West Wales resignalling progress

[Western 52]

Work is underway resignalling between Swansea and Carmarthen, with commissioning of new signalling apparently due last weekend in March. This will mean the end for the remaining semaphores at Pembrey and Ferryside. Today, a new equipment cabin was craned into place in a new compound opposite the existing Pembrey signalbox.

Maybe we can use this thread for updates on this scheme?

 

[DaveHarries]

Work is underway resignalling between Swansea and Carmarthen, with commissioning of new signalling apparently due last weekend in March. This will mean the end for the remaining semaphores at Pembrey and Ferryside. Today, a new equipment cabin was craned into place in a new compound opposite the existing Pembrey signalbox.

The website run by the group that is looking to preserve the box advises that the date has slipped to March 2024 for the decommissioning of Ferryside and it may slip further. It is not clear, however, whether this also affects the box at Bury Port. The agreement framework for the preservation of the box seems to be in place also: details can be found at http://ferryside.wales/sos/

Hopefully the March 2024 is not a typo: I have eben trying to get over there this week for some last photos on the assumption that the box was closing at the end of this month but the weather has so far put paid to my plans.

Dave[/url]

 

[Western 52]

Plenty of work going on now with a lot of new equipment installed but not yet commissioned around Pembrey box. No new signals here yet, but those working here are still saying some commissioning is due end of March. Work is also taking place each weekend between Llanelli and Swansea with trains replaced by buses.

It will be great if Ferryside box is preserved. I think it's listed anyway. I wonder if it would have to be moved as it's close to the down line?

 

[bramling]

Plenty of work going on now with a lot of new equipment installed but not yet commissioned around Pembrey box. No new signals here yet, but those working here are still saying some commissioning is due end of March. Work is also taking place each weekend between Llanelli and Swansea with trains replaced by buses.

It will be great if Ferryside box is preserved. I think it's listed anyway. I wonder if it would have to be moved as it's close to the down line?

Yes quite a distinctive box, and in a quite distinctive setting too. I’ve been fortunate enough to go inside. Hopefully something can be sorted.

 

[Parham Wood]

When I worked for the S&T Cabling section in Reading HQ in the 70s I remember walking most of the West Wales lines to plan the route for the conversion of overhead wires to cable. Where possible the cables were mole ploughed in but being Wales there was a fair amount of rock which required concrete troughs. The mole plough train came down from Glasgow and the plough was operated by a private contractor with barely understandable Glaswegians on it. Normally we replaced with a suitable sized twisted pair telecoms cable and a multicore signalling cable which varied in size from something like 9 core to 37 core depending on requirements. I travelling on the ploughing possessions at ungodly hours on a Sunday morning recording all the locations of cable breaks (cable drum lengths were 500m max) so drawings could be prepared of the installation. Several times we had ice on the wagons to deal with. Train was hauled by a slow speed fitted 47 off the merry go round coal trains and several times I had to tell the driver how to put it in low speed mode as this was something not used in West Wales. Great times. I was always miffed how the Glaswegians got an enormous hamper of sandwiches and stayed in 4 star hotels while we had to make do with 3 star hotels and some rather iffy sandwiches provided by the hotel.

 

[Anonymous10]

Work is underway resignalling between Swansea and Carmarthen, with commissioning of new signalling apparently due last weekend in March. This will mean the end for the remaining semaphores at Pembrey and Ferryside. Today, a new equipment cabin was craned into place in a new compound opposite the existing Pembrey signalbox.

Maybe we can use this thread for updates on this scheme?

It'll be sad to pass through on my trips away and back home to Pembrokeshire and not be greater by those semaphore signals

 

[MadMac]

When I worked for the S&T Cabling section in Reading HQ in the 70s I remember walking most of the West Wales lines to plan the route for the conversion of overhead wires to cable. Where possible the cables were mole ploughed in but being Wales there was a fair amount of rock which required concrete troughs. The mole plough train came down from Glasgow and the plough was operated by a private contractor with barely understandable Glaswegians on it. Normally we replaced with a suitable sized twisted pair telecoms cable and a multicore signalling cable which varied in size from something like 9 core to 37 core depending on requirements. I travelling on the ploughing possessions at ungodly hours on a Sunday morning recording all the locations of cable breaks (cable drum lengths were 500m max) so drawings could be prepared of the installation. Several times we had ice on the wagons to deal with. Train was hauled by a slow speed fitted 47 off the merry go round coal trains and several times I had to tell the driver how to put it in low speed mode as this was something not used in West Wales. Great times. I was always miffed how the Glaswegians got an enormous hamper of sandwiches and stayed in 4 star hotels while we had to make do with 3 star hotels and some rather iffy sandwiches provided by the hotel.

