DCA Design of Warwick has started work on mock-ups of the IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) carriage interiors and cab.

http://www.dca-design.com/news/iep-super-express-mock-up-under-construction-at-dca.html

At the recent IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) talk in Swindon, the CEO^▸ (Chief Executive Officer) of Agility Trains mentioned that carriage interior mock-up would be ready by September.  The computer-generated images shown on the DCA site have already been released by Hitachi and the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about).

Indeed.  AWS^▸ (Automatic Warning System) did not prevent the Southall accident (it was isolated on the HST^▸ (High Speed Train)) and ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection) didn't prevent the Ladbroke Grove one (fitted and operational on the HST, not fitted to the class 165 Thames Turbo unit involved).

I'm not sure if this has already been referenced but this article from the IRJ confirms that (a) the ETCS^▸ (European Train Control System) controlled section of the line ends 4km from the accident site and (b) the Alvira type train involved in the accident are not (as yet) able to use ETCS on that section of the line. 

http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/etcs-not-operable-on-santiago-crash-train.html

Therefore the train was under full manual control for the complete journey from Ourense to Santiago under the Spanish ASFA system which, like our AWS^▸ (Automatic Warning System), monitors acknowledgement of the lineside signals but (unlike TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System)) does not provide any form of speed supervision. So, other than the driver's vigilance, which appears to be lacking in this unfortunate accident, there was no other system in place to prevent trains entering the curve at excessive speed.

As the article states, even trains which are equipped with ETCS are only advised that automated supervision is disabled at the ETCS/ASFA transition point, there is nothing other than the driver's route knowledge to enforce braking prior to the curve.  As we found out at Morpeth on a number of occasions, this appears to be an accident waiting to happen.

And speaking to the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) project manager (name escapes me) at the same presentation in Swindon, it seems that FGW are having a significant input into the interiors. Whether that is a good or bad thing is a matter of opinion but I would hope that they reflect the quality of the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) refurb in first class and less of the rather cramped perspective (although I find the legroom OK) of standard class.

Looks like Network Rail and their contractors (Amey?) will need to get a move on then! Most of the civil engineering required for electrification clearances between Reading and Oxford is either complete or under way - though the station footbridges at Goring and Cholsey are still to be replaced. Also I thought that the Reading flyover wasn't due for completion until 2015.

There are a few foundations in place west of Pangbourne and a load of electrification and signalling components stored at Moreton Cutting east of Didcot. Foundation locations have been marked out for much of the way between Didcot and Tilehurst.

I will also be interested to see what electric trains DfT plan to run by the end of 2015. The class 319s originally mooted for the GW^▸ (Great Western) suburban services won't be refurbished by then and if transferred in their current form will go down like a lead balloon. I have my doubts if these will be used as they'll take up too many paths on the main lines with their 100mph top speed - not much better than the turbos.  What's required is 110mph performance like the class 350s on London Midland. Perhaps the new dual-voltage units recently ordered from Bombardier by Southern will end up with us but I would have thought that would depend on the Desiro City units for Thameslink being delivered - and they aren't due until 2016.


This appears to have been installed at Reading New Junction and around Reading station.  Headspans are used in the new depot sidings but speeds are low there.

If I recall correctly, the original service outlined by the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) for IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) included 4 trains per hour from Bristol TM^‡(resolve) to Padd and vice versa. Two of these were to run via Bath and two via Bristol Parkway, one of which was to be non-stop throughout.  I guess that this would give rise to the claimed 22 minute saving while the other trains from Parkway would be stopping at Swindon and Reading.

No doubt more detail will emerge in due course.

Sorry Chuffed - I did a quick scan of the forum and didn't spot your post.  Mods please merge or delete my post.

On test at the Windhoff factory in Rheine, Germany.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23317641

This is the electrification "factory" train. Due to arrive at the new Swindon electrification base in October.

I'm trying to remember but I think that DOR did something similar during the franchise extension negotiations with Virgin Trains. Can't recall if the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) picked up on that!

The government's Directly Operated Railways has submitted an application for a safety case to operate the GW^▸ (Great Western) franchise. So are the talks on franchise extension in trouble or is this a negotiating ploy by DfT^» (Department for Transport - about). Or is this a normal contingency plan and the RMT^▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) are mischief-making?

http://www.rmt.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=174667

Thanks for the heads up FremlinsMan.  It's local to me so I've registered. Happy to report back.

Yes we anticipate traffic chaos!  Diverting the local traffic through some of the villages like Denchworth won't be terribly popular either. However I can't think of any alternative.

Good point about allowing for four-tracking though I doubt if it'll happen except at Challow and maybe Wantage Road. I spoke to Richard Turner, Community Relations Advisor - Electrification for Network Rail. He emphasised that their budget for the project was very tight (well, he would wouldn't he) and that the bridges were being replaced on a like-for-like basis. This meant that any improvements - such as road widening, footpath improvements - would have to be funded from elsewhere, such as the local authority. Given this is Oxfordshire, it's unlikely to happen. There's controversy over the replacement of the footbridge in Hinksey at the moment, as Network Rail will only fund a basic replacement, whilst the locals want the replacement enhanced for disabled access. There's a standoff over who funds any enhancements.

Hello everyone. Joined this group after lurking for a time.

I use FGW^▸ (First Great Western) from Didcot once or twice a week for business trips to London. Also occasional leisure trips to London, Reading, Bath, Bristol and further afield. Live in the Vale of White Horse within (distant) earshot of the line - when the wind's in the right direction.

Have travelled on the Great Western Main Line since - oooh, the days of black and white. Have been on:-

• Steam hauled expresses from Cardiff to Paddington behind Castle and Britannia class locos
• First generation diesel hauled trains - Westerns and Peaks on InterCity expresses
• InterCity and Network SouthEast loco hauled services - class 47 and 50 locos
• HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) since they were introduced in 1976
• Every type of first generation DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) that plied the line

Looking forward to acquiring my Senior Railcard later this year 

Nothing on the planning application section of South Oxfordshire District Council's website yet so it seems that the plans for replacing the footbridges at Goring and Cholsey have not yet been submitted.

Moving further west, I understand that bridge replacement between Didcot and Swindon is scheduled for next year. The A338 bridge at Wantage Road (Grove) is planned for demolition on the weekend of 39/30th March and will take around 6 weeks to reopen. The A417 bridge at Challow is slated for demolition on the weekend of 11/12th October 2014 and will reopen in mid December.

I'm not sure about the timing for the other over-bridges on this section but I believe that bridges at Basil Hill Lane (entrance to Foxhall car park, Didcot), Steventon, Shrivenham, Bourton and on the east side of Swindon will be replaced.