“Crossrail took a step forward this week as Network Rail (NR) announced that electrification work had been completed on the 12-mile stretch of railway from Maidenhead to Stockley Junction. The project of electrification will allow new Great Western Railway (GWR) trains to run on the track when they are introduced in May – and in the longer term will support the delivery of the new Elizabeth line – which will allow Thames Valley passengers to travel through central London without having to change onto the underground at Paddington.
“NR has worked over three years to install more than 1,400 overhead structures, or 140 miles, of overhead wires that will power the electric trains. The majority of the work was undertaken at weekends, bank holidays and early hours of the morning to minimise disruption for passengers.
“Mark Langman, route managing director of NR, described the completion of the 12 miles of railway as a “major milestone,” for NR’s Railway Upgrade Plan – of which the delivery of an electrified Great Western Mainline and the construction of the Elizabeth Line is a huge part. “From May this year more passengers will see immediate benefits with brand new, cleaner, quieter electric trains operating between Maidenhead and Paddington” said Langman.”…
We will be stuck with diesel under the wires or a while longer yet. Some readers may have missed the recent announcement that introduction of the Class 800/0 bi-modes on the Paddington – Bedwyn route – due from early January when electrification to Newbury goes live – has been postponed indefinitely. It has now been realised that as the trains will be stopping at unstaffed stations on the Berks and Hants line they will need to be fitted with CCTV for the drivers, to ensure safe departures. Can it really be the case that new stock, which is sitting in the depot waiting to take up duties within a month, is now found to be not fit for purpose? The announcement only refers to the Bedwyn services and it is unclear whether the alternate Newbury – Reading shuttle will also remain with 165s or if it will be electric with 387s. The cascade of the 165s will also of course be delayed.