised signalling continues to about MP55 1/2.

B&H Blockades:

12/3 to 15/3; done.
23/4 to 26/4,
4/6 to 7/6,
9/7 to 12/7,
16/7 to 5/8
28/8 to 30/8,
8/10 to 11/10,
19/11 to 22/11.

Project Postponements

Appleford LC to Oxford paused, pending track realignment and resignalling of Oxford (due summer 2018); if CP6 accounts allow for wiring to be extended to Oxford, it would be very likely to happen.
Bristol Temple Meads to Bath & Bristol Parkway paused, dependent on Bristol resignalling (Taunton-Parkway over Easter 2018; Temple Meads to Both 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)

coppercapped · 9 Apr 2018

Parapet work on Butts Hill Road Bridge in Woodley - over the already electrified stretch - will commence in April for completion in September. See this article in the Reading Chronicle.

spark001uk · 10 Apr 2018

coppercapped said:
Parapet work on Butts Hill Road Bridge in Woodley - over the already electrified stretch - will commence in April for completion in September. See this article in the Reading Chronicle.

Think this is already posted here.

3973EXL · 12 Apr 2018

Didcot to Swindon 12/04/18

Some details have already been reported.

Current wires end east of the A34 overbridge, DGL DM UM UR.
DM is then wired from between Stocks Lane LC & Causeway LC to east of Bourton crossovers.
UM gap is unchanged at Steventon, but wires then complete to east of Bourton crossovers.

To confirm, Uffington gap wired, Uffington & Bourton crossovers wired.
DM & UM both missing a wire run east of Bourton.

DM & UM then wired to just off the west end of Swindon platforms.
UGL Stratton wired.
DGL & Swindon Rec both wired east of County Road underbridge.

Swindon large steel work looks complete.
SPS - none up Plat 3
Plat 2 not complete
Plat 1 east end missing
some still to go up east of the platforms

Block this weekend at Swindon so things should change.

Additional resources arrived this afternoon.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O89423/2018/04/12/advanced

59CosG95 · 12 Apr 2018

3973EXL said:
Didcot to Swindon 12/04/18

Some details have already been reported.

Current wires end east of the A34 overbridge, DGL DM UM UR.
DM is then wired from between Stocks Lane LC & Causeway LC to east of Bourton crossovers.
UM gap is unchanged at Steventon, but wires then complete to east of Bourton crossovers.

To confirm, Uffington gap wired, Uffington & Bourton crossovers wired.
DM & UM both missing a wire run east of Bourton.

DM & UM then wired to just off the west end of Swindon platforms.
UGL Stratton wired.
DGL & Swindon Rec both wired east of County Road underbridge.

Swindon large steel work looks complete.
SPS - none up Plat 3
Plat 2 not complete
Plat 1 east end missing
some still to go up east of the platforms

View attachment 45190 View attachment 45191 View attachment 45192 View attachment 45193 View attachment 45194 View attachment 45195 View attachment 45196 View attachment 45197 View attachment 45198

Block this weekend at Swindon so things should change.

Additional resources arrived this afternoon.
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O89423/2018/04/12/advanced

Glad to see the progress through Uffington/Bourton/Swindon all robustly confirmed, along with the blockade through there this weekend. I'll get the "State of Play" updated in readiness.

Chris125 · 12 Apr 2018

If correct, least surprising news ever? Fortunately the impact should be relatively limited.

"Reading in @railwaygazette Rail Business Intelligence of further delays for electrification to Cardiff - until 2020. Lost for words...."

HowardGWR · 12 Apr 2018

Chris125 said:
If correct, least surprising news ever? Fortunately the impact should be relatively limited.

"Reading in @railwaygazette Rail Business Intelligence of further days for electrification to Cardiff - until 2020. Lost for words...."

https://twitter.com/NoelDolphin/status/984371404446556160

I could not follow this (it's a dead link). What is it about please?

3973EXL · 12 Apr 2018

Newbury Racecourse

No masts through the station yet, but the DPL piles are in, and on the Down platform there appears to be trial digs.

Some masts up west of the station. The furthest is just west of Boundary Road bridge.

Saj8 · 12 Apr 2018

I can't for the life of me understand why Burnham is SDO7. The GWR route maps state that the length of platform 1 and 2 is 146m and 156m respectively, which would call for SDO7, but the sectional appendix lists the platform operational lengths as 187m and 185m respectivley. I don't know the reason for the discrepancy between the two documents, but according to the sectional appendix, the platforms are plenty long enough for 8 cars.

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