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Newbury Today Forum _ Newbury News _ Railway electrification

Posted by: On the edge Jul 14 2016, 07:01 AM

Railtrack were in Northbrook Street yesterday explaining that the pile driving for the overhead gantries is about to start, and it will make a bit of noise.

The chap I spoke to was surprised that I seemed relieved, until I explained I thought the Newbury spur was just a 'political' bit of the bigger project, to be given up if costs and time got in the way. Anyway, for me, once the hammering starts, that's it, we will really get electric trains, it's the point the project turns from conjecture to reality.

Great! So it's not going to be long before out of gratitude, we can start a collection to buy one of the old Turbo Trains for them to cherish at Didcot; if only so we can remember how dreadful they were!
.

Posted by: Biker1 Jul 14 2016, 03:01 PM

QUOTE (On the edge @ Jul 14 2016, 08:01 AM) *
Great! So it's not going to be long before out of gratitude, we can start a collection to buy one of the old Turbo Trains for them to cherish at Didcot; if only so we can remember how dreadful they were!
.

Not so OTE.
They are going west to replace trains that are even more dreadful .
Think yourself lucky you have not had to travel in one of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_143 like our friends in the West Country.
One of BR's worst buys!

PS It's Network Rail not Railtrack. They went bust!

Posted by: On the edge Jul 14 2016, 06:52 PM

QUOTE (Biker1 @ Jul 14 2016, 04:01 PM) *
Not so OTE.
They are going west to replace trains that are even more dreadful .
Think yourself lucky you have not had to travel in one of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_143 like our friends in the West Country.
One of BR's worst buys!

PS It's Network Rail not Railtrack. They went bust!



Gee, thanks Biker! There was me thinking all that money doing up the line would mean a bit of comfort, and not 'Southern Comfort' at least!

Posted by: Biker1 Jul 14 2016, 07:30 PM

QUOTE (On the edge @ Jul 14 2016, 07:52 PM) *
Gee, thanks Biker! There was me thinking all that money doing up the line would mean a bit of comfort, and not 'Southern Comfort' at least!

Yes you will be cosseted in air con comfort!
The 4 car new electrics will be coming to our line (well, as far as Newbury anyway).
The turbos are going to Bristol and the west to replace their even older stock.

Posted by: Gazzadp Jul 14 2016, 07:38 PM

Well going by the latest updates from Network Rail as reported in the media, Newbury will not see any Electric trains until mid/late 2019.

Those brand new Japanese Hitachi trains are all having to be fitted with diesel engines, and the other new trains couldn't even run to the depots as the electric lines did not go that far (that was reported Spring 2016).

NetworkRail have also been told to replace the steel gantries that support the overhead wires between Reading and Didcot (well all of them that are visible and not in deep cuttings).

Posted by: Andy Capp Jul 14 2016, 07:55 PM

Rail companies cannot even keep an escalator running let alone electric trains!

Posted by: spartacus Jul 14 2016, 09:48 PM

QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Jul 14 2016, 08:55 PM) *
Rail companies cannot even keep an escalator running let alone electric trains!

I heard that the escalator at Reading suddenly stopped and went backwards injuring quite a number of folk that were using it at the time. That's why it's been out of action for so long. Insurance companies and compensation lawyers are circling and it could be big figures.

Posted by: Andy Capp Jul 15 2016, 05:29 AM

QUOTE (spartacus @ Jul 14 2016, 10:48 PM) *
I heard that the escalator at Reading suddenly stopped and went backwards injuring quite a number of folk that were using it at the time. That's why it's been out of action for so long. Insurance companies and compensation lawyers are circling and it could be big figures.

Why should it stop it being repaired and put into action?

Posted by: Biker1 Jul 15 2016, 07:17 AM

QUOTE (Gazzadp @ Jul 14 2016, 08:38 PM) *
NetworkRail have also been told to replace the steel gantries that support the overhead wires between Reading and Didcot (well all of them that are visible and not in deep cuttings).

