Great Western Electrification Progress

[3973EXL]

Same again overnight, just transpose the line mileages.

Ruscombe/Twyford area still to be wired:

UR/DR just over 1 1/2 miles from around MP30 to after MP31 1/2.
UM 1/2 mile west of Twyford station. Also contact wire required from just before MP29 to after MP29 1/2.

Crossovers:
Twyford West - relief to main.
Ruscombe - main to relief and relief to relief.

 

[jyte]

Same again overnight, just transpose the line mileages.

Ruscombe/Twyford area still to be wired:

UR/DR just over 1 1/2 miles from around MP30 to after MP31 1/2.
UM 1/2 mile west of Twyford station. Also contact wire required from just before MP29 to after MP29 1/2.

Crossovers:
Twyford West - relief to main.
Ruscombe - main to relief and relief to relief.

So Reading's east end is basically done?

 

[3973EXL]

So Reading's east end is basically done?

Sonning Cutting to Reading Station:

Best I can summarize - DM about 3/4 mile gap from MP34 3/4 to New Jn
UM gap MP34 3/4 to MP35 3/4. Pl 10 catenary only.
DR about a mile of catenary wire only east of
Kennet Loop.
UR short gap before MP35 3/4.

Summary doesn't include crossovers.

Kennet Loop to wire.

Still gaps at Maidenhead West on UM DR UR.

 

[3973EXL]

Working ex Swindon last night.

Part of DR with only a catenary wire had the contact wire added.
Kennet Loop wired.

Four pictures in the cutting.

First facing east, DR no contact wire as far as the full portals just over half way to Butts Hill Road bridge.

Second facing West towards the A4 bridge.

Third off A4 bridge towards Reading.
Fourth zoom of same view, contact wire towards Reading on DR starts just before the black pipe goes over.

Last adjacent to Kennet Loop. Loop is fourth line over, between the reliefs.

 

[ANP1990]

GWR cancelling trains this morning due to damage to the overhead wires between Maidenhead and Paddington. Does anyone know if it's the new or old kit?

Given the bad weather the reliability comparison would be interesting.

 

[FGW_DID]

GWR cancelling trains this morning due to damage to the overhead wires between Maidenhead and Paddington. Does anyone know if it's the new or old kit?

Given the bad weather the reliability comparison would be interesting.

Multiple trips between Paddington & Hayes. Reset and Normal working has resumed.

 

[jyte]

Multiple trips between Paddington & Hayes. Reset and Normal working has resumed.

Always good to hear!

Do you know what the issue was?

 

[jimm]

Contractors were laying a hardcore base for a new worksite in the field to the south west of Appleford level crossing today - remains to be seen whether it is electrification or Oxford area resignalling-related, or a bit of both.

 

[FGW_DID]

Always good to hear!

Do you know what the issue was?

No, to be honest because I wasn't in work I didn't check back to see what the final outcome was.

The last thing I read was all the circuit breakers reset at first time of asking, so normal working was resumed and investigations were ongoing.

 

[3973EXL]

Monday night, the Relief to Relief crossover at Ruscombe was wired (both Twyford West & Ruscombe just require the Main to Relief crossovers to be wired now).

Tuesday night workings ex Swindon were cancelled.

Wednesday night: UR Twyford West to just before Twyford station wired.
DR Ruscombe MP30 to approx. MP30 3/4 wired.

The short gap in the UR wires just east of Reading was also wired over the weekend.

Pictures:
UR Twyford West (Loddon viaduct) 1, to Reading end of Twyford station 2.
DR continuation of wires around MP30 3, to just short of Twyford from Ruscombe road overbridge 4, and Twyford overbridge 5.
Last three are views from Southbury Lane bridge.

 

[3973EXL]

A sewer was hit and the mast base needed a redesign, hence 2 bases / incomplete work.

You wonder what's under the cover!

One of the original bases covered over. The next two were taken on 29/05 after work on repairs had started. Last two were today.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

A sewer was hit and the mast base needed a redesign, hence 2 bases / incomplete work.

Do no records exist that NR can refer to of the locations of pipes and cables under platforms?

 

[Hellzapoppin]

Do no records exist that NR can refer to of the locations of pipes and cables under platforms?

Cables yes, pipes not so good but that's why trial holes are dug, although these aren't always 100% spot on in finding buried services.

