Great Western Electrification Progress

[D1009]

The trains under test are BI-MODES...they can move around quite smartly without any overhead wires...

And presumably part of the testing and training will involve changing modes at speed.
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Until testing is complete, they will be hauled to/from North Pole.

Why would they need to be hauled?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Why would they need to be hauled?

I suspect because until they are tested they could only move them under their own power from North Pole to Tilehurst if the entire line between those two locations was under possession for the move, not just the test section.

 

[Clarence Yard]

The idea is that they will move under their own power on diesel to and from the test section.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

I suspect because until they are tested they could only move them under their own power from North Pole to Tilehurst if the entire line between those two locations was under possession for the move, not just the test section.

Previous testing using the SPZ on the ECML and work at Old Dalby has been largely to get them their type approval for GB usage, the testing on the GWML is more concerned with train/OLE interface work, which is why it's so heavily focused on Series 1 OLE rather than testing out of Paddington on the existing OLE.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Previous testing using the SPZ on the ECML and work at Old Dalby has been largely to get them their type approval for GB usage, the testing on the GWML is more concerned with train/OLE interface work, which is why it's so heavily focused on Series 1 OLE rather than testing out of Paddington on the existing OLE.

And GW ATP, presumably?

 

[Philip Phlopp]

And GW ATP, presumably?

Yes, and some gauging clearance work too, though all of that can be done to some degree on diesel power.

 

[Hophead]

The Reading depot is already electrified unlike Tilehurst station.

Is it? There's certainly a fair amount of catenary in there, but I'm not sure it's connected to the grid yet, nor can I see any point in energising it for a while.

 

[Nippy]

The idea is that they will move under their own power on diesel to and from the test section.

Fair enough, you may know more than me. Last I was told was they would be hauled each night.
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There has been a lot of activity around Didcot today. Large portals going in using a massive crane.

 

[Class 170101]

Fair enough, you may know more than me. Last I was told was they would be hauled each night.
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There has been a lot of activity around Didcot today. Large portals going in using a massive crane.

Movement on their own qill depend upon outcome of SPZ testing. I think it was said above that SPZ Testing was completed on the ECML but will any of the elements need to be done for the GWML to prove they are safe there? Until this is confitrmed they are unable to move to / from site under their own power.

 

[D1009]

Movement on their own qill depend upon outcome of SPZ testing. I think it was said above that SPZ Testing was completed on the ECML but will any of the elements need to be done for the GWML to prove they are safe there? Until this is confitrmed they are unable to move to / from site under their own power.

Sorry, what's SPZ testing?

 

[jw]

Sorry, what's SPZ testing?

I believe it stands for Signal Protected Zone, so a stretch of line reserved for testing?

 

[coppercapped]

And presumably part of the testing and training will involve changing modes at speed.

Already done on the ECML.

 

[leomartin125]

So when is the Class 800/801 testing due to start between Tilehurst and Didcot? And which Class 800 has been running tests between Old Dalby and Doncaster over the recent weeks? Is that one from Old Dalby or one from North Pole?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Update from a run up to Paddington from
Newport today (first since mid-Oct).
There are 2 new runs of piles installed on the Badminton route.
They are about 20 piles each, one lot near MP90 (Little Somerford), the other near MP86 (Brinkworth).
The pile-less gap through Swindon has shrunk to about 6 miles.
Masts are up in the country near Wantage - about 30 either side, some in the 4-track section.
I counted 31 booms up through Didcot (starting at Didcot East Jn).
Massive amounts of steelwork up.
There are wires up between the stations west of Tilehurst, but they give out at the stations and at the river bridges.
Signs of slim, tubular masts on the bridges over the Thames.
Reading-Maidenhead mostly piled except the deep part of Sonning Cutting.
Some masts are up around Ruscombe, some with registration gear.

Complicated east of Maidenhead, lots of progress but still large amounts of steelwork missing around Slough and West Drayton.
Wires up between Burnham and Taplow (not reaching the stations).
New bay platform at West Ealing under construction.
AT wire attachments going up on old OHLE out of Paddington.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Update from a run up to Paddington today (first since mid-Oct).

Excellent news - thanks for the update.

 

[Hellzapoppin]

The area through Swindon is hampered somewhat due to the amount of cables found in the trial holes and issues with contamination. We've come up with solutions to many of these issues and this should see the installation of the foundations speeding up over the next month or so.

 

[Tio Terry]

And GW ATP, presumably?

I understand that the new 800/801 trains are not being fitted with GW ATP in anticipation of it being replaced by ETCS.

 

[Domh245]

I understand that the new 800/801 trains are not being fitted with GW ATP in anticipation of it being replaced by ETCS.

You understand wrong (If I understand correctly!). The GW IEPs are being fitted with GW ATP until the ETCS is fitted, which will be a way off yet.

Just about visible under the speedo

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Just to the left of what looks like the DRA, above the speedo, is that TPWS?

 

[Domh245]

Just to the left of what looks like the DRA, above the speedo, is that TPWS?

Yes. From L to R along that top central row is:

TPWS, DRA, Air Pressure Gauges, Motor Brake Force Gauge, AWS sunflower, and then coupling controls.

This picture is from Train Sim (Boo!) but it gives a pretty clear indication of what is what

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Some pictures from Didcot yesterday.
Not being a regular, I don't know how much of the steelwork is new, but presumably some of this went up over the weekend.
Note there are no masts on P1, the booms over both main lines being cantilevered out from P2/3.
The damaged building at Didcot power station can be seen in the background in the western shots.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

but presumably some of this went up over the weekend.

It did, yes.

 

[steevp]

I noticed that the support put up on the south side of platform 1 at Didcot (so effectively in the car park) was taken down after being put up - does anyone know if it was put in the wrong place/too high/too low please?

 

[oxoneil]

New road bridge at Shrivenham in place. Looked to me like they were well on the way with the new road lay out today.

 

[oxoneil]

This yard is near the bridge between Uffington and Shrivenham.

 

[leomartin125]

Just received this from Network Rail, an update between West Drayton and Maidenhead:

http://74f85f59f39b887b696f-ab65625...st_drayton_to_maidenhead_final_version_2_.pdf

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Just received this from Network Rail, an update between West Drayton and Maidenhead:

http://74f85f59f39b887b696f-ab65625...st_drayton_to_maidenhead_final_version_2_.pdf

Sounds like progress to me.

 

[swt_passenger]

Sounds like progress to me.

It potentially allows for a decent length EMU service operated by GWR (perhaps 8 car 387/2s) as far as Maidenhead in Dec 2016 timetable.

(IIRC this was mentioned in discussions after a quote from a Rail magazine interview with Mark Hopwood.)

 

[jimm]

It potentially allows for a decent length EMU service operated by GWR (perhaps 8 car 387/2s) as far as Maidenhead in Dec 2016 timetable.

(IIRC this was mentioned in discussions after a quote from a Rail magazine interview with Mark Hopwood.)

What I seem to recall he said was Maidenhead by early 2017, so a December start might be possible now, assuming they have a big enough pool of drivers trained on the 387s by then.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

It potentially allows for a decent length EMU service operated by GWR (perhaps 8 car 387/2s) as far as Maidenhead in Dec 2016 timetable.

(IIRC this was mentioned in discussions after a quote from a Rail magazine interview with Mark Hopwood.)

What I seem to recall he said was Maidenhead by early 2017, so a December start might be possible now, assuming they have a big enough pool of drivers trained on the 387s by then.

Outstanding