Great Western Electrification Progress

[JN114]

Ah I see. how reliable has the "new" OHLE infrastructure been since it's been put in?

By my count 2 incidents due to faulty installation, both on the Crossrail installed section; and a fairly disruptive loss of power incident that was never fully explained at my pay grade. Nothing on this scale and - to be fair - the incident that occurred is exactly the failure case the supposedly over-engineered design is supposed to mitigate.

While the installation has been a protracted omnishambles; the kit does work well.

As has been said in the main thread on the incident - there are two streams of thought as to the cause of the dewirement. One suggesting a build issue on Hitachi’s part with an incomplete pantograph - which has only surfaced as a possible cause today; and what we were being told last night when it happened that it was neither unit nor infrastructure fault; a 3rd factor that’s been eluded to elsewhere caused it.

Either way the incident itself does have its own thread, might be better to keep this thread for GWEP progress and not duplicate discussion.

 

[RichardGore]

Looking this up further, contrary to what I'd previously read, while tilt is done using Packet 44, pantograph control is indeed done using Packet 68.

Makes sense. Thanks for looking that up!

 

[oglord]

All canopies at Newport High Street are now cut back.

 

[59CosG95]

All canopies at Newport High Street are now cut back.

Thanks for the report there oglord.

By-the-by, does anyone have any news on the extent of the wiring between Cocklebury Lane Bridge & Wootton Bassett Jct? Been a while since we had any updates on that stretch. I also seem to recall that parapet work needs to happen on the bridge at Corsham.

 

[Phil G]

Thanks for the report there oglord.

By-the-by, does anyone have any news on the extent of the wiring between Cocklebury Lane Bridge & Wootton Bassett Jct? Been a while since we had any updates on that stretch. I also seem to recall that parapet work needs to happen on the bridge at Corsham.

Corsham is west of cocklebury road and thingley so no work there for a while!

Last time I traveled to Swindon there was still a couple of miles of catenery and contact missing around dauntsey and atf is patchy but everything thing else is complete. Nothing much been happening as the line has been carrying all the traffic from the other blockades.

 

[59CosG95]

Corsham is west of cocklebury road and thingley so no work there for a while!

Last time I traveled to Swindon there was still a couple of miles of catenery and contact missing around dauntsey and atf is patchy but everything thing else is complete. Nothing much been happening as the line has been carrying all the traffic from the other blockades.

Ahh thanks for that nugget of info. Given Filton Bank's due to be shut for 3 weeks from the 27th, I'm not holding out for much progress in the next month for the Chippenham leg of the route...

 

[Right Away]

Thanks for the report there oglord.

By-the-by, does anyone have any news on the extent of the wiring between Cocklebury Lane Bridge & Wootton Bassett Jct? Been a while since we had any updates on that stretch. I also seem to recall that parapet work needs to happen on the bridge at Corsham.

Had a trip over the route today. Efforts have been intensified on this route. The catenary and contact wires appeared to be continuous and complete on the up line throughout from Cocklebury Lane to Wootton Bassett. The down line is missing approximately half a mile of catenary and contact wire immediately west of the bridge at the former Dauntsey station heading towards Christian Malford. It looked complete apart from that stretch.

 

[Thatcham Xing]

Had a brief look on foot today - there is indeed a path of twin metal cable ducting running (at ground level) from the feeder station, along behind the fence at the back of the up platform down to the supply gantries just to the west of the station. Looked like the orange army were finishing-up/tidying the site when I was there.

Some pics from this morning of what I was describing at Midgham a few days ago above. Ducting coming out of the feeder station and then running in the cess west of the station to supply gantries. Also think that signal visible on the bend, on the up line, is new?

Preparations no doubt for the switch-on which is due imminently:

At least the notice has all the stations along the wired part of the line listed now!

