Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Not planning to travel myself, but just wondering if Waterloo - Salisbury - Bristol would be a viable alternative to access Bristol and South Wales while the blockade is in place?
For those of us who follow all things rail related I quite agree. However for those who don't and have booked advance tickets over the past few weeks for travel this weekend might be in for an unpleasant surprise when they turn up at the station.
I think so, in that a change at Salisbury would be required to access Bristol, a change at Bristol to reach Cheltenham/Gloucester, then ATW/XC to Newport/Cardiff from there.Not planning to travel myself, but just wondering if Waterloo - Salisbury - Bristol would be a viable alternative to access Bristol and South Wales while the blockade is in place?
Network Rail engineers will begin demolishing Mardy Road bridge in Cardiff this weekend as part of the Railway Upgrade Plan to improve journeys for passengers.
The bridge, which connects Rumney and Newton, is currently too low to accommodate the overhead line equipment needed to power trains running on electricity. The 121-year-old bridge has reached the end of its lifespan and will now be replaced with a new and improved structure, designed to withstand modern city centre traffic.
Bill Kelly, chief operating officer for Network Rail in Wales, said: “We’re reconstructing Mardy Road bridge as part of our Railway Upgrade plan to prepare the railway for trains running on electricity.
“We care about the local community and I would like to thank residents for their patience and reassure them that we are doing all we can do keep noise and disruption to a minimum as we complete this essential upgrade work.
“We will continue to work collaboratively with Arriva Trains Wales, Great Western Railway and other partners to deliver a safe, reliable, affordable and growing railway for the people of Wales and the borders.”
The demolition phase of the work will run from 01.00 on Sunday 15 October until 03.00 on Monday 16 October, with the start of reconstruction work taking place from 01.00 on Sunday 22 October until 03.00 on Monday 23 October.
Preparatory works began on the bridge at the beginning of this year, with the bridge closing to traffic in late March.
This complex project involves ensuring the extensive number of utilities – including telecoms, electricity and water – are diverted from within the old structure and remain undisrupted throughout the duration of the upgrade work.
The existing footbridge located next to the bridge will remain open for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the duration of the work. The new bridge will be wider and will include footpaths, improving access on this busy pedestrian route. The reconstructed bridge is expected to reopen to motorists by autumn 2018.
For more information, please telephone our 24-Hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or email us at [email protected]
Power was due to be switched on after a weekend closure at Reading in mid-September but Network Rail did not complete a review of electrical safety procedures in time, causing the scheduled work to be deferred.
Is the OLE between Paddington and Maidenhead now all suitable for running at the speeds at which HSTs typically run there, or will the 800s have to run at lower speed on part of this section next week because of the current state of the OLE?
Normal HST speeds according to a GWR insider involved with IET introduction posting elsewhere. Apparently westbound IETs running on AC reach 100mph by Acton and 125mph just after Hanwell (compared to HSTs which reach 125mph by Hayes). This is on the original BR OLE, which has been beefed up quite a bit over recent months.
I assume the IETs have had the original diagrams adjusted to make use of their improved acceleration?
Only AC from Pad to Maidenhead yet. You can find far more info on the other two forums (timetables and rolling stock).Was the up working the one with the free onboard shower?
Did the 800 down run on AC around Didcot or is that information not available?
Was the up working the one with the free onboard shower?
Did the 800 down run on AC around Didcot or is that information not available?
Sorry, what’s this about a shower?
I think so, in that a change at Salisbury would be required to access Bristol, a change at Bristol to reach Cheltenham/Gloucester, then ATW/XC to Newport/Cardiff from there.
It does have 3 minutes of pathing allowance before Hayes & HarlingtonNope. They're all running to HST timings.
The first down service this morning 1C03 ran on AC to Maidenhead and was 4 minutes early by Slough:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C20071/2017/10/16/advanced
Fared somewhat better than the up working!
It was a poor quality attempt at humour.Sorry, what’s this about a shower?
One of the units developed an air con problem, and it began dripping into the passenger compartment.
Judging by reports elsewhere in this Forum, it was back in service with no problems the next day.Another quality product from Hitachi.
Overhead wiring installation work is now in progress around Uffington, seen in pictures taken yesterday by Martin Loader
http://hondawanderer.com/Recent_Additions.htm