Main Line

Overview

The Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads via Reading, Swindon and Bath, and then continued to Penzance via Exeter and Plymouth.

The line from Paddington to Bristol was the first to be built in the construction of the GWR, between 1838 and 1840.

Originally laid in Broad Gauge (7 ft 1/4 in (2140mm)), a third rail was laid for (now) "standard" (then "narrow") gauge (4ft 8 1/2 in)operation between 1854 and 1875. Broad gauge operation ceased in 1892.

Between 1877 and 1899 the two-track railway between Paddington and Didcot was increased to four-tracks.

The line speed has been incrementaly increased on many occasions, up to its current maximum (125mph) in the 1970s, with the introduction of InterCity High Speed Trains.

The line is electrified between London Paddington and Airport Junction (and thence to Heathrow) for the use of Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect Trains. The line is current in the process of having OHLE fitted throughout which will come into use in 2016/17.

The route will also be one of the first UK main lines to be fitted with ERTMS, initally as an overlay system to replace the functionality of ATP.

Swindon Panel Area

Swindon Panel initally controlled the GW Main Line from Challow (approx 63mp) and fringed there to Reading Panel. When Swindon B opened in 1994 it took control of Challow to Uffington (excl) from Swindon Panel, and since then Swindon has controlled from just east of Uffington (approx 66mp).

Uffington

There are emergency crossovers at Uffington for the facilitation of Reversible Working (east to Wantage Road, west to Bourton). There was a station at [Uffington] between 1840 and 1964, closed before the advent of Swindon MAS.

Knighton

Site of a former level crossing, converted to AHB at the time of Swindon MAS, and closed with the raising of the line speed at the time of the introduction of HST.

Ashbury

Site of a former level crossing, converted to AHB at the time of Swindon MAS, and closed with the raising of the line speed at the time of the introduction of HST.

Shrivenham

Site of the former station (just east of the B4000 Station Road) between 1840 and 1964.

Bourton

There are emergency crossovers at Bourton for the facilitation of Reversible Working (east to Uffington, west to Swindon East).

Stratton

Site of a former halt between 1840 and 1964.

Highworth Junction

At the very east end of the Swindon complex, this is where the branch formerly to Highworth diverged. Now the branch is reduced to a siding to industrial plant in north west Swindon. There used to be significant automotice traffic, but in 2014 now mainly scrap traffic uses the branch, which is accessible from the Up Yard only.

Swindon Yards

There are yards on both sides of the line east of Swindon. Latterly the down side hard has been used as a base for Network Rail's high-output electrification train, which udnertakes piling, mast erection and wiring for the Great Western Electrification Programme.

Langley

Site of a former level crossing, converted to AHB at the time of Swindon MAS, and closed with the raising of the line speed at the time of the introduction of HST.