Great Western Electrification Progress

[The Planner]

It hasnt been undertaken using the Short Term Network Change process so it looks as if it has been dealt with as a permanent measure but that doesnt stop it reopening at a later date.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

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

Yes, well, it'll be semi-permanent, in that the platform can re-open at a future date, if the station is to be used more intensively.

I thought there was a bridge ordered for Pilning, but if there was, it's probably being re-deployed elsewhere, plenty of foot crossing closures needing bridges, and station bridges to replace elsewhere.

 

[Mintona]

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.

There were 7 installed in April, and another 7 last weekend, further towards Patchway on the down side. I don't know if any more have been put in this weekend, I'm not sure if I'll be going that way this week.

 

[Hellzapoppin]

https://vimeo.com/166803000

Not sure if I've added the link correctly but excellent time lapse of the Kirow installing piles on the WEA in April.

Fingers crossed it works.

 

[Harbornite]

https://vimeo.com/166803000

Not sure if I've added the link correctly but excellent time lapse of the Kirow installing piles on the WEA in April.

Fingers crossed it works.

It does, thanks for posting.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

https://vimeo.com/166803000
Not sure if I've added the link correctly but excellent time lapse of the Kirow installing piles on the WEA in April.

Yes, that's impressive. Where was it exactly?
It was also in daylight, so maybe a weekend possession?
I assume this is "not the HOPS" kit, but an alternative rig?
The credits seem to be for ABC (Alstom Babcock Costain JV) rather than Amey.

 

[Hellzapoppin]

This was a long possession starting on friday night through until early Monday morning. It's between Swindon and Uffington. I was there during the loading and back in on the Sunday where we piled in the Shrivenham/Bourton area.
The Kirow is just a crane but it's able to carry alternative bits of kit to drive or vibro the piles in where the HOPS struggles. It is also able to pile on either side regardless of its position as it has a counterweight and longer boom. ABC do some areas of piling whilst AMEY do others, this was a bit of mix and match, think it got in 54 piles during the possession. The company who did the film tried out putting a camera on the boom and it's worked really well, especially whilst the crane was travelling.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

This was a long possession starting on friday night through until early Monday morning. It's between Swindon and Uffington. I was there during the loading and back in on the Sunday where we piled in the Shrivenham/Bourton area.
The Kirow is just a crane but it's able to carry alternative bits of kit to drive or vibro the piles in where the HOPS struggles. It is also able to pile on either side regardless of its position as it has a counterweight and longer boom. ABC do some areas of piling whilst AMEY do others, this was a bit of mix and match, think it got in 54 piles during the possession. The company who did the film tried out putting a camera on the boom and it's worked really well, especially whilst the crane was travelling.

Thanks, very interesting.
Good to see multiple teams on the job.
It makes driving the piles look like child's play!

 

[92002]

Thanks, very interesting.
Good to see multiple teams on the job.
It makes driving the piles look like child's play!

This is the system used in Scotland, on the EGIP project, between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Hence they are on time and on budget. With the line due to be handed over for electric trains in August 2016. Babcock also have their own wiring train, which is currently finishing off EGIP. There are then plans for more use in Scotland.

 

[jimm]

Working in Reading today, so here's what I saw.

Fast lines are now both wired all the way from Scours Lane to Moreton cutting, just south of the electrification depot on the former sorting sidings. They are also both wired for a short distance from just east of Didcot Parkway station to the area of the underbridge where the B4016 goes under the line.

Remaining gaps in the overhead are all four lines from the area of the electrification depot towards Didcot, the relief lines from Scours Lane through Tilehurst almost to Purley-on-Thames and the Reading-bound relief line from the north end of Goring through Goring & Streatley station, while the Didcot-bound relief line does not yet have wires over Moulsford bridge, at Cholsey station and through Moreton cutting.

 

[leomartin125]

I pose a question, based on recent findings. Apparently GWR are no longer getting Class 365's, as their revised 387 order covers enough stock now. So may I ask, what will operate on both the Windsor & Eton Central line and the Henley on Thames line? Are they expecting to put 387's in four car formation on these lines? Good luck!

 

[Melancholia]

I pose a question, based on recent findings. Apparently GWR are no longer getting Class 365's, as their revised 387 order covers enough stock now. So may I ask, what will operate on both the Windsor & Eton Central line and the Henley on Thames line? Are they expecting to put 387's in four car formation on these lines? Good luck!

Henley can easily fit 4 coaches. 387's will just about fit at Windsor. DOO cameras will need to be moved and minor platform refurb past the current passenger no-go zone.

 

[jimm]

I pose a question, based on recent findings. Apparently GWR are no longer getting Class 365's, as their revised 387 order covers enough stock now. So may I ask, what will operate on both the Windsor & Eton Central line and the Henley on Thames line? Are they expecting to put 387's in four car formation on these lines? Good luck!

