Introducing the new INTERCITY EXPRESS TRAINGWR.com3 Great Western Railway ON THIS day 175 years ago, the last piece of the Great Western Main Line opened when the first passenger trains travelled through the iconic Box Tunnel. It became known as God’s Wonderful Railway. When Brunel built the Great Western Railway, it was not just to link Bristol with London, but to link Great Britain with the Americas, bringing an integrated travel strategy to a Victorian public with a thirst for travel. However, he also wanted journeys built for comfort and speed. In 1831, while travelling on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, he wrote: “The time is not far off when we shall be able to take our coffee and write while going noiselessly and smoothly at 45 miles per hour… let me try.” With these words, the vision for the Great Western Railway was born. Now, 175 years later, the railway is being prepared for the next step to take train travel into a new era. The biggest investment in the railway since Brunel is mirrored by the start of the biggest fleet upgrade in a generation. One that will see new or upgraded trains on every part of the network. Today, we mark the opening of one of Brunel’s greatest engineering masterpieces and celebrate his vision in creating a railway heritage full of innovation that inspires us as we build a greater west. 175 years of the Great Western Main Linewww.gwr.com GWR.comGreat Western Railway 5 BRUNEL’S ACTIONS shaped the towns and cities that lined the route of the Great Western Railway, with businesses and communities thriving, thanks to the connections made by train. At the time, this reliable and affordable way to travel transformed the fortunes of the region. Now, GWR reaches from London in the east to Brighton and Gatwick in the south; Carmarthen, Pembroke Dock and Penzance in the west; and Banbury, Hereford and Worcester in the north. And today it is no less important to the wellbeing and prosperity of the area. That is why billions of pounds is being invested to ensure this once-pioneering railway is fit to serve a 21st-century population. Two new fleets of Intercity Express Trains (IETs) have been commissioned as part of the commitment to maintaining the network’s excellence. The new trains bring with them a host of benefits, from greater comfort and speed for passengers to reduced emissions. The first trains – from the initial batch of 57 Class 800 and 801 electro-diesel vehicles – will come into service next year, with 29 Class 802s joining them by the end of 2018. Services to Bristol, South Wales and the Cotswolds will get the benefit of the IETs first, with the second batch serving principally the west of England route. These will be specially adapted with more power available for the hills on the routes through Devon and Cornwall. The IETs, part of the biggest fleet upgrade on the Great Western in a generation, will have replaced the existing Class 180 and diesel High Speed Trains (HSTs) by the end of the franchise. But in preparation for the new trains, a massive and complex engineering project is taking place to electrify and modernise Brunel’s railway. GWR is working together with Network Rail on the design, engineering and implementation of this vital work. GWR understands that the better the service on offer, the greater the benefits to the communities it serves. This helps local businesses go from strength to strength in continuing to make the west even greater. Already one of Britain’s largest, the network carries around 1.5 million passengers every week on some 9,000 services calling at 276 stations. IETs, with Building on our heritage When Isambard Kingdom Brunel laid the foundations of the Great Western Railway more than 180 years ago, he was single-minded in his mission to link Bristol and the west to LondonGWR.comGreat Western Railway 7 their greater seating capacity and reduced journey times, will allow GWR to increase their services, taking more people where they want to be more efficiently. On board, there will be more spacious carriages, electric sockets, free wifi, better catering and improved accessibility. The nine-car Class 800 Series has 576 seats, 115 more than the equivalent existing trains. Each individual car is 26m long – 3m longer than an HST vehicle – allowing more leg room and extra space for luggage. There are more seats and tables in standard class, efficient air-conditioning, a digital reservation system and well-equipped kitchens, ensuring a more comfortable experience for passengers. In the longer term, the operation of an electric powered railway means there is less wear and tear on the tracks and a reduced demand for maintenance and repairs over the years. The latest technology will also ensure