Wednesday, the day of the WWRUG meeting in Trowbridge (for which the trains were unperturbed by that time) a friend had headed for Weymouth for the day. After a remarkably cool and blustery but enjoyable day by the sea, they headed back to the station to find the 17:28 back to Bristol cancelled (the next being 20:14). For some reason they were given the impression that travel via Southampton was out of the question. After a short bit of hanging around, put in a taxi, they "enjoyed" a somewhat edge of seat ride to Westbury, from where there were trains back to Bristol, and they were back only around 15 minutes late.

*Significant detail* - a number of passengers for the Bristol train had been relying on there being a loo on the train once they were at the station - and the station loos were found to be locked - however a member of staff on request unlocked the accessible loo there and the day was saved.

Mark

 
1 Stratford

 

I was very concerned at an alert flashing up this morning and especially for the train that becomes the "Weymouth Wizard" from Swindon, but no worries - this is much more and informational alert than an "oh shit!".

Personally, I would love to "do" Weymouth today - except I am pacing myself; want to keep up on other things and not be tired for when I head out next week.

 
Back in the UK last Monday ... and although it's only Saturday, what a variety I have seen in public transport in just five days ...  my arrival ...



and some places I have been, or seen out of the window.

1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


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7.


8.


9.


Also seen this one, but as it's already been seen in another thread ...

 

Was going seriously over budget, (and behind schedule) and instead of saying pause and refocus, just took axe to it.    Ignored the ongoing alternative costs it created.

It was a time when skills were being outsourced to consultants, so something like a drain cover where a mast was planned, meant leaving it, getting consultants out again, redesigning, expensively coming back later with electrification train.  Rather than having skilled and empowered staff doing simple tweak to plan there and then.   

The structure at the time was not incentivised to get it finished as efficiently as possible, but was more like see what extra work and revenue can get from it.  HS2 contracts were devised in same cost plus era too.

 

Why was it stopped? Was it way behind schedule and/or over budget?

 
It's coming up to 9 years since Grayling killed parts of Great Western electrification (it was July 2017)

As photographed above there are a number of masts west of Chippenham doing nothing.  I think about third of the mast bases and a few masts were also installed Didcot - Oxford.

Things have moved on with cost control, and the stupidity of not resuming it once costs were controlled has never really made sense as a long term strategy (and even less so in new era of high diesel prices).

Ironically the delay to ordering replacements for 158,159,165,166,168 diesel fleet might benefit a few electrified sections, if it means battery charging is possible, and don't have to fit diesel engines (which require servicing and maintenance of the engines).    There is obviously a cost implication of adding diesel generators to replacement fleet (plus ongoing extra operational costs), which could be used to pay for some of the electrification instead.

But doing joined up thinking, or any form of mid or longer term planning seems to be beyond current batch of ministers, who seem to be more into short term thinking and regular U turns

 
As I read it, it's all on "stop" at the moment - no money and no concrete plans to resume.  Personal view - it is seen as   more important to get people from Acton to Solihull as quickly as possible in 10 years time than it is to complete jobs which in some cases were already started.  But yet with advancing technology, that just might make sense.

Works started and - would you describe them as abandoned? - at Thingley Junction.



Personal view - from my armchair - would be the Didcot to Oxford and Cocklebury Lane and Parkway to Temple Meads would be the next sensible steps.  So many services would then be able to go pure electric; does not cut the need for power (moves it away from the train) but at least it can be sustainable and not fossil, trains last longer, have better performances curves, and can still electrically do London - Cardiff even when Badminton is closed for engineering or flooding.

Also makes sense for freight to get electric to Westbury and the quarries - via Pewsey and via Melksham - nd that brings in more electric passenger trains too. 

 
Not sure if there are any plans for overhead Electrification in the West region.

Maybe
Stapleton road bank
Chippenham to Bristol
Cardiff to Swansea(possible on to LLanelli and Carmarthen

Although over head wires never look pleasant,especially in pretty view areas

Three places in this neck of the woods I would never like to see overhead wires is St Ives Newquay and Falmouth
with the Severn Beach line and Portishead lines.
Just wondering if the scheme on the Greenford branch could be introduced with underneath charging points at the the terminating station on the five routes mentioned.       

 

Adding up numbers from Wikipedia, GWR have 220 different trains that could be used to provide the service (the number does not include battery trains, purely electric units, or the sleepers)

 
Cancellations to services between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham

Due to a broken down train between Westbury and Swindon the line is closed. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Train services between Westbury and Swindon via Melksham will be cancelled.

Customer Advice
What has happened?
-
The train that operates our Westbury - Swindon services via Melksham has failed and there is no replacement train available. Melksham services are cancelled for the remainder of the day.

 
GWR account on Bluesky.

