Great Western Electrification Progress

[59CosG95]

Returning to the South Wales Main Line, does anyone know if masts have gone up over Winterbourne Viaduct? (Seen here for reference: https://goo.gl/maps/5BtsGnkKE9B2)
I know from a quick Flickr scan that Huckford Viaduct (to the east of Winterbourne; https://goo.gl/maps/UjG3HpHPEQQ2) has had bespoke masts fitted.
If anyone knows, do let me know!

 

[3973EXL]

Returning to the South Wales Main Line, does anyone know if masts have gone up over Winterbourne Viaduct? (Seen here for reference: https://goo.gl/maps/5BtsGnkKE9B2)
I know from a quick Flickr scan that Huckford Viaduct (to the east of Winterbourne; https://goo.gl/maps/UjG3HpHPEQQ2) has had bespoke masts fitted.
If anyone knows, do let me know!

Nothing on the Viaduct visible from the train.

 

[59CosG95]

Nothing on the Viaduct visible from the train.

Ahh, I got slightly confused from an earlier "State of Play" post when I saw that "Winterbourne viaduct was mastless"; I'd got confused with Huckford Viaduct (which has tubular masts & portal booms up along its length), along with most people on Flickr.

To clarify for future information:
Winterbourne Viaduct is west of Winterbourne, just before the viaduct over the M4.
Huckford Viaduct is east of Winterbourne, just east of a steeply graded rock cutting.

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

I was chatting to someone yesterday who was saying he’d heard that the wires won’t be going to Thingley Junction anymore. They’ll be stopping London side of Chippenham station, and the stuff that’s already been installed between Chippenham and Thingley Junction is going to be removed and used on the Newbury line instead.

Anyone able to confirm anything?

Yes. Statements/views my own, not my employer etc. etc. Wires will be terminating at Cocklebury Lane bridge., just London side of the station. I'm unaware of any decision to formally defer reaching Thingly Jnc along the same extent as Bristol: electrification works have simply stopped here with no plans to resume at present, given more testing priorities elswhere ("capital to capital by 2019", for instance).

To clarify a couple of points people have raised regarding this:

• The feeder station at Thingley will be reached by a ground cable running in the down cess. If you look out of the window between WB Jnc. and Thingley, you'll see a new, white trough route carrying the 25kv supply. This has removed the need to complete the full OLE system to Thingley, from a power & distribution perspective.
  
• The currently installed masts and booms West of Chippenham will remain in-situ until the electrification works resume in this area. However, you're right that there are instances where specific items will be removed if urgently needed elsewhere within the project and aren't in-stock at Wroughton. Sounds mad, but it's more practical than having to pay through-the-nose for expidited fabrication through a third partry to meet the required installation date. But there's no plan to go through and wholesale remove what's already been installed.

 

[swt_passenger]

...The feeder station at Thingley will be reached by a ground cable running in the down cess. If you look out of the window between WB Jnc. and Thingley, you'll see a new, white trough route carrying the 25kv supply. This has removed the need to complete the full OLE system to Thingley, from a power & distribution perspective.

This cable has also been explained earlier in the thread, in that long term there will still be an “along track supply” between Thingley and Wootton Bassett Junction, to allow for separate isolations of the two routes?
Just clarifying that the ground cable isn’t actually a sudden temporary fit?

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

This cable has also been explained earlier in the thread, in that long term there will still be an “along track supply” between Thingley and Wootton Bassett Junction, to allow for separate isolations of the two routes?
Just clarifying that the ground cable isn’t actually a sudden temporary fit?

I believe you're right, yes. Apologies for any confusion - I was trying to state that it was new in the context of the lineside environment (i.e. new GRP troughing), rather than a new or recent addition to the project.

 

[3973EXL]

West of Didcot

UM points to Up Loop gap has been wired at Steventon. Still gaps UM, DM & Dn Loop.

Bourton Up road gap wired. Dn still to do.

UM & DM then wired to just west of Swindon station.
Dn Loop at Swindon wired.
Up Loop Stratton wired.
Swindon Rec wired fully from opposite NR Training centre eastwards. Westwards just catenary wire.
The catenary wire runs from the Rec, through platform 3 to opposite the old Swindon B panel on the UR. This is then fully wired to the existing wires at Rushey Platt.
SPS looks to be all up at Swindon.
UM gap at Hay Lane wired.
All lines wired at Wootton Bassett Jn. I don't know how far past the junction the wires on the Chippenham road go.
Up Loop at Wootton Bassett wired.

So, after the gap just west of Swindon station, there are wires to west of Hullavington.

 

[swt_passenger]

I believe you're right, yes. Apologies for any confusion - I was trying to state that it was new in the context of the lineside environment (i.e. new GRP troughing), rather than a new or recent addition to the project.

No problem. Thanks for confirming.

