Saturday 22 November 2014

17th - 22nd November 2014


Newly returned 08691 Terri, along with new and old signs for the rather abrupt "SMMD".
 New as D3858 in October 1959, allocated to 27E Walton on the Hill.
70001 PowerHaul is yet to receive its modifications including new vent ....
... as modelled here by 70007 arriving with 4O29 08:14 Basford Hall - Maritime

Monday 17th November: (08691 returned by motorway to Maritime); 31601 + 56312 6Y57 23:17 Totton - Haslemere
Tuesday 18th November: 31601 + 56312 6Y57 01:20 Haslemere - Totton, 23:17 Totton - Haslemere
Wednesday 19th November: 31601 + 56312 6Y57 05:05 Haslemere -Totton, 31601 Totton - Eastleigh, 31601 + 50026 0Z50 13:21 Eastleigh - Romsey - Westbury - Taunton (for Polar Express on Dartmoor Railway) one two three four five six; 60015 + 66595 6O26 10:19 Hinksey - Eastleigh one two
Thursday 20th November: 66143 + 60015 6X38 13:50 Eastleigh - Didcot one two three four
Friday 21st November: 56301 0Z56 15:29 Washwood Heath - Totton, 08904 is shunting again at Eastleigh
Saturday 22nd November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 22:38 Totton - Wimbledon
Sunday 23rd November: 56301 + 56312 6Y57 13:30 Wimbledon - Fareham - Eastleigh - Totton one two

158798 has appeared in new marketing vinyls for Gunwharf Quays one two three four five six seven


Long Term Planning: Network Rail Wessex Route Study

"The Route Study anticipates a requirement in Control Period 6 for a third freight path between Southampton Docks and the Midlands/North, operating via Laverstock Junction owing to capacity constraints on the more direct route via Winchester. In order to path this additional train alongside the existing trains in the Basingstoke area robustly, grade separation of Basingstoke Junction is required to eliminate conflicts between Southampton bound freight and passenger paths and those existing passenger services operating on the South West Main Line. Hence it is the additional freight path in CP6 that provides the driver of the need for the basic grade separation of the junction. Initial development work suggests that the capital cost of basic grade separation of Basingstoke Junction is in the range between £75 million and £175 million (Anticipated Final Cost, in 2014 prices). 
...

"As part of the Electric Spine concept it is intended to provide 25kV AC overhead line electrification between Basingstoke and the docks at Southampton at some point during CP6. This could enable a large proportion of intermodal freight traffic to and from the port to be electrically hauled (potentially playing a part in enabling longer, heavier trains to be operated, and therefore using capacity more efficiently), as well as being an incremental step towards the electric operation of cross-country passenger trains. Given the position of this national scheme in the Department for Transport’s High Level Output Statement (HLOS) for CP5, the Route Study has treated this option as baseline and has not undertaken further analysis on the case for such an intervention.

It is recognised that as a standalone scheme, there are a number of potential disadvantages, including for example:
at present, freight operators have the option of a gauge-cleared diversionary route between Southampton and Basingstoke via Laverstock and Andover. This diversionary route would not be available for electrically-hauled freight, potentially requiring diesel-haulage to be specially arranged whenever the main route was unavailable
a significant cost is involved in converting the present-day DC electric passenger fleet to dual-voltage capability, it being assumed that it will not prove possible or practicable to keep in place the third-rail DC system as well as the AC system
whilst some minor passenger journey time improvements might be achievable between Basingstoke and Southampton, there is very little overall passenger benefit in the short to medium term
from an asset management and maintenance perspective, the scope of AC electrification may be insufficient to offer efficiencies of scale.

For these reasons it is proposed to extend the scope of the Southampton to Basingstoke project to include consideration of electrification of the lines between Basingstoke and Salisbury (including the Laverstock loop), between Salisbury and Redbridge, and possibly between Romsey and Eastleigh.

This would provide an electrified diversionary route for freight, and offer the potential for electric operation of Waterloo to Salisbury passenger services, and Salisbury to Southampton local passenger services.