Major new electrification projects to be anounced shortly

[whole diary]

[anthony215]

I  wouldn't be too surprised if some of the class 222's were transfered to the Great Western region particulary for routes down to Penzance and perhaps for services which say go beyond Swansea particulary since it looks like IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project. This will offer more capacity on routes, save money, give a consistent and safe service and meet customer requirements. Intended to replace HSTs.) will not be ckeared to work west of Swansea.

I am looking forward to Monday and seing what the government have up their sleeves.

As for the wires coming to south wales I say brilliant especially if we can get a regular local service west of Cardiff which will run through to Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context).

[paul7575]

Very good point, and the Meridians could then form the top end of a DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) cascade.          

One of the long term problems could be that there's only a few main types of DMUs left -  perhaps 158s, 16X, 17X, or 22X - the last may have to be forced onto operators who who would really prefer the commuter style units, because there comes a time when a Voyager sized unit is just too much of a long distance unit for a particular quiet branchline...

Interesting problem to have to solve...

Paul

[grandsire]

This section from the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) press release suggests Bedford-Milton Keynes-Oxford will be electrified:

^The creation of a high-capacity ^electric spine^ running from Yorkshire and the West Midlands to South Coast ports allowing more reliable electric trains to cut journey times and boost capacity for passengers and freight. This comprises: an ^800m electrification and upgrade from Sheffield ^ through Nottingham, Derby and Leicester ^ to Bedford, completing the full electrification of the Midland Main Line out of London St Pancras; and electrification of the lines from Nuneaton and Bedford to Oxford, Reading, Basingstoke and Southampton.

[RichardB]

I think we can now expect the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) replacement for Paddington to the West of England to be Meridians & Voyagers trains.  Wouldn't put any bets on any more HST refurbishment now.

[RichardB]

I think we can now expect the HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) replacement for Paddington to the West of England to be Meridians & Voyagers trains.  Wouldn't put any bets on any more HST refurbishment now.

Having said that, all the electrification being announced is really wonderful news.  As Grandsire points out, the clear implication now is that Bletchley - Oxford will not just reopen but will be electified as part of a through freight route.  Bletchley Flyover gets its intended role after fifty years and Bedford - Bletchley wll now be an EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) rather than 150/153.   

All this must herald the end of the Pacer too.

[onthecushions]

The extent of the electrification projects is shown on the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) map:

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/hlos-2012/map-all-schemes.pdf

This confirms not only the Valleys + Cardiff but also Basingstoke - Reading, Oxford - Coventry (and Nuneaton), Oxford - Bedford and the Thames Valley branches

Remarkable. No short diesel IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project. This will offer more capacity on routes, save money, give a consistent and safe service and meet customer requirements. Intended to replace HSTs.)'s now needed for South Wales trains. Cross Country trains to North West entirely electric (Scotland, Manchester, to Southampton). It could even mean wires South of Basingstoke.

On the down side, the Erewash Valley line is omitted as is anything North of Sheffield, so a Yorkshire/Northern freight spine is nonsense. TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) is extended to Selby (to give 2nd access to ECML^▸ (East Coast Main Line) from Leeds and also for Yorks Metro stopping services), but not to Hull.

So better than we expected for the Sunny (and wet) South but mixed results further North. Perhaps the rail system there needs more basic upgrades, (like the Manchester Hub) before wires are appropriate.

Any inside knowledge?

OTC

[paul7575]

It explicity states there'll be wires south of Basingstoke as far as 'Southampton Port' 

(I'm wondering if they might have to do the diversionary route via Laverstock - because they intend to use that for the normal weekday freight timetable as and when required frequencies increase.)

I think regarding the MML^» (Midland Main Line. - about), there's a lot of scope for incremental additions before it is even started.  MML won't necessarily commence until mid-period, because GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) will still be in progress in 2017.  So they could add Sheffield to Leeds and Doncaster in  the next HLOS^▸ (High Level Output Specification - the DfT's High Level Output Specification, which has specified to Network Rail the outputs that need to be delivered within a Control Period (CP)) in 2017 and still tack it onto the MML lengths that've been announced so far?

