Great Western Main Line electrification - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[mjones]

The newts are getting together with the bats to move somewhere between Bicester and Bletchely...

[Richard Fairhurst]

I'd say it is a classic case of planning committees dodging unpopular decisions that they know will be overturned on appeal, but they won't then be blamed for.  The 'village cut in two' argument should be taken with the pinch of salt: the railway is to the south of the village, with very few houses on the 'wrong side', many of which are usually accessed by the level crossings anyway. A temporary bridge may be possible, I couldn't say. But other places have suffered worse severance from bridge closures. The situation should be manageable.

I can see some of the villagers' logic. AIUI^▸ (as I understand it) they say the pubs get a lot of business from Milton Park, and certainly looking on Street View (I've only ever been to Steventon once!) the two pubs closest to the bridge have big car parks. Removing the direct road route would hit that trade. Village pubs are pretty borderline these days in any case - I can envisage a scenario in which a ten-month Steventon Bridge closure leads to one of the pubs closing, and once they've gone you don't get them back.

That's not to say that Steventon Bridge should stay as it is forever, or that there isn't some sort of feasible solution (a temporary visitors' car park and turning space south of the bridge, coupled with a pedestrian/cycle bridge, would be my first thought).

[mjones]

I certainly sympathise with them over the difficulties you mention. The pubs are certainly very dependent upon lunchtime trade from Milton Park, and probably Harwell as well (they were regular venues when I worked at Harwell 10 years ago). However, my sympathy is somewhat tested by their approach they have taken, namely to find ludicrous arguments for not replacing the bridge rather than focusing on finding solutions to the problems replacement will bring. When Network Rail (NR^» (Network Rail - home page)) gets the decision overturned they will simply have to put up with whatever NR does, and there won't be much time to find alternative ways of doing things.

Your suggestion of a temporary car park south of the bridge is a good one. I would also suggest that this should give an incentive for sorting out the proposed cycle path between Steventon and Milton Park adjacent to the railway, something there is demand for but which has made little progress for years. Perhaps shuttle buses using the level crossing could be considered?

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[didcotdean]

I think most of the objections have been around the time the bridge would be out, rather than loss of the bridge itself, although these have not been zero. Historic England for one does not object.

Unfortuately there is no open land to put in a temporary bridge, although maybe there would be for pedstrians only. The only theoretical short diversion route is Stocks Lane, and this is an unsuitable single track without any passing places, too narrow even for Google to have taken its vehicle down (comically the sign at the entry just says 'Unsuitable for HGV').

[onthecushions]

I would only add that the cost of an early agreed compromise is usually far less than the cost of conflict and delay.

OTC

[PhilWakely]

From the press reports, the local objections seem more to do with the village being cut in two for 10 months during reconstruction. The listing is just a happy coincidence!

What should reasonably have been proposed is a temporary, Bailey type bridge alongside the old one.

No doubt there would then be further objections due to the noise generated by vehicles going over the bridge.

[ellendune]

Since, according to Steventon News,  Vale planners recommended acceptance and the Council went against their recommendation, then it is almost certain to be overturned on appeal. The councillors almost certainly know this, but are trying not to upset the locals.
 

[didcotdean]

May not be coincidental that the Vale council election is next year. Although presuming this goes to appeal it will cost more money.

[ellendune]

May not be coincidental that the Vale council election is next year. Although presuming this goes to appeal it will cost more money.

Ahh what money when votes are at stake! Or am I being too cynical?

[didcotdean]

Bits of extension to Platform 3 stacked up at Didcot ... it has been taking a while



Also Station Road in Didcot will be closed to the west of the station from 31st August 2018 for 3 days in connection with the installation of the new pedestrian footbridge. Signed local traffic diversion in place (Foxhall Road/Broadway/Haydon Road), delays inevitable.

[Electric train]

I have been reliably informed that the juice has been switched on as far as the Neutral Sections at Wotton Bassett.  There are some on load tests to be done before permitted for passenger train use; however the current slow down in timetable changes may mean GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) cannot run the IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) in electric mode.

[ellendune]

I travelled from Swindon to Bristol parkway today.  All the string appears (as far as you can tell from a moving train) to be in place as far as Chipping Sodbury. From there to Westerleigh it seems to be work in progress then no string from there to Parkway.   

I have been reliably informed that the juice has been switched on as far as the Neutral Sections at Wotton Bassett.  There are some on load tests to be done before permitted for passenger train use; however the current slow down in timetable changes may mean GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) cannot run the IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) in electric mode.

What stops them from running in electric mode to the existing timetable?

[Electric train]

I travelled from Swindon to Bristol parkway today.  All the string appears (as far as you can tell from a moving train) to be in place as far as Chipping Sodbury. From there to Westerleigh it seems to be work in progress then no string from there to Parkway.   

I have been reliably informed that the juice has been switched on as far as the Neutral Sections at Wotton Bassett.  There are some on load tests to be done before permitted for passenger train use; however the current slow down in timetable changes may mean GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) cannot run the IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) in electric mode.

What stops them from running in electric mode to the existing timetable?

Apart from running times being quicker, there is also on board data that need to be set so the train and drive know when to pan down / up


It is only a may mean, I am sure there will be a work around

[a-driver]

I travelled from Swindon to Bristol parkway today.  All the string appears (as far as you can tell from a moving train) to be in place as far as Chipping Sodbury. From there to Westerleigh it seems to be work in progress then no string from there to Parkway.   

I have been reliably informed that the juice has been switched on as far as the Neutral Sections at Wotton Bassett.  There are some on load tests to be done before permitted for passenger train use; however the current slow down in timetable changes may mean GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) cannot run the IEPs^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) in electric mode.

What stops them from running in electric mode to the existing timetable?

Apart from running times being quicker, there is also on board data that need to be set so the train and drive know when to pan down / up


It is only a may mean, I am sure there will be a work around

Pan up and pan down is currently done manually by the driver, lineside signage is provided. The automatic system (APCo) is currently disabled as this is causing interference with the signalling equipment

[Timmer]

I would be disappointed if the wires are energised and ready for use and not used. This project has already been a huge embarrassment without it being discovered that trains were still running on diesel when they could be running on electric.