Fill in 3rd rail?

[whole diary]

[Richard Fairhurst]

It sounds like a good idea, and really probably needs it, but FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are a diesel railway (and shortly overhead electric) so I cannot see them leasing yet another type of traction to cater for the North Downs.

They wouldn't need to - 387s can work from either overhead or third rail, and according to a posting at Another Place, the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) 387s are no exception:

It also appears to have collector shoe beams (but no collector shoes) on the front bogie. Is this a standard fitting for the 387s as they won't be needed on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line)?

If the shoes are in the raised position they won't be easily visible at a quick glance, especially from a mainly front view.   Keeps them identical to the other 29 units.

[grahame]

"North Downs railway line to be fully electrified" says Eagle Radio

Rail travel for more than 5.5 million people is about to get better - as the North Downs Line gets fully electrified.
The train line which runs between Reading and Gatwick through Surrey is being upgraded - and there's good news for Guildford because of it.

Surrey County Council hopes there will be more frequent trains, longer platforms and greater capacity at Guildford station.

More than 5.5 million passengers used the route last year and almost 300,000 jobs lie within around a mile of the line.
Now the final 29 miles of the route are being electrified.

The council says it will generate an additional £89m a year in corporation tax and an extra £97m annually in income tax.
The figures were calculated for four local enterprise partnerships including Enterprise M3 looking at the benefits of improving transport in the South East.

It follows Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning Mike Goodman telling a conference organised by Great Western Railway that upgrading the final two sections would create around 8,000 jobs and stimulate £1.9 billion of economic growth.

That led to the council and the rail franchise joining forces to drive forward the case for investment.
Mr Goodman said: “It was great to hear the Chancellor signalling the government’s intent to invest in rail, especially as economic growth and development along the North Downs Line are being limited by creaking infrastructure and slow journeys.

“Fully electrifying this line would change all that, giving Surrey and the South East’s powerhouse economies a significant shot in the arm while also providing the government with an enormous financial boost so I hope it features in their plans.”

Timescale and method not mentioned in article.

How many diesel multiple units will be released for cascade as a result?

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

"about to get better"?

Usung the wortd "about" implies now or in the short term. Icannot see any hope of this happening just yet and many people will be disappointed by the use of this word.

[paul7575]

I think this is the source; I therefore think the above story is a misinterpretation.
https://news.surreycc.gov.uk/2016/11/25/upgrading-north-downs-line-will-boost-government-coffers-by-almost-190m/
It isn't a report of a decision as far as I can see, it's still only Surrey CC pushing an agenda, as they did a few months ago.

Paul

[Adelante_CCT]

How many diesel multiple units will be released for cascade as a result?

If it went ahead then 9-10 units

(think a pig just flew past)

[paul7575]

How many diesel multiple units will be released for cascade as a result?

If it went ahead then 9-10 units

(think a pig just flew past)

Does that allow for the forthcoming upgrade to 3 tph Reading to Redhill, (supposedly still due with SLC2 in May 2017), or is that the current requirement?

Paul

[Adelante_CCT]

That's with the enhanced service, currently 7 units are diagrammed at the mo.

Although I'm guessing more 387s or equivalent would be required.

[paul7575]

That's with the enhanced service, currently 7 units are diagrammed at the mo.

Cheers.   Will be interesting to see if the May change is going to be possible, has anyone heard anything?

Paul

[stuving]

That's with the enhanced service, currently 7 units are diagrammed at the mo.

Cheers.   Will be interesting to see if the May change is going to be possible, has anyone heard anything?

Paul

If anyone's at Paddington tomorrow, and happens to see a manager they could ask ...

[Chris from Nailsea]

Will be interesting to see if the May change is going to be possible, has anyone heard anything?

I thought we had the May change, back in mid-July?


Oh, sorry: I see what you meant. 

[paul7575]

I thought we had the May change, back in mid-July?

Oh, sorry: I see what you meant. 

Sidesplitting noises heard...

[Chris from Nailsea]

Yes, sorry, Paul. 

[Tim]

could this be done quickly and result in release of much needed DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) sooner than if we have to wait for NR^» (Network Rail - home page) to sort out the OHL^▸ (Over-Head Line) on the mainline?

[paul7575]

could this be done quickly and result in release of much needed DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) sooner than if we have to wait for NR^» (Network Rail - home page) to sort out the OHL^▸ (Over-Head Line) on the mainline?

The title of this thread notwithstanding, I think the general view is that no more third rail will be installed (other than very short lengths in existing areas).   This route, albeit in two separate parts, is not considered a short length.   

Paul

[Noggin]

Radio station has undoubtedly misunderstood. Surrey CC want the North Downs electrified, the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) say that H&S^▸ (Health and Safety) legislation basically makes new installations compliance with H&S legislation near impossible/unaffordable apart from in some very specific urban applications e.g. London Underground extensions.

Remember that we are in the run up to Network Rail's next 5 year plan being decided, so there is doubtless all sorts of political horse-trading, strong-arming and other shennanigans going on, particularly as most local authorities seem to now have woken up to the fact that commuter railways are a vote-winner and economy booster, rather than an irritation that mess up their grand visions for highways and buses.

I just posted in another thread, but it would appear from gossip on WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) that there is currently a 319 in works having a diesel engine fitted underneath as an experiment (apparently the underframe has enough space and strength to fit one on a raft). No-one will admit to who it is for, though Northern was ruled out. TPE^▸ (Trans Pennine Express) might want one for Windemere, but the fact that they'll only have one or two engines in a 4 car unit probably rules out anywhere too hilly.

So it occurred to me that they might be destined for the North Downs and perhaps Didcot to Oxford. 3rd rail and 25kV capable, right sort of doors, Reading depot can handle both DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) and EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) stock, could presumably be turned around with minimal type-approval required, and if they can do them quickly, would enable Turbos to be cascaded west.

Anyway, just a thought...