Great Western Electrification Progress

[Wychwood93]

That mileage sounds like all the way to cocklebury road as the station is at 93m 76ch. Christian malford is at least 4 or 5 miles east of Chippenham.

Christian Malford underbridge at 89m 76ch - 4 miles. Cocklebury Lane OB at 93m 31ch.

 

[Phil G]

Also when this is finally approved to cocklebury road, does anyone know where pan up / down will be?

 

[hwl]

The zero point is the same - it’s where the buffers of the platforms at Paddington used to be - the platforms at Paddington were shortened several times to their current length through history. The zero point is roughly where Yo Sushi in the “lawn” part of the Concourse.

Buffers are at 0m6ch on P1-8

 

[urpert]

This could end up as an additional thread, if the conversation develops - the 'zero' at Waterloo is at one of the platforms deeper into the concourse - perhaps 10? - I have it somewhere. Anyway, a couple of resignalling diagrams I have here somewhere are, you guessed! in kilometres and if, as with JN114s post above, are probably at the same notional point as the miles and chains. The diagrams I have, by the way, are Worting/Eastleigh and Bournemouth.

And the Victoria zero (at least on the Eastern side) is the buffer stop at platform 7 (which helpfully has ‘0y’ spray-painted on the side).

 

[GazK]

Christian Malford is an Auto Transformer site. When the OLE is energised to Chippenham it will form the limit of AT feeding. Classically fed from there the the limit of wiring, and no need for a neutral section.

 

[DidcotDickie]

Christian Malford is an Auto Transformer site. When the OLE is energised to Chippenham it will form the limit of AT feeding. Classically fed from there the the limit of wiring, and no need for a neutral section.

Thanks. Quick question - will that section of OLE be fed from Didcot or by the long 'extension lead' from Melksham and Thingley Junction?

 

[IrishDave]

The zero point is the same - it’s where the buffers of the platforms at Paddington used to be - the platforms at Paddington were shortened several times to their current length through history. The zero point is roughly where Yo Sushi in the “lawn” part of the Concourse.

I think the Paddington zero isn't where the buffers used to be, but rather it's where the GWR junction with the Metropolitan Railway used to be - that was the zero, and the buffers have always been a few chains west thereof.

 

[Sean Emmett]

I think the Paddington zero isn't where the buffers used to be, but rather it's where the GWR junction with the Metropolitan Railway used to be - that was the zero, and the buffers have always been a few chains west thereof.

I had always understood that GWR distances from Paddington were measured from the boundary of railway property in Praed Street.

The GWR predates the Met, does it not?

The quarter milepost was/is at the country end of the platforms at Paddington.

 

[GazK]

Thanks. Quick question - will that section of OLE be fed from Didcot or by the long 'extension lead' from Melksham and Thingley Junction?

Neither exactly - it will be fed from Wootton Bassett ATFS, which is in turn fed by the independent feeders coming from Thingley.

 

[59CosG95]

GWML Electrification: State of Play, as of 14/1/19.
All mileages given from Paddington, except where noted.
Paddington to Wootton Bassett Jct - LIVE

• All main line tracks wired as far as Wootton Bassett Jct, and are to be considered "live" as such. The envelope of "live" wires continues along the South Wales Main Line to Filton Jct (inc. Bristol Parkway), and to the Limits of Wiring on the Berks & Hants line and Reading-Basingstoke Line; details are given below.
• TTCs have replaced/been replacing headspans at various locations within London - locations include Westway (beneath the A40), Acton Main Line, Ealing Broadway, and between Southall & H&H. These are part of the works for the Elizabeth Line.
• Everything wired at Reading (bar P4-6 which were never in the plan). Includes the TCD & the curves, down to Reading West (see B&H section).
• West of Didcot Parkway, all lines are wired & live heading towards Swindon.
• Everything wired at Swindon (bar the goods lines north of P1, where provision is provided).

