lewisf
Member
BBC points west were reporting today that electrification started last night, but I think it was actually that the HOPS train was starting work.
If it's the same report as the one on BBC South Today, then it was just really about the HOPS MPV at work. Paul Clifton seems to be quite the optimist though: Oxford, Bristol and South Wales all to be electrified by this MPV by 2016.
I do wonder if this Ho-Ha is NR Getting the HOPS fully commissioned and all the MPVs into service then, as a HOPS MPVs have been very slowly at work since the winter/spring of this year.
Here is the link for the video, you will have to be quick there is only 15 hours left!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04d8qxn/bbc-oxford-news-12082014
Hi, am I right in thinking NR ordered more that one of these HOPS units?
If so, when's the next one due to be up & running?
Can't wait to see the line finished in two years time and does anyone know what the number of the MPV Brunel?
Hi, am I right in thinking NR ordered more that one of these HOPS units?
If so, when's the next one due to be up & running?
I believe they tendered for two but ultimately decided to only buy one and instead reactivate an older mothballed wiring train.
I believe they tendered for two but ultimately decided to only buy one and instead reactivate an older mothballed wiring train.
Now I come to think of it, isn't there supposed to be a deadicated unit for MML?
There are several (non-HOPS) wiring trains around, with 2 others currently at work: in the north west (Balfour Beatty) and in Scotland (Carillion).
Balfour Beatty are also using one east of Maidenhead, but whether they are time-sharing with the north west one I don't know.
Nor is it clear if these are NR machines hired by the contractors, or their own.
The north west one certainly has Balfour Beatty plastered all over it.
What wiring trains get used when the knitting comes down? Do Network Rail have use of a spare one, which can be used on small infrastructure projects, or do they have to steal one off of a wiring job?
Mystic Meg prediction (cheating after lunch with Network rail employees today)
There shall be no electrification to Swansea and Wires to Bristol will be delayed by 2 years
Right off to the bookies to see what odds are
It would be very difficult to "un-announce" Swansea.
They'll find a way to do the main line, whatever the disagreement between Westminster and Cardiff Bay.
Timescale is another thing though.
Mystic Meg prediction (cheating after lunch with Network rail employees today)
There shall be no electrification to Swansea
I don't think it will happen at all mate they are so over budget and behind schedule I think we will be lucky to see it get to Cardiff..
But let's say I don't think Swansea will be done by 2020
I don't think it will happen at all mate they are so over budget and behind schedule I think we will be lucky to see it get to Cardiff..
But let's say I don't think Swansea will be done by 2020
To hell with anything west of Didcot. They have good quality stock. Just electrify to Oxford and Newbury to mop up surplus 319s to release DMUs for areas with Pacers or where there is a shortage. Introduce IEP on East Coast first and cascade displaced HSTs to GWML until overspend can be brought under control.