Scottish Electrification updates & discussion

[snowball]

285/126 Parkhead - New road bridge has been built but old bridge is still there and may need removed?

Sorry to be dense but what does 285/126 mean, and where is Parkhead? I take it not Parkhead as in Celtic Park.

 

[68000]

http://abcrailwayguide.uk/bridge-eg...d-the-breich-valley-west-lothian#.WnHPXufLiUk

 

[snowball]

Thanks!

 

[Altnabreac]

http://abcrailwayguide.uk/bridge-eg...d-the-breich-valley-west-lothian#.WnHPXufLiUk

View attachment 42151

Exactly. A new road bridge to provide a better access to the new secondary school has been built about 50m west of the bridge shown in that aerial photo.

But the bridge in that aerial photo is still there and it's not immediately apparent whether it needs to be removed before electrification can take place.

 

[IanXC]

I have moved the disruptive disruption discussion to a new thread here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ch-as-skip-stopping-during-disruption.160271/

Can we all remember this is an infrastructure thread and stay on topic!

Thanks

 

[jamieintercity]

The Stirling to alloa line is to closing next month for electrification works

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/about-sc...moving-during-major-improvement-works-between

 

[Stopper]

Will the Alloa service terminate at Stirling instead like the other one? Stirling’s bays getting good use there.

 

[mcmad]

I notice the benefits section only shows an increase in seats on the Edinburgh services so looks like the Glasgow service is being reduced in capacity following the years of disruption .

 

[InOban]

The Shotts line will close completely for ten days over Easter, primarily to allow major work on the upgrade of Livingston South, and the tying in of the Electrification to the existing system at Midcalder Jctn, but work on the rest of the route will obviously continue at the same time.

 

[Mordac]

The Shotts line will close completely for ten days over Easter, primarily to allow major work on the upgrade of Livingston South, and the tying in of the Electrification to the existing system at Midcalder Jctn, but work on the rest of the route will obviously continue at the same time.

Press release here: https://www.networkrailmediacentre....-gives-platform-for-key-electrification-work#

Monday 12 Feb 2018

Shotts line closure gives platform for key electrification work
Route:
Scotland
Livingston South station will undergo a £3.5m transformation when the Edinburgh Waverley-Glasgow Central line closes for 10 days this Easter as part of a £160m project to electrify the route.

From Thursday, March 29, to Monday, April 9, no trains will run on the line via Shotts while Network Rail engineers work to widen and extend both platforms at Livingston South.

As well as work to the platforms, the redevelopment will see the construction of lifts on both sides of the station to deliver step-free access, installation of new staircases and the re-alignment of existing ramps.

Improvements to lighting and CCTV and enhancements to customer information systems, ticket machines, validators and waiting shelters will also be delivered at the West Lothian station.

The work is a key part of the Scottish government-funded investment to upgrade and electrify the line to improve reliability and enable the introduction of longer, faster trains on the route by March 2019.

A bus replacement service will be in operation serving all stations on the route.

A range of additional work as part of the wider electrification programme will also be progressed during the 10 day line closure.

This will include connecting new overhead power lines on the Shotts line to the existing electrified railway at Midcalder Junction and installing concrete foundations and masts for further phases of the electrification project.

Brian Mallon, Network Rail programme manager for the project, said: “Redeveloping Livingston South station is vital to the successful completion of the electrification project and the introduction of new faster, longer trains.

“We know that closing the line is never a popular choice for passengers and it’s a decision that has not been taken lightly. We explored other ways to deliver the work required with the priority being to minimise disruption for passengers. The ten day closure is the best option to safely and efficiently deliver the work required.

“We have worked with industry partners to plan the work and have timed the closure for a period where passenger numbers are lower than normal and where people have more opportunities to flex their journey. We will continue to work closely with ScotRail and other train operators to ensure passengers can get to where they need to be and disruption is kept to a minimum.”

The closure has been carefully planned for the school holiday period, when passenger numbers are lower and some passengers may be able to be more flexible with their travel plans.

Passengers wishing to travel on these dates are being advised to allow longer time for journeys on replacement bus services. Those who wish to remain on the train are advised to use Livingston North on the Glasgow Queen Street line.

Information and updates on the project are available via twitter @ShottsLineElec

 

[kilonewton]

Spectacular example of not joined up thinking.
No trains through Stirling 29 April 2018. Stirling Scottish Marathon & Half Marathon in and around Stirling & Dunblane 29 April 2018.
Anyone know how the buses will get between Stirling & Dunblane / Alloa?
I assume the closure is for SDA works.

 

[marks87]

Spectacular example of not joined up thinking.
No trains through Stirling 29 April 2018. Stirling Scottish Marathon & Half Marathon in and around Stirling & Dunblane 29 April 2018.
Anyone know how the buses will get between Stirling & Dunblane / Alloa?
I assume the closure is for SDA works.

