Great Western Electrification Progress

[Peter C]

If they do that?. Will it mean having to have mid-platform signals, like at Bristol.

Or to be able to put another platform behind platform 4, they would probably have to demolish the old panel box building.

To put another platform next to Platform 4, the road which runs alongside the station and to University flats would have to be altered in some way.

-Peter

 

[CharlesR]

If they do that?. Will it mean having to have mid-platform signals, like at Bristol.

Or to be able to put another platform behind platform 4, they would probably have to demolish the old panel box building.

Oxford is in a very crammed environment and it would certainly be uneasy to do this.

 

[JamesT]

To put another platform next to Platform 4, the road which runs alongside the station and to University flats would have to be altered in some way.

https://www.oxford.gov.uk/downloads/download/882/oxford_station_spd has some details on what the council would like to see in a revamped station. You would have a platform 5 behind platform 4, demolishing the youth hostel and removing Roger Dudman Way at least for the part that's behind the station. Which is mostly fine as you've got Cripley Road instead. Though the map doesn't quite show how it then gets across Castle Mill Stream. A new bridge coming off Abbey Road and demolishing the nursery?

 

[Peter C]

https://www.oxford.gov.uk/downloads/download/882/oxford_station_spd has some details on what the council would like to see in a revamped station. You would have a platform 5 behind platform 4, demolishing the youth hostel and removing Roger Dudman Way at least for the part that's behind the station. Which is mostly fine as you've got Cripley Road instead. Though the map doesn't quite show how it then gets across Castle Mill Stream. A new bridge coming off Abbey Road and demolishing the nursery?

OK. I'll make sure to have a look into this when I have some time.

-Peter

 

[coppercapped]

OK. Thanks for the response.
You say that there are proposals to add another down platform line at Oxford. Having been to Oxford many, many times, I can say that there is just no room to add another line in the station area. Do you mean that they will be adding another line on the approach to the down platform? In that case, yes, there should be room.

-Peter

The proposal is to turn the Down platform 4 into an island by adding another face on the west - this is badly needed as a late arriving stopper holds up the faster train immediately behind. To make room for the track the Youth Hostel will have to be demolished and the Botley Road bridge widened for trains. In any event the Oxford Council is considering rebuilding the Botley Road bridge to widen the road and give more headroom so the two things may be combined. In addition there are proposals to rebuild the station (subject to funding), another report is here.

 

[Peter C]

The proposal is to turn the Down platform 4 into an island by adding another face on the west - this is badly needed as a late arriving stopper holds up the faster train immediately behind. To make room for the track the Youth Hostel will have to be demolished and the Botley Road bridge widened for trains. In any event the Oxford Council is considering rebuilding the Botley Road bridge to widen the road and give more headroom so the two things may be combined. In addition there are proposals to rebuild the station (subject to funding), another report is here.

If they do turn Platform 4 into an island platform, that will be weird. I've gone trainspotting at Oxford many a time, and I always sit on Platform 4. After going there so many times, it would be odd to see it after it's been changed.

-Peter

 

[swt_passenger]

OK. Thanks for the response.
You say that there are proposals to add another down platform line at Oxford. Having been to Oxford many, many times, I can say that there is just no room to add another line in the station area. Do you mean that they will be adding another line on the approach to the down platform? In that case, yes, there should be room.

-Peter

It isn’t wise to guess is it? There is so much evidence already online that a new P5 is intended on the opposite side of an island with the existing P4. As others have pointed out. I think we have a thread somewhere with the NR track layout sketches shown.

This post includes a link to NR presentation slides showing various phases:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/oxford-area-improvements.155460/#post-3151529

 

[jimm]

The proposal is to turn the Down platform 4 into an island by adding another face on the west - this is badly needed as a late arriving stopper holds up the faster train immediately behind. To make room for the track the Youth Hostel will have to be demolished and the Botley Road bridge widened for trains. In any event the Oxford Council is considering rebuilding the Botley Road bridge to widen the road and give more headroom so the two things may be combined. In addition there are proposals to rebuild the station (subject to funding), another report is here.