This is a thread about the infrastructure-related aspects of the GW electrification project, so can we please try to stick to that side of things.

If you want to ask more questions about the rolling stock, try the Traction & Rolling Stock area, where there is a pretty comprehensive thread about Class 387s for GWR and other TOCs.

 

[Domh245]

I pose a question, based on recent findings. Apparently GWR are no longer getting Class 365's, as their revised 387 order covers enough stock now. So may I ask, what will operate on both the Windsor & Eton Central line and the Henley on Thames line? Are they expecting to put 387's in four car formation on these lines? Good luck!

Given that 365s are 4x 20m long (just like the 387s) I can't see why this is suddenly an issue?

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Given that 365s are 4x 20m long (just like the 387s) I can't see why this is suddenly an issue?

Quite - the Class 365 units are the blueprint for what became the first generation Electrostar family, effectively.

 

[leomartin125]

Well that would make sense then, and also with GWR having solely 387's, that makes coupling up units a lot easier rather than having 365's and 387's. What does everyone think will be happening to the Marlow line? It's not due for electrification and I'm not sure keeping a 165/166 just for this route is worth it in the long term...

 

[jimm]

Well that would make sense then, and also with GWR having solely 387's, that makes coupling up units a lot easier rather than having 365's and 387's. What does everyone think will be happening to the Marlow line? It's not due for electrification and I'm not sure keeping a 165/166 just for this route is worth it in the long term...

1. This is not a thread about rolling stock - see the rolling stock area for threads about GW electric rolling stock.

2. This is not a thread about the Marlow branch - wearing his moderator hat ainsworth74 kindly removed a load of posts about the Marlow branch from this thread only on Saturday - see post 2664 on page 179 - and put them in another thread all about the Marlow branch - so try going to that one - link below - for what everyone thinks might happen.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=113919

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Is all the tracked between Paddington and Reading at least all wired up?

I wish that there was someone who was good at arty farty stuff on Photoshop could post a map of the route showing where no work has been done yet, where masts are up, where masts are wired and where is energised

 

[reddragon]

posts #2621 & #2680 cover Paddington to Didcot

 

[JN114]

Perhaps somewhat off-topic, but of note on the subject of GW modernisation - West Ealing bay was brought into use over the weekend, and had already seen its first use in anger by the end of the morning peak on Monday. Should hopefully make the Greenford service more robust during disruption.

 

[Nippy]

I was on days on Monday and don't remember it being used!

 

[JN114]

I was on days on Monday and don't remember it being used!

My handover Monday afternoon implied it had, but I was lates so can't say I saw it personally... Means the bet is still open as to who terminates something in there first and he owes me my fiver back!

 

[Nippy]

Lol. Unless I was on my break of course!

 

[Quark999]

Well, it was definitely in use this morning due to the PAD disruption and I saw with me own fair eyes. Unscheduled stops at Hanwell and West Ealing as a consequence as well...

 

[smiffy9373]

Switch on for test section now 22:30 on 2nd July for Milton to Scours Lane on the main lines and rather bizarrely 22:30 on 16th July for the relief lines Moreton Cutting to Scours Lane.

 

[HowardGWR]

Switch on for test section now 22:30 on 2nd July for Milton to Scours Lane on the main lines and rather bizarrely 22:30 on 16th July for the relief lines Moreton Cutting to Scours Lane.

What's bizarre about that, particularly?

 

[Dr A.Johnston]

Is all the tracked between Paddington and Reading at least all wired up?

I wish that there was someone who was good at arty farty stuff on Photoshop could post a map of the route showing where no work has been done yet, where masts are up, where masts are wired and where is energised

Here is link of a trip last week from Paddington to Reading on fast service. Filming started just east of Acton. Not a good view as seats where full on the good windows so no comments on poor shoot please. Hope to do Reading to Oxford on Monday. It shows the status of works on the slow lines.

https://youtu.be/Cr3vvsfTwtM

I trust this helps answer some of your questions......

 

[GRALISTAIR]

--- so no comments on poor shoot please. Hope to do Reading to Oxford on Monday. It shows the status of works on the slow lines.

https://youtu.be/Cr3vvsfTwtM

I trust this helps answer some of your questions......

I thought it was pretty darned good -thanks for posting. BTW Welcome to the forum and congrats on your first post.

 

[nlogax]

https://youtu.be/Cr3vvsfTwtM

I trust this helps answer some of your questions......

Fine work I did Paddington > Reading > Paddington last weekend and your vid confirms my memory that there are still plenty of headspans between Acton and Airport Junction. Hope these will be replaced over time.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Fine work I did Paddington > Reading > Paddington last weekend and your vid confirms my memory that there are still plenty of headspans between Acton and Airport Junction. Hope these will be replaced over time.

They need full possessions to remove, so they're going but it will be a slow process unfortunately.