Great post Phil Farmer and very interesting. Panels used to, and still do, use block bells to communicate in emergency conditions and when power is down (they used to be tested weekly). Do you know if this will still be the case between Gloucester and the TVSC^» (Thames Valley Signalling Centre - about)? If not, do you know how the two operating centres interface with each other?

I worked at Gloucester on the S & T for 43 years and can confirm that the line was singled in the summer of 1968. I worked there on the weekend the work took place. There was no thought of mothballing it for a period of time in case of a re-think, just rip it out and centralise the single track for ease of maintenance (to save money).

I believe the minimum allowed distance between track centres is 3.26 metres (10' 8.5" in old money).

As correctly stated, both lines between Kemble and Standish Junction are split into 2 block sections. On the Down there is an entry signal at Kemble, SN160 I believe, which is Swindon controlled but slotted by Gloucester. St Marys Crossing is protected by Gloucester signals DK98R and DK98, the latter controlled from Gloucester but slotted by the crossing Annetts keys. Standish Junction is protected by signals G217R and G217. On the Up, entry from Standish is controlled by signal G272. St Marys Crossing is protected by signals UK99R and UK99, the latter also slotted by the Annetts keys. The first signal on approach to Kemble is at Coates.
I would imagine that both lines will have new signals somewhere in the Sapperton/Frampton area and at Stroud, giving 4 block sections on each, but this remains to be seen.

Good morning everyone. I'm a 'newby' and an ex-railwayman from Gloucester. Do any of you with inside knowledge know the details of the extra signalling being put in between Kemble and Standish Junction in connection with this scheme? Before I retired, access to this information would have been simple. Little detail has appeared in print about this work to add extra line capacity.