Great Western Main Line electrification - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

for those of you that doubted that Network Rail would install something in a tunnel that could rust..... the minister has confirmed it-
I saw this on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) and thought you should see it:

Severn Tunnel electrification kit deteriorating, minister admits - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-44690614

Here's the article for those that are interested -

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/severn-tunnel-shut-three-weeks-14785503

Does anyone know if it's true?

I did post earlier that the construction team were informed of the harsh conditions and they did see example of existing equipment; from a brief chat I have had with someone involved in the project they have been montoring the install and there are areas of concern.   Also the lessons are being learnt to determin the levels of inspection, maintainance and what the renewals polocy should be (ie 10, 20, 30 years etc)

It is an extremely harsh environment 

Made worse I expect by running diesel trains in the tunnel which chuck out acidic gases

That will have limited effects, it more the damp atmospher in the tunnel

[martyjon]

Also the lessons are being learnt to determine the levels of inspection, maintenance and what the renewals policy should be (ie 10, 20, 30 years etc)

For (ie 10, 20, 30 years etc) read (ie 5, 10, 15 months etc) would be more appropriate.

[bobm]

I suspect this is a "temporary" structure which doesn't require permission.  However I understand there is a disgruntled householder who isn't happy that the base at one side is almost in his garden.

It could also just be a temporary structure to carry services (that were previously carried on the old footbridge), rather than an actual temporary footbridge.

Paul

That's a thought.   Although the new exit onto Oxford Road connects to the bottom of the structure which spans the track so a footbridge is a possibility to my thinking.

[TonyK]

I suspect this is a "temporary" structure which doesn't require permission.  However I understand there is a disgruntled householder who isn't happy that the base at one side is almost in his garden.

It's not in his garden then.

[SandTEngineer]

Patchway footbridge was removed on 05 July 2018 and a temporary structure erected in its place.  Photographs on the Cornwall Railway Society site down the page here: http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/news---latest-reports-and-photographs

[grahame]

Patchway footbridge was removed on 05 July 2018 and a temporary structure erected in its place.  Photographs on the Cornwall Railway Society site down the page here: http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/news---latest-reports-and-photographs

I suspect linking to http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/news---latest-reports-and-photographs/5th-july-2018 might be more permanent.

Interesting question on the page about installation of the old footbridge at the next station to the west.

[SandTEngineer]

Patchway footbridge was removed on 05 July 2018 and a temporary structure erected in its place.  Photographs on the Cornwall Railway Society site down the page here: http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/news---latest-reports-and-photographs

I suspect linking to http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/news---latest-reports-and-photographs/5th-july-2018 might be more permanent.

Interesting question on the page about installation of the old footbridge at the next station to the west.

I think it will still progress down the page as time passes.....

[Thatcham Crossing]

Looks like some wires are starting to go up between the 2 Newbury stations.

I understood that a 3 week blockade is due to start on Monday 16th, but info on National Rail Enquiries now seems to suggest that a "peak hours" train service will run between the 16th and the 20th. Info pasted as follows:

Local Services:

Newbury - Reading:

Until 22:00 each night, local services will run an amended service during morning and evening peak times only, with trains making an additional stop at Reading West.

An amended service will run between Theale and Reading.

Replacement buses will run throughout the day between Newbury and Reading and Theale and Bedwyn. During morning and evening peaks, replacement buses will also run between Newbury and Didcot Parkway as well as express buses between Didcot Parkway and Newbury, and also Reading and Thatcham.

After 22:00 each night, no train services will run between Newbury and Reading. Replacement buses will operate between Newbury and Reading.

Anyone know what's really going on? The National Rail journey planner seems to suggest it's all buses!

[Adelante_CCT]

 It means peak alterations between Reading and Theale, eg the 17:06 from Paddington stops additionally at Reading West.



The fact this has been written straight under the 'Newbury - Reading' section does appear to make it a little confusing

[martyjon]

From what I can see in my area it looks as if most of the overhead knitting is complete from the western portal of the Sodbury tunnel to just short of BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) station itself with just the operational overrun through Westerleigh Junction towards Yate station to see installation of OH wires. The electrical feeder station at Westerleigh looks to be complete and 16 of 24 transformers (my guess) installed on steel uprights on each of the 3 entries and exits to and from the junction itself. 

[ellendune]

From what I can see in my area it looks as if most of the overhead knitting is complete from the western portal of the Sodbury tunnel to just short of BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) station itself with just the operational overrun through Westerleigh Junction towards Yate station to see installation of OH wires. The electrical feeder station at Westerleigh looks to be complete and 16 of 24 transformers (my guess) installed on steel uprights on each of the 3 entries and exits to and from the junction itself. 

When I went along the M4 yesterday the string was still not in place over the M4 bridge.

[martyjon]

From what I can see in my area it looks as if most of the overhead knitting is complete from the western portal of the Sodbury tunnel to just short of BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) station itself with just the operational overrun through Westerleigh Junction towards Yate station to see installation of OH wires. The electrical feeder station at Westerleigh looks to be complete and 16 of 24 transformers (my guess) installed on steel uprights on each of the 3 entries and exits to and from the junction itself. 

When I went along the M4 yesterday the string was still not in place over the M4 bridge.

Well, the M4 bridge is not far short of BPW anyway.

[Thatcham Crossing]

It means peak alterations between Reading and Theale, eg the 17:06 from Paddington stops additionally at Reading West.

Yes, but all other info to hand (journey planners, Network Rail updates etc) currently suggest there are no trains at all for the 3 weeks starting Mon 16th between Reading (or maybe, Theale) and Bedwyn.

That's also what the Beeb were saying last night on South Today.

[Adelante_CCT]

That's correct, no trains between Theale and Bedwyn for those 3 weeks, with no trains between Reading and Theale after 22:00. The same as what has been happening for all the recent closures

Newbury - Reading:

Until 22:00 each night, local services will run an amended service during morning and evening peak times only, with trains making an additional stop at Reading West.

This is a little misleading and refers to the Theale - Reading 'local services', and not Newbury to Reading

[Thatcham Crossing]

I'd say more than a little misleading, as the whole section that I pasted was headed Newbury-Reading.

In addition, this statement:

After 22:00 each night, no train services will run between Newbury and Reading

also makes it sound very much like trains would be running on that route during the day.

Hey, ho - I guess they're not and it's just a poor piece of communication.