Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 20:35 28 Mar 2024
* Bus plunges off South Africa bridge, killing 45
- Easter getaways hit by travel disruption
- Where Baltimore bridge investigation goes now
- How do I renew my UK passport and what is the 10-year rule?
- Passengers pleaded with knifeman during attack
- Family anger at sentence on fatal crash driver, 19
- Easter travel warning as millions set to hit roads
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
28th Mar (1988)
Woman found murdered on Orpington to London train (*)

Train RunningCancelled
18:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
18:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
19:23 Reading to Gatwick Airport
19:33 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill
19:35 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
19:59 Gatwick Airport to Reading
20:13 Swindon to Westbury
20:20 Reading to Shalford
20:49 Newbury to Bedwyn
20:54 Reading to Gatwick Airport
20:56 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington
21:16 Bedwyn to Newbury
21:30 Shalford to Reading
21:53 Newbury to Bedwyn
22:25 Bedwyn to Newbury
22:30 Gatwick Airport to Reading
22:47 Newbury to Bedwyn
Short Run
16:03 London Paddington to Penzance
17:03 London Paddington to Penzance
17:30 London Paddington to Taunton
17:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
18:03 London Paddington to Penzance
19:04 Paignton to London Paddington
19:13 Salisbury to Bristol Temple Meads
19:29 Gatwick Airport to Reading
20:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
20:11 Salisbury to Bristol Temple Meads
20:42 Bedwyn to London Paddington
21:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
Delayed
16:15 Penzance to London Paddington
Additional 17:17 Exeter St Davids to Penzance
Additional 17:26 Castle Cary to Penzance
19:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 19:40 Redhill to Reading
21:16 Westbury to Swindon
22:30 Swindon to Westbury
23:04 Reading to Bedwyn
23:45 London Paddington to Penzance
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 28, 2024, 20:44:29 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[118] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[116] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[89] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[46] Return of the BRUTE?
[38] If not HS2 to Manchester, how will traffic be carried?
[28] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
 
News: the Great Western Coffee Shop ... keeping you up to date with travel around the South West
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 ... 11 12 [13] 14 15 ... 78
  Print  
Author Topic: Great Western Main Line electrification - ongoing discussion  (Read 283422 times)
martyjon
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1941


View Profile
« Reply #180 on: December 30, 2017, 17:39:38 »

Passed through Bristol Parkway yesterday (29th December).

Disappointed with progress over Chistmas period on the electrification project. Couldn't see any uprights west of the footbridge within the station environs and less than a handful between what was known as Pugsleys bridge and the east side of footbridge. Looking from the upper deck of the original multi storey car park some uprights for the gantries are visible on the car park side of the up loop whilst it looks like the uprights for the downside have been sunk into the platform surface of the new platform 1 and the existing platform 2. To my untrained eye it looks as if the OHL (Over-Head Line) for both the down through loop line and the new platform 1 line will be hung from the overhang of a gantry supported by the upright inserted into the surface of platforms 1/2 and the upright alongside the car park, the Over Head Line (OHL) for the down main (platform 2), up main (platform 3), up platform 4 loop line and the up loop will be hung from the gantry itself.

As for the new platform, the CIS (Customer Information System) is installed and operating, all platform numbering is in place with big notices detailing the regional destinations from which platform although there were at least two work sites on the platforms 1/2 which were barriered off.

I also noticed a staff CIS display on a steel upright facing the steps down from the footbridge to platforms 3/4 which I hadn't noticed on my previous passages through the station, don't know if there is a similar one facing the steps down from the footbridge to platforms 1/2, must look next time.

Looking at RTT» (Real Time Trains - website) couldn't see any routings into the new platform, will have to watch OTT (Open Train Times website).

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym
« Last Edit: May 21, 2021, 11:25:09 by VickiS » Logged
lbraine
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 138


View Profile
« Reply #181 on: December 30, 2017, 19:11:13 »

Visiting Reading today - and the Reading to London Paddington stoppers were all being run by EMUs (Electric Multiple Unit). The Turbos were running Oxford to Reading only.

Perhaps a softly softly / incremental approach to the full switch over of TV services on the 2nd.

Good to see the EMUs using the wires at Reading at long last
Logged
Thatcham Crossing
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 793


View Profile
« Reply #182 on: January 31, 2018, 08:23:04 »

On a bustitution back to Thatcham last night, noticed work-in-progress at several locations - just east of Theale platforms, just west of the new Ufton Nervet bridge and the vicinity of Towney crossing.
Logged
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6435


The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!


View Profile
« Reply #183 on: February 03, 2018, 19:37:41 »

The installation of masts and booms is a relatively quiet process

So why are they called "BOOM!" then?
Logged

Now, please!
martyjon
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1941


View Profile
« Reply #184 on: February 20, 2018, 18:45:00 »

Been a while since I posted on progress, well here goes.

Apart from the immediate area around Bristol Parkway station, all the uprights are installed from the first overbridge East of Parkway right through to the Western portal of the Chippping Sodbury Tunnel together with dangly bits from the booms, cantilevers and gantries of whatever you call them. I have noticed that quite a few what looks like tubular brackets have been affixed to some uprights and there seems to be no consistency in the installations and makes me think that  'overs'  from other projects have been brought together and used here. From my uniformed eye all that remains to be installed is the overhead knitting.

