Welshpool dynamic loop

[Railsigns]

I see the points at each ends are still not installed & the new section of twin track is starting to become overgrown with bindweed..I'll probably show my ignorance here, but is it not possible to mechnically install points but manually fix them in one position & commission the electrics later on?

Yes, but there are rules about how long a set of points can remain secured out of use on a running line (maximum six weeks, IIRC).

 

[Gareth Marston]

Begs the question about Dyfi Jnc which has S & C installed for some months.

 

[autotank]

Just wondering if the loop has started to be used yet or does it have to wait for ERTMS to go live in the area? How is it intended to operate when it does get going? I assume it will be linked to the platform lines at Welshpool and some peoper points will be used allowing decent speeds in and out of the double track section. When I was last there in the Summer I thought the bridge to the west of the station might not be wide enough for two tracks?

 

[The Planner]

Has to wait for the switch on. I can't remember off the top of my head the speed through the points but its not slow, around the 100km/h mark I think.

 

[the-gog]

Just wondering if the loop has started to be used yet or does it have to wait for ERTMS to go live in the area? How is it intended to operate when it does get going? I assume it will be linked to the platform lines at Welshpool and some peoper points will be used allowing decent speeds in and out of the double track section. When I was last there in the Summer I thought the bridge to the west of the station might not be wide enough for two tracks?

The bridge clearance apparently is going to be very tight, but it can be done.

 

[Gareth Marston]

The bridge clearance apparently is going to be very tight, but it can be done.

NR are making noises about a week long possession in March to connect the relaid DOWN track south of Welshpool.

 

[The Planner]

Which the astute of you will have already worked out means ERTMS wont get switched on until then....

 

[Gareth Marston]

Which the astute of you will have already worked out means ERTMS wont get switched on until then....

Todays gang of NR bods at Newtown in their lunch break were stating that they were going to connect Welshpool up this weekend, it would be clipped out until ertms came in leaving Sutton Bridge Jnc to Newtown as a very long section.

Also NR tried to persuade secretary of state Hammond that ertms should stay Pwllhlei to Harlcech until all bugs ironed out. He said no as it was european directive.

 

[The Planner]

Nothing crosses at Welshpool anyway if i recall ??? It's all Talerddig isn't it.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Nothing crosses at Welshpool anyway if i recall ??? It's all Talerddig isn't it.

Yes all the scheduled passenger trains cross at Talerddig. However Welshpool is needed if anything extra runs such as railtours or even NR Test trains of which theres been plenty recently. OK for a short period until ERTMS kicks in but if it drags on?

c 32 miles from Sutton Bridge to Newtown

 

[the-gog]

Nothing crosses at Welshpool anyway if i recall ??? It's all Talerddig isn't it.

Service trains when the timetable goes to pot, the RHTT, and test trains (the 6Z97 crossed the unit there today at 12.02).

 

[Bedpan]

Todays gang of NR bods at Newtown in their lunch break were stating that they were going to connect Welshpool up this weekend, it would be clipped out until ertms came in leaving Sutton Bridge Jnc to Newtown as a very long section.

Is this after repairing the damage caused during the recent derailment? Presumably if the points had been clipped out a few weeks earlier, the derailmant could have been avoided.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Is this after repairing the damage caused during the recent derailment? Presumably if the points had been clipped out a few weeks earlier, the derailmant could have been avoided.

derailment was at south end of station on points that will be removed, there was no damage and trains have been running over them without problem. The north points will be clipped.

Low Loader was at Forden this morning unloading rail/ road machines and other stuff in old goods yard.

 

[the-gog]

The loop should be completed by Monday morning, all ballasted and tamped as needed. Apparently they're making excellent progress on the job. Once the loop is connected up, they can then think about switching ERTMS on for the remainder of the Cambrian, still thought by the staff I spoke to to be next weekend.

Richard
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
We've got a bit more out of this particular tango, and a few things clarified as it looks like plans of action had changed during the day:

Welshpool dynamic loop is being connected this weekend, but the Down loop in the station won't be accessible to any trains as the point at the north end will be clamped. Ballast trains are coming down Tuesday & Thursday nights to ballast the new loop to Forden, tamping taking place all week, cant raised to 110mm on both lines to allow 85mph running on both lines. The only thing delaying ERTMS switch on is the completion of the loop. Testing to take place with 97/3s next weekend between Mach and Pwllheli before final commissioning that weekend, and switch on sometime a week tomorrow, i.e. Sunday.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Photo of some of yesterday's work at http://www.flickr.com/photos/welsh_snapper/5461215362/

 

[Rhydgaled]

cant raised to 110mm on both lines to allow 85mph running on both lines.