Small Points

• ATF wires in operation from Maidenhead to Wootton Bassett; Kensal Green to Maidenhead currently only using return conductors but will be AT-ready in the near future. Some AT wires up along this stretch now; whether they are live remains to be seen.
• At Ealing Broadway, the staircase to P2/3 has been demolished and replacement with a new structure as part of the Crossrail works is now complete.
• Parapet Work extended upwards at Southbury Lane Bridge, Ruscombe; the wing walls remain unfinished. Original Coping stones have now been replaced. Butts Hill Rd is now complete & reopened; cladding is now also complete on the outer (i.e. rail) side.
• Platforms are being extended at Cholsey (country end), Goring & Streatley (London end), Pangbourne (country end), & Tilehurst (1 & 4 country end; 2 & 3 London end).
• Few masts and cantilevers now up on the Didcot Avoiding Line, which finish at Appleford; Appleford LC being the limit of structures for the time being.
• Oxford Lines west of Didcot Pkwy wired as far as the loco fuelling sdg; Down Oxford as far as 53m 31ch, Up Oxford as far as 53m 42ch. Didcot avoiding lines have sprouted masts (4 portals, 2 TTCs), with a wire pair over the Down Didcot Avoider.
• A note on Steventon: Wires up under the High St Bridge (aka the "Brunel Bridge"); however, the bridge may well be demolished in CP6. "Temporary" parapet work to protect passers-by from stray currents now complete. Wires west of Causeway Crossing are only authorised for passenger service on 80x trains in both directions, however, 387s are allowed to run empty to/from Cocklebury sidings under AC. The discussion continues.
• Overruns through Swindon Jct (77m 36ch) onto the Golden Valley Line have also been wired.
• Swindon Cocklebury Sidings in operation for Class 387 stabling as of 2/1/19.

The "Main Line"; Wootton Bassett Jct - Chippenham (Cocklebury Lane Bridge)
Until further notice, the 25kV transmission wires will run in a trough from Cocklebury Lane Bridge (just east of Chippenham) to Thingley Jct. Large steelwork is expected to remain in situ until wiring is authorised west of Thingley, but some specific items may be poached if required elsewhere (and duplicates aren't stored at RAF Wroughton). Details given in the "Postponements" section.

• Both lines are to be considered LIVE (but not signed off for passenger use) from Wootton Bassett Jct to Christian Malford (93m 31ch) as of 10/2/2019.
• Catenary, contact & Earth wires are up over/adj. to both lines from Cocklebury Lane to Wootton Bassett Jct.
• ATF wires are now up from Wootton Bassett as far as the Auto-Transformer at Christian Malford. So far, this will be the western limit of AT feeding on the main line towards Bath.

Chippenham (Cocklebury Lane Bridge) - Thingley Jct

• No piles in Chippenham station, nor any masts affixed to the viaduct.
• All piles in and majority of masts (and cantilevers) up from the western end of the viaduct to Thingley Junction (where the feeder station will be). Most TTCs have booms from beyond the viaduct to Thingley East Junction. About 14 masts are up in the vicinity of Thingley Feeder Stn, 2 of which have TTC booms affixed. Another has an STC boom.
• Piles continue westwards to the next bridge.

Thingley Jct - Keynsham

• No wiring for the foreseeable future, but overbridges between Thingley Jct & Box Tunnel have all been rebuilt. Corsham Main Road Bridge needs its parapets raising. New aqueduct & footbridge at Corsham complete.
• Both Box & Middle Hill Tunnels have had track lowered.
• A new footbridge has been built at Ashley Box.
• Piles also in (and have been for over a year) at Ashley (beyond Box Tunnel) - these might well be trial piles.
• Bathampton Jct to beyond Sydney Gardens has had track lowered. A new signal gantry at Bathampton Jct was installed over Xmas 2017 but is not yet in use.
• Bath Spa platforms realigned & raised, with track also slewed.
• Track through Oldfield Park & Keynsham now lowered.
• A lot of piles are in along the embankment around Saltford and Keynsham in readiness for future wiring.

