IEP cleared routes in South Wales

[Gareth Marston]

From NR Strategic Plan Wales Route Plan p26

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/strategicbusinessplan/cp5/supporting%20documents/our%20activity%20and%20expenditure%20plans/route%20plans/wales%20route%20plan.pdf

"InterCity Express Programme (IEP)
Introduction of the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) train to the SWML will require clearance of suitable diversionary routes away from the core electrified line. As part of the regular timetable, diesel operated services will extend beyond Swansea to Carmarthen and empty stock workings will operate to and from Hereford from the Bristol and/or south Wales areas via Abergavenny. These routes will be cleared for routine IEP operation. Additionally, diversionary routes via Gloucester, the Vale of Glamorgan Line, Bridgend to Port Talbot via Tondu, and the Swansea District Line will all be cleared for IEP operation in a diversionary capacity. The section of route between Tondu and Margam will be signalled to passenger standards and a suitable facility to reverse the train at Tondu incorporated into the Port Talbot/Tondu resignalling works."

Looks like no IEP west of Carmathen but Swansea District Line and Bridgend/Tondu/Margan will be cleared as diversionary routes. I wonder how many times the IEP turnback at Tondu will be used?
What future Summer Saturdays to Pembroke Dock trains?

 

[TGVDUDE]

Good to see Tondu being used, wonder if the upgrades will allow a possible tondu/maesteg to port talbot/Swansea local service not operated by IEP. If the route is being considered for upgrades like this, the freight diversions operated number of weekends last year, proved reliable enough for passenger consideration Or just Ecs moves? Also a number of test trains worked the margam - tondu line through 2012 which probably had something to do with this plan.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Good to see Tondu being used, wonder if the upgrades will allow a possible tondu/maesteg to port talbot/Swansea local service not operated by IEP. If the route is being considered for upgrades like this, the freight diversions operated number of weekends last year, proved reliable enough for passenger consideration Or just Ecs moves? Also a number of test trains worked the margam - tondu line through 2012 which probably had something to do with this plan.

It says signalling upgraded to passenger standard so in theory yes. However as with all NR's plans in Wales aside yet to be ordered IEP sets for the mainline and a yet to be finalized cascade of EMU's for pre existing Valley Lines services theirs no accompanying rolling stock/service plan that's in anyway implementable under the current ATW franchise which lasts till Dec 18. Waiting on the franchise to expire will mean its at least 2019 at the end CP5 before anything is ordered let alone in service and everything ATW has now is at fully committed.

 

[The Ham]

It says signalling upgraded to passenger standard so in theory yes. However as with all NR's plans in Wales aside yet to be ordered IEP sets for the mainline and a yet to be finalized cascade of EMU's for pre existing Valley Lines services theirs no accompanying rolling stock/service plan that's in anyway implementable under the current ATW franchise which lasts till Dec 18. Waiting on the franchise to expire will mean its at least 2019 at the end CP5 before anything is ordered let alone in service and everything ATW has now is at fully committed.

Which is why it appears that NR is using Southern for ordering a load of EMU's to be cascaded, as there are many franchises (SWT, Northern, ATW, etc.) which could do with a some EMU's but either not enough to make an order viable or the franchise has too short a time left to seriously consider a new fleet.

By have a whole load of almost spare trains it allows them to be used where the demand is the greatest.

 

[anthony263]

Certainly surprised to see the Tondu - Margam line mentioned. I am not sure though if a service over the tondu - margam line would be viable especially in competition with road. Maesteg - Port Talbot takes 26 minutes by bus (It can be done in less than that as I have proven when doing the early morning X3 services for Veolia)

If they do end up running a number fo bimode iep units on the south wales- London services that they would extend at least 3 trains per day beyond Swansea to Milford Haven, having direct trains to London would certainly help Haverfordwest & Milford Haven the latter of course has a large port so I am sure business leaders would be pleased.

I hate to say it but I think the summer saturday service to Pembroke Dock only has a few years left since IEP I very much doubt will be cleared to work the Pembroke Dock branch. Of course you would have to find something to replace it, maybe do what they do down newquay and have crosscountyry run to west wales on summer saturdays if rolling stock is available

 

[Eire Sprinter]

If a few through trains to/from Paddington to/from west of Carmarthen materialise perhaps one could extend to/from Fishguard Harbour to connect to/from the daytime Rosslare ferry. The through service will be a good selling point and entice more people (both ferry foot passengers and passengers to/from Fishguard & Goodwick).

Things have changed a lot in the decade since through trains last ran to Fishguard. Good value and a relaxed productive journey count for a lot. The way the Rosslare ferry connects up with the train at Fishguard and then the London train got a very good review by a presenter on a County Wexford radio station recently.

 

[TGVDUDE]

Certainly surprised to see the Tondu - Margam line mentioned. I am not sure though if a service over the tondu - margam line would be viable especially in competition with road. Maesteg - Port Talbot takes 26 minutes by bus (It can be done in less than that as I have proven when doing the early morning X3 services for Veolia)

I've seen that been brought up before, maybe a station could be built near Pyle on the branch, possibly Cefn Cribwr too? Becoming directly connected with Maesteg. surely some routes on the valley network take longer than counterpart bus routes, the city line for example, but are vital for the intermediate stations they serve connecting communities?

 

[anthony263]

I've seen that been brought up before, maybe a station could be built near Pyle on the branch, possibly Cefn Cribwr too? Becoming directly connected with Maesteg. surely some routes on the valley network take longer than counterpart bus routes, the city line for example, but are vital for the intermediate stations they serve connecting communities?

There would be a few problems with maesteg - Port Talbot/Swansea service.

some reaons I have already listed but there will not be any paths considering that Maesteg is expected to get a half hourly service to Cardiff once electrification is up and running (probably the Ebbw Vale - Cardiff trains being extended)

A station could be built next to the signal box at Cefn Cribwr but there is only a little dirt track there and no car parking facilities add the fact it is a good walk from Cefn Cribwr itself and there is a steep hill. There is a bus service which runs daily down Bedford Road to serve Bedford Park before returning to Cefn Cribwr and running to Bridgend via Fford-Y-Gyfraith & Aberkenfig although this is expected to be increased in frequency soon. Such a station at Cefn Cribwr would most likely just be a halt served only on request.

A station could be posisble on the passing loop at Kenfig Hill again there is no car park and you still have the open cast on the nothern side of the track formation which needs to be filled in. That said there is a plan to build a large amount of houses on the open cast site so a station on the doorstep might be an attractive proposition.

Hopefully the loop will be modified to allow trains to pass each other and be signalled rather than be worked by hand


Station could also be built close to where the track passes over the A48 at Pyle. I would have concerns about this station taking some customers from the mainline station. Although it is starting to attarct a lot of custom from Porthcawl since there is not car park charges compared to Bridgend only Pyle only gets a half hourly service at best during the peaks. hopefully a half hourly service all day will make the service even better once electrification is completed.


Maybe we could get a station built at Margam (That should be attractive since it would also serve the steel & gasworks)


The crossings at Cwm ffoes and at the fountain nr Aberkenfig will require modifications so that line speeds can be increased. I recton you could do Tondu - Margam in about 25 minutes if the track is all sorted out and you get a decent linespeed.

Of course you could have some gaps in the half hourly service to Maesteg to allow there to be a 2 hourly service to Swansea with some trains turned back at Bridgend.