2nd Visit to Swindon on the Great Western Main Line, Golden Valley Line to Cheltenham Spa via Stroud, South Wales Main Line and also services to and from Westbury provided by Great Western Railway.

Swindon first opened in 1842 as Swindon Junction which between opening until 1895 Steam Locomotives would stop for up to 10 minutes in the platforms and was once a 3 storey station.

At one time there was another station called Swindon Town which opened in 1881 by the Midland and South Western Junction Railway however after World War II traffic declined and was ultimately closed to passengers in 1961 the same time when Swindon Junction became Swindon before closing completely in 1972. At the same time the original 3 storey station of Swindon was demolished.

Originally had 3 platforms with Platforms 1, 3 and 4 used by through trains with Platform 2 which today acts as the bay for terminating DMU services from Cheltenham Spa or Westbury. Platform 4 used by Bristol and services to South Wales dates from 2003.

Cheltenham Spa services nowadays use Platforms 1 and 3 with that along with Platform 4 being bi-directional which here in either direction before going onto the Golden Valley Line via Stroud all IETs to Cheltenham Spa have to do the switchover from electric to diesel.

In fact the Golden Valley Line which diverges later joins up with the Chepstow to Gloucester Line near Gloucester was the main route used by services to South Wales until the opening of the Severn Tunnel in 1888 even today it can act as an diversionary route if the South Wales Main Line via Bristol Parkway or Severn Tunnel is closed.

Electrification of the GWML was finally completed in June 2020 which nowadays all IETs to South Wales can now run electric power as far as Cardiff Central although the only difference is the Severn Tunnel due to the damp conditions had to be specially fitted with conductor rails which is similarly used on Thameslink as well as Crossrail.

On Saturday May 8th 2021 severe disruption occurred on Great Western Railway when it was discovered that some of the IETs had cracks occurring in the Jacking plates which is used when the train is lifted for maintenance as well as the Yaw Damper area.

It was decided as a safety precaution by the manufacturer Hitachi that all Great Western Railway Class 800 and 802 IETS, LNER Class 800s and 801 Azumas, Transpeninne Express Class 802/2 Novas and Hull Trains Class 802/3 Paragons were all withdrawn from service for urgent checks which caused severe disruption to the rail network.

Hull Trains and Transpennine Express manage to resume their services within a few days however ongoing disruption hit both LNER and in particular Great Western Railway very hard which the disruption lasted for more a week.

It wasn’t until 9 days later when most services did gradually begin resume. An investigation from Hitachi, DFT and ORR (Office for Rail Regulation) recommended that a long term plan to replace the Jacking Plates on all Hitachi Intercity Trains was drawn up although disruption was likely to occur for a considerable period of time although according to Railway Magazine that repairs could likely take up until the end of 2022

During the disruption Class 387s which are often used for Semi Fast London to Didcot Parkway stoppers as well as Newbury services were given clearance to operate beyond Didcot Parkway to Swindon and then on May 24th was given clearance to operate as far as Bristol Parkway although the line top speed is 125mph however the 387s are limited to 110mph but having a higher top speed than the Turbos which are limited to 90mph.

For now as a result the inspection procedures were modified meant all Hitachi trains must be checked regularly and any that fail inspection at the depot which also includes checks by a Weld specialist would be pulled from service until the repairs are made.

Music used:
JJD - Adventure
Music provided by NCS

Video link:
NoCopyrightSounds
[ Ссылка ]

Filmed on Saturday June 26th 2021 on iPhone 11 and edited on iMovie

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