Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 15:15 29 Mar 2024
* Delays at Dover as millions begin Easter getaway
- Attempted murder charge after man stabbed on train
* A view from inside ship that hit Baltimore bridge
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
29th Mar (1913)
Foundation of National Union or Railwaymen (*)

Train RunningCancelled
13:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
14:57 Bedwyn to Newbury
15:14 Swindon to Westbury
15:22 Newbury to Bedwyn
15:28 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
15:50 Bedwyn to Newbury
15:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
16:15 Newbury to Bedwyn
16:23 Westbury to Swindon
16:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
17:24 Newbury to Bedwyn
17:29 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
17:36 Swindon to Westbury
18:04 Bedwyn to Newbury
18:26 Newbury to Bedwyn
18:37 Westbury to Swindon
18:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
19:02 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
19:24 Newbury to Bedwyn
19:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
20:13 Swindon to Westbury
20:49 Newbury to Bedwyn
21:16 Westbury to Swindon
21:16 Bedwyn to Newbury
21:53 Newbury to Bedwyn
22:25 Bedwyn to Newbury
22:30 Swindon to Westbury
Short Run
13:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
13:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
13:55 Paignton to London Paddington
14:36 London Paddington to Paignton
15:28 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
15:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
16:35 London Paddington to Plymouth
16:50 Plymouth to London Paddington
17:03 London Paddington to Penzance
17:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
18:03 London Paddington to Penzance
18:29 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
18:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
19:04 Paignton to London Paddington
20:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
21:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
Delayed
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
10:20 Penzance to London Paddington
12:03 London Paddington to Penzance
12:15 Penzance to London Paddington
13:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
13:15 Plymouth to London Paddington
13:50 London Paddington to Great Malvern
14:03 London Paddington to Penzance
14:15 Penzance to London Paddington
15:03 London Paddington to Penzance
15:15 Plymouth to London Paddington
16:03 London Paddington to Penzance
16:15 Penzance to London Paddington
etc
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 29, 2024, 15:22:40 *
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
[165] 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury...
[71] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[52] Who needs a travel agent these days?
[38] Travel for free on the m2 metrobus - Bristol - 4,5,6 April 202...
[30] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[28] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 ... 24 25 [26] 27 28 ... 78
  Print  
Author Topic: Great Western Main Line electrification - ongoing discussion  (Read 283593 times)
YouKnowNothing
Full Member
***
Posts: 72


View Profile Email
« Reply #375 on: October 15, 2018, 22:39:41 »

Has there been any movement on when they expect the lines to reach Cardiff? It’s all gone quiet after they announced the delay....
Logged
Adrian
Transport Scholar
Sr. Member
******
Posts: 171


View Profile
« Reply #376 on: October 16, 2018, 21:21:37 »

Still a lot of masts to go up between Severn Tunnel and Magor.  Will the wiring taking place over Christmas just complete the English side?
Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40692



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #377 on: October 16, 2018, 23:20:54 »

Still a lot of masts to go up between Severn Tunnel and Magor.  Will the wiring taking place over Christmas just complete the English side?

The Christmas to New Year closure of the Severn Tunnel is to wire in the Severn Tunnel Junction area - thus the route via Gloucester will not be available.   GWR (Great Western Railway) do not have enough crew / route knowledge / capacity to route Swansea trains via Malvern, so it's buses ...
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
froome
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 901


View Profile Email
« Reply #378 on: October 17, 2018, 08:00:02 »

With today's dreadful disruption in mind, it seems timely to ask a question I've been meaning to ask for some time.

Just how susceptible are overhead wires to being damaged?

Whenever i travel along lines fed by overhead wiring, the cables look to me to be very susceptible to many sources of potential danger, from high winds and other weather related factors to damage caused by vandals or interaction with the trains themselves. What sort of risk analysis has been done on their use and what have they shown?