that the IETs provide a more reliable service. Elsewhere, GWR has been committed to improvements to the passengers’ journey experience. This includes upgrades to stations and a refurbished sleeper service. There’s a deep commitment to service, with more customer-facing staff as well as enhanced use of booking technology in stations and online. GWR provides a fast and frequent service to a range of populations across the network. From the commuter services for the ‘M4 corridor’ to the long-distance routes from Cardiff and Portsmouth, this is one of the country’s most complex and important rail networks. The current improvements are the most significant since Brunel’s original bold vision for the Great Western Railway. Heralding this new future for GWR was the recent rebranding from First Great Western. The move, with the emphasis on the ‘great’, has been about returning to the values and ambitions that Brunel personified. It is a complete shift in ethos from train operator to custodian responsible for reinvigorating the west by returning the railway to its former glory. GWR is working tirelessly to make sure the west runs faster, smoother and more efficiently for the benefit of residents and visitors alike. In short, it’s striving to build a greater west. Isambard Kingdom Brunel laid the foundations of the Great Western Railway more than 180 years agoGWR.comGreat Western Railway 9 MORE SPACE The new vehicles are better designed and have more seats, tables and legroom. GREATER LUGGAGE CAPACITY The overhead racks are deeper and are transparent, making it easier for passengers to see their possessions. There’s extra storage capacity at floor level, with more stacks at carriage ends. BIGGER AND BETTER TOILETS There are wheelchair-accessible toilets, as well as toilets fitted with baby-changing facilities. IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS Passenger information is available throughout the train, including a digital reservation system to help passengers see at a glance whether a seat is booked or not. GREATER COMFORT There is better and more reliable air conditioning in every area of the train, window blinds throughout, and first class saloons with tables at all seats. EASIER ACCESS Design features mean it’s safer to get on and off the train, and power doors speed up the process. TASTIER TRAVEL At-seat food and drink in first and standard class from better-equipped kitchens. FASTER JOURNEYS IETs accelerate twice as fast as existing HSTs, meaning shorter travel times. CONNECTED COMMUTING Wifi is fitted throughout the train providing easy internet access. QUIETER TRAVEL Electric trains make less noise, which is better for both passengers and people nearby as the train passes. MORE RELIABLE AND SMOOTHER TRIPS Up-to-date engineering means these trains require less maintenance and offer a more comfortable ride. TIDIER TRAINS The Intercity Express Trains have increased litter-bin capacity. CYCLE STORAGE Storage areas at carriage ends hold bicycles using ceiling-mounted hooks. BETTER SECURITY Passengers are safer, with CCTV installed throughout the train. Feel the difference How customers will benefit from the Intercity Express Trains Viewed from the platform, these sleek new trains are clearly very different to the rolling stock we are familiar with. Step on board and you’ll see that the improvements build on those made to our HSTs, which means passengers will enjoy a more spacious, convenient and comfortable journeyGWR.com11 Great Western Railway AT GWR, we take special pride in the locally sourced food and drink we offer on board our services, with more than 130 food products on our trains coming from the regions we serve. The IETs have been built to help us take the food and drink we serve on board to a new level, with kitchens on the longest trains equipped to serve 100 breakfasts in not much longer than the time it will take to travel between Bristol and London. Our specially trained chefs will have everything at their fingertips to give our customers the very best in food and drink on the move. We know the West Country is home to some of the finest produce in the world. From Bristol’s 6 O’clock Gin to Tregothnan’s Cornish tea, from Chunk of Devon’s pies to Wiltshire bacon, and from Brown & Forrest’s Somerset smoked salmon to Wolfy’s Gloucestershire porridge, we now serve some of the best local food you can find. The culinary jewel in the GWR crown is our luxury Pullman – Britain’s only regular high-speed dining carriage – which throughout the working week serves breakfasts, brunches and a dinner menu created by West Country restaurateur and chef Mitch Tonks. Our new trains will host the Pullman on key routes across the network, with our dedicated Pullman crews