Great Western to be Electrified

[John]

No doubt this is old news to many, but have a look at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8164070.stm

"A £1bn plan to electrify the main rail route between London and Swansea has been announced by the government.
A second line between Liverpool and Manchester will also be converted from diesel to electric."

"The project will take eight years to complete, with the installation of overhead power lines and demolition of many tunnels and bridges."

That's 8 years to electrify 200miles of track*.

Or 2 weeks to electrify a mile.

So not exactly quick, but then that's what happens when you work on a live railway.

*Note the 200miles is a "bit" of an estimation.

Lets just hope it doesn't get cancelled...

[Kevo00]

Its a start, but not really enough though is it? Chances are that just like the ECML a majority of the trains on the line will remain diesel, same goes for Man-Liv which sounds like a cut-down of the TransPennine electrification proposal. So all the benefits in terms of less heavy trains etc. will probably not be fully realised, and additionally there appears to be no commitment to more capacity which would appear to be badly needed on the GWML.

What I would like to see from government or Network Rail is the creation of a specific electrification budget which could slowly build up electrified lines to create critical mass. Additionally trains like the Voyagers could be converted to dual power so they can use the wires where they exist. I think this plan is an attempt to justify the Concord on rails that is the Intercity Express Project; if they end up making it dual powered then they won't have gained anything from lighter trains!

Anyway suppose this is all academic because the Tories will probably cancel this and IEP.

[Dave]

Man-Liv isn't a cut-down of the TP proposal - it's one of the infills that have been planned for years as it's just better for diversions. Consider now that a Pendolino that's diverted via Stoke, Manchester and Bolton to Preston because of works between Crewe and Warrington can now rejoin under its own power at Wigan without using the 57s.

[Kevo00]

You'd have to hope that they have an intensive EMU service to make it worthwhile though - the odd (and in future hopefully less frequent) Pendelino diversion isn't really worth it, is it?

[JamieLei]

A recent BBC Video report I watched suggested by a knowledgeable enthusiast that the GWML would probably be electrified as far as Cardiff, Temple Meads and the London Suburban network, implying Oxford and Bedwyn/Newbury. If we assume this (and it seems sensible enough),

In a standard hour (ie: the normal service pattern before the peak-hour extention is taken into account) and just taking into account the intercity trains,
From London to

Cardiff: 2tph. 1 terminates, 1 continues to Swansea
Bristol Temple Meads: 2tph. 2 terminate. 1tph continues to Weston Super Mare but only during peak hours.
Oxford: 2tph. 1 terminates, 1 continues to Worcester? (No idea because of the double-tracking works atm meaning 3 trains per day go through)
Reading - Taunton Line: 1tph. All continue to various termini (Taunton, Paington, Plymouth, Newquay, Penzance)

So quite A LOT of intercity trains seem to fall fully under the wires. Cardiff to Swansea is about 42 miles and probably isn't electrifying for 1 train per hour (although the ECML electrified past Newcastle for the 1tph to Edinburgh). We probably have already given up on trying to electrify south of Bristol as it isn't viable.

As such, Weston Super Mare is worried that they're going to lose the hourly services to London. Anyone know if the Bi-Mode trains will ever end up on the WCML? - they can be coupled with a 5-car electric set and the bi-set continuing onwards.

Edit: just read a source which says electrification will take in Oxford, Newbury and Swansea

[Dave]

You'd have to hope that they have an intensive EMU service to make it worthwhile though - the odd (and in future hopefully less frequent) Pendelino diversion isn't really worth it, is it?

Stoke-Crewe was electrified under the same principle during the Wilmslow works in 2006.

[JamieLei]

Although one of the outcomes is enabling the Crewe to London LM service via Stoke

[Dave]

Although one of the outcomes is enabling the Crewe to London LM service via Stoke

Which was a consequence of, not a catalyst for.

[JamieLei]

Indeed - that's what I was meaning to say but you put it in better words.

I though electrifying the MML would make more sense in terms of infill electrification than the GWML which is isolated electric-wise.

[Kevo00]

I'd be inclined to agree - the GWML does seem a little like the old British 'self contained' electrification, like in East Anglia or the Glasgow area.

The old Bury-Manchester third rail line has to be my favourite daftly isolated electrification though.

[EXTspotter]

What about Manchester - Sheffield OH1500v, where they built a fleet of locomotives to haul all the services, then realised they only needed about 10 rather than 40...