Great Western Electrification Progress

[LNW-GW Joint]

This from the IEP Train Technical Specification (p38/39):

4.17.5 Unattended Overhead Line Measurement System (UOMS)
It is an essential requirement that sufficient IEP trains are fitted with an operational UOMS so that Overhead Line (OHL) condition data is provided to Network Rail, for each route, at least twice weekly.
It is an essential requirement that the IEP trains UOMS system shall require no operator intervention and shall monitor and record the following overhead line parameters:
Parameter Repeatability of signal (at same speed and similar environmental conditions)
Overhead Line Height +/- 10mm
Overhead Line Stagger (uncompensated for vehicle roll) +/- 10mm
Pantograph Contact Force (max within 0.2m sample) +/- 5N
Pantograph Vertical Acceleration (max within 0.2m sample) +/- 2g
Pantograph Longitudinal acceleration (max within 0.2m sample) +/- 1g
Train Speed +/- 2mph
DGPS TBD

It is an essential requirement that the UOMS system shall be capable of delivering data to the level of accuracy defined in TS1917 (subject to vehicle dynamics and environmental conditions).
In addition to this the location of the signals must be repeatable to 1m (run-on-run) with absolute location of the network being determined to within 3m in terms of miles and yardage. All data must be attributed with the correct Engineers Line Reference ELR / Track ID (TRID).

The accuracy and repeatability of the UOMS outputs shall be determined as follows:
• by comparison to Network Rails fleet of calibrated infrastructure monitoring trains.
• by run-on-run UOMS comparison

It is an essential requirement that the data acquisition rate of the UOMS system shall allow the NR reconstructed OHL parameters to show data at intervals of at least every 0.2m along the route being monitored.
It is an essential requirement that the IEP trains shall be capable of transmission of the captured data to remote sites. The data gathered shall be automatically down loaded to ground based receivers to be provided by the TSP. These will be located at depot and stabling and other defined locations. The data shall be passed on to Network Rail’s Engineering Support Centre (ESC) in a format compatible with Network Rails analysis tools.

So a pretty comprehensive spec.
I seem to remember this is derived from Alstom's Pendolino capability, which was adapted from their TGV experience.
There's a similar IEP requirement to collect track geometry data for NR.

 

[Class 170101]

Whilst it is advantageous to have Train monitoring of NR's infrastructure in terms of workforce safety and productivity and also in terms of standing down the NMTs (HST and 150) due to the crowded nature of our network what is NR paying in compensation to the operators in terms of maintenance of the equipment and in terms of who's fault it is should the equipment fail?

 

[AM9]

... and in terms of who's fault it is should the equipment fail?

I assume you mean who's (contractual) liability it is. The cause of a failure could be one or more of a number of things/persons/phenomena, some of which may not be anything to do with the railway or its suppliers, and consequently would not be covered by any NR/TOC/DfT contractual arrangements.

 

[Class 170101]

I assume you mean who's (contractual) liability it is. The cause of a failure could be one or more of a number of things/persons/phenomena, some of which may not be anything to do with the railway or its suppliers, and consequently would not be covered by any NR/TOC/DfT contractual arrangements.

Indeed I did mean contractually.

As an example DOO mirrors / monitors are NR's responsibility apparently but the DOO camera(s) on the side of the trains wouldn't be - that would be the operator.

With the operators providing NR with infrastructure data rather than NR having to collect it itself seems like NR's been able to pass the buck.

 

[steevp]

On a different tack, I noticed the first bit of wiring in the Didcot area today - albeit the wire that connects the uprights on the outside (sorry don't know the technical terms) - over the road bridge on the London side of Didcot station

 

[edwin_m]

Indeed I did mean contractually.

As an example DOO mirrors / monitors are NR's responsibility apparently but the DOO camera(s) on the side of the trains wouldn't be - that would be the operator.

With the operators providing NR with infrastructure data rather than NR having to collect it itself seems like NR's been able to pass the buck.

Not sure who pays for fitting or running this kit, but if it reduces the need for dedicated measuring runs then NR saves money directly and therefore needs less from the TOCs. And if more frequent monitoring results in fewer OLE faults then both parties benefit too (unless the TOC is staying afloat on delay payments...). As the cost and benefit all comes back to the taxpayer in the end I see little point in getting hung up over who pays.

 

[Class 170101]

All I'll say is I don't think the TOCs and FOCs would agree with you in terms of delay payments and I doubt they would agree to maintaining 'NR's' kit without compensation.

(NB I do agree it benefits the railway but unfortunately the players at senior level don't see it that way).

 

[Tio Terry]

Care to elaborate how you can place more obstacles between a pantograph and people.