looking after you throughout your journey with dishes such as Brixham scallops on spiced lentils, Somerset pork belly with fennel and quince, and goats cheese from Glastonbury – all prepared and served at high speed. Food for thought Great Western Railway is currently working to deliver the new food and drink available on Intercity Express TrainsGWR.com Southampton Airport GATWICK AIRPORT Heathrow Airport READING Exeter Airport International Airport St Erth Malvern Link Great Malvern Colwall Ledbury Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Pershore Evesham Honeybourne Moreton-in-Marsh Kingham Shipton Ascott-under-Wychwood Charlbury Finstock Combe Hanborough Banbury Llanelli Pembrey & Burry Port Kidwelly Ferryside Carmarthen Bridgend Port Talbot Parkway Neath Weston-super-Mare Severn Beach Bristol Parkway Yate Cam & Dursley Freshford Bradford-on-Avon Trowbridge Melksham Chippenham Bedwyn Hungerford Kintbury Newbury Kemble Stroud Stonehouse Pewsey Newbury Racecourse Thatcham MidghamAldermaston Theale Didcot Parkway Marlow Henleyon-Thames Twyford Maidenhead Slough Windsor & Eton Central Basingstoke Guildford Dorking (Deepdene) Redhill Havant Hove Chichester Fareham Romsey Yetminster Chetnole Upwey Yeovil Pen Mill Thornford Maiden Newton Dorchester West Bridgwater Highbridge & Burnham Bruton Frome Castle Cary Westbury Dilton Marsh Warminster Dawlish Central St James’ Park Newton St Cyres Polsloe Bridge Digby & Sowton Exton Topsham Lympstone Commando Lympstone Village Exmouth Tiverton Parkway Yeoford Sampford Courtnay Okehampton Copplestone Morchard Road Lapford Eggesford Kings Nympton Portsmouth Arms Umberleigh Chapelton Barnstaple Crediton Ivybridge Totnes Paignton Torquay Torre Teignmouth Dawlish Warren Starcross St Thomas Liskeard Menheniot Saltash St Germans St Budeaux Ferry Road Gunnislake Calstock Bere Alston St Budeaux Victoria Road Bere Ferrers Keyham Dockyard Devonport St Austell Par Luxulyan Bugle Roche Lostwithiel Bodmin Parkway Coombe St Keyne Causeland Sandplace Looe St Ives Carbis Bay Lelant Lelant Saltings Hayle Camborne Redruth Truro Perranwell Penryn Penmere Falmouth Town Falmouth Docks St Columb Road Quintrell Downs Newquay Foregate Street Kings Sutton Heyford Tackley Pilning Severn Tunnel Junction Patchway Stapleton Road Lawrence Hill Filton Abbey Wood Keynsham St Andrews Road Avonmouth Shirehampton Sea Mills Clifton Down Redland Montpelier ret Bedmins Parson Street Weston Milton Worle Yatton Nailsea & Backwell Cosham Fratton Portsmouth & Southsea Barnham Shorehamby-Sea Reigate Betchworth Shalford Chilworth Gomshall DorkingWest Wanborough Ash North Camp Wokingham Crowthorne Farnborough North Sandhurst Mortimer Blackwater Bramley Cholsey Goring & Streatley Pangbourne Tilehurst Appleford Culham Radley Shiplake Wargrave Bourne End Cookham Furze Platt Taplow Burnham Langley Iver West Drayton Hayes & Harlington Southall Hanwell West Ealing Ealing Broadway Acton Main Line LONDON Paddington Bristol International Airport Reading West Drayton Green Castle Bar Park South Greenford Greenford PENZANCE PLYMOUTH NEWTON ABBOT EXETER St Davids TAUNTON BATH TBRISTOL emple Meads SPA NEWPORT CARDIFF Central SWANSEA GLOUCESTER CHELTENHAM SPA HEREFORD WORCESTER Shrub Hill SOUTHAMPTON Central SALISBURY SWINDON OXFORD PORTSMOUTH WEYMOUTH Harbour WORTHING BRIGHTON Newcourt Approximate location of airport Station served by GWR Station managed by GWR GWR Summer/Limited Service Route operated by GWRGreat Western Railway 13 JOURNEY TIMES across the network will be reduced, with greater comfort from carriages which are 3m longer than the current HSTs. One of the greatest time-savings is on the service from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, where 17 minutes can be shaved from the current time of one hour 45 minutes. Elsewhere, those travelling between London and Cardiff Central can expect to get there 14 minutes earlier, a time saving of 11%. Those going to and from Cornwall and Devon will also reach their destinations faster. London to Penzance by Intercity Express Train will take five hours five minutes, a saving of 14 minutes on today’s travel time. There will be a 12-minute reduction in the journey times from London to Cheltenham, with the fastest journey time being one hour 55 minutes. Furthermore, the hours of operation will be extended: the first train to Cheltenham will leave London at 05:33 compared with 07:33 today, and the last departure will be at 21:33 rather than 19:48. Furthermore, the hours of operation will be extended with first trains leaving earlier and last trains leaving later. Longer trains – faster journeys Customers will be able to travel around the south west more quickly and in greater comfort on the new Intercity Express Trains JOURNEY