The catenary in the Thames Valley is now energised. (Don't touch it!!)
I should imagine the most NR will do to "blend" it into it's surroundings is paint it green!!
Where did you get the info. that they have been "told to replace" it?

Posted by: JeffG Jul 19 2016, 03:03 PM

Coming back from London a couple of Saturdays ago on one of my rare rail trips, I was interested to see how electrification was progressing. Once you get past the fully-electrified Paddington area, it seems totally random where work is being done. Some parts (very few) are wired, other parts have overhead gantries or "gallows" (don't know how else to describe them) complete apart from wiring, yet more parts have the basic structure in place, but with the insulated bars missing. Yet more have vertical posts only or just the mounting plates for the posts in place. Plus large gaps where there is nothing at all.

There is no apparent linear progression from one end of the line to the other - I suppose someone somewhere must be planning and coordinating the work, but to the casual observer it looks totally haphazard.

Posted by: On the edge Jul 19 2016, 07:15 PM

QUOTE (JeffG @ Jul 19 2016, 04:03 PM) *
Coming back from London a couple of Saturdays ago on one of my rare rail trips, I was interested to see how electrification was progressing. Once you get past the fully-electrified Paddington area, it seems totally random where work is being done. Some parts (very few) are wired, other parts have overhead gantries or "gallows" (don't know how else to describe them) complete apart from wiring, yet more parts have the basic structure in place, but with the insulated bars missing. Yet more have vertical posts only or just the mounting plates for the posts in place. Plus large gaps where there is nothing at all.

There is no apparent linear progression from one end of the line to the other - I suppose someone somewhere must be planning and coordinating the work, but to the casual observer it looks totally haphazard.


The cynic in me says it's a deliberate project director ploy to guarantee funding. If they did it on a rolling roll out basis, there would be an opportunity for Executive input to stop when they'd reached Didcot and leave the rest for phase 2...

Posted by: JeffG Jul 19 2016, 09:50 PM

Don't think you meant Didcot, but not sure where you did mean.

Posted by: On the edge Jul 20 2016, 05:36 AM

QUOTE (JeffG @ Jul 19 2016, 10:50 PM) *
Don't think you meant Didcot, but not sure where you did mean.


Simply that if the project is being implemented in a haphazard way, it would be very difficult for anyone to simply call a halt to the whole thing.

Posted by: Andy Capp Jul 20 2016, 11:06 AM

QUOTE (JeffG @ Jul 19 2016, 10:50 PM) *
Don't think you meant Didcot, but not sure where you did mean.



QUOTE (On the edge @ Jul 20 2016, 06:36 AM) *
Simply that if the project is being implemented in a haphazard way, it would be very difficult for anyone to simply call a halt to the whole thing.


I think OTE is saying: If one were to build sequentially from London to somewhere in the east, then should economics change, it would be easy to stop at a certain place on the way and say that'll do. Where as if you start many independent builds with view to linking them up at the end, then the decision to stop prematurely is harder because you would be theoretically throwing away all the cash used to build in the areas that would not be linked at the end.

Posted by: On the edge Jul 20 2016, 11:43 AM

QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Jul 20 2016, 12:06 PM) *
I think OTE is saying: If one were to build sequentially from London to somewhere in the east, then should economics change, it would be easy to stop at a certain place on the way and say that'll do. Where as if you start many independent builds with view to linking them up at the end, then the decision to stop prematurely is harder because you would be theoretically throwing away all the cash used to build in the areas that will not be linked at the end.


Yes, that's exactly what I was trying to get across! Thanks AndyC.

I'm sure it's wrong, but being a paid up cynic and conspiracy spotter, I just thought I'd add a view!

Posted by: JeffG Jul 20 2016, 12:44 PM

Sorry, for some reason I was thinking Didcot was on the Oxford branch. Of course Didcot Parkway is on the Bristol main line - a long time since I have travelled west of Reading on that line.

(And Andy means west, not east biggrin.gif)

Posted by: Andy Capp Jul 20 2016, 02:58 PM

QUOTE (JeffG @ Jul 20 2016, 01:44 PM) *
Sorry, for some reason I was thinking Didcot was on the Oxford branch. Of course Didcot Parkway is on the Bristol main line - a long time since I have travelled west of Reading on that line.

