22.01.16
GWML electrification dates revealed
Sir Peter Hendy has revealed the completion dates of each element of the delayed Great Western Main Line electrification programme in an updated report today (22 January).
All elements of the programme will only start seeing electric trains running in CP6 (2019-2024), but the dates set for infrastructure authorisation are:
- Maidenhead to Didcot: December 2017
- Didcot to Wootton Bassett Junction: December 2018
- Wootton Bassett Junction to Bristol Parkway: December 2018
- Reading to Newbury: December 2018
- Bristol Parkway to Cardiff: December 2018
- Didcot to Oxford: June 2019
- Wootton Bassett Junction to Bristol Temple Meads: February 2019-April 2020
- Filton Bank: Early CP6
The update comes two months after his long-awaited review of all CP5 projects was published, under which no projects were cancelled, most would go ahead as planned, but many “unrealistic and undeliverable” milestones were pushed back into CP6.
Part of this portfolio was the Great Western electrification scheme, which had already suffered a series of setbacks due to poor productivity linked to buried cables, inefficient use of midweek access, permissions and design standards, and many other issues. The costs also swelled massively.
At the time of his November review, Sir Peter said work to update the programme was “being concluded as this report is completed”.
As already indicated then, the Network Rail chair reiterated in today’s report that electrification beyond Cardiff will be kicked to CP6. Works between Bristol Parkway to Cardiff, originally expected for 2017, will see infrastructure completed by December 2018 and the first electric trains introduced in CP6 (providing trains are completed in time).
All of these dates are also based on a series of assumptions, including that signalling renewals projects will be completed on time, as well as the remodelling of Bristol East Junction and Oxford.
Currently, Hitachi’s InterCity Express Programme remains on schedule to deliver the new Class 800/801 fleet on the GWML by 2017. Given that the electrification scheme is running late, the Class 800 bi-mode trains will not be able to use their electric capabilities. The Class 801 fleet will be entirely electric.
Also today, the Department for Transport has launched a consultation on Sir Peter’s re-plan report, set to run until 18 March. Subject to feedback, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin MP is expected to accept the review’s reformed milestones.