Stabling of H.S.T.'s in Hereford sidings for F.G.W.

      During the Christmas 2010/New Year 2011 period, F.G.W. have been making use of the "Hereford Sidings" in Worcester yard in order to provide overnight berthing accommodation for a number of H.S.T. sets the company operates on it's principle long-distance services. The main reason for this policy is in order to overcome difficulties caused by the major infrastructure work connected with the re-modelling of Reading station which is being undertaken on behalf of Network Rail during this period.
      The Hereford sidings consists of two groups of lines on the south side of the yard, the shorter group of four having buffer stops. The longer group consists of three sidings usually accessed from the "through goods" lines and are normally used to temporarily recess traffic, but may also be accessed to/from the main lines directly via a facility known as the "North Sidings Ground Frame", a small signal box that operates in conjunction with the main 'box at Shrub Hill. It is only manned when required for use.
      This latter facility has seen very little use in recent years and although maintained in working order, it had to be overhauled in order to make it fit for purpose, together with it's associated trackwork. This work was undertaken by F.G.W.'s contractor Ganymede Ltd., who have also installed a "shore supply" power facility, together with local Network Rail signal engineers.

      At present, sidings nos. 1 and 3 have returned to use, with number 2 siding awaiting refurbishment in anticipation of a more permanent arrangement coming into force at the start of the May 2011 timetable. F.G.W.'s operations will then become constrained due to the commencement of works in the London area in connection with the Crossrail project, the main consideration for the implementing these arrangements at Worcester.
      An initial test train was run on Thursday 23rd December in order to confirm that all was well and the facilities were officially brought into use later the same day. The first "in service" working to become stabled (on number.3 siding) was on Christmas eve with the empty stock which had worked into Worcester as the 17.50 from London Paddington. It was reported that some difficulties arose with the stabled sets over the Christmas weekend period, caused by diesel fuel freezing in the sub-zero temperatures.