The proposals to replace the Botley Road overbridge and expand Oxford station are intimately connected. The existing road bridge must be replaced to allow for any extra tracks into the station from the south, so the idea is to take the opportunity to also sort out the issues with the road and footpaths underneath.

When it all might happen is another matter.

 

[MarkLong]

No list will be published.
It has been clearly stated by the DfT, Network Rail and the ORR that in Control Period 6 (CP6) there will be no published shopping list of proposed enhancements to the network. This is to avoid the problems which were apparent in CP4 and especially so in CP5 that projects were listed in the DfT's High Level Output Specification (HLOS) before sufficient design work had been completed to permit accurate costings and timescales to be prepared.

In this control period enhancements will be announced when all the plans and costings for a particular project have been agreed and the cash flows are acceptable within the DfT's budgets. Don't forget that Network Rail is now nationalised and cannot borrow money on the open market - it now has to live within its means.

Get it with thanks！

 

[robk23oxf]

When it all might happen is another matter.

The date keeps slipping back all the time. There was talk of doing it in 2016.

 

[Linda.smith]

Well bit of news guys, over the past two weeks, the gap between Somerton Bridge and Caerlleon bridge has finally begun to shrink, as several portals and booms have been erected. Also more portals have gone up on the usk river bridge in newport. It also looks like they are gearing up to close these gaps even more over the easter blockade, as a lot of equipment seems to be coming into the Newport sites for this project.

 

[59CosG95]

GWML Electrification: State of Play, as of week commencing 15/4/19.
All mileages given from Paddington, except where noted.
Paddington to Wootton Bassett Jct - LIVE

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

Small Points

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

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

• Both lines are LIVE (but not signed off for passenger use) from Wootton Bassett Jct to Christian Malford (93m 31ch) as of 0800 on 07/04/2019. Authorisation for passenger use is due to come on the morning of Easter Sunday (the 21st of April).
• Catenary, contact & Earth wires are up over/adj. to both lines from Cocklebury Lane to Wootton Bassett Jct.
• Limit of AT Feeding: the Auto-Transformer at Christian Malford.

Chippenham (Cocklebury Lane Bridge) - Thingley Jct

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

Thingley Jct - Keynsham

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

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

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

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

Filton Jct - Severn Tunnel

• Stoke Gifford IET Depot all wired - and energised.
• Patchway Tunnels conductor rail installed.
• Wires extend westwards from Filton Jct through Patchway and Pilning (across all lines) to the Severn Tunnel (on BOTH lines).
• Cattybrook Brickworks Bridge closed since 18/3/18.

Severn Tunnel - Newport
Due to have IETs in AC service by next year - hopefully sooner!

