Great Western Electrification Progress

[swt_passenger]

Oh,

I thought the 387s were due to start running from "summer" which I took as August or September. By the sounds of things, Maidenhead-Reading is mostly finished. I was just thinking perhaps they could energise Maidenhead-Reading earlier than the target and have 387s in service on the Reading-London route before then.

It was explicitly May to Maidenhead when GWR first put it online before Christmas, it was part of the same announcement as the Greenford & Hayes changes, further down the page, but the link is now stale.

The current expression they seem to be using is "middle of the year". (They don't say if it's the calendar or financial year of course...)

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The NR milestones don't give any date for Stockley-Maidenhead.
Maidenhead-Didcot is December 2017.
While they are working very hard to deliver it all as soon as possible, the difficulties are not to be underestimated.
Remember no Series 1 OHLE is yet approved for public service (with 387 or 80x).

 

[jyte]

The NR milestones don't give any date for Stockley-Maidenhead.
Maidenhead-Didcot is December 2017.
While they are working very hard to deliver it all as soon as possible, the difficulties are not to be underestimated.
Remember no Series 1 OHLE is yet approved for public service (with 387 or 80x).

Wouldn't it be 'hilarious' if, just to cap this all off, Series 1 is not approved?

I think I'd just give up.

 

[HowardGWR]

I picked this up.
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...-to-provide-new-and-better-trains-to-the-area

Event for residents near Bristol Parkway on next steps to provide new and better trains to the area

Route: Western
Residents living near Bristol Parkway station have been invited to a drop-in event to find out more about upcoming work to prepare the Great Western Main Line for electrification as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers.

Network Rail is carrying out essential work in and around the station to accommodate the new fleet electric trains, which will provide more seats and more room for passengers.

In addition, improvements to the signalling system will replace equipment installed in the 1960s and 70s with the latest technology, paving the way for a more reliable railway and fewer delays for passengers.

The station will remain open for the majority of the project, which began in December 2016 with the installation of foundations for the overhead line equipment that will power the new trains. The project is due for completion in 2018.

The next phase of the work includes:

Stabilising the embankment next to the Filton Line, using a process known as soil nailing. The work is due to take place between April and August 2017.
Repairs and track level works at Bristol Road/Hatchet Road bridge. The work is due to take place from June to August 2017.
As the project progresses throughout the year, further work will include:
Installing the overhead line equipment, including masts, booms and wires
Building a fourth platform, due to be in use by December 2017.
Extending the existing platforms
Track works, including renewal of 2.5km of railway line
Ross Liddell, Network Rail’s sponsor for Bristol Parkway station, said: “The work at Bristol Parkway station is an essential part of our Railway Upgrade Plan and will pave the way for electric trains and the benefits these will bring to residents and passengers. These benefits include new trains with more seats and more legroom, and less noise and air pollution for those who live close to the railway line.

“The next stage of our work along the Filton East Curve embankment needs to be carried out before we can move on to building the new platform and related track. We would like to thank the local community for bearing with us while we carry out these improvements to Brunel’s railway.

“Everyone is welcome at our drop-in event and I’d urge anyone who has a question or wants to know more about our plans to come along.”

The event will take place on Tuesday, 14 March 2017 at The Old School Rooms, The Green, Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS34 8PD, from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

Members of the Network Rail project team will be on-hand throughout the event to explain more about the work taking place and to answer any questions.

My bold. Which part of 'Brunel's railway' is this then? I think Mr Riddell must be very young. Sir James Inglis' greatness is, again, diminished -a great man ignored by history.

 

[nlogax]

Wouldn't it be 'hilarious' if, just to cap this all off, Series 1 is not approved?

I think I'd just give up.

Can't imagine that'd happen though. Between the trial installation and 800 testing at Old Dalby and the gigantic investment already made..

 

[D1009]

I picked this up.
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...-to-provide-new-and-better-trains-to-the-area


My bold. Which part of 'Brunel's railway' is this then? I think Mr Riddell must be very young. Sir James Inglis' greatness is, again, diminished -a great man ignored by history.

Brunel was definitely involved in the planning of the Bristol and South Wales Union Railway, which we now know as Filton bank, the 4 tracking of which the event is about. Others built on Brunel's vision, like Sir James Inglis for the Badminton route and Sir John Hawkshaw, who built the Severn Tunnel.

 

[HowardGWR]

Brunel was definitely involved in the planning of the Bristol and South Wales Union Railway, which we now know as Filton bank, the 4 tracking of which the event is about. Others built on Brunel's vision, like Sir James Inglis for the Badminton route and Sir John Hawkshaw, who built the Severn Tunnel.