 

[hassaanhc]

This morning until just before 1100 there appears to be no electric trains between Maidenhead and Didcot Parkway. The stopping services between Paddington and Reading or Didcot Parkway are either using Turbo DMUs throughout, or split at Maidenhead using Class 387 EMUs east of there and Turbo DMUs west of there.

From National Rail Enquiries engineering work page for today:

Maidenhead until 10:50:

Some local trains between London Paddington and Reading / Didcot Parkway will operate in two-parts: London Paddington to Maidenhead, and between Maidenhead and Reading. It will be necessary to change trains at Maidenhead.

 

[FGW_DID]

This morning until just before 1100 there appears to be no electric trains between Maidenhead and Didcot Parkway. The stopping services between Paddington and Reading or Didcot Parkway are either using Turbo DMUs throughout, or split at Maidenhead using Class 387 EMUs east of there and Turbo DMUs west of there.

From National Rail Enquiries engineering work page for today:

Block To Electric Traction in place, especially around the Reading area (including the TCD). I believe most of the work is for the energisation down to Newbury.

 

[hassaanhc]

Block To Electric Traction in place, especially around the Reading area (including the TCD). I believe most of the work is for the energisation down to Newbury.

Ah thanks, glad to hear of the progress towards Newbury (I'd completely forgotten about the work taking place down there today )

 

[Thatcham Xing]

In this neck of the woods (I've been at Thatcham and Midgham stations this morning), the level crossings are fenced-across (with barriers up) and platforms are blocked-off. Suggests that the juice is on, and testing is underway?

Trains due to run from around 1900 this evening, by the looks.

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

In this neck of the woods (I've been at Thatcham and Midgham stations this morning), the level crossings are fenced-across (with barriers up) and platforms are blocked-off. Suggests that the juice is on, and testing is underway?

Trains due to run from around 1900 this evening, by the looks.

Yes, the wires are now considered live to Newbury following testing on Sunday.

 

[Thatcham Xing]

Yes, the wires are now considered live to Newbury following testing on Sunday.

According to local news (BBC Berks) this morning, the first train to run London-bound from Newbury last night following yesterdays blockade, at 1903, was unboardable (and unleavable) as "someone forgot to reopen the station platforms at Newbury"

 

[JN114]

According to local news (BBC Berks) this morning, the first train to run London-bound from Newbury last night following yesterdays blockade, at 1903, was unboardable (and unleavable) as "someone forgot to reopen the station platforms at Newbury"

There were staff there, they were told not to reopen the station without authority from Network Rail. Network Rail neglected to provide that authority as part of the handback process. The correct person then went back to Newbury and handed the station back to GWR within 10-15 minutes. The train in question was further delayed at Newbury awaiting Ambulance attention to an (unrelated) ill passenger.

 

[Thatcham Xing]

Thanks for providing the detail, what I heard on air this morning was from the perspective of a frustrated passenger who couldn't board the train and probably assumed that GWR were at fault. Hope the ill passenger was able to get the attention needed.

Moving on, anyone any ideas when we will start to see electric trains on test starting to venture onto the B&H?

 

[59CosG95]

GWML Electrification: State of Play, as of 22/10/18.
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; P1-4, and the Through Road. Switchgear at the Bristol end of P1-4 is now live.

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.
  • In preparation for the Elizabeth Line running to Maidenhead, Hayes & Harlington to Maidenhead was closed off over the Early May Bank Holiday (5/5 to 7/5); this included renewals of S&C at West Drayton & Slough West Jct, alongside HOPS work at Langley. Paddington to H&H was also closed on May 6th, and encompassed final OLE works for Crossrail, alongside (presumably) ATF installation, finishing of Platform Extensions, lift shaft installation, passenger footbridge installation, and ticket hall foundation installation.
• At Ealing Broadway, the staircase to P2/3 is being demolished and replaced with a new structure as part of the Crossrail works. Access is via the footbridge at the London end from P4 - work started on 1/10 and should continue until late December.
• Parapet Work ongoing at Southbury Lane Bridge, Ruscombe.
• Parapet Work has yet to commence on Butts Hill Rd Bridge, Woodley.
• 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 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; the discussion continues.
• Overruns through Swindon Jct (77m 36ch) onto the Golden Valley Line have also been wired.
• Another note on the OLE to Wootton Bassett (and beyond to Filton) - although testing with IETs is now underway (the first 2 IETs reached Swindon on AC over the night of 12th/13th September), entry of IETs in AC passenger service is unlikely before December.

