Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line ( GWML ) is a major railway route in the UK. It runs from Paddington Station in London to the west via Reading, Swindon and Bath to Bristol. The GWML was the former main line of the Great Western Railway in 1948 nationalized company. It was built in 1838-1841.
Route
On the GWML operate almost exclusively express and regional trains of the company First Great Western. Express train stops are Slough, Reading, Didcot Parkway, Swindon, Chippenham and Bath. Between London Paddington and London Heathrow Airport Express trains operate from Heathrow Express. Suburban trains on this compound are marketed under the name Heathrow Connect. Trains operated by Virgin Trains operate on the route Reading - Didcot, trains from South West Trains occasionally between Bath and Bristol.
The GWML was expanded in the 1970s to traffic to allow the introduction of High Speed Train HST125. Between London and Wootton Bassett ( branch of the South Wales Main Line ), the top speed 125 mph (201 km / h), from there to Bristol 100 mph (161 km / h). The section between London Paddington and the branch to Heathrow Airport is electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz AC, on the other route is operated with diesel operation. It is the intention of the electrified section as part of the Crossrail project to Maidenhead (and possibly reading) extend.
Zweigstrecken
Trains on the GWML are sometimes redirected to the Reading - Plymough Line to Westbury. From there they run ahead on the Wessex Main Line to Swindon, Bath or Bristol. About Bristol also run some trains on the Bristol- Taunton line to Weston -super- Mare or more.
The 2007 Annual Report of Network Rail expects the following sections also to the Great Western Main Line:
- Didcot to Oxford and Cherwell Valley Line on the Worcester and the Cotswold Line
- From Swindon to Cheltenham via the Golden Valley Line
- From Swindon to Cardiff and Swansea on the South Wales Main Line
- The Cross Country Route south of Birmingham
- All branch lines
History
The GWML was built under the direction of the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. This met two controversial decisions: Because he believed a wider track would improve the running characteristics at high speeds, he did not choose the time already usual standard gauge of 4 feet 8 ½ inches ( 1435 mm), but a gauge of 7 feet ( 2140 mm). In addition, he decided to lead the route to a direct route through the valley of the River Thames, although it was at that time in this area, no significant cities.
The first section of GWML between London and Taplow was opened in 1838, three years later, after the breakthrough of the tunnel box section up to Bristol. The Great Western Railway was with her broad gauge not prevail and 1892, the last section was converted to standard gauge. After nationalization in 1948 the route was transferred to the ownership of British Rail. Since the privatization of British Rail mid-1990s, the route is mainly traveled by trains of the company First Great Western.
As of 2017, the section Maidenhead is - Paddington also navigated by Crossrail, which will then establish a rail link to the Great Eastern Main Line route via the tunnel. The electrification of the Great Western Main Line is planned, with electrification of Maidenhead to Bristol, Cardiff, Oxford and Newbury in 2016 and to Swansea for 2017.