2018 Full line closure Newbury line

[whole diary]

[Adelante_CCT]

The final week closure in November has been cancelled

The good news is that the work is ahead of schedule. This means Network Rail no longer need to close the line in November

[SandTEngineer]

The final week closure in November has been cancelled

The good news is that the work is ahead of schedule. This means Network Rail no longer need to close the line in November

Which schedule is that?  The one thats already two years late.....?

[Thatcham Crossing]

Which schedule is that?

Presumably the one that says the B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) electrification needs to be ready for IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan))'s (on AC) and 387's to start running to Newbury in January (2019, that is!)

Just to continue the irony 

[CMRail]

‘ang on, so 387s takeover is planned in January, so I presume this is when IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) will take over as well?

[Thatcham Crossing]

I think that's the assumption, but now that the turnback at Bedwyn is done (not sure if an IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan)) has actually been in it yet), perhaps they could start sooner (albeit on diesel west of Reading)?

[SandTEngineer]

Wires not yet quite complete.  Noticed today (05/09/2018) that the Up Line still missing contact wire between Newbury Racecourse and Thatcham.

[Adelante_CCT]

Yes, still a few areas with small amounts to finish off, but certainly looking good for a Christmas(ish) start (assuming nothing goes bang)

[bradshaw]

From Network Rail Western this morning

On 2 January electric train services will run between Newbury and London Paddington for the first time.

🚆 The upgrade will enable GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to run brand new trains with more seats.

👏🏻 We thank passengers for their patience whilst we modernise the railway.

https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/1078588835959840768?s=21

[grahame]

From Network Rail Western this morning

🚆 The upgrade will enable GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) to run brand new trains with more seats.

Technicallity - are they really "brand new" units or have they been in service already between Paddington and Didcot?

[Thatcham Crossing]

On 2 January electric train services will run between Newbury and London Paddington for the first time

I'm guessing what this means in reality is that we will start to see 387's on the Reading-Newbury shuttles, as it's going to be Turbo's for a while yet on the Paddington-Bedwyn's (due to the "DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard))/camera" issue that needs to be resolved on the IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train - replacement for HSTs (manufactured by Hitachi in Kobe, Japan))'s)

Edit: Through/long-distance IET's should also start using the AC between Reading and Newbury from the 2nd.

[Adelante_CCT]

Looking at the diagrams it would appear nearly all trains that start/terminate at Newbury to/from the east are to be class 387s, the exceptions being:

06:09 Newbury to Paddington (Class 80x)
07:10 Reading to Newbury
07:53 Newbury to Reading
09:10 Reading to Newbury
10:14 Newbury to Reading
17:12 Reading to Newbury
18:12 Reading to Newbury
18:52 Newbury to Paddington
19:12 Reading to Newbury
21:12 Newbury to Reading
21:51 Newbury to Reading

[Thatcham Crossing]

Just seen a 4-car 387 on the Newbury Railcam, service appears to be 2K33.

Not sure if this is the first 387, but it is the first one I've noticed in passenger service, a few days earlier than the advertised date of 2nd Jan 

[Adelante_CCT]

Well spotted, started its diagram as the 06:12 off Reading

[SandTEngineer]

Personally I don't see why full use could be made of the electrification off-peak by making the Bedwyn service a diesel shuttle to/from Newbury, change there for electric services to Reading/Paddington.

I already have my hat and coat on thank you.....

[BBM]

I made a trip from RDG^▸ (Rail Delivery Group, or Reading station, depending on context) to NBY^» (Newbury - next trains) and return today and I was able to travel on 387145 on both journeys - I took the 1114 from RDG and returned on the 1412 from NBY (the other stopper diagram today was a Turbo). As my photos show, I arrived in P3 and left from P1.