• Severn Tunnel Conductor rail in place. Wires are now continuous from the Western tunnel mouth up to a point west of Platforms 3 & 4 at STJ Station; this is now the most westerly point of continuous OLE from Paddington.
• The Up Tunnel Loop between STJ & the Tunnel is fully wired.
• All large steelwork now appears to be in position at Severn Tunnel Junction; roughly 85-90% of the cantilevers/SPS/Tensorex is also up. (NB: This includes the overruns towards Caldicot on the lines to Chepstow.)
• Ground trunking currently being installed at STJ in preparation for the electrical feed.
• Feeder cables now hang from both the eastern set and western set of Switchgear Masts.
• Masts going up between the M4 Bridge & Bishton Flyover. These include:
  • Between Undy (Church Rd Bridge) and the M4 viaduct; these are mainly TTCs but also include an MPA Portal. Looks pretty much wire-ready.
  • Two opposing pairs of TTC masts have gone up between Church Rd Bridge & the Playing Fields Footbridge.
  • Two large uprights have gone up between Undy Playing Fields footbridge & "the ramp" bridge at Magor on opposite sides of the line; these may well take a portal boom.
  • Another 3 masts (two for a portal boom, one a TTC with boom up) have appeared east of "the ramp" bridge at Magor; these join the sole TTC on the Up side by the bridge.
  • 4 TTCs are up west of "the ramp" bridge; at least 3 bear SPS. West of these, a Portal (due to take mid-point anchor terminations) has gone up.
  • The signal gantry at Magor (west of the West End Footbridge) has been replaced by 4 signals on posts; this should mean its removal prior to electrification is imminent. A TTC with SPS is up over the Mains there too.
  • Around the aforementioned doomed signal gantry, another MPA Portal and a 3-track portal have gone up, as well as more 4-track Portals & TTCs - the gap is closing!
  • 1 mast is up to the west of Redwick Rd Bridge (by the Down Relief), and a mast due to bear a portal is up to the east of Whitewall Footbridge (by the Up Main). A "Slim" TTC is up over the centre pair of lines just east of Redwick Rd bridge. OTP is in place for a masting operation by Redwick Rd compound.
  • This area of Magor (the site of the old station) still has a few gaps.
  • Plenty of TTCs (all of them, perhaps?) and a 4-track portal are up between the A4810 and the bridge over the eastern end of Bishton Flyover. Steelwork (mainly TTCs) continues to a large Tensorex Anchor Portal at the eastern end of Bishton Flyover.
  • Masts (with SPS fitted) up between Bishton Flyover (including over it) and Llanwern West Jct (156m 20ch). 5 masts are currently up on the curve down from the flyover at its eastern end.
  • Over Bishton LC, ALL wires (2 Earths, 2 ATFs, and 4 C&C pairs) are now up. This continues past LLanwern Steelworks on all lines, with the Up Main (and perhaps Down Main) now wired as far as Somerton Rd Bridge.
• A run of Earth Wires & ATF wires have been strung up on the Relief side (adjacent to the DR) between Llanwern Works East Connection & Llanwern West Jct. The AEW on the Up side now continues to past Lliswerry Pond, where Bird Flight Deflectors have been installed.
• 6-track portals, probably 'Vierendeels', going up around East Usk Yard (approx. MP157 1/2).
• Between the Maindee Jcts (157m 74ch to 158m 16ch), a cluster of piles is in beside the Down Relief; these are complemented by masted piles on the Main side (adjacent to the Up Main).
• Caerleon Rd Overbridge to be refurbished in 2 phases - 20/7/18 to 30/11/18 (done), and then January ‘19 to March ‘19 (done?).
• Some SPS has now gone up between Maindee West & Maindee East; between Maindee West & Maindee North Jct (41m 03ch from the former Rotherwas Jct, just south of Hereford; the ELR for the southern part of the Marches Line), masts with TTCs on are also going up (as overruns) over the Marches Line; the termination mast & associated TTC are just north of signal "NT 1559".
• The gap between the Maindee Triangle (Caerleon Rd Bridge) & East Usk Yard (Somerton Rd Bridge) is closing, with the erection of a number of back-to-back non-Series 1 TTCs in East Usk Yard.
• Fixings for masts have now been installed on the Usk Bridge; the first masts and booms for 4 track portals went in on 17/2/19, with the rest following over the weekend of 13-14/4/19. A Tensorex portal is up immediately east of the bridge. Two booms and 1 mast remain to be installed at the western end.