Paul

[RichardB]

It explicity states there'll be wires south of Basingstoke as far as 'Southampton Port' 

(I'm wondering if they might have to do the diversionary route via Laverstock - because they intend to use that for the normal weekday freight timetable as and when required frequencies increase.)

I think regarding the MML^» (Midland Main Line. - about), there's a lot of scope for incremental additions before it is even started.  MML won't necessarily commence until mid-period, because GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) will still be in progress in 2017.  So they could add Sheffield to Leeds and Doncaster in  the next HLOS^▸ (High Level Output Specification - the DfT's High Level Output Specification, which has specified to Network Rail the outputs that need to be delivered within a Control Period (CP)) in 2017 and still tack it onto the MML lengths that've been announced so far?

Paul

Via Laverstock - there's a thought.  Might as well carry on the short distance  into Salisbury if they do (and I can see it being logical for the reasons you state, Paul).

Similarly, in additions to the MML, I can see the line north of Corby being added in, again as a diversionary/freight route. 

[Richard Fairhurst]

All this must herald the end of the Pacer too.

Indeed. No longer needed in South Wales, while under 'West', this document promises "Route gauge clearance for different DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)". That sounds to me like sending 16Xs west.

[paul7575]

"Route gauge clearance for different DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)". That sounds to me like sending 16Xs west.

Widely forecast in various RUSs^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy), Route plans, even Rolling stock strategies etc, so not too surprising.

It was mentioned in the Labour government's electrification strategy as well:

Existing modern diesel trains that operate the suburban services into
London Paddington can then be transferred to provide additional capacity
on services in the Bristol area and the South West as well as releasing
vehicles that can then be deployed to deliver additional capacity in key
Northern cities.

So that's Turbos to Bristol, and older stuff to the north...

Paul

[Rhydgaled]

All this must herald the end of the Pacer too.

Indeed. No longer needed in South Wales, while under 'West', this document promises "Route gauge clearance for different DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)". That sounds to me like sending 16Xs west.

Couldn't they have done some swapsiees with Chiltern (the other user of stock that has vehicles 23m long but as wide as 20m vehicles elsewhere) to avoid the need to guage-clear anything? Anyway, 16xs around Bristol isn't too bad an idea so long as they don't get on the Cardiff - Portsmouth services (my opinion is those should remain 158s, though a fourth carriage would be nice).

While a good number of Pacers will be released thanks to the schemes announced in the HLOS^▸ (High Level Output Specification - the DfT's High Level Output Specification, which has specified to Network Rail the outputs that need to be delivered within a Control Period (CP)), I suspect it isn't quite enough to completly rid Northern of the things.

[IndustryInsider]

What an amazing day of announcements, which went much further than I think anyone dared speculate.

So much to digest over the coming weeks as the detail becomes clearer, but I think pretty much everything on my sensible investment wish list (along with a few extra items) has been given the green light.  Brilliant stuff!   

[Electric train]

What an amazing day of announcements, which went much further than I think anyone dared speculate.

So much to digest over the coming weeks as the detail becomes clearer, but I think pretty much everything on my sensible investment wish list (along with a few extra items) has been given the green light.  Brilliant stuff!   

I agree it has gone a lot further than I expected it too, although the electrification network is getting to that tipping point where it is becoming economical, also the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Government are looking 25 to 30 years ahead  as hydrocarbon fuel starts to run out

[grandsire]

And its interesting that Derby-Birmingham-Bristol electrification is proposed for CP6^▸ (Control Period 6 - The five year period between 2019 and 2024).  Think we can assume, finance permitting ( and it is inevitable that timetables will slip), that all major routes will be electric - perhaps even Chiltern!

[IndustryInsider]

...all major routes will be electric - perhaps even Chiltern!

That'll be the last to be done.  After all, they're such a backward thinking company, having just bought new DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) and intent on investing in new diesel locomotives.  Diesel is so last year!