Philip Hammond MP launches Great Western Improvement Programme at Paddington, 14 Jul 2011

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

Here we are:

A ^5bn investment programme to provide more seats and shorter journey times on the Great Western rail route will provide a massive boost to the economies of the south west of England and the Thames Valley, Network Rail has announced today.

Over the next 30 years it is forecast that the benefits to the regions^ economies owing to the improvement programme will be at least double the ^5bn being invested. It will also potentially bring new rail journey opportunities for key urban centres, including Reading, Oxford, Swindon, Bath and Bristol, boosting these economies by an additional ^200m.

The ten-year improvement plan ^ the largest revamp of the Great Western railway since it was built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel 175 years ago ^ was unveiled today by transport secretary Philip Hammond and Network Rail chief executive David Higgins.

Speaking at the launch event at London Paddington station, David Higgins said the investment would turn the Great Western into "the most advanced intercity railway in Britain" and would help drive economic growth across the region.

Electrification, resignalling and new trains will improve journeys and provide the extra capacity needed to cater for a predicted 51% increase in passengers travelling on the route over the next 30 years.

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Press-Releases/REGIONAL-ECONOMIES-BOOSTED-BY-5BN-GREAT-WESTERN-RAIL-INVESTMENT-17e6/SearchCategoryID-2.aspx

[anthony215]

Just read it on the bristol evening post website:

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/5-billion-boost-Bristol-London-railway-line/story-12939390-detail/story.html

does this mean they will sort out the congestion on filton bank perhaps?

[ChrisB]

Anyone find any details yet?.....

[inspector_blakey]

Trying to decide if today's announcement is of enough significance to merit splitting off the last few posts and starting its own thread, rather than having it buried several pages down a topic about the possible reinstatement of Adelantes... Thoughts folks?

[ChrisB]

yup, it's more than just Adelantes - which I'm not sure he said anything about. The stock reference was IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.)....

[inspector_blakey]

I've made the split...the notes to editors at the bottom of NR^» (Network Rail - home page)'s press release mention seven 'core packages of work', although apart from electrification and perhaps ERTMS^▸ (European Rail Traffic Management System.) they're a little cagey about what the rest are:

Notes to Editors:

The Great Western improvement programme comprises seven core packages of work, the largest of which is electrification. The programme will begin with the upgrade of the signalling system between Paddington and Bristol by end of 2011, so that the infrastructure is compatible with electrification technology and ready for the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).

ERTMS is the world^s most advanced in-cab signalling system and is used to improve reliability, efficiency and safety of the railway. It is currently being implemented on a number of high-speed and freight lines in mainland Europe.

Work to install ERTMS will start by 2016 after electrification. Electrification of the railway between London ^ Bristol, Oxford and Newbury will be carried out in nine phases, starting from Maidenhead in Berkshire.

Electrification of the lines from Paddington to Oxford, Newbury and Bristol will make the railway greener and more efficient. Passengers will also benefit from extra capacity thanks to the Intercity Express Programme fleet of new trains, which was confirmed by the government earlier in the year.

Network Rail is currently tendering for machinery and plant to install overhead power lines as part of the electrification process. The specification calls for machinery which uses innovative techniques to minimise disruption, allowing Network Rail to carry out most of the work within overnight eight-hour windows.

[paul7575]

Good idea pulling my post from the Adelante thread...

I expect the probable return of the 180s would be a much lower profile affair all round, this is about everything but a few DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)...

Paul

[SandTEngineer]

From the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) press Release.................

"The programme will begin with the upgrade of the signalling system between Paddington and Bristol by end of 2011"

I think they mean that work will start at the end of 2011

[ChrisB]

"will begin.....by the end of 2011".....

[paul7575]

OTOH^▸ (On The Other Hand) at least one job has to commence now - to finish this Christmas...

Signalling Solutions Ltd wins ^5 million contract to install Smartlock interlocking technology on Great Western Main Line

25/05/2011

Network Rail has awarded Signalling Solutions Ltd a contract worth approximately five million pounds to install parent company Alstom's Smartlock interlocking technology  for the Crossrail Surface Signalling West Inner relocking project on the Great Western Main Line.
 
The final commissioning date for the new interlockings is Christmas 2011 and will be preceded by a number of rehearsals to prove the new system and minimise disruption to the railway.
 
The contract will see the thirteen existing solid state interlockings (SSI^▸ (Solid State Interlocking)) located and controlled in Slough, replaced by four Smartlock 400T interlockings, located and controlled in Network Rail^s new Thames Valley Signalling Centre in Didcot.

http://www.alstom.com/uk/news-and-events/press-releases/Signalling-Solutions-contract-Great-Western-Main-Line-260511/

[anthony215]

Another atricle today in the evening post:

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Temple-Meads-station-line-revamp/story-12946699-detail/story.html

4 trains an hour to London? and electric local services to Cardiff, Bath etc, are they planning on cutting the Cardiff - Taunton service to  terminate at Bristol TM^‡(resolve) and have a seperate diesel services from Bristol to Taunton?

[paul7575]

Four tph to Bristol after electrification has been the proposal for a while, it was certainly mentioned in the early announcements and was discussed here at the time.  It doen't necessarily mean all four trains will be fast via Bath, some may be routed via Parkway.

Paul

[anthony215]

hopefully that will allow for some Swansea/Cardiff - London services to run  non stop Bristol Parkway - Reading

[ChrisB]

Other wsy round - i understand the Bristol bia Parkway are proposed to miss Swindon. I suspect they might become the 'main' Bristol trains - Reading & Parkway stops on at least one.

The via Bath trains might start back at Exeter

[standclearplease]

Are there not already 4tph between Bristol and Paddington? Two from Parkway and two from Temple Meads?

Of course I'm sure they mean 4tph from Temple Meads to Paddington..