NOW FULL ELECTRIFICATION IMPROVEMENT d d  d  d FASTEST TYPICAL FASTEST TYPICAL FASTEST TYPICAL LONDON – Bristol 96 mins 105 mins 79 mins 90 mins 17 mins 15 mins Temple Meads (1 hr 36 mins) (1 hr 45 mins) (1 hr 19 mins) (1 hr 30 mins) (18%) (14%) LONDON – Cardiff Central 119 mins 127 mins 105 mins 113 mins 14 mins 14 mins (1 hr 59 mins) (2 hrs 7 mins) (1 hr 45 mins) (1 hr 53 mins) (11%) (11%) LONDON – Cheltenham 126 mins 130 mins 115 mins 120 mins 11 mins 15 mins (2 hrs 6 mins) (2 hrs 10 mins) (1 hr 55 mins) (2 hrs) (7%) (9%) LONDON – Hereford 183 mins 190 mins 176 mins 180 mins 7 mins 10 mins (3 hrs 3 mins) (3 hrs 10 mins) (2 hrs 56 mins) (3 hrs) (3%) (5%) *journey times assume full electrification, and are subject to final timetable changesGWR.comGreat Western Railway 15 ARRIVING AT a destination a few minutes earlier might not make a huge impact on its own, but the combined effect of thousands of shorter trips allows more services to be scheduled across the network. After electrification is completed, the hourly non-stop service from London to Reading and Taunton will extend to Plymouth, with a two-hourly service to Penzance. This will be supported by a two-hourly stopping service between Paddington and Exeter joining up the intermediate stations. Paignton will be served by three inter-city services each way during the week. Combining local, inter-city and cross-country services, there will be two trains per hour on the Cornish Main Line. In the Thames Valley, the new trains will allow for more frequent, faster journeys, including peak trains from Oxford and Newbury, and additional services from Swindon to and from Didcot. Travellers in Bristol will find an increased capacity and more frequent trains on peak-time services, as will those travelling between Swindon and Gloucester. Getting there faster The new Intercity Express Trains have better acceleration and braking, which reduces journey times and so enables more services STATION DIRECTION HST IET IMPROVEMENT d d d d d Exeter St Davids UP (to London) 2 hrs 16 mins 2 hrs 13 mins 3 mins DOWN (from London) 2 hrs 14 mins 2 hrs 9 mins 5 mins Paignton UP (to London) 3 hrs 21 mins 3 hrs 16 mins 5 mins DOWN (from London) 3 hrs 17 mins 3 hrs 11 mins 6 mins Plymouth UP (to London) 3 hrs 18 mins 3 hrs 13 mins 5 mins DOWN (from London 3 hrs 17 mins 3 hrs 11 mins 6 mins Penzance UP (to London) 5 hrs 18 mins 5 hrs 10 mins 8 mins DOWN (from London) 5 hrs 19 mins 5 hrs 5 mins 14 mins *journey times assume full electrification, and are subject to final timetable changeswww.gwr.com Made in the west Class 800 Series RUBBER FLOORING Tiflex, Treadmaster Flooring, Liskeard, Cornwall PANTOGRAPH Brecknell Willis, Chard, Somerset FUEL TANK Johnson Security, Gloucester, More than 30 British suppliers were used to create Gloucestershire the Intercity Express Train, and many of those are based within the Great Western Railway area17 BRAKE SYSTEMS Knorr-Bremse, Melksham, Wiltshire TOC ANTENNA H&S, Bicester, Oxfordshire TRAIN RADIO – GSM-R Siemens, Poole, DorsetGWR.comGreat Western Railway 19 THE NEW electric trains will introduce a better, faster and cleaner service to GWR, improving transport for more passengers. Bringing a line that first opened 175 years ago right up to date is an enormous project. The investment in this infrastructure is considerable and includes work on delicate historic structures that needed to be carried out with minimum disruption to existing services. Engineers lowered nearly two miles of track in the 175-year-old Box Tunnel to make room for the new overhead equipment, and six tunnels needed extensive preparatory work – for example, workers removed four tonnes of soot in the Severn Tunnel and made large-scale repairs to the ancient brickwork. The painstaking planning that electrification entailed was not just about minimising disruption. The route has 16 listed structures, including the Box Tunnel, which meant special measures have to be taken to preserve this historically significant architecture. This is a massive undertaking, with Network Rail having to install 14,493 foundations for 13,494 masts and 1,655 gantries. Network Rail’s monumental effort will bring huge benefits both for current passengers and for those in the future. Electrification, beginning with the high-tech Series 800 vehicles, will allow longer trains to move more people, more efficiently and, with each seat having more leg room, more comfortably. Travel time will be quicker, too. For example, London to Cardiff could be as much as 14 minutes faster. The improvements – meeting increased passenger demand – will drive economic growth across the network. However, it’s not just great news for passengers and businesses: the lighter, quieter trains will also