Great Western Main Line electrification - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

The chief elements left out in my view are the Box and Middle Hill tunnels, just 5 miles further on; 3410 yards of mostly 1/100 with minimal ventilation for all those diesel fumes. I wonder whether that has been risk-assessed?

I am sure Dioysius Grayling is on the case.

[onthecushions]

The chief elements left out in my view are the Box and Middle Hill tunnels, just 5 miles further on; 3410 yards of mostly 1/100 with minimal ventilation for all those diesel fumes. I wonder whether that has been risk-assessed?

I am sure Dioysius Grayling is on the case.

.... exposing that old fool, Brunel.

Why should we need electrification when a freewheeling down train would reach 120mph by the tunnel's West portal?

OTC

[ellendune]

The chief elements left out in my view are the Box and Middle Hill tunnels, just 5 miles further on; 3410 yards of mostly 1/100 with minimal ventilation for all those diesel fumes. I wonder whether that has been risk-assessed?

I am sure Dioysius Grayling is on the case.

.... exposing that old fool, Brunel.

Why should we need electrification when a freewheeling down train would reach 120mph by the tunnel's West portal?

OTC

Apart from the speed restrictions, to operate the railway efficiently the trains really need to go both ways. A west bound only service for a station like pilning may not be desirable, but you can't do that for Bristol TM^▸ (Train Manager, or possibly Ticket Machine, depending on context)!   

[grahame]

Why should we need electrification when a freewheeling down train would reach 120mph by the tunnel's West portal?

Electrify in the "up" direction only?  We've talked a few times about infilling easy sections and that could be directions - up the banks. If you only electrify 50% of the tracks ... does it cost 50% of the money, or 75% or 95%??

[Robin Summerhill]

Why should we need electrification when a freewheeling down train would reach 120mph by the tunnel's West portal?

Electrify in the "up" direction only?  We've talked a few times about infilling easy sections and that could be directions - up the banks. If you only electrify 50% of the tracks ... does it cost 50% of the money, or 75% or 95%??

Have we all forgotten that the line is signalled for reversible working?

When (as happened to me once some years ago) a HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) failed at Thingley, the following train that I was on went up the down line to bypass it. I somehow doubt that a train free-wheeling uphill would manage to do that (OK I accept that the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) are bi-modal but who is to say that there would never be an all-electric EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) using the route?

[grahame]

Why should we need electrification when a freewheeling down train would reach 120mph by the tunnel's West portal?

Electrify in the "up" direction only?  We've talked a few times about infilling easy sections and that could be directions - up the banks. If you only electrify 50% of the tracks ... does it cost 50% of the money, or 75% or 95%??

Have we all forgotten that the line is signalled for reversible working?

When (as happened to me once some years ago) a HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) failed at Thingley, the following train that I was on went up the down line to bypass it. I somehow doubt that a train free-wheeling uphill would manage to do that (OK I accept that the IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) are bi-modal but who is to say that there would never be an all-electric EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) using the route?

The gap between Cocklebury Lane and Thingley Junction would rather preclude the use of an all-electric (and no batteries) EMU as suggested ... and I would suggest that on the few line-swap occasions the Bi-mode would use their Diesel engines for the climb.

[onthecushions]

The clue is in "Red Squirrel's" use of the name Dionysius (Lardner)

The "up" trains in Box tunnel would then be powered by a Perpetual Motion linkage to the "down", even better than DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)'s batteries or Hydrogen and quite Carbon free.

Joking is better than weeping,

OTC

[patch38]

Don't forget that you'll need a couple of skyhooks to make it all work.

[Celestial]

I see that the residents of Goring have effectively lost their battle to get any changes to the electrification in the area.  Network Rail will plant a few trees instead (and probably chop them down in a few years to prevent too many leaves falling on the line).

[SandTEngineer]

This was posted on the WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) Forum:

The section between Swindon and Christian Malford (just before Chippenham) is now being used as of today (21/04/2019).

800311 was the first up train on 1A07 07:45 Bristol to Paddington service, whilst 802015 + 802019 was the first down train on 1C05 08:00 Paddington to Penzance service.

[bradshaw]

video can be seen here:

https://twitter.com/25kV/status/1119873030329647104

[johnneyw]

After now, being so close to Bath and Bristol, especially having the work on the Box Tunnel done, it seems utter madness not to finish the job.

[SandTEngineer]

Another update from a poster on the WNXX^▸ (Stored Unserviceable, Mainline Locos HQ All Classes) Forum concerning the Cardiff electrification progress:

Update on the Cardiff wiring situation:

All platforms on the mainline will be wired: P0/1/2/3/4, along with Line A (Limit of Shunt) turnback and Brickyard turnback roads.

All West facing crossing will be wired to all Class 387 moves from P4/3/2/1 and O west to Brickyard and Line A (LoS).

Unusually, albeit understandably the east facing crossing at the west end of Plat 3 (eastbound) line E to Line D will not be wired.

There is some confusion about Line E (DN Relief) whether it’ll be wired or not, erection of OHL^▸ (Over-Head Line) masts seems to say it will be however.

The extent of the wires on the LoS Line A and Brickyard will be extended to allow a 12 car Class 387 to stable/turn back which wasn’t the case originally.

How Valley Lines electrification fits in I don’t know, but the centre roads beyond Cardiff west will not be wired, wired stop at the west junction west facing ladder.

South Wales progress:
Foundations are 98% complete
Small parts fitment is 78% complete.
Wiring is 35% complete.

Still on schedule to juice up in stages:
Severn Tunnel to St Brides
St Brides to Cardiff Central

[Visoflex]

...it seems utter madness not to finish the job.

You don't know the railway industry that well do you!   

[johnneyw]

...it seems utter madness not to finish the job.

You don't know the railway industry that well do you!   

It must be the last shreds of optimism that DfT^» (Department for Transport - about), NR^» (Network Rail - home page) et al, have not yet robbed me of!  I'll take it a stage further now I've started. If NR's new boss really is good for his reputation for keeping costs down (or so I've heard) then it might need to be looked at again. Sadly, holding my breath that long could make me more than a little dizzy. 😃