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Author Topic: Electrification work West of Bath  (Read 99350 times)
Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #120 on: April 10, 2016, 21:22:04 »

A picture gallery news item, from the Western Daily Press:

Quote
PICTURED: Workers tackle ^2.8bn rail revamp between Bristol and Bath

 

 

 

These dramatic photos show workers tackle a ^2.8bn rail revamp in the project to electrify Brunel's historic railway line between Bristol and Bath.

An army of 500 engineers are working round the clock to update the line connecting London Paddington with the West Country, which promises to provide faster trains with better engines - and more leg room.

Tracks are being hauled up between Bristol and Bath as part of a nine-day stint to modernise the Great Western Railway line, which first opened in 1838 with Isambard Kingdom Brunel as chief engineer.

More that 47 engineering trains are currently on the line as part of the major work, which as well as the electrification of the line, includes installing new signals and lowering the tracks.

This stretch is part of a larger project to completely electrify the line between Cardiff and London and started in 2013. It was expected to take five years, but has been plagued by delays. The initial estimate for the complete revamp was ^874m - but latest figures saw it triple to a cost of ^2.6bn, with the work between Bath and Bristol alone coming in at ^7.5m.

The work has wreaked havoc for train commuters forced to the roads, as trains between the stations have been cancelled since Sunday.

Andrew Derrig, project manager for Great Western Railway, said the key to minimising disruption has been letting commuters know about the disruption well in advance. He said: "People have been very understanding. We only had a handful of people turn up here at Keynsham Station on Monday morning thinking that they would be getting on a train. The rail replacement bus service has been working well, and we think around 60 per cent of rail passengers are using the replacement buses this week.

"Of course the roads have been busier than usual, especially the A4, but the buses have been getting commuters from Bath to Bristol in around an hour, and people understand that this is going to make a big difference to services in the long run."

The first new trains should start coming into service in August 2017 and are dual-engined, so they can run as both diesel or electric trains. They will be running on the electrified lines at 125mph, but will be able to build up to speeds noticeably quicker.

The railway between Bath and Bristol will reopen on Monday 11 April.

All pictures courtesy of the Western Daily Press, and my thanks to them for allowing me to post this selection from their gallery here. CfN.

« Last Edit: April 10, 2016, 21:54:26 by Chris from Nailsea » Logged

William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
grahame
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« Reply #121 on: April 11, 2016, 21:37:37 »

Did you see how delighted 150 926 was on running up from Portmouth Harbour to find himself in Swindon rather than  - yet again - in Cardiff?



There's a serious side to this too - the comment from a regular commuter between Chippenham and Swindon who told me she love riding the TransWilts trains (in fact she'll wait of them even letting an HST (High Speed Train) go) because they're such happy trains.  And I have to agree with her ...
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JayMac
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« Reply #122 on: April 11, 2016, 21:43:34 »

Do ASLEF» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) have anything to say about the impaired view out of that cab?  Tongue Wink Grin
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« Reply #123 on: April 13, 2016, 13:28:12 »

I had forgotten about the bustitution when I chose to go in to Bath on Saturday, so was not pleased to be directed to a 40-minute bus ride. But I came back from Keynesham (having got there by other means) where I saw the works pictured above; they were even more dramatic in the flesh.
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TonyK
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« Reply #124 on: April 14, 2016, 11:35:43 »

Do ASLEF» (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen - about) have anything to say about the impaired view out of that cab?  Tongue Wink Grin

Impaired? With such big eyes???
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« Reply #125 on: April 17, 2016, 02:31:29 »

Did you see how delighted 150 926 was on running up from Portmouth Harbour to find himself in Swindon rather than  - yet again - in Cardiff?

Less delighted was I as a regular user of the 3 car 150926. Usually to be found in the mornings on the Severn Beach Line. We had to 'slum' it that week in 2 car 150s. Very cosy inbound by the time we'd got to Clifton Down.