Incorrect. The stretch being updated in the PR has no relation to Filton Bank.

 

[swt_passenger]

Surely the main issue with Maidenhead to Reading is the lack of 387s to operate the extra services for the time being as any mixed 387 / 165 / 166 service would still have to use DMU timings?

There must be a few 387s awaiting delivery to GWR by now, as there have been around 17 units delivered from Derby so far, 387147 apparently being the latest reported at Bletchley over in the main 387 thread.

So assuming WCML testing proceeds apace, and they maintain deliveries over the spring and summer, I would expect almost the whole fleet to be in place by the end of the year?

 

[Deepgreen]

Apologies if this has been covered already. GWR's web site proudly proclaims that they, along with their partners Network Rail, are spending £7.5bn on electrification. This implies that GWR are the main contributors to the work. Does anyone know what the cost split actually is (roughly)?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Apologies if this has been covered already. GWR's web site proudly proclaims that they, along with their partners Network Rail, are spending £7.5bn on electrification. This implies that GWR are the main contributors to the work. Does anyone know what the cost split actually is (roughly)?

GWR will be spending something on fitting out new trains, depots and stations where they tailor the NR infrastructure for their use.
Some of that will be met by Hitachi/Agility and feed through to GWR in leasing costs.
Training staff for electric services also probably counts, and for managing the introduction of new services generally.
You might even argue that the cascade costs of moving the DMUs around after electrification also counts.
But they will not be contributing to the design, procurement and installation of the OHLE or the resignalling and remodelling of the route that NR is doing.
That will also feed through to them as higher access charges in the future.
But of the capital outlay of £7.5 billion, if the GWR contribution is more than 1% I would be surprised.
Even that will be reflected in lower premium payments to DfT.
Think in terms of them paying for the painting of the IEP/387 fleet in GWR green, and for whatever seating options they have specified.
They might pay for branding stations/trains and their specific PIS/wifi systems.

 

[RPI]

In the latest issue of connect, which is the internal GWR newsletter, it confirms that the 387's will be running to Maidenhead from the May timetable change.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

In the latest issue of connect, which is the internal GWR newsletter, it confirms that the 387's will be running to Maidenhead from the May timetable change.

Is that Paddington-Maindenhead?

8 car all the time or 8car peak times only (4 car all other times)?

 

[jyte]

In the latest issue of connect, which is the internal GWR newsletter, it confirms that the 387's will be running to Maidenhead from the May timetable change.

If you're in the know, do you mind posting more on the relevant introduction?

Many thanks for that update regardless.

 

[leomartin125]

If you're in the know, do you mind posting more on the relevant introduction?

Many thanks for that update regardless.

As I receive this internal letter too, it was simply our MD stating 'There were some delays to the work last weekend, but we're still on schedule to begin running Class 387 Electrostars as far as Maidenhead from the May timetable change'.

 

[Deepgreen]

GWR will be spending something on fitting out new trains, depots and stations where they tailor the NR infrastructure for their use.
Some of that will be met by Hitachi/Agility and feed through to GWR in leasing costs.
Training staff for electric services also probably counts, and for managing the introduction of new services generally.
You might even argue that the cascade costs of moving the DMUs around after electrification also counts.
But they will not be contributing to the design, procurement and installation of the OHLE or the resignalling and remodelling of the route that NR is doing.
That will also feed through to them as higher access charges in the future.
But of the capital outlay of £7.5 billion, if the GWR contribution is more than 1% I would be surprised.
Even that will be reflected in lower premium payments to DfT.
Think in terms of them paying for the painting of the IEP/387 fleet in GWR green, and for whatever seating options they have specified.
They might pay for branding stations/trains and their specific PIS/wifi systems.

Much as I suspected. In my view, a scandalous distortion by GWR of their role in the work. If their existing trains are anything to go by, they won't even get the re-painting right!

 

[3973EXL]

Maidenhead to Reading, observations.

Maidenhead stabling sidings - track and ballast laid, Volker tamper present. Still work required to finish off. Quite a few masts up, other materials stacked on site.

Turnback siding - S&C went in some time ago, plain line still to be laid.

Wires end around the 25 mile posts. They start again before the 26MP. There are wires on the reliefs for a short distance but I did not see exactly how far.
The Wires on the mains run to around the 29MP. But there is a run missing on the DM towards the Maidenhead end. Looks to have been track work there, fresh ballast.

From Ruscombe crossovers to Twyford West various small steel work and a couple of portals missing. Some materials track side waiting to be put up.

