Westbury - engineering works from 24th December 2024 for 30 days

[whole diary]

[bradshaw]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) are using the WoE line to swap stock on the Portsmouth run.
The Exeter-Axminster service is extended to Yeovil Junction as ecs. It seems then to run to Salisbury attached to an SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) service. In the reverse it runs ecs Salisbury to Exeter

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:YVJ/2025-01-09/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=GW^▸ (Great Western)

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/gwr-stock-swaps-using-west-of-england-line.279323/

More on RailUK forum

[Mark A]

Trowbridge: catching a train twice in the last week, a bit after sunset.

The second occasion was beneath clear skies so, a good opportunity for some astronomy.

The first, a wet night and temperatures about one degree centigrade, so, time to appreciate that at a little before 5pm, the waiting room/booking hall/ticket office/loos were open.

The second time round all were closed, but there is provision of a couple of portable loos for rail travellers in a compound in the car park. They're not signed though, so people need to ask staff for them.

Two staff on duty both times, one on each platform, and then the various people marshalling travellers to the coaches.

If the infrastructure supports it, for the duration of the disruption, in the future, is it possible to operate the railway there as two single lines, bringing passenger services to the same side as the transfer to coaches, and keeping the other line for other movements? This would make things easier for the procession of luggage-encumbered passengers who headed across the footbridge from arriving trains.

Mark

[grahame]

If the infrastructure supports it, for the duration of the disruption, in the future, is it possible to operate the railway there as two single lines, bringing passenger services to the same side as the transfer to coaches, and keeping the other line for other movements? ....

Not really - neither line through Trowbridge is signalled for bi-directional use so trains cannot reverse at the platform (I have known it done once, "in extremis").

With signalling changes, it would be possible to reverse trains from Bath at the northbound platform, but not at the southbound platform unless they ran "wrong line" all the way to Bathampton.   And again with signalling changes it would be possible to reverse trains from Chippenham at either platform.

Logic during the current stoppage (I am seated in my armchair telling the people on the ground) with appropriate signalling would have been to reverse Bristol and beyond trains at the Northbound Platform twice an hour, and Swindon trains at the Southbound platform every 2 hours, with once in every 2 hours the train from Bristol extending to Weymouth and arriving into Trowbridge from Weymouth.  The Weymouth services could pass each other at Pen Mill ... shortish layover as usual in Weymouth, and the Bristol to Trowbridge service that extends to Weymouth (so can't be used to form the next Bristol service) conveniently being replaced by the  service that arrives from Weymouth into Trowbridge at about that time.   Without the need for 2 trains an hour to reverse on the WoE main line is they can reverse in the platform at TRO^» (Trowbridge - next trains), the reversals on that main line should be manageable.

[grahame]

From the Wiltshire Times - please forgive the grotty picture of the paper taken in the Takeaway last night



The picture suggests the Westbury might have OHLE by the time the station re-opens - which I'm sure is not the case.  But more seriously with all the works being done, are they being done with facilitating electrification in the future?

Edit Original article - just found it - https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/24840632.westbury-railway-station-works-progressing-well/