Obviously these are large questions that will have complex answers, but given the inflexibility of any sort of rail system, the susceptibility of a major part of that system, in this case, the prime energy source, must have been given much thought before introduction. Are there better ways to provide electricity that reduce substantially this susceptibility?
Logged
Timmer
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6293


View Profile
« Reply #379 on: October 17, 2018, 08:07:59 »

The sad thing is all that has gone on these past few years on the GW (Great Western) mainline and now last night has given electrification a bad name yet it has been a huge success on the WCML (West Coast Main Line) and on mainland Europe. Not as successful on the ECML (East Coast Main Line) but that was because it was done on the cheap.

I still firmly believe electrification is still the right answer for all rail and not relying on diesel.
Logged
Electric train
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4356


The future is 25000 Volts AC 750V DC has its place


View Profile
« Reply #380 on: October 17, 2018, 08:09:48 »

With today's dreadful disruption in mind, it seems timely to ask a question I've been meaning to ask for some time.

Just how susceptible are overhead wires to being damaged?

Whenever i travel along lines fed by overhead wiring, the cables look to me to be very susceptible to many sources of potential danger, from high winds and other weather related factors to damage caused by vandals or interaction with the trains themselves. What sort of risk analysis has been done on their use and what have they shown?

Obviously these are large questions that will have complex answers, but given the inflexibility of any sort of rail system, the susceptibility of a major part of that system, in this case, the prime energy source, must have been given much thought before introduction. Are there better ways to provide electricity that reduce substantially this susceptibility?


The area damaged is in the Hanwell area, this is in the most part still the older Mk3 "Headspan" system.  Headspan problem is when a wire is "ripped down" on one line it usually dislodges the other lines; the OLE (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") used on the GWML (Great Western Main Line) west of Airport Jcn is independently mechanically registered with this system one wire being "ripped down" is very unlikely to effect adjacent lines, other than perhaps debris which can be quickly removed.


Its worth noting the OLE has quite a high (mechanical) tension on it, which has to be dealt with carefully when is dislodged
Logged

Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
froome
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 901


View Profile Email
« Reply #381 on: October 17, 2018, 08:14:25 »

With today's dreadful disruption in mind, it seems timely to ask a question I've been meaning to ask for some time.

Just how susceptible are overhead wires to being damaged?

Whenever i travel along lines fed by overhead wiring, the cables look to me to be very susceptible to many sources of potential danger, from high winds and other weather related factors to damage caused by vandals or interaction with the trains themselves. What sort of risk analysis has been done on their use and what have they shown?

Obviously these are large questions that will have complex answers, but given the inflexibility of any sort of rail system, the susceptibility of a major part of that system, in this case, the prime energy source, must have been given much thought before introduction. Are there better ways to provide electricity that reduce substantially this susceptibility?


The area damaged is in the Hanwell area, this is in the most part still the older Mk3 "Headspan" system.  Headspan problem is when a wire is "ripped down" on one line it usually dislodges the other lines; the OLE (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") used on the GWML (Great Western Main Line) west of Airport Jcn is independently mechanically registered with this system one wire being "ripped down" is very unlikely to effect adjacent lines, other than perhaps debris which can be quickly removed.


Its worth noting the OLE has quite a high (mechanical) tension on it, which has to be dealt with carefully when is dislodged

Many thanks, that is very helpful. And I agree with all of Timmer's comments.
Logged
Bmblbzzz
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4256


View Profile
« Reply #382 on: October 17, 2018, 08:44:05 »

What caused the wire this morning to be "ripped down", if that is what has happened? Something falling on it? Vandalism? Malfunctioning pantograph? ...
Logged

Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
TaplowGreen
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7750



View Profile
« Reply #383 on: October 17, 2018, 08:49:07 »

What caused the wire this morning to be "ripped down", if that is what has happened? Something falling on it? Vandalism? Malfunctioning pantograph? ...

Could it be Driver error? If so, I suspect someone is feeling rather uncomfortable this morning...…………….
Logged
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5398



View Profile
« Reply #384 on: October 17, 2018, 09:30:17 »

What caused the wire this morning to be "ripped down", if that is what has happened? Something falling on it? Vandalism? Malfunctioning pantograph? ...

