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Author Topic: line closed Bath to Swindon  (Read 5645 times)
Timmer
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« Reply #15 on: January 14, 2023, 10:39:14 »

Couple of pictures from Network Rail of the work that took place overnight to remove the fallen trees from the line near Keynsham:
https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/1614208826290364425
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PrestburyRoad
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« Reply #16 on: January 14, 2023, 10:46:30 »

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Confirmed that South Wales services to/from London operating via the Stroud Valley line adding 60 minutes to journeys.

This illustrates the benefit of redoubling the Stroud Valley line a few years ago.
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Marlburian
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« Reply #17 on: January 14, 2023, 11:10:54 »

I have a Slovakian friend visiting me today in Tilehurst. (She's the one I mentioned last year as, on her first visit to London in more than three years, getting on a Crossrail train at Paddington.) Today she reports cancelled services at Paddington because of flooding, so she got on a GWR (Great Western Railway) stopping service, rather than wait for a fast train and hang around at Reading for the Didcot service. Her train seems to be on time, but is about to have its scheduled 12-minute rest at Reading. She said that she'd just realised that, but at least she's warm and dry. Probably better than catching a taxi.  (I'll be meeting her with my car at Tilehurst.)
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grahame
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« Reply #18 on: January 14, 2023, 11:25:08 »

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Confirmed that South Wales services to/from London operating via the Stroud Valley line adding 60 minutes to journeys.

This illustrates the benefit of redoubling the Stroud Valley line a few years ago.

Indeed - and wouldn't it be wonderful to redouble the TransWilts which was singles at the same time, giving an alterative route to Westbury, Taunton and beyond when all manner of failures happen on the Berks and Hants. In that case adding a lot less to the journey time.
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« Reply #19 on: January 14, 2023, 11:56:12 »

Indeed - and wouldn't it be wonderful to redouble the TransWilts which was singles at the same time, giving an alterative route to Westbury, Taunton and beyond when all manner of failures happen on the Berks and Hants. In that case adding a lot less to the journey time.

Perhaps if that pesky little single platformed halt at Melksham wasn't on the route, which increase the costs of redoubling considerably, it would have already happened?  Wink
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« Reply #20 on: January 14, 2023, 12:33:45 »

Indeed - and wouldn't it be wonderful to redouble the TransWilts which was singles at the same time, giving an alterative route to Westbury, Taunton and beyond when all manner of failures happen on the Berks and Hants. In that case adding a lot less to the journey time.

Perhaps if that pesky little single platformed halt at Melksham wasn't on the route, which increase the costs of redoubling considerably, it would have already happened?  Wink

An interesting hypothetical question.   About 10 years ago, £45 million was spent redoubling Swindon to Kemble with no intermediate stations.   In those days, let's say it would have been £50 million with an intermediate station that needed a second platform in a similar context to Melksham.   With just 3,000 journeys per annum, I suspect it might have happened with the station halved like Polesworth and Pilning.

Rail industry inflation and I suspect we would be looking at £90 million or £100 million with an extra platform these days, and I suspect that with 75,000 journeys per annum and the prospect of three times that with an appropriate (rather than best-at-capacity) service, it would become a positive part of the business case rather than a nuisance.

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« Reply #21 on: January 14, 2023, 12:53:15 »

I'd have thought it would be a little less cost wise, excluding costs at Melksham:

1) Slightly shorter than Swindon to Kemble.
2) No level crossings or tunnels (two crossings and one tunnel between Swindon and Kemble).
3) Less signalling required - I'd imagine just two signal sections would be warranted in either direction, one half way and one protecting the junctions at either end.

Though of course the general condition of the earthworks can vastly add to costs.
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Timmer
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« Reply #22 on: January 14, 2023, 13:48:11 »

The first train to leave Bristol Temple Meads for London since 9am has just left at 13.38, 22 minutes short of five hours. Now running via Bath and the Berks and Hants. All Bristol to London services and vice versa are now running this route for the rest of the day.

All Bath Spa to London via Swindon are no longer running leaving Swindon in the hands of services to/from Gloucester.

Services to and from Swansea are now running to Bristol Temple Meads to pick up London services from there:

Quote
Network Rail have confirmed that the line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway has flooded again and is now shut to trains.

GWR (Great Western Railway) Direct South Wales services are cancelled.

Passengers from the East for South Wales, should travel to Bristol Temple Meads and change trains there for Swansea services.

Passengers from South Wales for London should travel to Bristol Temple Meads and change trains there for services towards London Paddington.

Journey times will considerably extended by 60 minutes or more.