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

Wootton Bassett Jct to Filton Jct (inc. Bristol Parkway) - LIVE

• Wires from Wootton Bassett Jct to Bristol Parkway in passenger service since 30/12/18.
• All 6 through Lines at Bristol Parkway have been wired and are live.
• Live wires continue to Filton Jct & Stoke Gifford IEP Depot; Chipping Sodbury Goods Loop and the Cheltenham Curve overrun (as far as the limit of wiring) are also fully wired and live.
  • Limit of Live Wires on the Filton Lines (+ Down Bristol Parkway Relief): 112m 23ch.
  • Limit of Live Wires on the Charfield Lines (from Westerleigh Jct): 120m 59ch.
• Filton Bank bridge works (mileages all from Temple Meads):
  • Easton Rd Overbridge (1m 18ch) completely rebuilt.
  • Narroways FB (2m 12ch) & Ashley Hill FB (3m 11ch) replaced.
  • Bonnington Walk Overbridge (3m 62ch) - parapets raised.
  • FB south of Filton Abbey Wood (4m 18ch) will need work if wiring is to occur.

Filton Jct - Severn Tunnel

• The Summer 2018 Patchway/Severn Tunnel Blockade is now complete.
• Stoke Gifford IET Depot all wired - only the arrival road & sidings are energised. Some roads may also be energised, however the wheel lathe road is dead from the lathe shed to the buffer stops.
• Patchway Tunnels conductor rail installed.
• Wires extend westwards from Filton Jct through Patchway and Pilning (across all lines) to Ableton Lane Tunnel (10m 51ch to 10m 55ch; from Bristol Temple Meads); this carries the A403 over the line and is the last tunnel before the Severn Tunnel.
  • Cattybrook Brickworks Bridge closed as of 18/3/18.
  
  Severn Tunnel - Newport
  Due to have IETs in AC service by next year - hopefully sooner!
  • Severn Tunnel Conductor rail in place. A number of masts on both sides of the 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.
  • Virtually all masts & booms (where relevant) now in position at Severn Tunnel Junction. Cantilevers/SPS also in evidence.
  • Feeder cables now hang from both the eastern set and western set of Switchgear Masts.
  • All bridge rebuilding complete from Severn Tunnel Jct (149m 14ch) to Bishton Flyover (152m 30ch).
  • Masts going up between Severn Tunnel Jct & Bishton Flyover. These include:
    • At least 11 between Undy (Church Rd Bridge) 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 opposing pairs of TTC masts have gone up between Church Rd Bridge & the Playing Fields Footbridge.
    • Two large uprights have gone up between Undy Playing Fields footbridge & "the ramp" bridge at Magor on opposite sides of the line; these may well take a portal boom.
    • Another 3 masts (two for a portal boom, one a TTC with boom up) have appeared east of "the ramp" bridge at Magor; these join the sole TTC on the Up side by the bridge.
    • 3 of the 4 TTCs west of "the ramp" bridge (2 on the Down side, 1 on the Up side) bear SPS; a 4th TTC has been boomed on the up, opposite the more western boom on the Down side.
    • 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). A "Slim" TTC is up over the centre pair of lines just east of Redwick Rd bridge. OTP is in place for a masting operation by Redwick Rd compound.
    • One 4-track portal is up between the A4810 and the bridge over the eastern end of Bishton Flyover.
    • Masts (with SPS fitted) up between Bishton Flyover (including over it) and Llanwern West Jct (156m 20ch). 5 masts are currently up on the curve down from the flyover at its eastern end.
    • Plenty single masts (with SPS fitted & folded) up along the Mains between the Flyover and Bishton LC. A run of Earth wire is now up on the Up side at Bishton.
  • Between Bishton LC (153m 01ch) and Llanwern Golf Course, 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). 4 masts (3 over the Mains, 1 over the Reliefs) also have booms & SPS immediately west of the LC.
  • A run of Earth Wires & ATF wires have been strung up on the Relief side (adjacent to the DR) between Llanwern Works East Connection & Llanwern West Jct.
  • All 4 lines are now wired past Llanwern Steelworks.
  • Some masts have sprouted near Lliswerry pond.
  • Piling taking place until Christmas Eve between Lliswerry & Maindee - presumed complete.
  • 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).
  • Wires up across all 4 tracks between Pengam Jct & Wentloog FLT - lengths of these are all unknown.
  • 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.
  • 1 run of C&C has gone up between Moorland Road Jct (168m 65ch) and Long Dyke Jct (169m 35ch) over the Reliefs; this is assumed to be a crossover as it crosses from one Relief line to the other.
  • A handful of masts are also up around Long Dyke Jct; some have now gained TTC booms and SPS as well.
  • Over the bridge over St. Mary's Street in Cardiff (just east of Central), and immediately to the west of the bridge, 5 portal booms spanning all tracks have gone up.
  • Similar bespoke mast foundations are going in just east of Bute St Bridge, near the junction with the line from Queen Street.
  • Splott Rd Bridge upgrade work now complete.
  Cardiff Central - Platforms 0-4 to be wired
  • Re-signalling completed. Platform 0 now open. 3 masts now up over P0/1 with TTC booms.
  • Piling underway at the extreme ends of P1/2 & P3/4 for future masts. 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 Blockade Works (2018):
  • 6/7 to 3/12: Reduced capacity (2 lines only) for wiring work between Newport & Cardiff Ctl.
  • 15/9 to 6/10, and 13/10 to 14/10: Bristol Parkway electrified.
  • 27/10 to 18/11, 24-25/11, 1-2/12: Filton Bank 4-tracked.
  • 11/11: Bristol TM to Bath Spa resignalled.
  • December blockades at Bristol Parkway & Didcot Parkway done.
  • Christmas-New Year Blockade at Severn Tunnel Jct done.
  