Sonning Cutting - now three adjacent runs in the middle of the cutting, DM UM DR.
Wires have also gone up on the UM from east of Kennet loop to the west end of the cutting.
Two piles on the UR side, by the A4 bridge, which were only in part way, have had new mast put in next to them.

Kennet loop and bridge area various small steel work missing.

Platforms wired - 1, 8, 13 & 14. Registration arms now up on 15.
Small sections starting to be wired both sides of the station.

UM over the flyover had a run of catenary wire at the Tilehurst end.

 

[ANP1990]

P15 wired overnight!

 

[reddragon]

Went along Oxford Road in Reading this morning and wires stretch from the Reading direction down to the eastern end of Reading West Station. Looks like the up line, but hard to see from below. They were not there yesterday!

Looks like the Reading area is being wired up quickly now!

 

[jyte]

Went along Oxford Road in Reading this morning and wires stretch from the Reading direction down to the eastern end of Reading West Station. Looks like the up line, but hard to see from below. They were not there yesterday!

Looks like the Reading area is being wired up quickly now!

Are there any major blockades booked for this weekend? The mains were closed on Sunday last week, IIRC.

 

[D1009]

Are there any major blockades booked for this weekend? The mains were closed on Sunday last week, IIRC.

There is usually a 2 track timetable over varying stretches between Paddington and Didcot on Saturdays and Sundays, but no major electrification related blocks from what I can see. West of England trains are affected by a block between Taunton and Castle Cary as previous Sundays.

 

[jyte]

West of England trains are affected by a block between Taunton and Castle Cary as previous Sundays.

Do you know why?

My train got diverted via Bristol (understandably) coming back from the SW the other weekend - I guess that's why.

 

[tgrb]

I can't see that it's been mentioned previously but apologies if it has.... masts seem
To have been erected at a rapid rate overnight this week rodbourne through to hullavington

 

[jyte]

I can't see that it's been mentioned previously but apologies if it has.... masts seem
To have been erected at a rapid rate overnight this week rodbourne through to hullavington

It seems like this project has picked up some solidly impressive pace in the last few months. Why?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I had the thought that it may help with the overview if someone could create a map, roughly like the one that used to be supplied with the big timetable books, but just the GWR rout and coloured the line according to:

* Live and in use
* Live and testing
* Wires up but not yet in use
* Wires partly up
* Masts in place
* Piles only

If this was updated regularly we would be able to visualise the progress very easily.

 

[jyte]

I had the thought that it may help with the overview if someone could create a map, roughly like the one that used to be supplied with the big timetable books, but just the GWR rout and coloured the line according to:

* Live and in use
* Live and testing
* Wires up but not yet in use
* Wires partly up
* Masts in place
* Piles only

If this was updated regularly we would be able to visualise the progress very easily.

If someone can give me an appropriate base map to use, I'll give this a shot.

"Creating" a map is probably too much for me, as a base map of track I could probably use screenshots of the opentraintimes track maps - provided they're accurate.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Would doing a trace ( rather than a direct scan ) of the old timetable map be OK within copyright laws?

If so, I could trace it out for you - I have several of those maps here.

 

[TRIAR]

It seems like this project has picked up some solidly impressive pace in the last few months. Why?

Perhaps the penny has finally dropped that they're better off concentrating resources to complete the core routes, rather than the scatter-gun approach of old (i.e. wasting time on the B&H)?

A good example is the work around Sonning Cutting & Reading station at present. They 'only' need to wire up the few miles between Maidenhead and Reading before they have wires that run London to Didcot.

Whilst this is only a small % of the GWR in terms of miles, GWR can declare a level of 'success'* because:-

• it is a much bigger % in terms of GWR customers;
• Customers further West will still benefit from faster journey times (once they are East of Didcot/Reading); and
• It ensures the new (expensive) trains that seem to be arriving each week, can actually be put to meaningful use (therefore avoiding PR issue)

*Customers in Oxford & HoT will likely disagree, as their service will get worse.

 

[59CosG95]

I had the thought that it may help with the overview if someone could create a map, roughly like the one that used to be supplied with the big timetable books, but just the GWR rout and coloured the line according to:

* Live and in use
* Live and testing
* Wires up but not yet in use
* Wires partly up
* Masts in place
* Piles only

If this was updated regularly we would be able to visualise the progress very easily.

Working on one right now.

 

[jyte]

I just put this together based off the Opentraintimes maps.

I checked their ToS and I'm 90% sure I'm not breaking them but I'll send an email before I continue.

I know it's low resolution - the master file is something like 2500px tall and 25,000px wide.

 

[jyte]

gif files might work better