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.

• All masts and earth wires are now up between Wootton Bassett Jct & Cocklebury Lane Overbridge.
• The Up Line is wired throughout from Cocklebury Lane to Wootton Bassett.
• The Down Line is fully wired apart for a half-mile gap in both catenary & contact wires from Dauntsey to 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

• All catenary & contact wires up from Wootton Bassett Jct, past Westerleigh Jct (107m 14ch) through Bristol Parkway and thence 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.
• BPW Platforms now fully wired; includes the Down Goods Loop & Up Passenger Loop.
  • A number of masts & booms (now all wired up) are up on the line towards Filton Abbey Wood, between Stoke Gifford Jct No.1 (111m 79ch) and Filton Jct No.1 (113m 01ch); these end just short of Filton Jct 1 and will presumably act as an overrun until electrification continues into Temple Meads.
  • Section Isolator Masts now installed immediately before Stoke Gifford Jct No. 1, for the proposed neutral section just west of Bristol Parkway; these now have their feeder wires.
• Filton Bank bridge works (mileages all from Temple Meads):
  • Easton Rd Overbridge (1m 18ch) completely rebuilt.
  • Narroways Footbridge (2m 12ch) replaced.
  • Ashley Hill Footbridge (3m 11ch) replaced.
  • Bonnington Walk Overbridge (3m 62ch) - parapets raised.
  • Footbridge south of Filton Abbey Wood (4m 18ch) will need work if wiring is to occur.

Filton Jct - Severn Tunnel

• The Patchway/Severn Tunnel Blockade is now complete.
• The 3-week Bristol Parkway Blockade and subsequent weekend blockade are also now complete.
• Stoke Gifford IEP Depot all wired.
• Patchway Tunnels conductor rail installed.
• Masts, booms and SPS up through Patchway. No wires yet.
  • Cattybrook Brickworks Bridge closed as of 18/3/18.
• At Pilning, during the Summer Tunnels blockade, all portals and masts have now been erected, and wires have gone up.

Severn Tunnel - Newport
Due to have IETs in AC service by 2020!

• Severn Tunnel Conductor rail in place. A number of masts on both sides of the line are now up at Caldicot, just before the Western tunnel mouth; these now extend westwards towards the eastern end of the platforms at STJ.
• Part of the central island platform at Severn Tunnel Junction has been fenced off - a possible mast location?
• 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:
  • At least 11 between Undy (Playing Fields Footbridge) and the M4 viaduct over the mains; one just east of the "white house" has a TTC boom. It can be assumed that its 8 comrades will be similarly adorned. Another mast over the Reliefs west of the "white house" has now gained a TTC boom with 1 SPS assembly; it has a twin over the Mains.
  • 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.
  • The 3 TTCs west of "the ramp" bridge (2 on the Down, 1 on the Up) have gained SPS.
  • 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.
  • 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). OTP is in place for a piling/masting operation by Redwick Rd compound.
  • 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.
• West of Bishton LC (153m 01ch), masts are around 90-95% up (all bar a few have booms and SPS), with the main gap at Llanwern Works East Connection (153m 05ch). This continues west towards Llanwern Works West Connection/Llanwern West Junction (156m 03ch to 156m 20ch).
• Some masts have sprouted near Lliswerry pond.
• 6-track portals, probably TGBUs (aka Thumpin' Great Big-Uns) going up aroung 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 to 30/11, and then January ‘19 to March ‘19. Not sure what impact on wiring this will have.
• 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".
• Fixings for masts have now been installed on the Usk Bridge.

