Scottish Electrification updates & discussion

[snowball]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds...cation-of-central-scotlands-railway-on-track/

Network Rail engineers will deliver a range of work over Christmas and New Year period, as part of ongoing activity on the Stirling-Dunblane-Alloa (SDA) electrification project.

Part of a Scottish Government investment being delivered by Network Rail, electrification of central Scotland’s rail network will reduce journey times to Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as increasing capacity on peak services on new longer and greener modern trains.

Projects being delivered over the Christmas and New Year period include the electrification of Kippenross Tunnel near Dunblane, work on footbridge in Stirling station, and the installation of masts and metal work between Falkirk and Larbert.

The engineering work which will take place between Sunday December 24 and Wednesday December 27 and Sunday December 31and Tuesday January 2, 2018 is important to enable the project to push forward at a time when the railway is quieter than usual.

Kippenross Tunnel

To enable installation of a ‘conductor bar’ electrification system through Kippenross Tunnel, a number of anchor bolts must be drilled into the roof first. This work will be carried out over 54hrs at Christmas and 29hrs at New Year, when trains are not running on the network.

Stirling station footbridge

In preparation for electrification of the line, work will begin to ‘height clear’ the footbridge between platforms two and three at Stirling station. Work will be continuous from Christmas Eve until December 27 as a four month programme of work on the structure gets underway

Falkirk to Larbert

On a number of track sections between Falkirk and Larbert, teams will work to erect masts, install metal work and register the equipment working from Hogmanay until the morning of January 2.

Iain McFarlane, route delivery director at Network Rail, said: “While we appreciate it is inconvenient for some, delivering working over the festive period means we disrupt less journeys as fewer people are travelling on the railway at this time of year

“Having longer periods of time to work on the track continuously enables us to do more work more efficiently and push ahead with some critical elements in the delivery of the Stirling- Dublane-Alloa electrification works.

“While we apologise for any disturbance caused as a result of these works, we would also like to thank our lineside neighbours for their continued patience as we deliver this important investment in Scotland’s railway infrastructure.”

Work is set to complete on the electrification of the line to Stirling Dunblane Alloa in 2019, and builds on the recent delivery of electrification between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Falkirk High, the line between Springburn and Cumbernauld, the redevelopment of Edinburgh’s Haymarket station and the completion of the Edinburgh Gateway train-tram interchange.

Across Scotland this Christmas, Network Rail will complete more than £15m-worth of infrastructure upgrades with around 4,500 engineers working over 50,000 hours.

Signalling and overhead power lines will be renewed and replaced at locations around Glasgow, new tracks will be laid on sections of the west coast main line and on the main line between Edinburgh and Glasgow and a junction in Lanarkshire will also be renewed.

Across Britain, more than 32,000 railway staff will be out delivering £160m-worth of work creating more reliable infrastructure, reducing journey times and improving facilities and services for passengers.

 

[Macwomble]

Does anyone know if all 9 platforms at Stirling will be electrified?

Obviously 2, 3 & 6 will, and definitely 9 given the step-free access being added. I was more wondering about the 5 bays, particularly the north-facing ones.

Would suspect the north end bays will be "knitted". There are units stabled there on a regular basis.

 

[jamieintercity]

The signal boxes at camuirs, Larbert and grangemouth Jn are too close tonight with the signals etc transferring to Edinburgh IECC.

Also seen a photo on Flickr that the area around Falkirk Grahamston is now wired and masts have appeared around larbert/plean

 

[Railsigns]

The signal boxes at camuirs, Larbert and grangemouth Jn are too close tonight

How close is too close, and are they any closer than they were the night before?

 

[najaB]

How close is too close, and are they any closer than they were the night before?

Awww.... and I was trying to avoid saying anything.

 

[Hackneyite]

How many electric trains are now running on Falkirk High Line?

 

[Clansman]

How many electric trains are now running on Falkirk High Line?

Two services (each consisting of 2 x 380s) per hour (one in each direction).

 

[47271]

Two 4+3 7 coach Class 380s borrowed from other routes operate on the hour in each direction. The rest remains as 170s until the 385s enter full service in the spring.