Newport

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

Newport - Cardiff

• Plenty masts up around Gaer Jct (159m 32ch) north of Cardiff Rd Bridge (the B4237):
  • one by the Down Relief;
  • two by the Up Main (one of which is a boomed TTC with SPS);
  • three by the Gaer Jct - Park Jct Chord.
• Around 6 piles are in adjacent to the Up Main between Gaer Jct and Ebbw Jct (160m 07ch); these will probably take masts for portal booms. One such boom appears to have gone in! Currently unknown if Alexandra Dock Jct Yard will be electrified.
• Lots of steelwork up immediately behind the signal gantry adjacent to the Up Main at Ebbw Jct; this includes a full portal boom and a TTC acting as an overrun mast on the Ebbw Vale branch.
• Almost all steelwork up from Ebbw Jct to Long Dyke Jct (169m 35ch) east of Cardiff Central; most SPS is now up too.
• ATF wire installed on the Up Main between Lighthouse Rd & New Dairy Farm bridges. In the Up direction, the Earth Wire is in place until just before the bridge over the Ebbw River.
• Wires up across all 4 tracks between Pengam Jct (168m 40ch) & Wentloog FLT (in the Rumney area) - lengths of these are all unknown.
• About 4 or 5 portals have been erected just west of Pengam Jct; 5 masts are up on the Up side east of Rover Lane bridge, complemented by 2 on the Down side.
• 1 run of C&C has gone up between Moorland Road Jct (168m 65ch) and Long Dyke Jct (169m 35ch) over the Reliefs; this is assumed to be a crossover as it crosses from one Relief line to the other.
• At Long Dyke Jct, all masts are up, and the ATF wire is now up over the Relief Lines.
• In the Pellet St area, a Mid Point Anchor Portal Boom has now gone up.
• Just east of St. Mary's St Bridge, 2 hexagonal Tensorex Portals have been erected over all tracks.
• Over the bridge over St. Mary's Street in Cardiff (just east of Central), and immediately to the west of the bridge, 5 portal booms spanning all tracks have gone up.
• Similar bespoke mast foundations are going in just east of Bute St Bridge, near the junction with the line from Queen Street.
• Splott Rd Bridge upgrade work now complete.

Cardiff Central - Platforms 0-4 to be wired

• Re-signalling completed. Platform 0 now open. 3 masts now up over P0/1 with TTC booms.
• Piling underway at the extreme ends of P1/2 & P3/4 for future masts.
• An Anchor Portal (of the hexagonal "TGBU" variety) has gone up over P2/3, just east of the canopies. This is the first portal over the Through Lines.
• Adjacent to the London End Anchor Portal, a TTC for the P4 line has also been erected. Another TTC mast for P4 appears to have gone up at the country end.
• Another TTC mast for P2 & the Up Through Line has gone up at the Country End of the station.
• Brackets appear to be in place on the coping stones on the Taff Viaduct (at the western end of the station).
• Plenty piles up adjacent to Cardiff Canton. A number of these now appear to have masts on them, as seen from a westward-facing shot from Central. Portals next?
• Brickwork Sidings to be increased in length (and electrified) to accommodate GWR Class 387s; the first masts and cantilevers have now gone up, with around 2 boomed TTCs and 2 STCs in position.
• Proposed Limit of Wiring: Leckwith Loop North Jct (171m 55ch) at a guess.

Swansea IEP Depot

• New IEP Depot at Maliphant Sidings, Swansea now complete; all steelwork up. SPS, such as Insulators, Switchgear and Cantilevers have all been taken down, leaving only bare masts/booms in situ.

GWML/SWML Blockade Works (2018):

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

GWML/SWML Blockade Works (2019):

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

Berks & Hants Line (Reading-Newbury) - LIVE
Electric trains in squadron service.

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

Project Postponements

• Thames Valley Branches: Windsor & Henley deferred to CP6. Marlow removed from scope of current programme. The first few yards of each branch (bar the Henley Branch) have been wired as an overrun.
• Southcote Jct to Basingstoke has also been deferred to CP6.
• Appleford LC to Oxford paused; if CP6 accounts allow for wiring to be extended to Oxford, it would be very likely to happen now that Oxford has been remodelled.
• Catenary & Contact wires between Chippenham (Cocklebury Lane Overbridge) & Thingley Jct have been deferred until (presumably) CP6. All Large steelwork to remain, unless required elsewhere.
• Bristol Temple Meads to Bath & Bristol Parkway paused, dependent on Bristol resignalling (Taunton-Parkway over Easter 2018, Temple Meads to Bath in November 2018 - both done; the WSM stretch from Flax Bourton Tunnel to Cogload Jct remains outstanding), track remodelling and Filton Bank 4-tracking (done).
• Bristol Temple Meads' "Midland Shed" to be reopened in CP6, after Bristol resignalling is complete and the PSB is demolished.

As always, do let me know if I've missed anything!
(apologies to anyone who saw it in a state of source code chaos too).

