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GWML Electrification

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baard

Posts: 43
GWML Electrification - Posted: July 27, 2009 - 8:58 PM Quote and reply
Claims of up to 12 minutes reduction in journey times between London and Bristol were announced last week as DFT announced that the Great Western Main Line would be electrified.
What do you think? Post your comments here.
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CTAYLOR

Posts: 24
Re: GWML Electrification - Posted: July 28, 2009 - 9:05 AM Quote and reply
baard said:
Claims of up to 12 minutes reduction in journey times between London and Bristol were announced last week as DFT announced that the Great Western Main Line would be electrified.
What do you think? Post your comments here.

Probably just returning to what the timings were in the early 1980's. The the claim is made by the civil servants in Whitehall who (in my opinion) make such a mess of things when it comes to railway matters.



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CTAYLOR

Posts: 24
Re: GWML Electrification - Posted: July 28, 2009 - 9:08 AM Quote and reply
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CTAYLOR

Posts: 24
Re: GWML Electrification - Posted: July 28, 2009 - 9:57 AM Quote and reply
Conversley the DFT claim that electrification of the Liverpool to Manchester via Earlstown will result in a journey time of 30 minutes. This will be fun if they imagine that they can run across Chat Moss at 90 mph (the current limit is 60 mph due to safety issues). The problem at Chat Moss is poor (weak) foundation. As the name Chat Moss describes the area abtly. The line is laid on peat and has always caused problems but since the M62 was built (it goes under the line in a cutting, further problems as the M62 acts as a drainage sump for the peat moss thereby lowering the water table and drying out the peat. The line thereabouts is now on top of dry peat on top of wet peat. During heavy rain the dry peat becomes wet. If you were to either see the line from the cab or the lineside you will be able to See (so a civil engineer recently told me) the track wave (or ripple) in front of the train and the it settles after the train has gone. So without a substatial rebuild and deep foundations (or a concrete viaduct being built) Chat Moss is always going to cause problems. Incidently the Highways Agency on the M62 on Chat Moss also have problems with the road surface and the surface rippling.



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baard

Posts: 43
Re: GWML Electrification - Posted: July 28, 2009 - 10:55 PM Quote and reply
Where are the 12 minutes going to be gained?
Certainly not between Paddington and Reading, due to the sheer amount of trains pathed along here. Can't see an electric IEP being allowed less time than HST's in order to maximise paths. From Reading to Bristol, there might be more scope, but again will depend on available paths in 2016! There will be a greater performance differential between IEP and older rolling stock.

They're installing in-cab signalling, yet no planned linespeed increase despite the fact that GWML would be perfect for 140-150mph though. Although this would again reduce paths if older stock is still in use to the non-electrified destinations.

A high powered EMU along the lines of 'Javelin' Class 395, or Pendolino Class 390 would probably save at least a minute accelerating to linespeed over an HST from each station stop. Not sure whether Reading remodelling will allow excess recovery/pathing to be removed.
Biggest issue is still the amount of station stops between Paddington and Temple Meads. One of the two trains each hr to Bristol stops at Reading, Didcot and all stations via Bath. The second is similar but omits Didcot stop. I am sure the best pre-HST time from London to Bristol was 1h45. No prizes for guessing what the current journey time is with all these extra stops and padding to boot? :-0

Any lessons to be learned from ECML electrification project?
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