Newport

• All canopies now cut back.
• Masts and portals now appearing at the western end of the station, some with SPS attached. More started to appear in mid-April; additionally, two at the Cardiff end & two through the P1 canopy on the weekend of April 28th/29th.
• 4-track portal now up over the southern 4 tracks, just east of the new station footbridge.
• Two six-track portals have now gone up over the western throat of the station, just short of a 4-track portal (uprights of) & a TTC (with SPS) adjacent to Clytha Park Rd.
• Old stn footbridge now removed; 4-track portal of the "TGBU" (Thumpin' Great Big 'Un) variety has been installed in its place.
• A new portal has gone up at the east end of Newport, with all the fixings for switchgear affixed at the top. Droptubes for registration arms are also on.

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.
• Over 100 masts from Ebbw Jct to Marshfield (163m 60ch). Booms & SPS starting to appear in the area too.
• Green Lane Bridge, nr Marshfield (164m 57ch) reopened to traffic after reconstruction. Masts (with SPS) up around here too.
• Lots of masts (with booms, SPS & ATF brackets) now up near Mardy Rd Bridge, Rumney.
• 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); 5 masts are up on the Up side east of Rover Lane bridge, complemented by 2 on the Down side. Some of the portals now have booms, and bear SPS; one of these has all its registration arms up.
• First Welsh Wire Run: 1 run of C&C has gone up between Moorland Road Jct (168m 65ch) and Long Dyke Jct (169m 35ch) over the Reliefs on the 15-16th September 2018; this is assumed to be a crossover as it crosses from one Relief line to the other.
• A handful of masts are also up around Long Dyke Jct; some have now gained TTC booms and SPS as well.
• 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. One can assume portals will bridge the gap between P2 & P3, over the Through lines.
• Canopy cut-back work now underway 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.
• Brickwork Sidings to be increased in length (and electrified) to accommodate GWR Class 387s.
• 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 but no wires.

GWML/SWML Blockades:

• 6/7 to 3/12: Reduced capacity between Newport & Cardiff Central while electrification progresses; assume only 1 pair of lines open at a time.
• 15/9 to 6/10, and 13/10 to 14/10: Bristol Parkway blockaded to allow OLE to be installed within the station; done.
• 27/10 to 18/11: Filton Bank blockaded for 4-tracking; worth posting on here as *some* OLE works might occur - not that I know for certain.
• 11/11: Bristol TM to Bath Spa blockaded until 13:00 while the resignalling work is completed on this stretch.
• 25/12/18 to 1/1/19: Bristol Parkway - Newport will be blockaded again, due to electrification work at Severn Tunnel Junction.
• More Blockades will follow; details as they become available.

Berks & Hants Line (Reading-Newbury) - LIVE
ALL WIRES NOW UP. Electric trains are set to be in squadron service from January 2019.

• Wires from Oxford Rd Jct are now LIVE to the limits of electrification (53m 42ch on the Newbury Lines, 38m 07ch on the Basingstoke Lines) as of 0650 on 21/10/18.
• 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.
• Extension to Reading West Up platform nearly complete.
• Parapet work now complete on the A4 (Bath Rd) overbridge; similar works for Tilehurst Rd overbridge are now underway.
• Platform extension works complete (but not yet opened) at Theale, Aldermaston and Thatcham. Finishing work has been undertaken at Theale (the temporary fencing has gone), and at Thatcham, where tweaks to fencing/barriers etc. have taken place.
• Newbury's new footbridge is now open (not the lifts yet).

Limit of Wiring: 53m 42ch.

• Gives Ample room to reverse a 12-car 387 formation.
• 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; presumably this will wait until Bath-Bristol resignalling is complete. 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), 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).

 

[JN114]

Thanks for providing the detail, what I heard on air this morning was from the perspective of a frustrated passenger who couldn't board the train and probably assumed that GWR were at fault. Hope the ill passenger was able to get the attention needed.

