Electrification of GWML around Reading

[Andrewlong]

The masts have started to go up east of Reading station near to the old gas tower. They can be seen from the Waterloo line. I will provide photos of progress if no one else can.

Can anyone in the know tell me the plans for completion of electrification by phase ?

 

[anthony263]

I think the plan is to install the wires at Reading while they are doing the rebuilding work so they dont have to come back and cause more disruption later.

The wires are supposed to be at Oxford by early 2016 so if true I would suspect the wires will be up between Reading & Airport Junction by around late 2015.

 

[MK Tom]

Could Reading terminating services go electric sooner than Oxford then?

The rebuild of Reading is HUGELY ahead of schedule so we may even see the wiring of the GWML come earlier than planned too. The EMU depot west of Reading already has masts up.

I'd love to see pictures of the new masts to the east if possible.

 

[swt_passenger]

The rebuild of Reading is HUGELY ahead of schedule so we may even see the wiring of the GWML come earlier than planned too. The EMU depot west of Reading already has masts up.

Are you referring to the original schedule, or the current accelerated schedule? At one stage NR took about 12 months (or more) out of the original overall project - so are they also running ahead of the revised dates?

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...-ONE-YEAR-EARLY-AS-EXHIBITION-OPENS-TO-PUBLIC

The latest CP4 milestones (Dec 2012), published last week, still give the dates as follows:

New platforms by May 2013 - (but due April 4th)
New Depot by November 2013
Reading West grade separation Dec 2014
West Country grade separation (up Westbury line) by April 2015

 

[D365]

It's good that the Reading rebuild is coming on well before the original schedule. Keep it up guys!

 

[swt_passenger]

It's good that the Reading rebuild is coming on well before schedule. Keep it up guys!

But it might not be 'before' the schedule, if they've revised the original schedule. :roll:

 

[mr_moo]

Don't forget that wiring of Heathrow Junction to Maidenhead is part of the Crossrail project and is thus mixed in with much greater works. Wires need to be up for GW trains and IEP by 2016 although Crossrail wont use them till 2018.

There's such a big prgramme of works associated with wiring that it's unlikely to be brought forward. don't forget about bridge reconstruction (going well - see the Network Rail youtube channel for the three bridges we demolished over Christmas), track lowering, re-signalling, bridge parapet raising, paddington platform works (electricfication of the remaining platforms that don't currently have wires), significant trackwork remodelling at Maidenhead to support the reversals, track mods at Slough and Iver-West Drayton....

There's lots to do!

 

[swt_passenger]

There's a calendar in the new 2013 'Western route' business plan, which splits all the electrification into about 10 major phases. The numbered phases jump around a bit as you can see, which possibly means that a particular area might get the wires up but they won't actually connect anywhere either side, eg phase 3 seems to be west of Reading but happening before phases 1 and 2...

Details on page 62 in here: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse...ture plans/route plans/western route plan.pdf

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

There's this text on p62 of the Strategic Plan:

We have continued the development of our costing for schemes since we published the IIP. The most significant changes in costs compared to those assumed in the HLOS includes:

Proposed expenditure on Great Western electrification has increased by over £300m due to increased scope (including new bridge reconstructions) and the development of an electrification system that meets the requirements of European regulations and those of new trains

The inclusion of funding to complete Reading which was absent in the HLOS

This totals the thick end of £500m extra spend.
By contrast the estimates for NW/TP electrification have come down by £100m.

 

[route:oxford]

But it might not be 'before' the schedule, if they've revised the original schedule. :roll:

By that logic, the tram works in Edinburgh are doing well...

Will the "Mini" spur be electrified?

 

[Pumbaa]

Depot's on course for Summer completion.

Are you referring to the original schedule, or the current accelerated schedule? At one stage NR took about 12 months (or more) out of the original overall project - so are they also running ahead of the revised dates?

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...-ONE-YEAR-EARLY-AS-EXHIBITION-OPENS-TO-PUBLIC

The latest CP4 milestones (Dec 2012), published last week, still give the dates as follows:

New platforms by May 2013 - (but due April 4th)
New Depot by November 2013
Reading West grade separation Dec 2014
West Country grade separation (up Westbury line) by April 2015

 

[76020]

Here is an interesting article about the Reading redevelopment:-

http://www.therailengineer.com/2013/01/08/reading-remodelling-takes-shape/