Great Western Coffee Shop

Yesterday the government (DfT) published its national policy statement for national networks - a .pdf file of 104 pages
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/387223/npsnn-web.pdf

With lots of annexes which may be found via:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-policy-statement-for-national-networks

Light reading for Christmas?

Here (part of page 101) is the Strategic freight network proposed
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/dftstrat4.jpg)

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/dftstrat3.jpg)

And here (part of page 102) is the Strategic freight interaction with passenger traffic
(http://www.wellho.net/pix/dftstrat2.jpg)

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/dftstrat1.jpg)

I am perfectly happy that Southampton to the north traffic gets diverted via Westbury and Swindon, to gauge W12.  But I am very concerned indeed that the TransWilts is shown as "Negligible Interaction with Passenger Traffic".  The Route Utilisaition Strategy out for consultation at the moment suggests - only - an intermediate signal on the 20 minute(ish) single line section, and I fail to see how a freight diverson route along the TranWilts will only have negligible interaction ... unless the TransWilts service is cut back again to just a skeleton service.

They aren't proposing the TRansWilts as a diversionary route - preferring to go the longer way round (following the orange/red lines) to get round & up to SWindon

That's not how I read it, Chris.   How do you work that out?

ok, if you read it your way, that intermediate siognal you mention gives a 10 minute headway (assuming it is erected midway through the 20-ish minute single liner section you mention) - so many trains an hour on the TransWilts?!

But, it is single track, so if trains are using it every 10 minutes in one direction nothing can come the other way. If you alternate trains per direction, surely that's still a 20min headway and I can't see what use there would be in providing the intermediate signal.

Fair point - but my point still styands - how many trains per hour are there?

Last Sunday, according to Real Time Trains, there were 37 trains in 13 hours (2 freight 35 passenger):
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/advanced/MKM/2014/12/14/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

But we shouldn't be scoping the future strategy based purely on current levels on a fast-growing line, and assuming that a lot of freight on diversion can be pushed through too.

To say (extra) freight would have negligible interaction with passenger services is wishful thinking at best, or is a plan based on ignoring or removing the passenger traffic at worst.

Those pax diversions are from the West Country - diverted freight will (mostly) come from Southampton. Thus it's very likely that it'll be an either/or rather than both?