Moving on, anyone any ideas when we will start to see electric trains on test starting to venture onto the B&H?

I don’t blame them for blaming GWR - we’re the ones who run their train after all, just trying to provide some better insight from my privileged position as to what happens rather than be defensive and play the blame game.

Electric trains to Newbury (ON TEST!) soon - probably IETs First as they’re already route cleared. 387s and 319s to follow in coming months; but platform stepping distances will need to be validated for both. Plan is still for ORR sign off at/around Christmas time so no passenger services on Electric until then.

 

[Thatcham Xing]

Thanks for continued insight.

Do you know how it'll work (once passenger services on the juice start) re. pan-up/down locations for IET's non-stopping through Newbury?

 

[JN114]

Thanks for continued insight.

Do you know how it'll work (once passenger services on the juice start) re. pan-up/down locations for IET's non-stopping through Newbury?

Between Racecourse and Thatcham as I understand

 

[Muzer]

What I heard about the signalling issues was that there was some interference between the trains and the axle counters. Is this the same issue as on the ECML or are they unrelated?

 

[JN114]

What I heard about the signalling issues was that there was some interference between the trains and the axle counters. Is this the same issue as on the ECML or are they unrelated?

No.

The issues on the GW were axle counter installation issues which meant that supposedly AC Immune kit was then afflicted by the high electromagnetic output of the IETs. These were largely resolved by relaying cables.

The issues on the East Coast aren’t axle counter related as Axle Counters aren’t installed on the affected section of the ECML. By all accounts the issues are at a higher level of the signalling infrastructure hierarchy; which would be much more serious issue to rectify - potentially replacing interlocking equipment. But it’s outwith the scope of this thread and it’s well into hearsay and speculation territory on my part..

 

[FGW_DID]

What I heard about the signalling issues was that there was some interference between the trains and the axle counters. Is this the same issue as on the ECML or are they unrelated?

The majority of the discussion of this is on the relevant 800 threads. To answer your question, there was interference with a cable on one of the axle counters at Cholsey on the GWML. AFAIK no other problems have yet been identified, I think the issue on the ECML is that the signalling is older in certain places and therefore MAY also suffer similar.

 

[snowball]

I'm sure I must have read this upthread but what's the furthest west a test train is known to have run in electric mode?

 

[FGW_DID]

I'm sure I must have read this upthread but what's the furthest west a test train is known to have run in electric mode?

I think there has only been one run, Reading - Swindon with a pair of 802s.

I think there are pictures of them at Swindon somewhere way up thread ^

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

I'm sure I must have read this upthread but what's the furthest west a test train is known to have run in electric mode?

Through the OLE testing programme, an IET has made several runs all the way to Bristol Parkway on electric and at line-speed,

As mentioned above, there was an empty stock move to Swindon a few weeks back using the wires - this is the furthest a GWR operated unit has gone I believe.

 

[FGW_DID]

Through the OLE testing programme, an IET has made several runs all the way to Bristol Parkway on electric and at line-speed,

When was this?

 

[Thatcham Xing]

Between Racecourse and Thatcham as I understand

Thanks again, kind of what I expected. You wouldn't want the process taking place (at linespeed) too close to the phyiscal end of the wires.

Probably also means that the wires over the through lines at Newbury itself won't see much use.

 

[59CosG95]

Thanks again, kind of what I expected. You wouldn't want the process taking place (at linespeed) too close to the phyiscal end of the wires.

Probably also means that the wires over the through lines at Newbury itself won't see much use.

Better, though, to wire them now than having to come back once Newbury-Taunton (and obvs Taunton-Bristol) has a business case.

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

When was this?

The early hours of Sunday 7th (turning back at Chipping Sodbury) and then Friday 19th of October between Parkway and Wootton Bassett.The final, fastest runs were made under headcodes 5Z78 and 5Z57 respectively.