 

[route101]

Was nice and quiet at the front of the 380 . 44 mins from Edinburgh to Glasgow , you notice the faster accelration

 

[Scotrail88]

Does the new wires at Rutherglen get completed at the new year close?
Also, I thought the signalling was updated here at Christmas, old signals still in use and new ones not operational on Whifflet branch.

Does anyone have info on when these will come online?

 

[InOban]

I seem to recall a last-minute cancellation of some work over Christmas. Maybe that was it.

 

[Carntyne]

The Whifflet renewals are part of MNSR, they'll be commissioned at Easter along with the new workstation at WSSC.

 

[Scotrail88]

Thanks for replies
What does the work being carried out at Rutherglen last week and this involved and what will the benefits be, if any?

 

[mcmad]

Works at Rutherglen have been preparatory OLE alterations in advance of the remodelling and resignalling scheme starting in the Spring. Will allow faster linespeed and a simplified layout between the tamper depot and Rutherglen Central

 

[Mordac]

Has Cumbernauld to Greenhill Junction been energized yet? Was supposed to have been part of the first stage, but not been heard from in a while...

 

[Highlandspring]

Has Cumbernauld to Greenhill Junction been energized yet?

Not yet, no.

 

[Macwomble]

Has Cumbernauld to Greenhill Junction been energized yet?

Passed there today......Wiring not yet completed.

 

[EIKN]

Any information on the Borders rail electrification ? I saw it listed .
Plus on many YouTube videos taken a long time after opening there appeared be by theclineside at very regular intervals like concrete squares covered in blue plastic.
Are these the Electrification provision. ?.

 

[92002]

The line was built to make electrification simpler in the future.

Is in the plans for some time in the future but many other schemes in the plans before it to be funded.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Plus on many YouTube videos taken a long time after opening there appeared be by theclineside at very regular intervals like concrete squares covered in blue plastic.
Are these the Electrification provision. ?.

That sounds like drain covers to me.

 

[najaB]

Any information on the Borders rail electrification ? I saw it listed

I think that's a ways down the list of priorities. I can't see it happening before Dunblane-Perth-Dundee(-Arbroath?) and likely the Fife Circle (+Levenmouth extension).

 

[EIKN]

Thank you for the replies guys

 

[Altnabreac]

Any information on the Borders rail electrification ? I saw it listed .
Plus on many YouTube videos taken a long time after opening there appeared be by theclineside at very regular intervals like concrete squares covered in blue plastic.
Are these the Electrification provision. ?.

I think broadly the criteria for choosing which lines get electrified will be based on:

1. Frequency - 3tph+ lines will be a priority, then 2tph. 1tph and less will be unlikely to happen.
2. Usage numbers and Train lengths - Lower leasing / operation / maintenance costs for EMUs and easier to acquire new electric stock so it will be better to electrify lines where there are long trains currently operating.
3. Diagrams / depots etc - Isolated diesel islands can be difficult to diagram and operate once most of the rest of the area is electrified.
4. Slowing down other services - Faster acceleration of EMUs may be required to enable better pathing of other more important services
5. Cost of electrification / difficult structures - How difficult and / or expensive a particular line will be to electrify.
6. Rolling Stock replacement / leasing plans - How electrification fits in with rolling stock procurement issues.

Taking these in turn for the Borders line compared to other potential Scottish electrification priorities.

1. 2tph is decent and more than some competing routes (Ladybank - Perth, Perth - Inverness, Inverurie - Elgin) but not as busy as Fife Circle for example.
2. Mainly 2-3 car length trains though some longer services. Passenger numbers increasing but not at the same level as a route like East Kilbride where you are replacing multiple 6 car trains.
3. Fairly self contained route although some crossover with Borders diagrams and potential for integration with North Berwick / Dunbar diagrams post electrification. Not as strong a case as Maryhill or Kilmarnock - Barassie though.
4. No stations shared with other services except Waverley so limited requirement for electrification on this ground. May slightly improve capacity at Portobello junction.
5. Likely to be very cheap as major structure clearance will not be required - Though will all structures meet the new rules? Certainly likely to be cheaper than most similar lines except Levenmouth which would also be rebuilt to electrification clearance.
6. Likely to remain mainly operated by 158s and 170s. Reasonable medium term stock life expectancy so not as strongly in need of replacement as HST operated routes that are likely to need new stock in the late 2020s or early 2030s.