  GWML/SWML Blockade Works (2019):
  • 20/1/19: Newport to Bridgend blockaded (inc. Cardiff Central) for electrification work AT Cardiff Central.
  • 10/2/19: Newport to Bridgend blockaded (inc. Cardiff Central) for electrification work AT Cardiff Central.
  • 17/2/19: Bristol Parkway to Newport blockaded for electrification work, presumably at Severn Tunnel Jct.
  • 31/3/19: Newport to Bridgend blockaded (inc. Cardiff Central) for electrification work AT Cardiff Central.
  • 19/4/19 to 22/4/19: Bristol Parkway to Newport blockaded for electrification work in the Severn Tunnel.
  • 27/4/19 to 28/4/19: Bristol Parkway to Newport blockaded for electrification work in the Severn Tunnel.
  • More Blockades will follow; details as they become available.
  
  Berks & Hants Line (Reading-Newbury) - LIVE
  Electric trains in squadron service.
  • Wires from Oxford Rd Jct are 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.
  • Class 387s are now in service on Reading-Newbury services as of 31/12/18.
  • Within Reading West, piles for the new footbridge (under Murphy's remit) are in, but have been "decapitated" (i.e. shortened) and capped until a new footbridge solution is found.
  • Parapet work for Tilehurst Rd overbridge is now underway. Both lanes are open on the road once more.
  • Platforms extended at Reading West, Theale, Aldermaston and Thatcham.
  • Newbury's new footbridge is now open - the lifts are not yet working, causing much local amusement/bemusement.
  • Immunised signalling continues to about MP55 1/2. Bedwyn Turnback Siding now extended to accommodate 5-car IETs.
  