Which was organised first? One would assume the marathon wouldn't have got the go-ahead if the roads were necessary to keep people moving, but on the other hand normally engineering possessions are in the calendar for months, if not years in advance (not that people generally understand this - see the moaning about the line being closed between Glasgow Central and Paisley Gilmour Street last Sunday when Rangers were away to Ayr Utd - a fixture that was only confirmed 10 days previously).

 

[Southsider]

I travelled along the A71 between Shotts and Livingston today. Wherever the line was visible masts and cantilevers were in place, with the exception of stations. I didn't see any wiring but other reports suggest this is underway. Completion is scheduled for 2019 (March I think) but given the progress thus far is it reasonable to expect it to finish early? I can understand Scotrail/Network Rail being disinclined to commit in light of delays elsewhere and possible issues with rolling stock availability but they could use a good news story at the moment.

 

[Altnabreac]

I travelled along the A71 between Shotts and Livingston today. Wherever the line was visible masts and cantilevers were in place, with the exception of stations. I didn't see any wiring but other reports suggest this is underway. Completion is scheduled for 2019 (March I think) but given the progress thus far is it reasonable to expect it to finish early? I can understand Scotrail/Network Rail being disinclined to commit in light of delays elsewhere and possible issues with rolling stock availability but they could use a good news story at the moment.

I suspect a lot of it will be finished early. As I said upthread there are only 4 or 5 structures left to complete and a lot of the wires are ready to go.

The ones I'm not so sure about are the work on Livingston South and Breich stations. That is some fairly challenging and complicated engineering on a live railway.

Whether some electric trains could run earlier even if Breich weren't complete would depend on willingness to sanction a temporary bustitution.

 

[route:oxford]

Spectacular example of not joined up thinking.
No trains through Stirling 29 April 2018. Stirling Scottish Marathon & Half Marathon in and around Stirling & Dunblane 29 April 2018.
Anyone know how the buses will get between Stirling & Dunblane / Alloa?
I assume the closure is for SDA works.

It's not that bad really. The Marathon starts at 08:30 and the first section between the back of the fire station and Prudential will clear relatively quickly. The first rail service from Dunblane to Stirling doesn't leave until 09:33, the second and 09:43 on a Sunday morning anyway - so they should get a clear run.

The 10:38, 11:01, 11:36 service might need to route via the QV to get onto the M9, it could get a bit sticky around Stirling later in the morning - but there's always a route.

 

[kilonewton]

It's not that bad really. The Marathon starts at 08:30 and the first section between the back of the fire station and Prudential will clear relatively quickly. The first rail service from Dunblane to Stirling doesn't leave until 09:33, the second and 09:43 on a Sunday morning anyway - so they should get a clear run.

The 10:38, 11:01, 11:36 service might need to route via the QV to get onto the M9, it could get a bit sticky around Stirling later in the morning - but there's always a route.

The marathon goes past Dunblane & Bridge of Allan before heading out Hillfoots Road.
Half marathon starts at 9:30, heads into the centre and out over the Shore Road Bridge, to the A91 then joins the marathon course. Both races return the back along the A91, back across Shore Road and through the centre again. Blocks off access to the station from the North most of the morning and early afternoon at least.
Council says planning is in the final stages.

 

[mcmad]

Stirling Council couldn't plan a night out in a pub so no surprise at this. Wouldn't be at all surprised if they route it over the closed bridge south of the station

 

[InOban]

Given that there is a temporary pedestrian bridge at the location, there's no reason why the route shouldn't go that way.

 

[clc]

Around 4 minutes in to this debate which took place 2 weeks ago the Transport Minister answers a question on when the East Kilbride line will be dualled and electrified:

He states it’s for the local authority/RTP to take the initiative and develop a business case. I thought Network Rail were doing that?

 

[Altnabreac]

Around 4 minutes in to this debate which took place 2 weeks ago the Transport Minister answers a question on when the East Kilbride line will be dualled and electrified:

He states it’s for the local authority/RTP to take the initiative and develop a business case. I thought Network Rail were doing that?

Interestingly there is also a formal announcement of the fund for local groups to apply for funding to appraise business cases for improvements etc. This maybe has some relevance and suggests that South Lanarkshire should be applying to use these funds for a business case appraisal.

I'd have thought the majority of the business case on electrification and the Glasgow Central capacity benefits via reduced dwell time should be NR led though?

Rail pipeline fund announced to support local initiatives
From April this year, community led initiatives will be able to tap into a £2m Scottish Government fund to develop options to improve local rail connections.

Announced as part of today's budget, the fund will be open to local organisations to carry out appraisal work on potential options to improve community access to rail services.

Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands said:

'Rail services are vital to the economic and social well-being of communities across Scotland. That is why this Government has invested over £7bn in our railways across the country since 2007.

“This new fund will enable local communities to appraise and potentially bring forward proposals which tackle very specific, local rail connectivity issues. This will allow us to consider these as part of our plans for future investment in our railways."