 

[59CosG95]

West of Didcot

UM points to Up Loop gap has been wired at Steventon. Still gaps UM, DM & Dn Loop.

So, is there now a continuous run of wires on the Up Relief from the points at Steventon to Foxhall Jct?

 

[3973EXL]

So, is there now a continuous run of wires on the Up Relief from the points at Steventon to Foxhall Jct?

Yes there is.

 

[D1009]

Dn Loop at Wootton Bassett wired.

There is no down loop at Wootton Bassett. Did you mean the up loop?

 

[3973EXL]

Yes, should have been Up Loop.

 

[edwin_m]

This cable has also been explained earlier in the thread, in that long term there will still be an “along track supply” between Thingley and Wootton Bassett Junction, to allow for separate isolations of the two routes?
Just clarifying that the ground cable isn’t actually a sudden temporary fit?

The cable was first mentioned on here some time ago so it seems to have been part of the plan for a while. It makes sense to have it in the final scheme, as otherwise any isolation of the wires between Thingley and WB would prevent the feeder being able to supply the line from Swindon to Parkway, leaving a long distance between available feeders.

 

[Sean Emmett]

Wires will be terminating at Cocklebury Lane bridge., just London side of the station.

The feeder station at Thingley will be reached by a ground cable running in the down cess. If you look out of the window between WB Jnc. and Thingley, you'll see a new, white trough route carrying the 25kv supply.

So presumably this means eastbound trains will depart from Chippenham on diesel, with all the pollution and performance impact that will entail?
You really can't make this up!

Re 25kV cable in the cess. Is this a UK first? Will it cope with Dauntsey flooding?

Well I suppose it might make the cable thieves think again...

 

[Ploughman]

There is 25kv cables in the ground at Whitehall jn Leeds.

 

[59CosG95]

So presumably this means eastbound trains will depart from Chippenham on diesel, with all the pollution and performance impact that will entail?
You really can't make this up!

Re 25kV cable in the cess. Is this a UK first? Will it cope with Dauntsey flooding?

Well I suppose it might make the cable thieves think again...

I suspect the cable troughs would be raised slightly off the ground as a preventative measure.

 

[Howezy_21]

I am not familiar with the Ufton Loop. What is its purpose-is it used for/by passenger trains?

I believe freight is its main purpose, but I'd imagine passenger trains might be able to use it if required.

The Ufton loop can and has been used by both passenger and freight, with freight being the most frequent user. With the possibility of passenger trains having to use the loop that's why its been wired up

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

Re 25kV cable in the cess. Is this a UK first?

I don't think so. Even elswhere within the electrification project, the 25kv ATF wire drops to a cable to pass under some bridges and through tunnels etc.

There's definitely more restrictive working arrangements for it, compared with normal troughing & cables, but nothing too onerous if I recall.

 

[59CosG95]

I don't think so. Even elswhere within the electrification project, the 25kv ATF wire drops to a cable to pass under some bridges and through tunnels etc.

There's definitely more restrictive working arrangements for it, compared with normal troughing & cables, but nothing too onerous if I recall.

I do wonder why a small extension into Chippenham station itself hasn't been given - presumably this is due to the viaduct being immediately off the country end of the platforms, and special steelwork being required for it?

 

[ArchieWoodbine]

I do wonder why a small extension into Chippenham station itself hasn't been given - presumably this is due to the viaduct being immediately off the country end of the platforms, and special steelwork being required for it?

That's definitely part of it. Although, it's less about procuring the steelwork and more regarding the masonry drilling that would have to be done to affix the steel masts - there's always an inherent risk that things might go wrong or fail to provide the necessary adhesion when drilling into very old masonry structures. What's more, it's II* listed, so a prolonged consents process would be required.

Another factor I believe played a part was the station footbridge (again, listed I believe), which would require work to provide clearances for the wires as well as screen the public from electrical risks.

 

[59CosG95]

That's definitely part of it. Although, it's less about procuring the steelwork and more regarding the masonry drilling that would have to be done to affix the steel masts - there's always an inherent risk that things might go wrong or fail to provide the necessary adhesion when drilling into very old masonry structures. What's more, it's II* listed, so a prolonged consents process would be required.

Another factor I believe played a part was the station footbridge (again, listed I believe), which would require work to provide clearances for the wires as well as screen the public from electrical risks.

There is some horse sense in that; over on the Manchester-Preston route, Yarrow Viaduct (just south of Chorley) has had to be briefly paused due to the alleged discovery of a large void within the structure at the northern end.
Plus, Yarrow's in more of a rural setting than Chippenham - I imagine Wiltshire Council wouldn't take too kindly to prolonging the closure of the A420 in the viaduct's vicinity.
The listed structures debacle certainly isn't new to the GW Electrification Palaver, if Maidenhead Viaduct, the Goring Gap & that bridge at Steventon are anything to go by.