Unfortunately, not looking good if you are travelling to/from Chippenham:

Quote
GWR Swindon to Westbury services are only able to operate between Chippenham and Westbury.
Stagecoach bus route 55: Swindon (Bus Station) - Chippenham (Station) are conveying passengers between Swindon and Chippenham in both directions until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.
« Last Edit: January 14, 2023, 13:54:49 by Timmer » Logged
grahame
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« Reply #23 on: January 14, 2023, 17:19:19 »

I'd have thought it would be a little less cost wise, excluding costs at Melksham:

1) Slightly shorter than Swindon to Kemble.
2) No level crossings or tunnels (two crossings and one tunnel between Swindon and Kemble).
3) Less signalling required - I'd imagine just two signal sections would be warranted in either direction, one half way and one protecting the junctions at either end.

Though of course the general condition of the earthworks can vastly add to costs.

There are four level foot path crossings, mind you, and modern health and safety might request bridges. And one bridge over the Avon which now only takes one track and could be a major job.

This would also be the time to consider whether to reopen Bradford curve - taken out as late as 1990 - and Thingley South to West curve taken out after WWII (World War 2 - 1939 to 1945).    Both curves would provide useful diversion routes ...
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« Reply #24 on: January 14, 2023, 18:01:45 »

1A29, the 17:01 Bristol-Paddington, was originally scheduled to run via Badminton, due to planned engineering between Bristol and Bath. That engineering was cancelled, but as we know the weather has caused further issues.

Anyway, the 1A29 has proceeded via Bath instead of Badminton. It called at Bath, but as far as I can see the revised plan didn't included a Chippenham call.

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ellendune
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« Reply #25 on: January 14, 2023, 18:42:41 »

I'd have thought it would be a little less cost wise, excluding costs at Melksham:

1) Slightly shorter than Swindon to Kemble.
2) No level crossings or tunnels (two crossings and one tunnel between Swindon and Kemble).
3) Less signalling required - I'd imagine just two signal sections would be warranted in either direction, one half way and one protecting the junctions at either end.

Though of course the general condition of the earthworks can vastly add to costs.

There are four level foot path crossings, mind you, and modern health and safety might request bridges. And one bridge over the Avon which now only takes one track and could be a major job.

This would also be the time to consider whether to reopen Bradford curve - taken out as late as 1990 - and Thingley South to West curve taken out after WWII (World War 2 - 1939 to 1945).    Both curves would provide useful diversion routes ...

Careful you will make the project more expensive and therefore less likely to happen!
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grahame
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« Reply #26 on: January 14, 2023, 21:40:48 »

Careful you will make the project more expensive and therefore less likely to happen!

Indeed - hence "consider".
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« Reply #27 on: January 15, 2023, 19:57:09 »

Very clear from this short video from Network Rail why the line is closed between Bath and Swindon:
https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/1613501822668505089

Not sure of exact location from that video - here are a couple of stills from it




I believe that is Chipping Sodbury on the Hullavington route. The tunnel in the distance is the giveaway.
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Timmer
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« Reply #28 on: January 15, 2023, 21:02:18 »

After opening again today, the line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway has once again been closed:

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Alterations to services between Swindon and Bristol Parkway
Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Swindon and Bristol Parkway the line towards Bristol Parkway is closed.
Train services running through these stations will be diverted. Disruption is expected until 10:00 16/01.
Customer Advice
We are sorry for the delay to your journey today.

The railway in the Chipping Sodbury area between Swindon and Bristol Parkway has flooded.

Network Rail staff are monitoring the levels of flood water, which at the moment are such that we cannot run trains on this route.

Trains between London Paddington and South Wales will be diverted between Swindon and Bristol Parkway via an alternate route which may add up to 30 minutes to journey times.

Good job we’ve got a mainly dry week ahead.
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froome
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« Reply #29 on: January 16, 2023, 06:49:40 »

After opening again today, the line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway has once again been closed:

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Alterations to services between Swindon and Bristol Parkway
Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Swindon and Bristol Parkway the line towards Bristol Parkway is closed.
Train services running through these stations will be diverted. Disruption is expected until 10:00 16/01.
Customer Advice
We are sorry for the delay to your journey today.

The railway in the Chipping Sodbury area between Swindon and Bristol Parkway has flooded.

Network Rail staff are monitoring the levels of flood water, which at the moment are such that we cannot run trains on this route.

Trains between London Paddington and South Wales will be diverted between Swindon and Bristol Parkway via an alternate route which may add up to 30 minutes to journey times.

Good job we’ve got a mainly dry week ahead.

Indeed, but if there is any water left around rail lines when it freezes tonight, what will that do to the track?
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