Great Western Coffee Shop

Journey by Journey => Swindon to Gloucester / Cheltenham => Topic started by: Railfriend on March 17, 2010, 13:15:53



Title: Platform 2 at Swindon
Post by: Railfriend on March 17, 2010, 13:15:53
I was passing through Swindon on a Paddington-Plymouth train a few days ago, and thought I noticed that Platform 2 at Swindon was either being re-built or dismantled.
Platform 2 is the stub end platform between, and at the west end of, the two island platforms.  Does anyone know anything of this?  Thanks.


Title: Re: Platform 2 at Swindon
Post by: dog box on March 17, 2010, 19:07:03
Platform 2 is neither being rebuilt or dismantled, what you saw was a lot of contractors supplies/equipment which is there for the work that is being undertaken on The Training School building on plt1/3


Title: Re: Platform 2 at Swindon
Post by: Railfriend on March 17, 2010, 19:54:44

Thanks, dog box.  I guess I didn't have time to take in just what was going on.  Thought perhaps platform 2 was being modified as part of the pending Swindon-Kemble redoubling.  I wonder if any changes will be made to Swindon Station as part of the redoubling.  One change that seems reasonable to me is to add points so that trains on platform 4 can be directed onto the Swindon-Gloucester line.  Anyone know if that would present a technical problem?  I've heard that the GRIP4 feasibility study on the redoubling will be finished by the end of March, and will be sent immediately to the Dept of Transport, and that barring an early election an announcement can be expected in April.


Title: Re: Platform 2 at Swindon
Post by: John R on March 17, 2010, 20:08:36
I suspect that might be a tight squeeze, and the extra 2 crossovers and associated resignalling required would add quite a lot to the cost.

It's not really needed either, as both 3 and 1 (I believe) can be used for Kemble bound trains. In practice, a down Kemble train will be routed into 3 and an up London train approaching from Wootton Bassett will be routed into 1 if it's going to conflict.

In the other direction, for some very curious reason this morning the 0835 to London (ex Cheltenham) was put into 3 whilst the 0841 (ex Exeter) had to use 1. Couldn't quite work out why that might be, as it created a conflicting movement when there needn't be one.




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