Great Western Main Line electrification - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

When will Oxford be electrified?

It is high on the CP6^▸ (Control Period 6 - The five year period between 2019 and 2024) National funding ie its not part of the GW^▸ (Great Western) Route funding bid.   part of the reason for its descope in the first place was the redevelopment at Oxford Station had changed from the original GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects) 3 design with of Eastwest rail and Chiltern Marylebone services being introduced; most of the OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") structures would have had to be felled and relocates Oxford AT site would have also needed relocating   

[wabbit]

Any idea what the journey times from Swindon to Pad will be once the line is fully electrified?

[TonyK]

Oooh - doing a Pilning and making it one direction only??   Or is there another access?

Don't expect that Reading Borough Councillors liked what the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) officials said if it came across as a threat - "give us permission or else ....".

It sounded less threat than statement of reality to me. I'm sure Reading council will be able to explain why they didn't see a need for a continued footbridge there, and why its removal won't affect the borough's plans for carbon footprint reduction. Or, my inner conspiracy theorist thinks, they were expecting NR to appeal, to save the council the embarrassment of having to make a decision that could upset somebody. But NR can run the railway without a footbridge, and have better things to spend money on than planning appeals, so...

[onthecushions]

I understand that the wires went live to Rushey Platt (SW suburb of Swindon) last Friday night.

78.5 miles done.

OTC

[Western Pathfinder]

Having been in Swindon for the last day or so I can confirm that the OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") is humming away to itself quite happily,and I'm told by those in the know that there's a little bit of testing still to do but as soon as that's done it will be used so in operation earlier than expected.

[CJB666]

Severn Tunnel to shut for electrification work
15 June 2018

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-44493847

Rail passengers travelling between south Wales and London face longer journey times for the next three weeks as the Severn Tunnel will be closed.

Main line services between Swansea and London Paddington will take 40 minutes longer as trains will be diverted via Gloucester from Saturday until 6 July.

Great Western Railway said those trains will not call at Bristol Parkway.

The closure is due to a £2.8bn project to electrify the south Wales main line for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s new electric trains.

Commuters between Bristol and south Wales will be forced to take a rail-replacement bus service.

Trains between England's south coast and Wales will start and end at Bristol Parkway, with buses linking to Newport.

On Sunday, there will be no direct trains between south Wales and London with all services starting and terminating at Bristol Parkway.

Replacement coaches will run to Newport for trains to Cardiff and Swansea.

The work will affect passengers going to major events in south Wales such as England's cricket matches in Cardiff as they face Australia on Saturday and India next month.

Fans going to four Ed Sheeran concerts at the Principality Stadium next week may also be affected by the works.

The track inside the four-mile Severn Tunnel is to be renewed, while "further electrification works" are planned. The track will also be lowered in the two Patchway tunnels.

For passengers a bus service will replace trains between Bristol Parkway and Newport and stop at Patchway and Severn Tunnel Junction.

Trains will continue to run as normal between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads via Bath, but there will only be one direct service an hour from London to Bristol Parkway.

====

[Electric train]

Having been in Swindon for the last day or so I can confirm that the Over-Head Line Equipment (OHLE) is humming away to itself quite happily,and I'm told by those in the know that there's a little bit of testing still to do but as soon as that's done it will be used so in operation earlier than expected.

Passanger train use of the Over-Head Line Equipment (OHLE) West of Didcot is not planned until September 18.


I have been told by a Project insider that Section Proving has been completed, there are however immunisation, protection and control tests to be done as well as dynamic test to be done by a mesurment train (Mentor) these are done in engineering hours.


Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[YouKnowNothing]

I read an article that stated that this closure is needed to replace rusted assets that were installed in the last large closure in October 2016.

How many more closures are needed?

Severn Tunnel to shut for electrification work
15 June 2018

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-44493847

Rail passengers travelling between south Wales and London face longer journey times for the next three weeks as the Severn Tunnel will be closed.

Main line services between Swansea and London Paddington will take 40 minutes longer as trains will be diverted via Gloucester from Saturday until 6 July.

Great Western Railway said those trains will not call at Bristol Parkway.

The closure is due to a £2.8bn project to electrify the south Wales main line for GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s new electric trains.

Commuters between Bristol and south Wales will be forced to take a rail-replacement bus service.

Trains between England's south coast and Wales will start and end at Bristol Parkway, with buses linking to Newport.

On Sunday, there will be no direct trains between south Wales and London with all services starting and terminating at Bristol Parkway.

Replacement coaches will run to Newport for trains to Cardiff and Swansea.

The work will affect passengers going to major events in south Wales such as England's cricket matches in Cardiff as they face Australia on Saturday and India next month.

Fans going to four Ed Sheeran concerts at the Principality Stadium next week may also be affected by the works.

The track inside the four-mile Severn Tunnel is to be renewed, while "further electrification works" are planned. The track will also be lowered in the two Patchway tunnels.

For passengers a bus service will replace trains between Bristol Parkway and Newport and stop at Patchway and Severn Tunnel Junction.

Trains will continue to run as normal between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads via Bath, but there will only be one direct service an hour from London to Bristol Parkway.

====

[bobm]

Apparently the original Severn road bridge is closed westbound this weekend too.

[YouKnowNothing]

Here's the article for those that are interested -

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/severn-tunnel-shut-three-weeks-14785503

Does anyone know if it's true?

[broadgage]

I suspect that it is factually correct but rather misleading.

The conductor rail probably HAS corroded and would be better cleaned than not.
A lot of electrification related works DO remain to be done.

However to imply that the closure is primarily to remove rust is probably rather misleading.

[Electric train]

I suspect that it is factually correct but rather misleading.

The conductor rail probably HAS corroded and would be better cleaned than not.
A lot of electrification related works DO remain to be done.

However to imply that the closure is primarily to remove rust is probably rather misleading.

The local maintainer of the tunnel did advise the project that very little survives in the tunnel for very long, they have even had stainless steel corrode over the years.

It is an extremely harsh environment 

[ChrisB]

Here's the article for those that are interested -

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/severn-tunnel-shut-three-weeks-14785503

Does anyone know if it's true?

Absolute tosh I'm afraid. Ever seen *aluminium* rust?

[broadgage]

"rust" is generally accepted to a type of corrosion that only attacks ferrous metals.
Aluminium CAN corrode, though not rust.
It is asking a bit much to expect a journalist to know the difference between rust and corrosion.

[bradshaw]

Aluminium is a reactive metal and does ‘rust’ but by forming a layer of aluminium oxide over the surface. Unlike iron, this seals the surface from further oxidation. It is seen as a dull white layer over the metal.