That's interesting, I didn't realise there were any linespeed upgrades included in the improvements along with the new loops (other than slightly faster points on one of the existing loops). Is this the only such improvment or are there any extra 80-90mph sections coming too?

 

[the-gog]

No idea. Gen from another forum on ERTMS switch-on:

"More points need to be changed (to electric), this will be nearly a 2 week shut down. More work on the Operation licences for all concerned are required. I will guarantee you it will not be live for the full line a week tomorrow. Maybe towards mid to late March."

 

[The Planner]

<cough>running a month behind as they said....</cough>

 

[the-gog]

Will they dare switch it on outside of the school hols? That was the reason behind originally turning it on next weekend.

 

[Jonny]

East Suffolk vice current RETB. But they haven't decided what type of new signalling to install at all yet, be it lineside or ERTMS.

Whatever they decide they need to do it quickly as the RETB radio signal is getting turned off in 2012.

So what about the Scottish RETB lines?

 

[the-gog]

So what about the Scottish RETB lines?

I could be wrong, but wasn't the plan that NR would be using RETB over GSM-R?

 

[merlodlliw]

Ive posted this from the other site,which is off the front page now(Sun)

Hello Gog.
Passed the site on the bypass today about 1100 , there was a tamper machine on the up line and two JP Webb rail cranes the type with both sets of wheels(Rail/Road), on then down line, all working by the platforms, plus about a dozen or so red high vis chaps.
Returned at 1700, tamper machine gone, but cranes still active.Passed several rail replacement coaches in pairs.

spent half hour this afternoon watching the two HOWL trains arrive at Llandod, a pair of 150s from Shrewsbury and a 153 from Swansea. This is where the staff swop trains, I am also pleased to report On Platform two the London Midland posters are still on display, don't forget your ticket before boarding, first saw these out of area posters at Llandod two years ago, don't
ATW ever check their HOWL stations, However if memory serves me,Llandod was a LMS station in the 40s, as was the HOWL.

Can someone tell me why, the LED signals show a Red blinking stop, then a purple blinking for off. why purple not green. Both Up & Down sides have them, also the points on the Swansea direction, after a phone call by driver they switch by auto motor,where would this remote command come from?


PS pleased to report fair loadings on both trains.



Bob

 

[Tomnick]

after a phone call by driver they switch by auto motor,where would this remote command come from?

If I'm not mistaken, the new motor-worked points are operated automatically by a combination of track circuit occupation and token release?

 

[merlodlliw]

If I'm not mistaken, the new motor-worked points are operated automatically by a combination of track circuit occupation and token release?

Thanks, I just wondered if the command came from some central controller off site. I noted the points moved back for platform two use about five minutes after the DMU left for Swansea, but the red LED showed after 30 seconds.

Bob

 

[Tomnick]

I'm sure someone with some more specific knowledge could comment further Bob, but I'd understood that - as you observed - the points motor back automatically after a certain time (presumably if the train was delayed in the platform, there'd be some sort of override to motor them over once again).

 

[merlodlliw]

I'm sure someone with some more specific knowledge could comment further Bob, but I'd understood that - as you observed - the points motor back automatically after a certain time (presumably if the train was delayed in the platform, there'd be some sort of override to motor them over once again).

Thanks.Tomnick

Bob

 

[the-gog]

97303 arrived at Welshpool last night with the 6W48 from Bescot, with 10 Autoballasters. As far as we can work out, this is the first train that it's ever worked that hasn't been a test train of some sort. It's also the first train to have run down the Down track from Welshpool since it was singled in 1966(67?).

http://railphotos.demeseo.com/p69235596.html
http://railphotos.demeseo.com/p69235597.html

Tonight's and Wednesday night's activities are going to be around Fron bank, with JNA wagons loaded to 40t. Hopefully it should mean that the are a will be floodlit.

Richard

 

[merlodlliw]

Excellent to see activity on the Cambrian yesterday, if it was only freight.
Good pics, what camera/lens?

Bob

 

[the-gog]

Ta. Just a Nikon D200 and a 70-300mm lens. I'll see what I can get later on tonight.

 

[merlodlliw]

Ta. Just a Nikon D200 and a 70-300mm lens. I'll see what I can get later on tonight.

look forward to the pics,


Bob

 

[brianthegiant]

locals have raised concern to NR re safety of Tallerdig with higher linespeed
(an article in the bastion of objective high quality journalism, the Cambrian News..)
http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/i/15210/
any thoughts?