Could it be Driver error? If so, I suspect someone is feeling rather uncomfortable this morning...…………….

I rather doubt it. All the driver can do is raise or lower the pantograph, perhaps in the wrong place.

Pantograph lowered when it should remain up--------------Train looses power and coasts. No contact with overhead, therefore no damage.
Pantograph raised when it should be lowered.-------------Pantograph liable to be knocked of  by a bridge or signal gantry. No overhead present to be damaged.

If the pantograph is improperly raised just before entering an electrified section, then no damage should be caused because the overhead is ramped at the entrance.

A defective pantograph seems the likely cause with defective overhead a distinct possibility. Either can result in the overhead getting caught UNDER the pantograph and pulling down the wires.
Logged

A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
a-driver
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 966


View Profile
« Reply #385 on: October 17, 2018, 09:35:06 »

Wouldn’t be driver error, could be a whole manner of things... train fault, infrastructure fault, obstruction on the overhead or vandalism. 
Logged
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 12334


View Profile Email
« Reply #386 on: October 17, 2018, 09:45:56 »

Has there been any movement on when they expect the lines to reach Cardiff? It’s all gone quiet after they announced the delay....

This Q came up at the Great Western Railway (GWR (Great Western Railway)) Stakeholders Conference yesterday & Andrew Haines, MD, said next summer, if I remember correctly.

What caused the wire this morning to be "ripped down", if that is what has happened? Something falling on it? Vandalism? Malfunctioning pantograph? ...

Answered already in the disruption in Thames Valley thread....
An on test ECS (Empty Coaching Stock) 802 recently delivered was being moved from North Pole depot to Stoke Gifford depot....reportedly by a GB (Great Britain) Railfreight  (GBrF) driver. What actually caused the failure will be under investigation still, I suspect.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym
« Last Edit: May 21, 2021, 11:57:16 by VickiS » Logged
SByers
Jr. Member
**
Posts: 18


View Profile
« Reply #387 on: October 17, 2018, 09:47:52 »

With today's dreadful disruption in mind, it seems timely to ask a question I've been meaning to ask for some time.

Just how susceptible are overhead wires to being damaged?

The Swiss mountain railways are mainly overhead high tension line. The actual supports seem to be flimsy wooden poles. Yet it all works through most weathers.
Logged
Bmblbzzz
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4256


View Profile
« Reply #388 on: October 17, 2018, 10:38:13 »

A defective pantograph seems the likely cause with defective overhead a distinct possibility. Either can result in the overhead getting caught UNDER the pantograph and pulling down the wires.
I'm struggling to see, in my mind, how that happens. All I can think of is the pantograph lifting, hitting the overhead line and not stopping but continuing, pushing the line to one side and getting it trapped underneath. Seems kind of complicated though.  Huh
Logged

Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
Electric train
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4356


The future is 25000 Volts AC 750V DC has its place


View Profile
« Reply #389 on: October 17, 2018, 10:38:28 »

Has there been any movement on when they expect the lines to reach Cardiff? It’s all gone quiet after they announced the delay....

This Q came up at the Great Western Railway (GWR (Great Western Railway)) Stakeholders Conference yesterday & Andrew Haines, MD, said next summer, if I remember correctly.

What caused the wire this morning to be "ripped down", if that is what has happened? Something falling on it? Vandalism? Malfunctioning pantograph? ...

Answered already in the disruption in Thames Valley thread....
An on test ECS (Empty Coaching Stock) 802 recently delivered was being moved from North Pole depot to Stoke Gifford depot....reportedly by a GBrF driver. What actually caused the failure will be under investigation still, I suspect.

I would not write anything into it being a GB (Great Britain) Railfreight (GBrF) driver most TOCs (Train Operating Company) use a contracted in FOC (Freight Operating Company) to move new stock about, carry out test runs and mileage accumulation, they are no less able or skilled than a TOC Driver.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronyms
« Last Edit: May 21, 2021, 11:58:16 by VickiS » Logged

Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
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 ... 24 25 [26] 27 28 ... 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