What does the future hold for the Uckfield / Marshlink lines, and could these lines be electrified?

[OTRail]

Moderator note: Split from

EMR Class 170 updates

With the first 170/s transferring I thought it were best I started a thread about them to track there progress. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K01134/2020-03-23/detailed

www.railforums.co.uk

No..

Not surprised... hopefully they decide to electrify the branch and just stick on Electrostars.

 

[py_megapixel]

Not surprised... hopefully they decide to electrify the branch and just stick on Electrostars.

Well ORR will have a fit if anybody suggests extending third rail down there, and I imagine some more Electrostars would need modification with pantographs (assuming the Milton Keynes fleet couldn't stretch) if OHLE were to go up... also there's a question of whether there is the power supply capacity of course, which I understand is an often an issue for extensions of electrification but know very little about.

 

[Energy]

Well ORR will have a fit if anybody suggests extending third rail down there, and I imagine some more Electrostars would need modification with pantographs (assuming the Milton Keynes fleet couldn't stretch) if OHLE were to go up... also there's a question of whether there is the power supply capacity of course, which I understand is an often an issue for extensions of electrification but know very little about.

Modifications would be easy, the electrostars are designed so they can be fitted for AC.

 

[WesternLancer]

Well ORR will have a fit if anybody suggests extending third rail down there, and I imagine some more Electrostars would need modification with pantographs (assuming the Milton Keynes fleet couldn't stretch) if OHLE were to go up... also there's a question of whether there is the power supply capacity of course, which I understand is an often an issue for extensions of electrification but know very little about.

so no doubt we will be waiting for a hybrid / battery unit solution for Uckfield and Hastings - Ashford (tho wires on the latter would allow HS1 javelins to operate on the latter which might make sense (albeit possibly not financial sense) and IIRC what the Hastings MP was lobbying for.

I wonder if ORR would offer up some of their budget to help finance OHL instead of 3rd rail.....

And in the meantime whilst awaiting a battery solution no doubt the east mids can have a rolling stock shortage, since the East Mids has such low public transport investment, they would, of course, at least be used to it!

 

[py_megapixel]

Modifications would be easy, the electrostars are designed so they can be fitted for AC.

I know, but it would still take time, and then you have to figure out getting the OHLE up in the first place.

 

[DB]

And in the meantime whilst awaiting a battery solution no doubt the east mids can have a rolling stock shortage, since the East Mids has such low public transport investment, they would, of course, at least be used to it!

Or just keep some 158s for longer? Those don't have a home to go to, do they?

 

[raetiamann]

And in the meantime whilst awaiting a battery solution no doubt the east mids can have a rolling stock shortage, since the East Mids has such low public transport investment, they would, of course, at least be used to it!

I know, can you believe people getting so excited about inheriting worn out rolling stock, that we had to give up over a decade ago. Still could be worse, we could be getting CAF trains!

 

[OTRail]

Modifications would be easy, the electrostars are designed so they can be fitted for AC.

There are a few dual voltage units, although not sure if Southern will have the capacity to send them on the branch when things return to normal...

 

[WesternLancer]

Or just keep some 158s for longer? Those don't have a home to go to, do they?

Probably a likely outcome - AND they have a table / flip down table at every seat do they not - IIRC one of the great pledges from Abellio that must have sung the award decision down at DfT...

 

[Energy]

There are a few dual voltage units, although not sure if Southern will have the capacity to send them on the branch when things return to normal...

Probably not enough but you just need to fit the AC equipment and pantograph which is easy to do on an electrostar.

 

[WesternLancer]

I think the prospect of those 2 Southern routes getting 25KV OLE during the lifespan of the Electrostar fleet is pretty slim.

 

[Domh245]

Probably not enough but you just need to fit the AC equipment and pantograph which is easy to do on an electrostar.

"easy" in theory and easy in practice are very different things! Whilst they'd be easier to modify than some other stock, it certainly won't be the work of a moment. I think that a far more workable solution for Southern to grow their dual voltage fleet would be for Southern to swap units with Southeasterns 377/5s

 

[OTRail]

"easy" in theory and easy in practice are very different things! Whilst they'd be easier to modify than some other stock, it certainly won't be the work of a moment. I think that a far more workable solution for Southern to grow their dual voltage fleet would be for Southern to swap units with Southeasterns 377/5s

In all honesty I never expected the /5s to go to Southeastern. If only electrification had been announced/completed around the time they went off lease...

 

[Energy]

"easy" in theory and easy in practice are very different things! Whilst they'd be easier to modify than some other stock, it certainly won't be the work of a moment. I think that a far more workable solution for Southern to grow their dual voltage fleet would be for Southern to swap units with Southeasterns 377/5s

I wouldn't be suprised if the SE 377s transfer to Southern at some point, they already have Southern interior and the different couplings mean they cant work with 375s, replacing them when the networker fleet gets replaced would make sense.

Going back on topic, the Southern 170s are staying at Southern for the foreseeable future.

 

[Fincra5]

I wouldn't be suprised if the SE 377s transfer to Southern at some point, they already have Southern interior and the different couplings mean they cant work with 375s, replacing them when the networker fleet gets replaced would make sense.

Going back on topic, the Southern 170s are staying at Southern for the foreseeable future.

Well they are our Units lol....

3rd Rail makes sense to Gap Fill the 2 Sections of Non-DC in the DC Land. But this is the railway.

 

[Minstral25]

I wouldn't be suprised if the SE 377s transfer to Southern at some point, they already have Southern interior and the different couplings mean they cant work with 375s, replacing them when the networker fleet gets replaced would make sense.

Going back on topic, the Southern 170s are staying at Southern for the foreseeable future.

Wouldn't be surprised either but the couplings are a red herring. Class 375's were all refitted with Dellner couplings at some point but not renumbered whereas Southern ones were renumbered 377 when fitted or had from new.