  Project Postponements
  • Thames Valley Branches: Windsor & Henley deferred to CP6. Marlow removed from scope of current programme. The first few yards of each branch (bar the Henley Branch) have been wired as an overrun.
  • Southcote Jct to Basingstoke has also been deferred to CP6.
  • Appleford LC to Oxford paused; if CP6 accounts allow for wiring to be extended to Oxford, it would be very likely to happen now that Oxford has been remodelled.
  • Catenary & Contact wires between Chippenham (Cocklebury Lane Overbridge) & Thingley Jct have been deferred until (presumably) CP6. All Large steelwork to remain, unless required elsewhere.
  • Bristol Temple Meads to Bath & Bristol Parkway paused, dependent on Bristol resignalling (Taunton-Parkway over Easter 2018, Temple Meads to Bath in November 2018 - both done; the WSM stretch from Flax Bourton Tunnel to Cogload Jct remains outstanding), track remodelling and Filton Bank 4-tracking (done).
  • Bristol Temple Meads' "Midland Shed" to be reopened in CP6, after Bristol resignalling is complete and the PSB is demolished.
  As always, do let me know if I've missed anything!
  (apologies to anyone who saw it in a state of source code chaos too).

 

[Richard Scott]

Was on 19.00 Paddington to Swansea yesterday and ran diesel from Swindon - any reason? Plenty of work going on at Newport - seems to be concentrating on the masts to the east of the station; dark so couldn't see what was going on but certainly a few workers working at height.

 

[59CosG95]

Was on 19.00 Paddington to Swansea yesterday and ran diesel from Swindon - any reason? Plenty of work going on at Newport - seems to be concentrating on the masts to the east of the station; dark so couldn't see what was going on but certainly a few workers working at height.

Might be a case of driver knowledge on AC - otherwise perhaps a unit-specific restriction. No idea why it wouldn't have been able to run west of Swindon on AC otherwise, if it arrived on AC.

 

[Richard Scott]

Might be a case of driver knowledge on AC - otherwise perhaps a unit-specific restriction. No idea why it wouldn't have been able to run west of Swindon on AC otherwise, if it arrived on AC.

Thanks for reply - was definitely on AC from Paddington to Swindon.

 

[reddragon]

Parapet work for Tilehurst Rd overbridge - more fixings have been put on the southern parapet and the first fixings on the northern parapet behind the heras fencing

 

[MikePJ]

Do we have any indication yet of the phasing of the remaining works? Are there going to be any more intermediate electrification openings (e.g. Bristol Parkway to Severn Tunnel Junction), or is it going to all open at once?

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

Do we have any indication yet of the phasing of the remaining works? Are there going to be any more intermediate electrification openings (e.g. Bristol Parkway to Severn Tunnel Junction), or is it going to all open at once? I

Wootton Bassett to just short of Chippenham should be operational by the end of March. Bristol-bound services, which currently pan-down at Swindon, will then be able to carry on under the wires up to the Langley Burrell area.

Currently, it seems that Bristol - Newport - Cardiff will be authorised into service as a single area - I haven't seen anything suggesting otherwise.

 

[MikePJ]

Thanks! I'm just about to start a new job that'll involving travelling between London and Cardiff, so I'm starting to take more of an interest in the GWML.

 

[Malcolmffc]

Please can someone explain what ATF wires are and what their advantages are?

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

Page 55 in Gary Keenor's excellent guide gives them an introduction.

The Auto-transformer-feeder system, in simple terms, allows for a greater consistency of power availability for trains on high-speed lines with a high frequency of service, where the demand for power is obviously high.

The downsides are increased use of materials, added construction time and an increase in the overal system height (in order to provide extra clearance for the ATF wires at the top of the masts). The latter issue increases the visual impact of the OLE whilst also add complexity when passing through bridges or built-up areas.

 

[Jurassicjewel]

I have not seen anything to indicate whether Network Rail have lodged an appeal yet with the Planning inspectorate over the fiasco at Steventon Bridge. Interestingly when on a trip and back from Swindon to Paddington on class 800's noted the switch from electric to diesel and back again to electric on the up service and vice versa on the down journey (both trains did not stop at Didcot), there is a drop off in speed from around 123 mph to 90 mph before picking up at Moreton Cutting on the up and on the return trip from 124 mph to about 115 before picking up again on AC west of "that bridge". Obviously this will not have a major effect on current timings but if the bridge is not demolished (should the appeal be successful- and I really hope it is a formality) in CP6 and when a new timetable is introduced, this could be be a bit of an issue so if anyone has any knowledge when the appeal is lodged I will be interested to know.

