Network Rail engineers installed the first overhead wires for electrification of the Great Western Main Line on the night of Thursday 12 November, with the first 1,000 metres installed in only 35 minutes.

A 235-mile section of the railway between London and Oxford, Newbury, Bristol and Cardiff – one of Britain’s busiest and oldest railways – is being electrified to deliver a more reliable service with extra capacity for passengers.

This investment, along with a new fleet of faster, quieter and greener electric trains, will improve journey times and make train services more comfortable, cleaner and smoother.

One mile, or 1.6km, of earth wire was installed last night on the lines west of Reading between Pangbourne and Tilehurst, part of the track that will serve as a test section for the new Class 800 Intercity Express trains.

This is the first section of the new-design overhead line to be erected on the operational railway, and the first overhead line anywhere on the route beyond the existing wires at Airport Junction in Stockley, London. 

"This is a great milestone in this vital project to improve the line for passengers. I would like to thank all those who were engaged in getting the first wire up." Sinan Al-Jawad, senior programme manager

Source: Network Rail