You’ll enjoy this!

 

[jamiearmley]

It'll be sad to pass through on my trips away and back home to Pembrokeshire and not be greater by those semaphore signals

Absolutely agree. As a Pembrokeshire exile I too know how much those signals mean 'hiraeth'

 

[Western 52]

One of the down signals operated from Pembrey box has a sighting board. I can't think of any other surviving lower quadrants with a board, apart from on preserved lines. Maybe one somewhere though?

 

[wallan]

Work is underway resignalling between Swansea and Carmarthen, with commissioning of new signalling apparently due last weekend in March. This will mean the end for the remaining semaphores at Pembrey and Ferryside. Today, a new equipment cabin was craned into place in a new compound opposite the existing Pembrey signalbox.

Maybe we can use this thread for updates on this scheme?

Any further update on this project

 

[fishwomp]

Any further update on this project

Bustitution is ongoing this weekend .. but I don't know how much they're doing

 

[louis97]

Any further update on this project

The remaining area controlled by the panel at Port Talbot, plus the Neath and Brecon line, was due to transfer to a Llanelli workstation at Port Talbot at the end of the month. However this has been postponed until mid May.

The closure of Ferryside, Kidwelly, Pembrey and Carmarthen Junction boxes is still scheduled for late February 2024 at present. Would not be surprised if that slipped a bit though. These will transfer to a Carmarthen workstation also at Port Talbot.

 

[wallan]

The remaining area controlled by the panel at Port Talbot, plus the Neath and Brecon line, was due to transfer to a Llanelli workstation at Port Talbot at the end of the month. However this has been postponed until mid May.

The closure of Ferryside, Kidwelly, Pembrey and Carmarthen Junction boxes is still scheduled for late February 2024 at present. Would not be surprised if that slipped a bit though. These will transfer to a Carmarthen workstation also at Port Talbot.

Thank You For The Update

 

[Freightmaster]

The remaining area controlled by the panel at Port Talbot, plus the Neath and Brecon line, was due to transfer to a Llanelli workstation at Port Talbot at the end of the month. However this has been postponed until mid May.

The closure of Ferryside, Kidwelly, Pembrey and Carmarthen Junction boxes is still scheduled for late February 2024 at present. Would not be surprised if that slipped a bit though. These will transfer to a Carmarthen workstation also at Port Talbot.

That's an interesting development - I always thought that the original 'master plan' was to control all
resignalled lines in Wales from SWSC at Cardiff (a good example of this being the North Wales Coast
from Abergele to Fflint), but there seems to have been a drastic change of plan in that regard...

Is it like the Thames Valley SC, where there isn't the physical capacity to expand much further?




MARK

 

[Doveymain158]

That's an interesting development - I always thought that the original 'master plan' was to control all
resignalled lines in Wales from SWSC at Cardiff (a good example of this being the North Wales Coast
from Abergele to Fflint), but there seems to have been a drastic change of plan in that regard...

Is it like the Thames Valley SC, where there isn't the physical capacity to expand much further?




MARK

Wales Route Operating Centre might just be at capacity. Ebbw Valley is being resignalled so that will go into Wales Route Operating Centre. Rhymney Valley including Queen St will move from Wales Route Operating Centre to Core Vallet Lines Intergated Control Centre at Taffs Well. Makes sense west of Bridgend being in to Port Talbot. I can see Whitland & Clarbeston Rd going to Port Talbot in the not too distant future.

 

[Freightmaster]

Makes sense west of Bridgend being in to Port Talbot.

I agree, although Swansea to Briton Ferry is already controlled from Cardiff,
so I assumed that Baglan to Llanharan would eventually follow meaning that
the main line from Swansea through to Pilning is all controlled from Cardiff.



MARK

 

[a good off]

One of the down signals operated from Pembrey box has a sighting board. I can't think of any other surviving lower quadrants with a board, apart from on preserved lines. Maybe one somewhere though?

Crewe Junction at Shrewsbury has two on the Up Chester. Truro, Lostwithiel and Pontrilas also have them too.

 

[Western 52]

Crewe Junction at Shrewsbury has two on the Up Chester. Truro, Lostwithiel and Pontrilas also have them too.

Good to know some survive, but very much an endangered species!

 

[DaveHarries]

The closure of Ferryside, Kidwelly, Pembrey and Carmarthen Junction boxes is still scheduled for late February 2024 at present. Would not be surprised if that slipped a bit though. These will transfer to a Carmarthen workstation also at Port Talbot.