benefit the environment with 20–35% lower carbon emissions. Electrification of the network will fuel better journeys for GWR’s passengers now and in the future. Electrifying the network Preparing the Great Western Main Line to power the network’s fleet of new trains is a massive undertaking FACTS • Six tunnels prepared • 40 tonnes of soot removed from the Severn Tunnel • 16 listed structures adapted • 14,493 foundations excavated • 13,494 masts erected • 1,655 gantries installedwww.gwr.com Isambard Kingdom Brunel APPOINTED CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY IN 1833, ISAMBARD KINGDOM BRUNEL PIONEERED THE ROUTE LEADING FROM LONDON TO BRISTOL. The mastermind pushed forward many innovations, is responsible for Box Tunnel, Bristol Temple Meads station and much more. Brunel’s ambitions did not stop there – he went on to design steamships to make transatlantic journeys from Bristol to New York. His groundbreaking innovations transformed Britain and inspired engineers around the globe. Sir Daniel Gooch DANIEL GOOCH WAS ONLY 20 WHEN BRUNEL RECRUITED HIM AS SUPERINTENDENT OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES FOR THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY IN 1837. Sir Daniel Gooch developed fast and reliable locomotives for the company for 27 years. He later became chief engineer of the Telegraph Construction & Maintenance Company, and played a key role in laying the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable. He was also Conservative MP for Cricklade for 20 years. GWR.comGreat Western Railway Great Western Railway 21 THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY and the communities that have grown around it have been shaped by so many inspirational individuals and organisations. To celebrate the impact that these people have had on creating the region that we are proud to serve, new Intercity Express Trains will bear their names – an ‘Inspirer’ of the west. As we mark the 175th anniversary of the first train to run between Bristol and London, it was only appropriate to adorn the names of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Sir Daniel Gooch to the side of our first Intercity Express Train. Both men inspired the west, the United Kingdom and the engineering community, constructing the Great Western Railway and introducing a fleet of steam locomotives that changed the face of railways worldwide. An Inspirer will give each train its own identity – different not only from the others in the fleet, but from others countrywide. They will be icons for the region’s railway – just as Gooch achieved when the Great Western Railway was first built. Our return to Great Western Railway was inspired by Brunel and his legacy, and as we go through the biggest upgrade since his time, we want to build up the pride that already exists for the railway and its trains. This has become more than us building a greater west: we are inspiring the future of the railway. Great Western inspirers Celebrating those who have inspired the westGWR.comGreat Western Railway 23 © 2016 Great Western Railway. All rights reserved. Every reasonable endeavour has been made to find and contact the copyright owners of the works included in this programme. However, if you believe a copyright work has been included without your permission, please contact the publishers. Views of contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the policy of Great Western Railway or those of the publishers. All material is correct at time of going to press. Wake up at your destination Great Western Railway will be rolling out a new and improved sleeper service in the near future, with modernised berths and a cocktail bar FIRST STARTED IN 1877, Great Western Railway’s famous Night Riviera service, which used Brunel’s famous broad gauge carriages, had separate dormitories for ladies and gentlemen, and operated from Paddington to Plymouth. Since those early days, the service has grown and now, in partnership with Cornwall Council and the Department for Transport, is undergoing a massive transformation that will raise the bar for sleeper services once more. Completely redesigned, the new sleeper will feature a radically redeveloped lounge car with a cocktail bar, recreating the glamour of years gone by. Luxurious sleeping berths with state-of-the-art foldaway furniture, wifi, USB chargers and power points will ensure the trip from Paddington to Penzance is as relaxing as possible. Moreover, increased luggage space will be able to accommodate more bikes and surfboards for those hoping to catch some waves. Keep an eye out for introduction dates.GWR.com GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY Milford House, 1 Milford Street, Swindon SN1 1HL