| dbo:abstract
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- Network Rail planned to spend £5 billion on modernising the Great Western Main Line, its South Wales branch and other associated lines. The modernisation plans were announced at separate times but their development time-scales overlap in the 2010s. The work included electrification, resignalling, new rolling stock and station upgrades. According to Network Rail, the modernisation started in June 2010 and was due to end in 2017. As of December 2019, electrification was complete as far west as Cardiff Central, and also from Reading to Newbury. The project has been subject to repeated delays. In November 2016 the government announced that several major elements of the electrification programme would be indefinitely deferred because costs had tripled. The four sections that are delayed are:
* Oxford to Didcot Parkway
* Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads
* Thingley Junction, near Chippenham, to Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads
* Thames Valley branches to Henley and Windsor The Swansea to Cardiff section was cancelled altogether in 2017. Under the Intercity Express Programme (IEP), 21 electric Class 801 trains were ordered as replacements for the ageing InterCity 125 diesels. In May 2016, owing to delays in the modernisation project, it was confirmed that the new trains would be built as 'bi-mode' Class 800s instead, meaning they can run on diesel fuel and electric overhead wire. (en)
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| rdfs:comment
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- Network Rail planned to spend £5 billion on modernising the Great Western Main Line, its South Wales branch and other associated lines. The modernisation plans were announced at separate times but their development time-scales overlap in the 2010s. The work included electrification, resignalling, new rolling stock and station upgrades. According to Network Rail, the modernisation started in June 2010 and was due to end in 2017. As of December 2019, electrification was complete as far west as Cardiff Central, and also from Reading to Newbury. (en)
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