 

[edwin_m]

I guess if the job is to put OLE supports on a platform, the trial holes are dug where the supports are going to go, and then just enlarged to whatever size they need to be. This probably explains the frequent delay between making the hole and putting the support up, because if the hole finds a problem the foundation would have to be re-designed or the support put somewhere else. Even if this doesn't happen the programme may allow time between digging the hole and erecting the support to allow for any changes that might be needed.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Could they use ground penetrating radar in the same way that gets used on the TV programme Time Team? I don't know how well cables would show up on it but I'd imagine that pipes would show up ok, also how deep they are. It would hopefully eliminate the need for trial holes

 

[Hellzapoppin]

GPR has been used but some of the systems don't like ballast and as the radar probes directly under the unit if the ground is on an angle you don't get an true and accurate reading. If the unit finds an issue you can either redesign the foundation or if that's not possible then you'll still need to dig a hole to see what the issue is. Also trial holes are used to check ground conditions which may determine what type of foundation is used.

 

[3973EXL]

Two trains from Swindon last night at Twyford.

One returned West about an hour later. The other wired the DR from just west of the station to Twyford West. The gap remaining on the DR is 1/4 mile, from Twyford ATS (east side of the overbridge) to the west end of the platform.


I don't know when I will next be able to check progress, so here is a summary of work remaining (from my observations this week).

East to West.
Maidenhead West to Scours Jn. Approximate mileages as a guide.

Mains.
UM 3/4 mile to wire Maidenhead W.
UM 3/4 mile of catenary wire only (29 to 29 3/4).
UM 1/2 mile to wire Twyford to Twyford W.
UM DM less than a mile to wire from E of Kennet bridge to W of New Jn.
UM Platform 10 catenary wire only.
UM adjacent West Jn to Scours Jn catenary wire only.

Reliefs.
DR UR 3/4 mile to wire Maidenhead W.
UR mile to wire (30 to 31).
DR 1/4 to wire (30 3/4 to 31).
DR 1/2 mile of catenary wire only W end of Sonning Cutting.
DR UR West Jn to Scours Jn catenary wire only.

Twyford W & Ruscombe crossovers, Main to Relief to wire on both.

There are various other short sections of point work to wire around Reading.

Other lines to Wire.

West Curve.
Feeder Relief
Festival Line, E end wired, W end catenary wire only.

 

[reddragon]

I had a look today as I arrived on P3 today.

The support wires across the platforms 1 & 2 seem to have gone up in between the roof bracing. They are well hidden so you need to look for them.

At the country end some ironwork has been put up beyond the footbridge.

The old parcel platform has lost its canopy dagger boards and fixings are in place.

All well hidden, but there.

 

[4973]

Went for a trip to Bristol on Saturday - via the B & H of course with the Swindon blockade. At Reading the West curve and Westbury lines were incompletely wired to between Oxford Road Jn and Reading West station. Also some wires missing on the relief lines West of Reading station.

There was then nothing more than pile bases to just short of Theale, then rather ragged progress to just short of Newbury station. It was a mixture of just bases, masts and masts with cantilevers in a pattern that suggested that they had several teams at work and each was starting from a given station and working westwards. At one point there were even three or four cantilevers with registration arms.

No sign of any activity at Newbury station.

The signalling changes at Bathampton Jn are not complete with the old signal gantry still in use.

Work on lifting an overbridge (Easton Road, just north of Lawrence Hill ISTR) looks near completion. No other signs of work in the area of Bristol I visited.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Newbury, I am told, will be worked on in November as that's when the new footbridge finally gets built.

 

[50031]

As regards masts further West, I travelled from Chippenham to Reading last week, I can confirm that a majority of Chippenham to Swindon (exclusive) has masts up. There are also masts up on the Badminton line in the Hullavington area, and near Wooton Bassett Junction. Also further West in my area, some piles in place at Westerleigh Junction though they dont appear to be in place through to Bristol Parkway just yet.

 

[D6975]

Work on lifting an overbridge (Easton Road, just north of Lawrence Hill ISTR) looks near completion. No other signs of work in the area of Bristol I visited.

Didn't you spot the piles between Bristol and Bath? There's a fair few, particularly around Saltford. These were presumably put in before the decision to switch to Bi-modes on the Bristol-Pad via Bath services. They'll get used eventually of course (hopefully), but not for a while yet.

 

[snowball]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds...fter-successful-railway-upgrade-in-wiltshire/

Electrification on the Great Western mainline has moved a step closer after Network Rail successfully upgraded the railway in Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett over the weekend as part of their Railway Upgrade Plan.