Trains do travel from Paddington to Banbury via Didcot Parkway and Oxford (and all other stops on the way, including Reading). There is also Paddington to Oxford train stopping at Slough, Reading and Didcot Parkway.

Posted by: Biker1 Jul 20 2016, 04:19 PM

There is work going on shortly even further west.
https://www.gwr.com/travel-updates/planned-engineering/severn-tunnel
Even more haphazard eh?! wink.gif
Seriously though, the infrastructure has to be checked and prepared before the wires go up.
The most difficult places to do this are where you see the work taking place.
The odd mast etc. will have been placed to check if all is OK in susceptible places.
Track lowering, bridge raising / replacement and new signalling has to be in place before the wires which are the last thing to go up.
The Severn Tunnel is closed for the above period for the massive task of lowering the track in the 4 mile long tunnel for electrification.
The wires are in place and energised between Tilehurst and Didcot for the imminent testing / driver training of the new Hitachi trains.

Posted by: gel Nov 8 2016, 04:20 PM

Delays ahead??

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-37908735

Posted by: Andy Capp Nov 8 2016, 06:37 PM

I wonder how over budget HS2 will be!

Posted by: TallDarkAndHandsome Nov 8 2016, 10:24 PM

QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Nov 8 2016, 06:37 PM) *
I wonder how over budget HS2 will be!


Why can no one ever cost Projects properly? Its not just railtrack etc. Everything is always over budget becuase they bid knowing its not possible. Just to win the bl00dy contract. Sorry thats my rant over!!!

Posted by: JeffG Nov 8 2016, 10:40 PM

They mentioned the Windsor and Oxford branches and the mainline beyond Swindon as being delayed. Does that mean the Newbury branch will still be going ahead as planned?

Posted by: TallDarkAndHandsome Nov 8 2016, 10:53 PM

QUOTE (JeffG @ Nov 8 2016, 10:40 PM) *
They mentioned the Windsor and Oxford branches and the mainline beyond Swindon as being delayed. Does that mean the Newbury branch will still be going ahead as planned?


Depends if the money runs out.... At least I got a seat today. Makes a change... Had to ask someone to move a bag from a free seat though. Just for a change. Standing room only and u think its ok to take two seats. Prat.

Posted by: On the edge Nov 9 2016, 07:04 AM

QUOTE (TallDarkAndHandsome @ Nov 8 2016, 10:24 PM) *
Why can no one ever cost Projects properly? Its not just railtrack etc. Everything is always over budget becuase they bid knowing its not possible. Just to win the bl00dy contract. Sorry thats my rant over!!!


To be blunt, in reality it is just a big civil engineering job; nothing extraordinary and something we've been doing for two hundred years, so I don't think that's an unreasonable rant. We are told often enough that 'good project management' is the key to everything these days, yet we rarely see it. And as you say, its not just Railtrack, so arguably, it's a very sad indictment of British capability which doesn't bode well for the future.


Posted by: Biker1 Nov 9 2016, 08:48 AM

Pretty poor isn't it?
We have successfully overhead electrified 4 major routes radiating out from London since the sixties.
(And that doesn't include HS1.)
You would have thought that we would know how to do it properly by now! rolleyes.gif

Posted by: On the edge Nov 9 2016, 01:10 PM

QUOTE (Biker1 @ Nov 9 2016, 08:48 AM) *
Pretty poor isn't it?
We have successfully overhead electrified 4 major routes radiating out from London since the sixties.
(And that doesn't include HS1.)
You would have thought that we would know how to do it properly by now! rolleyes.gif


Well, we've always known the people 'on the tools' so to speak know what they are doing. As usual these days it's the 'expertise' in the boardroom chiselling away at the numbers they've been given term after term so their performance bonus gets through on the nod. Of course, it's all checked and audited by our Government 'experts', doubtless the very ones advising on referendums....

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