Cheltenham Spa to Birmingham - Signalling Works Oct / Nov 2016

[whole diary]

[DaveHarries]

Hi all,

A quick heads up., albeit a long time in advance. Anyone observant enough who looks out of the window when travelling between Cheltenham Spa and Worcester / Birmingham may have noticed that a number of new signals have been erected on the line between Ashchurch for Tewkesbury and Barnt Green.

I heard today that these new signals will be commissioned between Saturday 29th October and Monday 07th November this year when the signalboxes at Gloucester and Saltley will loose parts of their areas of control meaning that Ashchurch to Barnt Green will come under the control of the West Midlands Signalling Centre (WMSC).

The line will be closed throughout so I imagine that trains will be replaced by buses between Worcester Shrub Hill, Ashchurch and Cheltenham Spa. I don't know if CrossCountry trains will be replaced by buses from Cheltenham to Birmingham (most likely) but also it is possible that CrossCountry may divert services by other routes. What will happen will become clear nearer the time.

Dave

[JayMac]

CrossCountry usually opt for Gloucester for their Rail Replacement Buses when this part of the line is closed. As they did this past weekend.

[Timmer]

CrossCountry usually opt for Gloucester for their Rail Replacement Buses when this part of the line is closed. As they did this past weekend.

Indeed sadly. There was a time when the line was closed between Cheltenham and Birmingham that SW-North services would divert via Swindon and Oxford. Not any more just stick everyone on buses 

[phile]

CrossCountry usually opt for Gloucester for their Rail Replacement Buses when this part of the line is closed. As they did this past weekend.

Gloucester is more convenient to accomodate trains than Cheltenham and has more room there

[JayMac]

It is also better for getting buses/coaches in and out.

[Noggin]

Hopefully will improve the case for electrification of Bromsgrove to Westerleigh Junction in CP6^▸ (Control Period 6 - The five year period between 2019 and 2024). Is Gloucester resignalling still scheduled for 2021?

[Charles T]

Yeah.

[Dispatch Box]

That bit of signalling down from Barnt Green to Ashchurch, to me was a waste of Money, When they planned it they should of Resignalled from Barnt green to Barnwood Junction taking in Cheltenham and put in reversible working, which would of paid off back in May when a train failed in platform 1, The conductor could not close the doors. The platform staff got quite cross they could,nt change platforms.And to top it all a Platform full of very angry passengers.