On the  'operational overrun'  from Westerleigh Junction to Rodford Bridge all the uprights are in place, the last remaining ones having been installed the past weekend with only one gantry, that at the end of the overrun to be installed. Apart from the immediate vicinity of the junction itself no dangly bits have been attached to the booms / cantilevers that I can see. One thing I did notice was the closeness of the uprights on the curve round towards Yate but then with the radius of the curve on the stretch installations at distances the same as on a straight line would mean the OH wire would be  'out of gauge'  for the pantograph,

Progress at last after a lull following the Badminton line closure of last fall.

I expect my next progress report on this subject will be to inform coffee shop members that the OH knitting is up.
Logged
chuffed
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1499


View Profile
« Reply #185 on: February 20, 2018, 19:07:02 »

It's a good job Mary Whitehouse isn't still around with all these references to 'dangly bits'. She'd be apopleptic and the Lord Chamberlain's blue pencil would be working overtime ! Roll Eyes
Logged
Thatcham Crossing
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 793


View Profile
« Reply #186 on: February 20, 2018, 21:21:31 »

Uprights and cross-beams installed through Thatcham Station over the last few days. Uprights in place through Midgham also.
Logged
ellendune
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4452


View Profile
« Reply #187 on: February 20, 2018, 21:40:39 »

Pretty much all knitting in place from just east of Swindon Station to Didcot only a few incomplete sections. 
Logged
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6435


The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!


View Profile
« Reply #188 on: February 20, 2018, 23:41:10 »

It's a good job Mary Whitehouse isn't still around with all these references to 'dangly bits'. She'd be apopleptic and the Lord Chamberlain's blue pencil would be working overtime ! Roll Eyes

Less of that word "pencil", please. And "blue" while you're at it. And I'm not sure "apoplectic" isn't dirty: I'll have to look that one up and get back to you.
Logged

Now, please!
DidcotPunter
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 166


View Profile Email
« Reply #189 on: February 22, 2018, 13:51:46 »

Pretty much all knitting in place from just east of Swindon Station to Didcot only a few incomplete sections. 

Yes, from what I can see driving around locally there is only the Steventon gap to wire, as cantilevers and small part steelwork (SPS (Small Part Steel) - aka 'dangly bits'  Grin ) are complete from the A34 bridge to west of Causeway crossing, plus there is one wire run missing on the up line between Uffington station and Baulking.

Wires appear to be complete from Uffington to South Marston now and the autotransformer stations (ATS (Automatic Train Supervision)) at Wantage Road, Uffington and Shrivenham are complete and look like they've been wired in.

I've not been to Swindon station but driving into town last week it appears that main steelwork is in place from South Marston to the station with some SPS in place too. Someone mentioned on RMWeb that they'd been briefed that the wires between Didcot and Swindon were to be treated as live from next May and to Bristol Parkway from June. Can't comment on progress west of Swindon but the implied energisation to Swindon by May would appear be easily achievable from the apparent progress to date. This does not, of course, mean that trains will be running on AC from that date as the earliest commitment for that has been December 2018.

Logged
didcotdean
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1424


View Profile
« Reply #190 on: February 22, 2018, 15:54:13 »

The Customer Panel in January was given an internal target date for the electrification to enter public service to Swindon; sadly as those there were asked not to quote it I feel unable to share it here as I haven't personally yet seen it said elsewhere in the public domain. I know this is a bit of a tease, but it might encourage someone not under a similar confidence to disclose it Smiley
Logged
Western Pathfinder
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1528



View Profile
« Reply #191 on: April 13, 2018, 18:49:10 »

I note that today Friday the Thirteenth of April marks the official opening of the new platform One at Bristol Parkway Station
The ceremony was conducted by The SOS for transport Mr Greyling this afternoon
Amongst others of the great and good to be present a Mr M Hopwood !.
Logged
Timmer
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6293


View Profile
« Reply #192 on: April 13, 2018, 19:23:51 »

Amongst others of the great and good to be present a Mr M Hopwood !.
He was indeed. One for the photo album standing by one of his shiny new trains:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dap78lsXcAEyEti?format=jpg&name=large
Logged
martyjon
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1941


View Profile
« Reply #193 on: April 13, 2018, 19:49:53 »

Amongst others of the great and good to be present a Mr M Hopwood !.
He was indeed. One for the photo album standing by one of his shiny new trains:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dap78lsXcAEyEti?format=jpg&name=large

How DID» (Didcot Parkway - next trains) I miss him, was at Parkway today and I would have, at full volume, proclaimed look folks Mr Hopwood has crawled out of the woodwork today to have his piccy took but cant answer his customers questions why these shiny new 10 coach trains are running with 5 coaches locked out of use carrying fresh air, why turbos can't call at short platforms, why station stops are pulled forcing passengers to override and travel back, why customers are asked to pay more for their travel by an alternative route when engineering work affects their regular route.

Please someone let me know in advance when and where his next public appearance is and if I can make it I'll be there.
« Last Edit: April 13, 2018, 20:03:45 by martyjon » Logged
Sixty3Closure
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 501


View Profile
« Reply #194 on: April 14, 2018, 17:56:56 »

One of the platform extensions at Twyford is...well not quite finished but looking more like a platform than a large mound of earth. It does feel completion is in sight.

I think it was part of the Electrification programme but they seem quite far apart with the platform still unfinished so maybe not.
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: 1 ... 11 12 [13] 14 15 ... 78
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page