 

[kevin_roche]

Southcote Jct to Basingstoke has also been deferred to CP6.

If anyone knows when this is likely I'd be interested to know. Presumably EMUs will be quicker than the current trains on this route.

 

[swt_passenger]

If anyone knows when this is likely I'd be interested to know. Presumably EMUs will be quicker than the current trains on this route.

The last enhancement delivery plan (Dec 18) still read “assumed CP6” against most milestones for this sub-project. Just seems to be reasonable evidence that it isn’t actually “cancelled”, as has been discussed many times in this thread.

 

[kevin_roche]

The last enhancement delivery plan (Dec 18) still read “assumed CP6” against most milestones for this sub-project. Just seems to be reasonable evidence that it isn’t actually “cancelled”, as has been discussed many times in this thread.

I'm hoping that with faster trains we will eventually be able to add a station at Chineham. The last time it was investigated it seemed that there was only capacity for one extra stop on the line because of the number of trains available. Green Park was chosen. I don't know if electric trains could make the journey with two extra stops in the half hour available but it would be great if they could. Pure speculation on my part that it might be possible.

 

[59CosG95]

I'm hoping that with faster trains we will eventually be able to add a station at Chineham. The last time it was investigated it seemed that there was only capacity for one extra stop on the line because of the number of trains available. Green Park was chosen. I don't know if electric trains could make the journey with two extra stops in the half hour available but it would be great if they could. Pure speculation on my part that it might be possible.

As I understand it, a station at Chineham would only become viable if EMUs were used (faster rate of acceleration than 16x units) if the current schedule is maintained.

 

[Unclepete]

Hi all,
There’s a note at the top of the stairs on the new footbridge in Newbury, that the lifts will finally be open on 19th April

 

[MarkLong]

https://utilityweek.co.uk/smart-electrification-cheapest-way-decarbonise-heat/

It is not directly related to GEWL, sorry. But Anyone can explain what the "smart electrification" is?

 

[swt_passenger]

May be deleted.

 

[Linda.smith]

Via Network rail:

The following is a synopsys of the work that is happening during the blockade this easter weekend

A 700-strong Network Rail team, supported by a large fleet of engineering trains, road-rail vehicles and specialist machinery, will be working around the clock to prepare the railway between the Severn Tunnel and Cardiff for trains to run on electricity.

This significant work includes installing 25 foundations, 40 masts and 250 smaller steel components needed to support the overhead line equipment (OLE). Over 32km of wire will also be installed along the mainline from the Severn Tunnel to the west of Cardiff Central station.

So it looks like there will be some signifficant improvement towards the completion of this project from Severn tunnel to Newport this weekend.

On a differing topic, i have noticed that the class 800 locomotives are only running on 25kv from Bristol to London. From Swindon to Bristol, they seem to still be running on diesel traction. Anyone know why this is?

 

[59CosG95]

Via Network rail:

The following is a synopsys of the work that is happening during the blockade this easter weekend

A 700-strong Network Rail team, supported by a large fleet of engineering trains, road-rail vehicles and specialist machinery, will be working around the clock to prepare the railway between the Severn Tunnel and Cardiff for trains to run on electricity.

This significant work includes installing 25 foundations, 40 masts and 250 smaller steel components needed to support the overhead line equipment (OLE). Over 32km of wire will also be installed along the mainline from the Severn Tunnel to the west of Cardiff Central station.

So it looks like there will be some signifficant improvement towards the completion of this project from Severn tunnel to Newport this weekend.

On a differing topic, i have noticed that the class 800 locomotives are only running on 25kv from Bristol to London. From Swindon to Bristol, they seem to still be running on diesel traction. Anyone know why this is?

Indeed there does - I'm immensely looking forward to seeing the fruits of the bank holiday efforts this time next week!

Re the 800s/802s, there may be some specific unit faults, or driver knowledge, or a temporary diesel restriction imposed in at least one Weekly Operating Notice. @Mintona - might you be able to help with this?