First thing that jumps to mind is longer Dagger Boards but I'm sure there are more solutions than that. That's why NR is asking the Designers to think again. The requirement is 3.5M air gap between a person standing behind the yellow line and the closest live electrical part, the end of the pantograph. If that's not possible then you need to mitigate the risk by imposing Obstacles between the two to stop things like selfie sticks and balloons finding their way between and increasing the possibility of electrocution.

 

[bengley]

On a different tack, I noticed the first bit of wiring in the Didcot area today - albeit the wire that connects the uprights on the outside (sorry don't know the technical terms) - over the road bridge on the London side of Didcot station

Along Track Conductor

 

[ANP1990]

Just a quick update based on my commute.

There is a lot of new OHLE set up and in use around Acton through to Southall. It's mixed in with the headspans, but definitely new.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Just a quick update based on my commute.

There is a lot of new OHLE set up and in use around Acton through to Southall. It's mixed in with the headspans, but definitely new.

Welcome to the Forum. Congratulations on your first post and thanks for the useful update.

 

[holts]

The depot wires will probably be used for checking out IEPs when they show up at Swansea, even if they get there on diesel.

It transpires the catenary installation already installed in Swansea is for maintenance of the bi mode vehicles regardless of whether they ever complete electrification to Swansea station , which seems highly unlikely , I can hear the excuses already for it to end in Cardiff , run out of money being the reality .

 

[reddragon]

All the local news today is about the new IEPs testing running from Reading to Didcot.

http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/...s_to_do_test_runs_between_Didcot_and_Reading/

NEW electric trains are set to be tested on the tracks for the first time in Oxfordshire.

Network Rail said it was close to finishing work between Didcot and Reading as part of its electrification of the Great Western Mainline.

This has seen the publicly-funded firm put in place overhead line equipment such as the high-voltage wires that will carry power to the trains.

It is now preparing to test them. A spokeswoman warned the public they should now treat all overhead equipment, "whether it looks complete or not", as electrified.

I checked the up main at Tilehurst today and only the wires through the junction are now missing. Reliefs still not done.

There are now wires through Cholsey on 3 tracks and 2 wired under the A329.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
May bank holiday works according to Network Rail were: -

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2...essfully-completes-spring-bank-holiday-works/

Electrification

As part of the programme to electrify the Great Western Main Line, overhead electrification equipment was installed between Maidenhead and Hayes & Harlington, while work also took place at Swindon over the weekend.

 

[swt_passenger]

Just a quick update based on my commute.

There is a lot of new OHLE set up and in use around Acton through to Southall. It's mixed in with the headspans, but definitely new.

Welcome.

The idea is generally to replace the headspans with portals mounted on the existing masts (working around the existing catenary and contact wire runs) to provide what is called 'independent registration'. This improves resilience to damage as a failure of a headspan affects the alignment of all four sets of OHLE. I'm sure there'll be the odd exceptions where new masts are also fitted, perhaps where spacing along the tracks is not optimal for the new equipment.

It is shown in a video, linked earlier in this thread, with a bit of discussion about the process: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2414609&postcount=1912

 

[59CosG95]

According to Network Rail's GWML Twitter page, the first masts are due to go up in Wiltshire this weekend. https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/738316855941693440

 

[swt_passenger]

It transpires the catenary installation already installed in Swansea is for maintenance of the bi mode vehicles regardless of whether they ever complete electrification to Swansea station , which seems highly unlikely , I can hear the excuses already for it to end in Cardiff , run out of money being the reality .

Hasn't the financing of the wiring to Swansea been confirmed then? I thought all the political waffle had finished because it was a done deal?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Hasn't the financing of the wiring to Swansea been confirmed then? I thought all the political waffle had finished because it was a done deal?

The political deal was that DfT would complete the wiring to Swansea and WG would pay for the Valley lines with a contribution from HMG.
But there is raging uncertainty about the Valleys/Metro plans, and there are no dates/costs for anything.
Cardiff-Swansea is also in CP6 now, so the immediate heat is off. Nobody seems to want to commit to anything beyond 2019.
I think the Cardiff resignalling scheme is also facing delays (according to Roger Ford).
We also have a new government in Cardiff (certainly the transport faces have changed), with transport devolution still being argued over.

 

[jimm]

According to Network Rail's GWML Twitter page, the first masts are due to go up in Wiltshire this weekend. https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/738316855941693440

Doesn't actually say they are the first. And they're not. Some are already planted at Hullavington. I linked to some pictures back up the thread.

Observations today - as noted above (post 2645), the first return wire is installed at Didcot, this now runs through the station as well on the south side of the line.

