Cambrian Line

[itsjamierawr]

I have a couple of questions about the Cambrian Line from Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury. I've made two return trips on this line and I've always wondered:

1- What is the typical line speed along the line?

2- Will there be 1 train per hour in each direction eventually once ERMTS is finally settled in

3- If yes to above, what stock would ATW use since I don't think they have much spare stuff floating around to maintain that frequency!

 

[Eagle]

1- What is the typical line speed along the line?

It's extremely variable, it changes almost every mile. One of the benefits of in-cab signalling is you can have tailored speed limits like that. Non-station sections fluctuate between 95 and 145 km/h, with 130 being the most common. However most of the Pwllheli line is 90 km/h.

 

[PHILIPE]

I have a couple of questions about the Cambrian Line from Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury. I've made two return trips on this line and I've always wondered:

1- What is the typical line speed along the line?

2- Will there be 1 train per hour in each direction eventually once ERMTS is finally settled in

3- If yes to above, what stock would ATW use since I don't think they have much spare stuff floating around to maintain that frequency!

I,m not quite sure on the Line Speeds but they vary over different sections.
The problem of the hourly service is an infrastructure problem in the Welshpool area where the Line Speed has to be increased for pathing. Also dithering by the Welsh Assembly Government.
The ONLY stock which can be used is 158s due to their being the only class that is ERTMS fitted. Prior to ERTMS only 158s were used since ATW tookk the line over to maintain 1 Class only for Traction knowledge at Machynlleth and Pwllheli. There is scope to juggle a 158 from South Wales diagram.

 

[Gareth Marston]

I have a couple of questions about the Cambrian Line from Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury. I've made two return trips on this line and I've always wondered:

1- What is the typical line speed along the line?

2- Will there be 1 train per hour in each direction eventually once ERMTS is finally settled in

3- If yes to above, what stock would ATW use since I don't think they have much spare stuff floating around to maintain that frequency!

Recently some sections between Welshpool and Shrewsbury were upgraded to 90 mph but generally east of Talerddig 80 is the max, 60 west of it.

The extra services are dependent on ATW getting funding from Welsh Government, Ertms is something of a smokescreen to the main issue. If a couple of extra trains a day are gone for then it would be possible to source from existing stock.

 

[Eagle]

Recently some sections between Welshpool and Shrewsbury were upgraded to 90 mph but generally east of Talerddig 80 is the max, 60 west of it.

The Cambrian line uses metric speeds.

 

[transmanche]

The problem of the hourly service is an infrastructure problem in the Welshpool area where the Line Speed has to be increased for pathing.

What is the arrangement at Welshpool? Only one platform ever seems to be used.

 

[Gareth Marston]

The Cambrian line uses metric speeds.

But the line speed improvements in 94 that govern the speed restrictions were all done in mph. 90 is the top designed speed of a 158. The KM/h posts are simply straight conversations of mph limits rounded to nearest 5 km.
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What is the arrangement at Welshpool? Only one platform ever seems to be used.

The speed limit on the relaid section is lower for some reason than the existing (UP) line and some (unspecified) remedial work is needed. Hence all trains as nothing is planned to cross with current tt use the UP line apart from 2009 ex INTL the last train of day. This is done to keep route knowledge of drivers in case its needed in emergency, but only Machynlleth crew work that train. It also keeps the rust off the rails on the DOWN formation and avoids any embarrassing pictures of new trackwork in situ for 3 years looking unused.

 

[itsjamierawr]

Ahh interesting stuff, I didn't think it reached 90mph on that line, felt more like 50 all the way!

I hope they sort it all soon because if there was one train per hour it would make Aberystwyth more attractive for students and day trippers, I applied for the uni there but chose not to accept their offer based on the fact with the lack of connections to anywhere else (and I like to travel a bit) it would be too restrictive :')

 

[Llanigraham]

There is an interesting article in this months Modern Railway about the Cambrian and ERTMS.