 

[article17_gdpr]

Via Network rail:
...
On a differing topic, i have noticed that the class 800 locomotives are only running on 25kv from Bristol to London. From Swindon to Bristol, they seem to still be running on diesel traction. Anyone know why this is?

I was on a train from Swindon to Cardiff earlier and it seemed to be running on electric to Bristol. Certainly from timings seemed that way, we got there 7 minutes before we were due to leave. Hope they address this in the timetables in May.

Sounds like they plan to get a lot done over Easter, I wonder when they'll have it electrified to Newport.

 

[JN114]

Hope they address this in the timetables in May.

December for widespread IET running time introduction.

 

[DidcotDickie]

I was on a train from Swindon to Cardiff earlier and it seemed to be running on electric to Bristol. Certainly from timings seemed that way, we got there 7 minutes before we were due to leave. Hope they address this in the timetables in May.

Sounds like they plan to get a lot done over Easter, I wonder when they'll have it electrified to Newport.

I think the OP was referring to the route via Bath. The route from Swindon to Bristol Parkway has been energised and available for electric traction since around the beginning of the year.

The OLE on the line between Wootton Bassett junction and just east of Chippenham (where it runs out) was apparently successfully energised around 10 days ago but is not scheduled to be available for passenger use until 21st April according to what I have read elsewhere. From then IETs bound for Bristol via Bath will be able to continue westwards on electric as far as the power changeover point which I believe is between Christian Malford and Langley Burrell. Reverse applies to up trains.

 

[Mintona]

Indeed there does - I'm immensely looking forward to seeing the fruits of the bank holiday efforts this time next week!

Re the 800s/802s, there may be some specific unit faults, or driver knowledge, or a temporary diesel restriction imposed in at least one Weekly Operating Notice. @Mintona - might you be able to help with this?

There are no specific restrictions regarding the route (or there weren’t yesterday at least, I’m off today). But there are a few IETs with diesel-only restrictions on so more than likely the poster saw one of these.

 

[article17_gdpr]

I think the OP was referring to the route via Bath. The route from Swindon to Bristol Parkway has been energised and available for electric traction since around the beginning of the year.

The OLE on the line between Wootton Bassett junction and just east of Chippenham (where it runs out) was apparently successfully energised around 10 days ago but is not scheduled to be available for passenger use until 21st April according to what I have read elsewhere. From then IETs bound for Bristol via Bath will be able to continue westwards on electric as far as the power changeover point which I believe is between Christian Malford and Langley Burrell. Reverse applies to up trains.

I think it's likely he was on about the Bristol parkway route, as he mentions that it was running on overhead the other way. Which would be quite a feat considering its not up west of Chippenham. :P

 

[oglord]

On a differing topic, i have noticed that the class 800 locomotives are only running on 25kv from Bristol to London. From Swindon to Bristol, they seem to still be running on diesel traction. Anyone know why this is?

They certainly enter Parkway in Diesel mode, and despite the fact they pan-up in the up direction at Parkway, I have yet to see one enter Parkway electrically.

 

[FGW_DID]

The designated traction changeover point is the Swindon side of Bristol Parkway (in the Winterbourne Viaduct area). All down trains with the exception of stock heading to Stoke Gifford IET Depot will be on diesel when they enter BP station. Up trains can pan up whilst in BP station.

 

[oglord]

The designated traction changeover point is the Swindon side of Bristol Parkway (in the Winterbourne Viaduct area). All down trains with the exception of stock heading to Stoke Gifford IET Depot will be on diesel when they enter BP station. Up trains can pan up whilst in BP station.

Indeed; it does seem odd though that, since energisation of the section through the station itself, they don't changeover there, as they all stop.

 

[Mintona]

Indeed; it does seem odd though that, since energisation of the section through the station itself, they don't changeover there, as they all stop.

They don’t all stop there on a weekend when quite often trains from Temple Meads run fast to Swindon if there are works in the Box route. I guess it keeps things consistent for all trains.

It is possible to see a train arrive into Bristol Parkway in electric power if you’re there very early in the morning to watch some trains coming off the depot.