150926 where she should be:



 Tongue Wink Grin
« Last Edit: April 17, 2016, 02:44:45 by bignosemac » Logged

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« Reply #126 on: April 17, 2016, 05:49:30 »

150926 where she should be:

I agree - far better use of wide doors and high capacity - but it's wiped off that smile!
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #127 on: July 17, 2016, 21:51:37 »

A related update on 'electrification work', from the Bristol Post:

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More traffic problems for Bristol as Network Rail continues work for rail electrification

Disruption to traffic in Bristol is set to continue as Network Rail undertakes more work to lines crossing city roads ahead of the electrification of the railway.

Boiling Wells underpass in St Werburgh's is now finished, while work in the Easton Road area, where a new bridge is being installed, will be completed by November.

There is also other work currently ongoing on a bridge in Muller Road, while preparation work is continuing at Ashley Hill to replace the railway footbridge.

Network Rail has now announced that further building and demolition work will take place over the next few months. It will include bridges in Ducie Road, St Marks Road, Bannerman Road and Glenfrome Road. Road closures and diversions are likely - arrangements will be made and announced later.

Network Rail is electrifying the Great Western Main Line, which links Bristol to London, in preparation for the arrival of new fleet of electric trains.

The majority of the work in Bristol is in support of the Filton Bank Four Tracking Capacity scheme, which will see the number of tracks between Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood doubled from two to four by 2018.

Once operational, this will allow more trains to run with more room for passengers, as well as enabling maintenance to be carried out without causing significant disruption to services. The track will also be electrified at a later date to allow the new fleet of electric trains to operate along the route.

City council cabinet member for transport Mark Bradshaw said: "The four-tracking at Filton Bank and associated works are vital to modernising our local rail network and electrifying connections across the UK (United Kingdom), particularly to London, Wales and potentially to the Midlands. The works are of a scale beyond anything we have seen in the Bristol area for a long time. Although disruptive, the end product will be more capacity to operate additional services, better trains and a more resilient network; all things we need as a growing city region."

Network Rail's project director for the West of England, Andy Haynes, said: "We are making excellent progress on our programme in the Bristol area. This essential work will pave the way for electrification and the benefits that this will bring for local residents and commuters. These include faster trains with more seats, more legroom, less noise and less pollution for those who live close to the railway line, as well as providing a wider economic boost for the city."


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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
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« Reply #128 on: July 19, 2016, 10:44:30 »

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The majority of the work in Bristol is in support of the Filton Bank Four Tracking Capacity scheme, which will see the number of tracks between Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood doubled from two to four by 2018.

Four track, now!, I say.
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« Reply #129 on: July 19, 2016, 11:49:34 »

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The majority of the work in Bristol is in support of the Filton Bank Four Tracking Capacity scheme, which will see the number of tracks between Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood doubled from two to four by 2018.

Four track, now!, I say.

Absolutely. Four tracks south of Temple Meads would presumably be a jolly good idea too, particularly with the Portishead reopening in sight. 

P.S. I wonder if anyone has dared do the calculations to work out what the comparative costs would have been if the four tracks had been left in place down Filton Bank rather than having to be reinstalled?
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John R
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« Reply #130 on: July 19, 2016, 13:38:52 »

They were taken out of use in 1984 so that's 32 years worth of maintenance. Remember that traffic volumes were much lower then. Off peak there were typically only 2 passenger tph south of Filton Junction, so in that context the retention of 4 tracks was a luxury the cash strapped railway of the time could not afford.
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TonyK
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« Reply #131 on: July 20, 2016, 19:59:17 »

Especially as that "new" bridge over Stapleton Road was beginning to show its age.
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« Reply #132 on: July 21, 2016, 14:19:10 »

Remember that traffic volumes were much lower then.

Back in the late 80's I remember seeing, beneath the sign they used to have inside carriage doors advising you that leaving them open caused delays, a graffito to the effect that 'so does halving the number of tracks between Temple Meads and Parkway'. I don't think many people ever saw it as an improvement.
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