Westbury Works, Xmas 2018

[whole diary]

[DaveHarries]

Hi all.

Looking well ahead I see from the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) list of engineering works that there are to be works in the Westbury area between 22-Dec-2018 and 01-Jan-2019. The works will involve "major track layout changes".

I realise it is probably too early to ask but any ideas what is necessitating these works?

Dave

[Timmer]

I don’t know anything specific Dave but I think the last time Westbury track layout was modified was in either 1983 or 84.

One observation I have made is trains approach the station very slowly, particularly eastbound on platform 3.

Graham may know a little more about the forthcoming work as it will affect Transwilts services over the Christmas New Year period.

I almost post about this and the work taking place between Reading and London and Bristol and Newport over the Christmas/New Year period the other day when I saw GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) had listed these on the Engineering works page of their website.

A lot of work going on over this time. Strange to be thinking of Christmas in May, but the speed this year is going it will soon be here. Let’s hope we have a decent summer between now and then.

[stuving]

The EAS^» (Engineering Access Statement - about) says something about the work, but as usual not a lot:

12 DAY BLOCKADE. GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) SERVICES BETWEEN
LONDON AND THE WEST OF ENGLAND TO RUN
VIA WESTBURY AVOIDERS. GWR AND SWR^» (South Western Railway - about)
SERVICES TO TERMINATE AT / START FROM
WARMINSTER AND TROWBRIDGE. GWR
SERVICES BETWEEN BRISTOL AND WEYMOUTH
TO REVERSE AT HEWYWOOD ROAD JCN^▸ (Junction).

FREIGHT SERVICES TO / FROM SOMERSET
QUARRIES TO RUN VIA WESTBURY AVOIDER. NO
ACCESS TO / FROM ANY SIDINGS / STABLING /
LOCO FACILITIES AT WESTBURY. NO ACCESS TO
/ FROM LDC AT WESTBURY EXCEPT FOR TRAINS
REQUIRED FOR THIS POSSESSION.

WORK = WESTBURY NORTH S+C RENEWAL AND
IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project. This will offer more capacity on routes, save money, give a consistent and safe service and meet customer requirements. Intended to replace HSTs.) SIGNALLING WORKS WESTBURY STATION.

SPECIAL WORKING INSTRUCTIONS REQUIRED
FOR REVERSALS AT WARMINSTER AND
HEYWOOD ROAD JCN (gpl 732 SIGNAL).

"Renewal" doesn't sound like a change at all, but I think it's used to cover any replacement, not just like for like. But I don't think it extends to new tracks or platforms.

And as to "IEP signalling works" ... ?
Incidentally, that 12-day blockade runs 23/12/18 to 4/1/19, not just to the 1st. (EAS version from March.)

[JayMac]

And as to "IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project. This will offer more capacity on routes, save money, give a consistent and safe service and meet customer requirements. Intended to replace HSTs.) signalling works" ... ?
Incidentally, that 12-day blockade runs 23/12/18 to 4/1/19, not just to the 1st. (EAS^» (Engineering Access Statement - about) version from March.)

Moving of signals to allow full platforming of 2x5 and 9 car Class 802s perhaps. Currently P3 up direction at Westbury has a signal that, if on red, prevents 2+8 HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) from fully platforming. Moving this signal may also necessitate the remodelling of the crossovers from the Up Reception and Back Road sidings.

[bradshaw]

 More details

W2018/5962122
 C70 S&C^▸ (Settle and Carlisle - a local rail line, or Switch and Crossings - a railway signalling term, depending on context) - Complete Renewal 113A
 95m11ch and 110m55ch
W2018/5964150
URFDO Inspections 109m52ch and 109m77ch
   
 

[ellendune]

More details

W2018/5962122
 C70 S&C^▸ (Settle and Carlisle - a local rail line, or Switch and Crossings - a railway signalling term, depending on context) - Complete Renewal 113A
 95m11ch and 110m55ch
W2018/5964150
URFDO Inspections 109m52ch and 109m77ch

Can anyone translate?

[bradshaw]

As far as I can understand. Renewing switch 113a, I have tried to find a shot of the panel to see which one that is. The 95m 11ch to 110m 55ch is from the east of the panel box to just before Fairwood Jct, about a mile in length. The former is on the B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) route and the latter on the original WS&W route, representing a change of mileage
URFDO is Ultrasonic rail testing between distances given, the 20ch from Westbury N Jct.
I would imagine that renewal and relocation of said switch and associated signalling along with platform extenstion(s).

[SandTEngineer]

It means complete North Junction layout renewal in 113A rail section (which is the usual flat bottom heavy duty stuff at 113lbs/yard).

As it happens, I passed through Westbury earlier today (12/05/2018) and there is already a TSR^▸ (Temporary Speed Restriction) over the station junction (think it was 40mph, but only got a very quick glimpse).  I suspect its reached the end of its life after being hammered to pieces by all of those heavy stone trains since 1985.

Edit to Add: For those that want a little bedtime reading try reading pages 16 to 21 of this:
https://www.thepwi.org/member/network_rail_track_delivery_update__steve_featherstone/nr_track_delivery_update_28_may_2014/pway_design_guide_2011

[DaveHarries]

As far as I can understand. Renewing switch 113a, I have tried to find a shot of the panel to see which one that is. The 95m 11ch to 110m 55ch is from the east of the panel box to just before Fairwood Jct, about a mile in length. The former is on the B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) route and the latter on the original WS&W route, representing a change of mileage
URFDO is Ultrasonic rail testing between distances given, the 20ch from Westbury N Jct.
I would imagine that renewal and relocation of said switch and associated signalling along with platform extenstion(s).

I wouldn't know what would be meant by "switch" 113A. Plenty of photos of the panel in this link: might there be a photo here?
http://photos.signalling.org/index?/category/347-signal_box

Dave

[ellendune]

I wouldn't know what would be meant by "switch" 113A. Plenty of photos of the panel in this link: might there be a photo here?
http://photos.signalling.org/index?/category/347-signal_box

The reference and link provided by SandTEngineer explains very well