14:42 from Filton Abbey Wood to Taunton 13th Nov 2009

[whole diary]

[The SprinterMeister]

What? All the way from Newport? Why would any services be booked for the 40mph relief lines? I'm intrigued.

The relief lines from Ebbw Junction to Pengam are cleared for 60mph in both directions.

The TAU^» (Taunton - next trains)-CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains) trains are not scheduled to run on the relief lines from STJ^▸ (Severn Tunnel Junction railway station) to Maindee East Jn. These lines are 40mph maximum speed.

[The SprinterMeister]

While on the subject of South Wales area line speeds, just been on the phone to line management regarding a notice that has been displayed at work. As from December 5th, the rules relating to differential line speeds have changed slightly and unit classes 158 / 159 now come into the category of 'HST^▸ (High Speed Train)' where differential lines speeds are displayed. Where a lineside sign indicates 'HST 90', a 158 may now travel at 90mph.

This means that 158's are now permitted to run at full bifters (90mph) between Severn Tunnel Jn and Pengam, not withstanding the rather short signal sections of the 1960's signalling compared with todays signalling standards. This is in fact the first time these units have been allowed to travel at these speeds on this section of the line since their introduction in 1992.

The FGW^▸ (First Great Western) locomotive hauled trains, both the DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about)-S and fGBRF variants will continue to be restricted to operating at 75mph maximum speed on the Severn Tunnel Jn - Pengam stretch of the line.