Swindon to Kemble re-doubling - ongoing discussion and updates

[whole diary]

[grahame]

In the budget speech:

"1305: ^100m will be added to the science budget, Mr Osborne says. ^200m extra will be invested in regional railways - including schemes in Manchester, and Swindon to Kemble. ...."

More detailed question that someone posed to me:   "If the Swindon -> Kemble section is a scheme (in part) to provide improved diversionary robustness during electrification of the Severn Tunnel, does this announcement also include other much smaller items such as re-instating the link from Bradford North Junction to Bradford East Junction to allow for diversions during the electrification of Box Tunnel?"

[Deltic]

Much as we might like to see that chord reinstated, I suspect that a diversion via Bristol Parkway will be quicker and requires no additional infrastructure.  The additional signalling for 2 junctions would probably be quite expensive.

[ChrisB]

I suspect the surveys would need doing again?

[grahame]

... I suspect that a diversion via Bristol Parkway will be quicker and requires no additional infrastructure ...

True, but it then means that you've got to make alternative arrangements for "Chippenham Platform" and "Bath Halt".  Oh - wait - they can be quite busy 

[Timmer]

True, but it then means that you've got to make alternative arrangements for "Chippenham Platform" and "Bath Halt".  Oh - wait - they can be quite busy 

Exactly, though Bath passengers can be served by sending some Bristol to London services via the Berks and Hants. Chippenham served by a more frequent Transwilts services to connect at either Swindon or Westbury for London.

[grahame]

Exactly, though Bath passengers can be served by sending some Bristol to London services via the Berks and Hants. Chippenham served by a more frequent Transwilts services to connect at either Swindon or Westbury for London.

Yes - there's a degree of sense in that ... running Temple Meads services hourly via Trowbridge and via Badminton.  Hourly TransWilts (each way) at those times (3 train service rather than the proposed 2, Swindon to Salisbury) with connections at Trowbridge and Swindon for London [for Chippenham and Melksham passengers].  Doesn't do great things for Chippenham to Bath and Bristol passengers - need to watch the connections at Trowbridge!

[chris from stroud]

I only posted this one, as my own: there is no such publication as the Kemble Chronicle.

CfN. 

With articles like that, why on earth not?

I may head out to Kemble tomorrow to get a few photos of the current state of the line beyond Kemble tunnel. I'm quite intrigued as to how they're going to manage with the level crossing at Minety.

[willc]

How so?

You can either adopt the Chiltern approach being used in places on Oxford-Bicester and apply for closure - but I'm not sure how workable that would be at Minety, as it would require one heck of a detour - or you just put in a new crossing with barriers.

Don't be deceived by how things look there at present. When someone sets to work on vegetation clearance, you may be surprised just how much room there is on that old broad gauge trackbed. This is the cutting just west of Charlbury station in 2004 http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/pictures/oxfordshire_galleries/cotswoldline2009/view/gallery_105411.Cotswold_Line_redoubling/
and this is what it looks like now  http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/pictures/oxfordshire_galleries/cotswoldline2009/view/gallery_193143.Cotswold_Line_redoubling/

And I had a good chuckle when I saw the suggestion in the caption of one of the pictures in this gallery http://glostransporthistory.visit-gloucestershire.co.uk/Kemble.htm that the old crossing keeper's cottage might have to be demolished for redoubling. Compared with Clayfield, west of Honeybourne, that house is a country mile from the line. At Clayfield, the wall of the house is right up against the trackbed and the new track will run right next to it - I'll try to remember to get a picture showing its position if I pass that way over the weekend.

[willc]

This is what i mean about the position of the house at Clayfield, alongside the Cotswold Line:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/willc2009/5582556146/

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm ... they may well have to reposition those satellite dishes! 

[Electric train]

More detailed question that someone posed to me:   "If the Swindon -> Kemble section is a scheme (in part) to provide improved diversionary robustness during electrification of the Severn Tunnel, does this announcement also include other much smaller items such as re-instating the link from Bradford North Junction to Bradford East Junction to allow for diversions during the electrification of Box Tunnel?"

Nothing to special about Box Tunnel relatively short, dry and it is straight and level. 

[willc]

Straight perhaps, but I think you'll find it has a 1 in 100 gradient through it, falling towards the Bath end.

Hmm ... they may well have to reposition those satellite dishes!

I would be more worried about that post for the electricity supply, which has somehow been placed inside the railway boundary.

[chris from stroud]

At last, I've got some photos! You are indeed right willc, the house by Minety crossing is in no danger whatsoever. The road could do with a fair bit of work, mind.

Feast your eyes here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gloucestershirerail/
 

[stebbo]

The local Gloucestershire paper has an interesting report yesterday on page 12. The go-ahead for the redoubling will allow the introduction of EXPRESS trains on the Swindon/Gloucester/Cheltenham line - complete with nice pic of an HST^▸ (High Speed Train)......

Where do they get this stuff?

[ChrisB]

Oooh, non stop swindon-gloucester, how useful!