 

[jimm]

That's definitely part of it. Although, it's less about procuring the steelwork and more regarding the masonry drilling that would have to be done to affix the steel masts - there's always an inherent risk that things might go wrong or fail to provide the necessary adhesion when drilling into very old masonry structures. What's more, it's II* listed, so a prolonged consents process would be required.

Another factor I believe played a part was the station footbridge (again, listed I believe), which would require work to provide clearances for the wires as well as screen the public from electrical risks.

The old station footbridge at Chippenham was demolished in 2015 - the council gave listed building consent for its removal back in 2014. Its replacement, with plenty of clearance for 25kv overhead, opened in January 2016.

There is some horse sense in that; over on the Manchester-Preston route, Yarrow Viaduct (just south of Chorley) has had to be briefly paused due to the alleged discovery of a large void within the structure at the northern end.
Plus, Yarrow's in more of a rural setting than Chippenham - I imagine Wiltshire Council wouldn't take too kindly to prolonging the closure of the A420 in the viaduct's vicinity.
The listed structures debacle certainly isn't new to the GW Electrification Palaver, if Maidenhead Viaduct, the Goring Gap & that bridge at Steventon are anything to go by.

What debacle?

There was no issue whatever about installing catenary on Maidenhead or Moulsford bridges - both are listed structures, both were fitted with the low visual impact catenary supports and both are carrying electric trains. A design that has been used successfully for a long time now at places like Berwick and Durham, with no suggestion there were problems about fixing them in place. Another special design has been developed for Sydney Gardens in Bath.

The situation at Steventon has far more to do with the demolition and replacement of the existing structure cutting the village off from road access to the south, resulting in a very long diversion for several months while the replacement is built, than anything that special about the bridge itself - which is simply a variation of a basic design Brunel adapted for various places to suit local needs and available materials. That it is listed has simply provided a way for residents to delay attempts to sort out the situation and get a new bridge built.

The Goring Gap dispute is not about listed buildings, it is about the visual impact of the overhead line structures on the area.

And on a more general point, completion of the wiring to Thingley had been made less of a priority than reaching Cardiff some time ago - the Network Rail enhancmennts delivery plan updates have been showing the target date as March next year for some time, so hardly surprising resources are being used elsewhere at the moment. Similarly, although some of the steelwork to extend 25kv wires at Didcot to run as far as Appleford level crossing on the Oxford line was put in place a while back, nothing has been done there recently and I can't see that situation changing until the Cardiff route is ready.

 

[Phil G]

Don't forget there are two footbridges at Chippenham, the one replaced and the other much lower one over the down line still in existence by the tivkti office. This looks far too low for wires, but the up side was an extension built in the last 20 years and is higher due to a different construction profile, don't know if it's high enough though. The new one referred to above is very high having to accommodate lifts.

 

[Phil G]

This news is frankly staggering as you can see cocklebury road bridge from the platform. I can understand doing no more work until Cardiff is reached, but to not do it at all is madness.

 

[cle]

You'd think they would want ONE major route done to completion - at least in terms of how services run. I don't count Newbury as that is a 'new' end of the line, other than the Reading shuttles. So that is either route to Bristol, Cardiff or Oxford. But none of four will be ready! What a mess. Not to mention Swansea being canned.

The NW roll-out seems largely to have been better compartmentalized, and delivered route-by-route, but I guess the services are as linear as 'Paddington/Reading to X' so more local services could begin incrementally.

 

[The_Engineer]

You'd think they would want ONE major route done to completion - at least in terms of how services run. I don't count Newbury as that is a 'new' end of the line, other than the Reading shuttles. So that is either route to Bristol, Cardiff or Oxford. But none of four will be ready! What a mess. Not to mention Swansea being canned.

The NW roll-out seems largely to have been better compartmentalized, and delivered route-by-route, but I guess the services are as linear as 'Paddington/Reading to X' so more local services could begin incrementally.

Concentrating on electrification to Cardiff makes eminent sense, in that it delivers the whole main line first, then going back to mop up the deferred "branches" from the main line in CP6. Bi-mode IEPs allow such an approach on the GWR; in the North-West EMUs need a fully electrified route before they can be used.

 

[swt_passenger]

Haven’t Cardiff, Bristol Parkway and Newbury all been replanned (post Hendy report and as shown in March 2016 enhancement plan) until Dec 2018? So officially none are late yet...

 

[59CosG95]

Haven’t Cardiff, Bristol Parkway and Newbury all been replanned (post Hendy report and as shown in March 2016 enhancement plan) until Dec 2018? So officially none are late yet...

They certainly have been replanned. Bristol Parkway is apparently due to go live by September...

 

[cle]

Could the Didcot terminators be extended to Swindon? Any need? Could they keep pathing times?

 

[The_Engineer]

Could the Didcot terminators be extended to Swindon? Any need? Could they keep pathing times?

No need.......