More autotransformer cable has been installed either side of Pangbourne station and there is a new run of autotransformer cable north of Cholsey as well.

The Didcot-bound relief line is now wired through Goring & Streatley station.

 

[cactustwirly]

I went for a cycle yesterday to Waltham St Lawrence, and I observed that quite a few vertical poles have been installed some with supporting arms.

I've uploaded a few (bad) pictures

 

[smiffy9373]

According to Network Rail's GWML Twitter page, the first masts are due to go up in Wiltshire this weekend. https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/738316855941693440

I suspect this is in reference to the masts that have now gone up on the Box road up Dauntsey bank and round towards Wooton Basset junction.

 

[snowball]

Press release

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...ification-work-in-severn-and-patchway-tunnels

South Gloucestershire residents invited to find out more about railway electrification work in Severn and Patchway tunnels

South Gloucestershire residents are invited to an event to find out more about work that will soon be taking place to prepare the 130-year-old Severn and Patchway tunnels for the arrival of a new fleet of longer, faster, quieter and greener electric trains.

The event will take place at 7pm on Thursday 16 June at Patchway Community College on Hempton Lane and will begin with a presentation by the Network Rail project team, followed by an opportunity to ask questions.

The work is an important part of the company’s Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers and follows projects already under way in Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Didcot and Oxford to electrify the Great Western Main Line.

The upgrades required to prepare both tunnels for electrification are extensive and will involve installing conductor beams to power the new fleet of electric trains to run underneath. To install this beam in the Severn tunnel, four tonnes of soot needs to be removed and extensive improvements made to the brick work.

In addition, to accommodate the electrification equipment, the track will be lowered in the Patchway tunnel and underneath the nearby Little Stoke Farm bridge to preserve its historical architecture.

 

[jimm]

I didn't go to Reading this week so can't say what progress there has been with the main line wiring, though someone has told me there were signs of a start being made on the actual overhead just east of Didcot Parkway.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Lots going on, it's getting spread out again now the test section is essentially complete, as a look at the EAS will demonstrate.

 

[ainsworth74]

I have moved the lengthy discussion on Marlow and Bourne End to an existing thread which can be found here. Posts #167 - #197 were originally in this thread.

Please continue discussion of Marlow on the linked thread. Many thanks.

 

[jimm]

Some recent pictures from various locations between Airport Junction, Pilning and Newport station (canopy alterations) on pages 76, 80, 81 and 82 of RMWeb thread here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/78877-gwml-electification/ and confirmation of what I was told about overhead wires starting to appear at Didcot.

 

[Hartington]

Pilning car park has gained 4/5 portacabins and a materials yard and seems to be a base for some kind of work (which I'm assuming is electrification related). There have been piles visible for some time but on Friday it was also possible to see, in the distance looking towards Bristol, uprights. I don't think there are any cross members yet.

 

[jimm]

Pilning car park has gained 4/5 portacabins and a materials yard and seems to be a base for some kind of work (which I'm assuming is electrification related). There have been piles visible for some time but on Friday it was also possible to see, in the distance looking towards Bristol, uprights. I don't think there are any cross members yet.

Some of the new Pilning uprights are shown in pictures in post 2041 here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/78877-gwml-electification/page-82

The slender posts, compared with those east of Didcot, indicate the overhead here will be single cantilever insulator type. See the foot of this page on the Furrer+Frey website http://www.furrerfrey.ch/en/systems/Series-1.html

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Pilning car park has gained 4/5 portacabins and a materials yard and seems to be a base for some kind of work (which I'm assuming is electrification related). There have been piles visible for some time but on Friday it was also possible to see, in the distance looking towards Bristol, uprights. I don't think there are any cross members yet.

There's the footbridge to remove first, unless I've missed that going in the last couple of weeks. The network change paperwork needed to effectively enable its removal (by closing the down platform) went in at the end of April and was approved at the end of May.

 

[D1009]

Pilning car park has gained 4/5 portacabins and a materials yard and seems to be a base for some kind of work (which I'm assuming is electrification related). There have been piles visible for some time but on Friday it was also possible to see, in the distance looking towards Bristol, uprights. I don't think there are any cross members yet.

Those will be the ones mentioned in post #2406 back in April. I don't think there have been any more since, unless something has happened very recently.

 

[Henbury Loop]

There's the footbridge to remove first, unless I've missed that going in the last couple of weeks. The network change paperwork needed to effectively enable its removal (by closing the down platform) went in at the end of April and was approved at the end of May.

Is that permanent PP? I understood from you earlier in this thread that there was to be a new footbridge installed?