Great Western Railway Trains at Swindon on October 19th 2024

7th visit to Swindon on the Great Western Main Line as well as being the junction for the Golden Valley Line and South Wales Main Line
Featuring services from Great Western Railway plus some freight
During Filming there was delays west of Swindon due to a Fault with the Signalling System near Royal Wotton Bassett
Swansea services were also on divert between Cardiff Central and Bridgend via Rhoose due to engineering works.
Swindon was first opened in 1842 as Swindon Junction which up until 1895 where originally Steam Locomotives would stop for up to 10 minutes in the platforms and was originally a 3 storey station.
Another station that use to exist was called Swindon Town which was opened in 1881 by the Midland and South Western Junction Railway however after declining traffic after World War II it would close to passengers in 1961 before closing completely in 1972 which at the same time the 3 storey station of Swindon was demolished.
At the same time when Swindon Town station closed, Swindon Junction became Swindon
There are 4 Platforms at Swindon with Platforms 1 and 3 and 4 being for Express trains whilst Platform 2 is a bay platform for terminating services mainly to and from Westbury via Melksham which is only long enough for 3 car trains with Platform 4 being added in 2003.
The Golden Valley line which diverges here towards Kemble which up until 1888 any South Wales services use to take via Gloucester where it would join up with the Cheptsow to Gloucester via Lyndey although is still be used as a diversionary route for South Wales services when the Severn Tunnel is closed for maintenance
Most services on the Golden Valley Line nowadays go to and from Cheltenham Spa although reversing at Gloucester which since October 2017 are operated by Class 800 and 802 IETs mostly today are 5 car sets although occasionally can be 9 cars.
To access the Golden Valley Line all IETs have to changeover from Electric to Diesel via Platform 3 which the reverse process is followed in the London Direction via Platform 1.
Since 1888 all trains to Cardiff Central and Swansea mostly travel via the South Wales Main Line via Bristol Parkway which diverge from the Great Western Main Line at Wooton Bassett Junction.
Trains to Bristol Temple Meads continue on electric power until just before Chippenham which is used by Half Hourly Bristol Temple Meads services which can continue to Weston-super-Mare or Taunton as well as a few trains a day beyond them to Exeter St Davids.
Westbury services via Melksham which run every 2 hours operated by Class 158s and Class 165 or Class 166 Turbos which terminate at Swindon either via Platforms 2 or 3
Since Electrification of the GWML was finally completed in June 2020 nowadays all IETs to South Wales can now run electric power as far as Cardiff Central before switching to Diesel before continuing on to Swansea and Carmarthen
Since May 2021 Class 387 Electrostars now can operate beyond Didcot Parkway as well as providing the Newbury services now to Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central
However due to the damp conditions inside the Severn Tunnel caused by the River Severn the tunnel passes through and almost yearly block closures occur to enable maintenance on the track as well as the overhead conductor rails.
To enable electric trains to operate it was found that normal electric wires would shorten out so conductor rails have been fitted in a similar practice to core section of Thameslink and Elizabeth Line underground section between Paddington and Custom House as well as the Connaught and Woolwich Tunnels.
A future operator of Grand Union Trains which was due to operate an Open Access service from London Paddington to Carmarthen from December 2024 however at the time of filming the date of entry has been pushed to 2027 which according to the company was down to late submission for their rolling stock.
Whilst a lot has changed over the years with Swindon but even to this day it can be unpredictable
Music used:
JJD - Adventure
Music provided by NCS
Video link:
NoCopyrightSounds
• JJD - Adventure | Glit...
Filmed on Saturday October 19th 2024 on iPhone 15 Pro and edited on iMovie
#swindon #greatwesternrailway #gwr #class800 #class802 #wiltshire #trains #trainspotting #hitachi #class387 #alstom #class158

[@explorewithlorenzo9940]

Very nice Ross

[@RoscoTrain107]

Thanks Lorenzo

[@explorewithlorenzo9940]

@@RoscoTrain107No problem