The formal launch of the fund will take place in the coming weeks once all of the necessary practical processes around the application, assessment and governance procedures have been put in place.

https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/rail-pipeline-fund-announced-to-support-local-initiatives/

 

[mcmad]

Given that there is a temporary pedestrian bridge at the location, there's no reason why the route shouldn't go that way.

The width of the temporary bridge isn't great, not sure it would be suitable for a marathon going across

 

[InOban]

I was assuming that by the time they reached there the runners would be well strung out.

 

[Macwomble]

The width of the temporary bridge isn't great, not sure it would be suitable for a marathon going across

I'd reckon the temporary bridge is only around 3 metres wide...so doubtful if you'd get more than 2 abreast running across it.

 

[route101]

I thought it was for CP6 for electrification of EK line , about time !

 

[Scotrail88]

The ‘major infrastructure works’ taking place on 24/25 March in the Rutherglen area.

Does anybody know what is involved and the subsequent improvements.
Is it just the electrical supply and new overheads or also the signals.
Also believe junction improvements were due here.

 

[Stopper]

What’s the Shotts line frequency going to be after the wires go up between Midcalder and Holytown? Still 1tph fast 1tph stopper? Or will there be low-level Glasgow services as some have suggested?

Also, after the consultation for Breich, there was an announcement that it would be getting more calls. I wonder if we’re talking about an extra call or two, or if we’re going to see a semi-regular service introduced. Would seem stupid to move/rebuild the station and not bother attempting to make some use of it.

 

[route101]

What’s the Shotts line frequency going to be after the wires go up between Midcalder and Holytown? Still 1tph fast 1tph stopper? Or will there be low-level Glasgow services as some have suggested?

Also, after the consultation for Breich, there was an announcement that it would be getting more calls. I wonder if we’re talking about an extra call or two, or if we’re going to see a semi-regular service introduced. Would seem stupid to move/rebuild the station and not bother attempting to make some use of it.

At least spread the 2 services out for proper half hourly freq. Dont know there will be an extra 3rd service .If its 385s wont it be Glasgow Central High Level only

 

[clc]

At least spread the 2 services out for proper half hourly freq. Dont know there will be an extra 3rd service .If its 385s wont it be Glasgow Central High Level only

I think Altnabreac’s suggestion was a new local service terminating at Shotts, so could be 318/320s?

 

[Carntyne]

The ‘major infrastructure works’ taking place on 24/25 March in the Rutherglen area.

Does anybody know what is involved and the subsequent improvements.
Is it just the electrical supply and new overheads or also the signals.
Also believe junction improvements were due here.

It's the PARR project (Polmadie & Rutherglen Renewals).

Signalling, OHLE (headspans have been disappearing with portal frames replacing them) and I think a new junction is going in (faster speeds).

 

[385001]

Cumbernauld to Greenhill Lower live from Monday 12 March 2018.

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/cumbernauld-greenhill-electrification-goes-live

Friday 9 Mar 2018

Cumbernauld-Greenhill electrification goes live
Route:

Scotland
The public are being warned that overhead power lines on the railway between Cumbernauld and Greenhill Lower junction, near Bonnybridge, will be live from Monday, March 12, and carrying 25,000 volts of electricity.

Following the electrification of 46 miles of the main Edinburgh-Glasgow (via Falkirk High) line in autumn 2017 as part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), the track between Cumbernauld and Bonnybridge is the latest section of Scotland’s railway to be energised.

The electrification of 16 single track kilometres of railway between Cumbernauld and Greenhill Lower is a step towards connecting the line from Glasgow to Falkirk Grahamston to further extend the running of electric trains.

Safety on and around the railway is the responsibility of Network Rail. With the overhead power lines carrying 25,000 volts of electricity, a campaign is underway to highlight the new dangers an electrified railway poses to those who trespass on the tracks or accidentally make contact with overhead lines.

Kevin McClelland, route delivery director for infrastructure projects, said: “Electrification marks a significant change to the railway environment in terms of risk for those living or working near to the newly electrified routes so it is important we do what we can to make people, particularly young people, aware of this change and encourage them to stay safe near the railway.

“Energisation is also an important phase of work to test and validate the new equipment and ensure it is operating as it should ahead of the introduction of electric trains on the route.

“The benefit of electric trains is they will be quieter and accelerate faster than the diesel ones they replace. The overhead power lines we have installed carry 25,000 volts of electricity – enough to kill anyone who comes into contact with them.

“The message is a simple one – electrified lines are always on, so always stay off.”

18,000 safety leaflets being delivered through every door in lineside communities locally and messages have been put out online through social media. Network Rail has also worked with industry partners in schools and through local groups to take the safety message into the classroom and into the community.

Network Rail has a range of resources is available to highlight the changes in an electrified railway including Rail Life; an initiative aimed at young people which provides teachers and parents with a range of resources on rail safety issues. Further information can be found at Rail Safety Resources

The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) is a central part of the Scottish Government’s strategy to ensure the railway is fit for Scotland’s future, EGIP delivers a 20% reduction in journey times and adds 30% more capacity, on comfortable, efficient and more reliable electric trains.