And I think it has: the FSPS (Ferryside Signalbox Preservation Society) says March 2024.

Ferryside Signal Box Preservation Society

Community group for returning the Signal Box to community use

ferryside.wales

Dave

 

[yorkie]

Reopened for @fishwomp to post an update

 

[fishwomp]

Over the weekend just gone, the new signalling has been commissioned - the semaphores are gone and boxes at Pembrey, Kidwelly, Ferryside (mostly/entirely semaphore) and Carmarthen Junction (colour lights) are now shut.

Railway closure in South West Wales this weekend for major signalling upgrade - Rail UK

Railway closure in South West Wales this weekend for major signalling upgrade - General Interest

railuk.com

Buses will replace trains from Friday 31 October through the weekend between Carmarthen and Swansea as Network Rail switches the route over to new safer and more efficient digital technology

Rail passengers are advised that the railway will be closed between Carmarthen and Swansea on Friday 31 October, Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November, while Network Rail engineers carry out major signalling upgrade works designed to modernise train control systems, improve train reliability and enhance safety across the region.

It's already visible in Traksy, with as far as Carmarthen now getting live feed - as per: https://traksy.uk/live/M+34+CMTHN

 

[collexions]

Wales Route Operating Centre might just be at capacity. Ebbw Valley is being resignalled so that will go into Wales Route Operating Centre. Rhymney Valley including Queen St will move from Wales Route Operating Centre to Core Vallet Lines Intergated Control Centre at Taffs Well. Makes sense west of Bridgend being in to Port Talbot. I can see Whitland & Clarbeston Rd going to Port Talbot in the not too distant future.

Only room/plan for the two workstations in Llanelli and Carmarthen at Port Talbot. Looking at a separate new facility for further west when Whitland and Clarbeston Road goes.

 

[Anonymous10]

Only room/plan for the two workstations in Llanelli and Carmarthen at Port Talbot. Looking at a separate new facility for further west when Whitland and Clarbeston Road goes.

Id be surprised if theres the traffix to justify it

 

[fishwomp]

Only room/plan for the two workstations in Llanelli and Carmarthen at Port Talbot. Looking at a separate new facility for further west when Whitland and Clarbeston Road goes.

It looks like no additional signals are in place (traksy) - only the old ones replaced. Anyone know if that's the case? Is there any improvement in frequency / speed directly as a result of the signalling works ?

 

[Freightmaster]

It looks like no additional signals are in place (traksy) - only the old ones replaced. Anyone know if that's the case?

It's actually worse than before, as there are no longer any home/starter signals at the intermediate stations,
so the 'block' sections are longer now; albeit with more distant signals here and there.

A similar thing happened when the Crewe to Shrewsbury line was resignalled, which resulted in several
signal sections that were far too long to cope with delays/out of course running, just to save a few quid...


MARK

 

[The Planner]

A similar thing happened when the Crewe to Shrewsbury line was resignalled, which resulted in several
signal sections that were far too long to cope with delays/out of course running, just to save a few quid...


MARK

Genuinely one of the worst resignallings ever.

 

[DelW]

Only room/plan for the two workstations in Llanelli and Carmarthen at Port Talbot. Looking at a separate new facility for further west when Whitland and Clarbeston Road goes.

Id be surprised if theres the traffix to justify it

Maybe if/when the new western one eventually happens, the Llanelli and Carmarthen areas will transfer to it? It would seem odd to have a "regional" centre that only controls west of Carmarthen. Fishguard, Milford, and Pembroke trains aren't likely to keep anyone very busy.

 

[fishwomp]

It's actually worse than before, as there are no longer any home/starter signals at the intermediate stations,
so the 'block' sections are longer now; albeit with more distant signals here and there.

Oh dear

FWIW - there are some photos including inside the Kidwelly and Ferryside boxes here: https://www.networkrailmediacentre....les-this-weekend-for-major-signalling-upgrade

 

[jamess]

Only room/plan for the two workstations in Llanelli and Carmarthen at Port Talbot. Looking at a separate new facility for further west when Whitland and Clarbeston Road goes.

Is there my rough date for when Whitland and Clarbeston Road may go?

 

[DaveHarries]

there are some photos including inside the Kidwelly and Ferryside boxes here: https://www.networkrailmediacentre....les-this-weekend-for-major-signalling-upgrade

I have some interior ones of Ferryside thanks to a signalman agreeing to take a few using my phone while a train I was on was stuck there once. They aren't bad photos but he did ask me not to share them lest it wrongly give the impression he admitted me to the box (which he hadn't) and I agreed to that. I am glad to have them though and one of them forms the wallpaper background to my phone.

Dave