 

[hwl]

I have not seen anything to indicate whether Network Rail have lodged an appeal yet with the Planning inspectorate over the fiasco at Steventon Bridge. Interestingly when on a trip and back from Swindon to Paddington on class 800's noted the switch from electric to diesel and back again to electric on the up service and vice versa on the down journey (both trains did not stop at Didcot), there is a drop off in speed from around 123 mph to 90 mph before picking up at Moreton Cutting on the up and on the return trip from 124 mph to about 115 before picking up again on AC west of "that bridge". Obviously this will not have a major effect on current timings but if the bridge is not demolished (should the appeal be successful- and I really hope it is a formality) in CP6 and when a new timetable is introduced, this could be be a bit of an issue so if anyone has any knowledge when the appeal is lodged I will be interested to know.

covered earlier in this thread - The rail minister in a statement to the house (November) indicated that they NR had lodged an appeal.

 

[Jurassicjewel]

covered earlier in this thread - The rail minister in a statement to the house (November) indicated that they NR had lodged an appeal.

Thanks- look forward to a positive outcome on this

 

[Jurassicjewel]

From the minutes of Steventon Parish Council 4th December...

10.6. Village Infrastructure – Railway, Roads, Drains JB, RB, RG, JS, CW Mr Green would call an infrastructure meeting. A meeting of the railway working subgroup would be convened to discuss further content to be submitted to the appeal. The Parish Council could speak at the appeal but may be cross examined. A proposal for the Parish Council to be represented was proposed by Mr Bosley and seconded by Mr Bennett. Network Rail have asked for written submissions, but the Vale is asking or a public hearing. The Vale has appointed a QC to represent them and were looking for expert witnesses to consult on both engineering and heritage. Historic England would not be involved as they had not objected to the original application. VWHDC are defending the decision by elected members against the recommendation of the Planning Officer.

 

[zn1]

in the time it has taken to string up the great western, brunel and his contractors could built the line from scratch 3 times over with string installed !! i can be assured that in the next life Brunel, stephenson, peto etc are laughing at this effort !!

 

[hwl]

VWHDC are defending the decision by elected members against the recommendation of the Planning Officer.

Which usually doesn't end well for a council on appeal

 

[Muzer]

in the time it has taken to string up the great western, brunel and his contractors could built the line from scratch 3 times over with string installed !! i can be assured that in the next life Brunel, stephenson, peto etc are laughing at this effort !!

Laughing while standing on the graves of all the dead caused by poor safety standards, yes! Building infrastructure with the blood of the Irish is rather out of vogue these days.

 

[JN114]

The Parish Council could speak at the appeal but may be cross examined.

So they’re concerned someone might ask why they’re appealing against the advice of every expert and agency involved so far.

 

[hwl]

So they’re concerned someone might ask why they’re appealing against the advice of every expert and agency involved so far.

Yep and what their viable alternative is in detail to get picked apart

 

[HowardGWR]

Which usually doesn't end well for a council on appeal

My experience, as a long-in-the-tooth environmental campaigner, is that also, if the statutory body does not object to an application (in this case English Heritage as it is a listed building consent) you can forget your objection succeeding. Even if EH were to object, the outcome is not certain, as environmental statutory bodies have been grossly devalued, in policy terms and also their budgets, by recent governments. Even a regional office may only have one or two officers concerned with policy and legal matters. The cards are all stacked in favour of developers, in this case NR.

 

[Thunderer]

General query on the GWML electrification..the Catenary wires seem lower on the GWML than on the WCML, GEML and the ECML - is there a specific reason for this?