Metro

looks like the government is cutting back on the GWR rail electrification already.

not going to bath, Bristol temple meads, oxford, thames valley

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/b ... s-12146764

Not going via Bath, I read this yesterday and it puzzled me.
One question; how will diversions work, do they carry large batteries or get a diesel electric to shunt the train, cause I thought these new trains are electric only??

DfT have revised their rolling stock order for GWR IEPs and we now have a complete set of diesel-electric bi-modes on order. These can run (more efficiently) under the wires and on diesel generators when not. This change in rolling stock undermines the case/need to electrify further additions to the now scaled back electrification plans. Why put wires up on the "marginal" periphery of thenetwork when the rolling stock does not need it. The downside is the bi-modes are heavier (impacting operational performance) and have higher opex. However on eth upside they can get round via Gloucester whenever the Severn tunnel is closed....

So the new trains are diesel/electric?

I thought this was meant to be the whole point of electrification.
I read on a National Rail blurb that since they don't carry fuel or large diesel engines they are lighter more efficient and can accelerate/decelerate faster. How many billion spent on this and for what?
The original inter city 125's engines where also diesel electric and that 40 years ago.

They'll be dual mode, so can run electric only, but will have a diesel engine as well for the non-electrified bits. You're right of course that this will negate many of the advantages of electric-only stock.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_800
Maximum speeds:
125 mph (200 km/h)
(140 mph, 225 km/h with minor modifications)
(100 mph, 160 km/h with diesel-power only[2])

Just incredible!! so slower on "diesel only" from what we have now.
However we were also told that currently the Welsh stretch of line is 100mph maximum which will be raised with the new signalling infrastructure, they need not now bother!

Sorry Swansea, double whammy

it is a shambles of a farce.

So Cardiff to London will be faster (providing there are no diversions) but Cardiff to Swansea will be slower?

So what's going to happen to the proposed Metro line in Cardiff Bay now that this new military museum has been confirmed?

So what's going to happen to the proposed Metro line in Cardiff Bay now that this new military museum has been confirmed?

Given that the Metro (as far as rail is concerned) is initially electrification of existing rail throughout cardiff and valley lines - it sure looks like the existing bute street stop will become the metro Cardiff Bay stop. This of course is different from the video (link below) showing the Cardiff Bay Stop just across the road from the apartments opposite the WMC. That's a little further out but not the end of the world if it's a saving that assists the Metro getting up and running - it also takes away the complication of crossing a road! Also If the end of the track remains where it is now then I can't see the purpose of a stop at Loudon Square? and that's another fortune saved. I guess it's not perfect but a small price to pay to get the Metro up'n'running. Once established I guess things could change in the future.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/first-look-south-wales-metro-10947144