All in all it is a decent long term case but certainly behind East Kilbride, Barrhead, Kilmarnock, Maryhill, Dunblane - Dundee, Fife and Aberdeen in the queue. I could see it being done after Fife Circle in something like late 2020s or early 2030s.

How it compares against schemes like Ladybank - Perth - Inverness or Aberdeen - Inverness would probably depend on choices for HST stock replacement and whether they involve Hybrids or not.

 

[railjock]

I think broadly the criteria for choosing which lines get electrified will be based on:

1. Frequency - 3tph+ lines will be a priority, then 2tph. 1tph and less will be unlikely to happen.
2. Usage numbers and Train lengths - Lower leasing / operation / maintenance costs for EMUs and easier to acquire new electric stock so it will be better to electrify lines where there are long trains currently operating.
3. Diagrams / depots etc - Isolated diesel islands can be difficult to diagram and operate once most of the rest of the area is electrified.
4. Slowing down other services - Faster acceleration of EMUs may be required to enable better pathing of other more important services
5. Cost of electrification / difficult structures - How difficult and / or expensive a particular line will be to electrify.
6. Rolling Stock replacement / leasing plans - How electrification fits in with rolling stock procurement issues.

Taking these in turn for the Borders line compared to other potential Scottish electrification priorities.

1. 2tph is decent and more than some competing routes (Ladybank - Perth, Perth - Inverness, Inverurie - Elgin) but not as busy as Fife Circle for example.
2. Mainly 2-3 car length trains though some longer services. Passenger numbers increasing but not at the same level as a route like East Kilbride where you are replacing multiple 6 car trains.
3. Fairly self contained route although some crossover with Borders diagrams and potential for integration with North Berwick / Dunbar diagrams post electrification. Not as strong a case as Maryhill or Kilmarnock - Barassie though.
4. No stations shared with other services except Waverley so limited requirement for electrification on this ground. May slightly improve capacity at Portobello junction.
5. Likely to be very cheap as major structure clearance will not be required - Though will all structures meet the new rules? Certainly likely to be cheaper than most similar lines except Levenmouth which would also be rebuilt to electrification clearance.
6. Likely to remain mainly operated by 158s and 170s. Reasonable medium term stock life expectancy so not as strongly in need of replacement as HST operated routes that are likely to need new stock in the late 2020s or early 2030s.

All in all it is a decent long term case but certainly behind East Kilbride, Barrhead, Kilmarnock, Maryhill, Dunblane - Dundee, Fife and Aberdeen in the queue. I could see it being done after Fife Circle in something like late 2020s or early 2030s.

How it compares against schemes like Ladybank - Perth - Inverness or Aberdeen - Inverness would probably depend on choices for HST stock replacement and whether they involve Hybrids or not.

Doesn’t number 5 actually increase the priority ( relative to those that don’t meet current provisions ) as things will like get more expensive if left for, say, ten years?

 

[najaB]

Was Eastfield depot always planned to be wired or was that a later addition to the project? I seem to remember that it wasn't because it struck me as odd that there would be a diesel depot stuck in electrified territory.

 

[gsnedders]

Was Eastfield depot always planned to be wired or was that a later addition to the project? I seem to remember that it wasn't because it struck me as odd that there would be a diesel depot stuck in electrified territory.

That's my memory too, and I remember the explanation that it was going to be used as a depot for HML and WHL (and Maryhill) trains. I was surprised when I saw wires starting to go up.

 

[InOban]

Surely some 385s need to be parked overnight? They don't need to go back East every night? I was surprised when they weren't planning to wire it.

 

[gsnedders]

Surely some 385s need to be parked overnight? They don't need to go back East every night? I was surprised when they weren't planning to wire it.

My assumption was the platforms at Queen Street would simply be full of trains.

 

[Class 170101]

My assumption was the platforms at Queen Street would simply be full of trains.

NR wouldn't like that they wouldn't be able to do track maintenance with trains there.

 

[InOban]

And since they will still be rebuilding QS for the next two years, even more reason why NR wouldn't want trains stabled o/n. And what about emptying retention tanks?