Network Rail’s Orange Army has been working in the Wiltshire towns over the weekend of June 10 and 11 so the track could be lowered beneath Hunts Mill Bridge in Royal Wootton Bassett and Roman Road Bridge in Swindon. This was to create space for the overhead line equipment necessary for electrification.

As well as lowering the track, the parapets (or sides) of both bridges were made higher to provide a safe distance between those using the bridge and the high-voltage electricity cables.

 

[mathmo]

The Up Main was wired around MP25 (west Maidenhead) overnight.

 

[59CosG95]

The Up Main was wired around MP25 (west Maidenhead) overnight.

So, is the gap between MP 25 and MP 25 3/4 now wired up?

 

[snowball]

Another press release:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds...ind-out-more-ahead-of-summer-railway-upgrade/

Residents living in Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire are invited to find out more about a crucial upgrade of the Great Western mainline.

Network Rail will host a series of drop in sessions ahead of a four week programme of work which will take place from Royal Wootton Bassett through to Bristol Parkway between Saturday 19 August and Friday 15 September.

The upgrade will also make way for the arrival of a fleet of new, longer Intercity Express Trains later this year, bringing more seats per train and adding greater comfort for passengers. These trains will run on electric from December 2018, once the electrification project is complete.

As part of the work, sections of the mainline will be closed to passengers with Bristol Parkway also closed between September 2 and 15. This will allow work to begin on a new platform at Bristol Parkway as well as extension of existing platforms, flood resilience measures installed at Chipping Sodbury and overhead line equipment installed on 25 miles of the route in readiness for electrification.

Over the four weeks, trains will still be running using diversionary routes. Rail replacement bus and coach services will be in place for some journeys.

Garry Fernand, Network Rail project manager, said: “The upgrade will transform this section of the railway as we deliver electrification as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan. It is a major programme of work and we would like to invite all residents living near the railway to one of our sessions where they can find out more.”

Drop in sessions will take place on the following dates

Thursday 22 June, Brinkworth Village Hall, 4pm to 6pm
Tuesday 27 June, Little Somerford Village Hall, 4.30pm to 7pm
Thursday 29 June, Coalpit Heath Village Hall, 4.30pm to 7pm
Tuesday 4 July, Ridgewood Community Centre, Yate, 4.30pm to 7pm
Tuesday 11 July, The Old School Rooms, St Michael’s Centre, Stoke Gifford, 4.30pm to 7pm
Wednesday 12 July, Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, 4.30pm to 7pm
Thursday 13 July, Trinity Primary School, Acton Turville, 6pm to 8pm
Tuesday 18 July, Old Sodbury Village Hall, 4.30pm to 7pm
Wednesday 19 July, Hullavington Village Hall, 5.30pm to 8pm

Passengers are advised to check before they travel throughout the upgrade by visiting gwr.com/bristolparkway2017 or crosscountrytrains.co.uk

 

[snowball]

And yet another:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds...an-ahead-as-railway-upgraded-near-chippenham/

Passengers advised to plan ahead as railway upgraded near Chippenham

Upgrade will allow line between Chippenham and Swindon to be ready for new Intercity Express Trains which arrive later this year

Upgraded drainage will help make services more reliable

To allow the work to be completed the line will be closed for nine days

Buses will replace trains between Chippenham and Swindon stations

Network Rail and GWR are reminding passengers that the railway near Chippenham will be closed for nine days from Friday 8 July as part of a £3.5m upgrade.

The project at Dauntsey forms part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan where track will be lowered under two listed bridges which will pave the way for new Intercity Express Trains (IET) to run on the line from later this year.

The new trains wil have more seats, greater comfort, be more reliable as well as having improved wifi and at-seat power sockets.

In addition to the track lowering, engineers will be installing a drainage culvert which will help reduce the chance of the line flooding in the future.

In order to achieve this, the line at Dauntsey will be closed for nine days between Friday 8 July and Sunday, 16 July. Throughout the closure of the line there will be alterations to services to and from Swindon, Chippenham and Bristol Temple Meads.

 

[D6975]

Interesting to note that platform 1 at Parkway looks like it's finally going to appear.

 

[mathmo]

So, is the gap between MP 25 and MP 25 3/4 now wired up?

The Mains have wires, at least for the section I can see from the road. (Quite a bit is only visible from a train but I assume the whole gap has been wired on these lines.)

The Reliefs both still need wires in this gap.

 

[jimm]

The contact wire has now been installed through platform 10 at Reading station.