Cardiff/Swansea electrics,as the Professor sees it

[merlodlliw]

This may interest a few of you, I have been asked to pass it on

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/n...es-online/article-3328717-detail/article.html

 

[Greenback]

I would love to see electrificayion of every rail line in Wales, but sadly it is just not practical. As oil prices increase electric power may become more economically attractive, assuming that electricity does not also massively increase in price, but at the moment, the wires have to stop at Cardiff. I didn't expect them tog et that far!

 

[truckman060473]

where it says "shaving 20min off the journey" (I assume Paddington - Cardiff), where would it gain time? The line speed would still be the same or am I wrong? Will trains will be permitted higher speeds than at present? Or does an electric propelled train accelerate that much quicker than diesel, that 20min can be saved?

 

[tbtc]

where it says "shaving 20min off the journey" (I assume Paddington - Cardiff), where would it gain time? The line speed would still be the same or am I wrong? Will trains will be permitted higher speeds than at present? Or does an electric propelled train accelerate that much quicker than diesel, that 20min can be saved?

Acceleration is generally a lot better on electric, but the service to Cardiff doesn't stop *that* often for the savings to be *that* significant (e.g. the total time spent at Reading/ Swindon/ Bristol Parkway/ Newport isn't going to be twenty minutes, so where you can *save* twenty minutes from is beyond me).

Sadly we seem to need a headline "saving" like this to justify new investment - not enough to say it'll shave a few minutes off each journey, we'll have to save one ultra-fast service each day just to grab attention...

 

[The Planner]

Got it in one, there will be a single non-stop journey that is stripped to its bare bones to grab the headline, much like the 0730 New St - Euston.

 

[WatcherZero]

Acceleration is generally a lot better on electric, but the service to Cardiff doesn't stop *that* often for the savings to be *that* significant (e.g. the total time spent at Reading/ Swindon/ Bristol Parkway/ Newport isn't going to be twenty minutes, so where you can *save* twenty minutes from is beyond me).

Sadly we seem to need a headline "saving" like this to justify new investment - not enough to say it'll shave a few minutes off each journey, we'll have to save one ultra-fast service each day just to grab attention...

Didnt the governments IEP time savings boast 30 minute saving to Bristol but only 20 minute saving to Cardiff indicating it would lose some time on that section?

 

[dalmahoyhill]

the 20 min saving probably includes the refurb package between severn tunnel and cardiff within that time saving. I understand the works including signalling will improve line speeds and capacity.

yes electric trains accelerate much faster, than can climb gradients better as well.
ediinburgh glasgow is going to drop by 9 mins from 49 to 40mins over 50 miles so 20 min saving between london and cardiff seems possible,

 

[bluenoxid]

What???

It is a welsh assembly decision. The line is in Wales, therefore the electrification should be Welsh.

The HST upgrade should keep the train running long enough for them to scrimp and save.

 

[The Planner]

the 20 min saving probably includes the refurb package between severn tunnel and cardiff within that time saving. I understand the works including signalling will improve line speeds and capacity.

Cardiff and Newport re-signalling is capacity driven, there aren't any massive linespeed increases. Severn Tunnel to Maindee is already done and has been for a little while.

 

[WatcherZero]

the 20 min saving probably includes the refurb package between severn tunnel and cardiff within that time saving. I understand the works including signalling will improve line speeds and capacity.

yes electric trains accelerate much faster, than can climb gradients better as well.
ediinburgh glasgow is going to drop by 9 mins from 49 to 40mins over 50 miles so 20 min saving between london and cardiff seems possible,

No, it stated a time saving of 30 minutes London-Bristol but a time saving of only 20 minutes London-Cardiff indicating it was actually losing time beyond Bristol. This is similar to HS2 losing some time on the Scotland stretch because they dont tilt, but in this case im unsure of why it would be losing time.

 

[Solaris]

Quick stats.... if the Cardiff London train journey could achieve the same average speed currently possible on the WCML (av 100 mph) then the trip would take less than 90 mins?

Rail infrastructre in Wales is not devolved (even if NR re-organise) and is a matter for the DfT in London.

The GWML upgrade (electrification and signalling) will allow running of up to 140mph on some sections between Bristol and Reading.