"Due to a broken down train at Melksham"

Mark

https://bsky.app/profile/gwr.com/post/3mmhmoduamo2a

 

 

It might be a multi-mode train

GWR could just about get away with battery EMU▸ , but realistically anything over about 60 miles (or 30miles out and 30 back) off an electrified line, especially in cold winter or very hot summer day is pushing it.   Battery technology is improving so maybe this will go up a bit to nearer 80 miles.

If looking at regional train (say 5-6 cars, capable of 100-110mph on electric, maybe 90-100mph on diesel or battery, with seats and comfort suitable for 3+ hour journeys) then as GWR operate to Portsmouth, Weymouth, Gatwick really needs to be dual voltage.

But a quick look at a map, will show that routes like Cardiff-Exeter, Exeter-Basingstoke, Bristol-Great Malvern/Worcester etc are too far for the battery.  So either got to add few miles of electrification where charging can happen, or fit train with diesel generator set too.

Chiltern probably need ability to work off Metropolitan line 4th rail.  I think this is now 500v outer rail, -250v centre rail, but at least it is effectively 750v not the old 600v (400 and -200)

To be honest, if GBR▸ (or its shadow version) had ordered 70-100 of these, a cascade would probably solve 90% of train shortages or types coming up for renewal.

So yes, SWR» doesn't really need anything different to GWR regional fleet, or even others like Cross Country Cardiff-Nottingham.  Can see why it is one type desperately needed (have built high speed bimodes, lots of commuter electric units in last 10 years, but no regional units for 34+ years).  Nothing really that can work on part electrified routes that's mid to long distance, but not full intercity high speed

 

First one ran on time. 

Second one left 11 minutes late (waiting sensibly for connections from London and Oxford), but looks like it only got a short way before returning to Swindon for some reason.

 
From the BBC:

 
It's Latin....

Mark A....your luck might eventually be in for your Bristol service

 
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06
16:23 Westbury to Swindon due 17:06 will be starting late from Westbury.
This is due to congestion.

17:45 Swindon to Westbury due 18:26
17:45 Swindon to Westbury due 18:26 will be starting late from Swindon.
This is due to congestion.

 

As we're over £100 billion to get from Acton to Solihull, how much would the bill have been by now had phase 2 been included?

 

The farce was the Trumpian gold plating by previous Prime Ministers especially when then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave HS2 the official green light in February 2020, he highlighted its "extraordinarily fast journey times". While speaking in the House of Commons, Johnson stated that the new high-speed trains would "travel at speeds up to 225 miles per hour".  Also the succession of start building in without all the consents and outline decisions being done.

The option to upgrade the existing WCML was never and option, it went through that in the early 2000's and by 2020 all the capacity had been used.

The biggest blunder is cancelling phase 2 ie North of Birmingham to Manchester 

 
Interesting to see that the last part is in Italian!…or Latin .

 
........and also the second one of the day a little further West in the Thames Valley.....I guess now it's a little warmer we have to expect the infrastructure/service to start melting down.......literally as well as figuratively

Still, cracking BBQ weather! Just in time for the Bank Holiday weekend!

Cancellations to services between Reading and Newbury

Due to a points failure between Reading and Newbury some lines are blocked.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until 19:00 22/05.

 
Due to a points failure between Reading and London Paddington fewer trains are able to run on some lines.
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 15:15 22/05.

 
The mention of GWR/Chiltern - might this be the battery train?

 
Apart from the Ten Tors for children who navigate the moor with only maps!

 
Excellent evening with update from Andrew A.

For member - slide set here

 
For the next six months in Bath, how are faciilities being provided for personal needs breaks for bus staff on the routes affected, anyone?

Mark

 
On the Manvers Street northbound stop - that useful one when leaving the train - the industry seems to be slowly removing its remaining bus services - starting with the 11 to Bathampton. The notice for that *does* have a map but it took me a moment to interpret it as it doesn't show the railway station. Possibly for good reason as the bus will now only stop at the far end of Dorchester Street, so, Number 11 bus passengers who've been on a train - "Welcome to Awkwardsville".

There's also, now, the 'Notice' version of that web page which is mapless - but in common with their web page on this forthcoming disruption, a map would illustrate the extent to which the bus network is disrupted and exactly how much walking people will need to do to make connections. (Both below...)

Stars of the show is Stagecoach's 620 bus, which continues to run to the bus station albeit via a diversion - and usefully stops at a couple of stops on the diversion too - as does the 700 that runs a very occasional service to the decidedly poor area surrounding Julian Road and also the prosperous part of the city up at Sion Hill.

Mark

 
Cancellations to services between Newbury and Reading

Due to a fault with the signalling system between Newbury and Reading trains have to run at reduced speed on some lines.

Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled or delayed by up to 25 minutes. Disruption is expected until 11:45 22/05.