East Kilbride/Barrhead electrification updates

[380101]

A planning application has been submitted for OLE and platform extensions at Pollokshaws West station. Platforms will be extended by 36m/38m at the south end and 8m/11m at the north end:

21/01142/LBA | Installation of overhead line electrification steelwork and platform lengthening works. | Pollokshaws West Railwa

​ 21/01142/LBA | Installation of overhead line electrification steelwork and platform lengthening works. | Pollokshaws West Railwa​

Wonder if they'll be lengthening all the rest of the platforms on the route? P'shaws West already easily accomodates a 6 car 156 formation so this lengthening suggests they're future proofing for 8 car EMUs!

Also noticed the piling has started between Kennishead and Busby junction when driving a Kilmarnock service yesterday. Good to see them making progress on the actual OHLE infrastructure.

 

[NotATrainspott]

Wonder if they'll be lengthening all the rest of the platforms on the route? P'shaws West already easily accomodates a 6 car 156 formation so this lengthening suggests they're future proofing for 8 car EMUs!

Also noticed the piling has started between Kennishead and Busby junction when driving a Kilmarnock service yesterday. Good to see them making progress on the actual OHLE infrastructure.

Yes, the plan is for a maximum 4tph 8x24m EMU service to East Kilbride.

 

[route101]

A little confused is this section being used a test for OHLE and Piling before they commence further on East Kilbride branch?

 

[59CosG95]

A little confused is this section being used a test for OHLE and Piling before they commence further on East Kilbride branch?

Based on the information by @380101, it's hard to tell where exactly the piles have been sunk in relation to Kennishead & Busby Jn. My guess is that they're closer to Busby Jn as the structures over the junction will most likely be full portals (rather than single track/twin track cantilever masts), which require that much more in terms of precision to install as they have very little margin for error with the foundation spacing.

 

[92002]

A little confused is this section being used a test for OHLE and Piling before they commence further on East Kilbride branch?

Think the plan is to do the Barrhead line first. Leaving the station work on the East Kilbride stations to go ahead first.

However its currently only a contract to install mast bases. The main contract has yet to be let.

 

[Southsider]

Think the plan is to do the Barrhead line first. Leaving the station work on the East Kilbride stations to go ahead first.

However its currently only a contract to install mast bases. The main contract has yet to be let.

There’s also quite a few bridges to do on the EK branch with no sign yet of any planning applications.

 

[Frankton Junct]

Yes, the junction was doubled some time in the mid-2010s.

Here are a couple of photos of this junction taken in April. They might be useful for "before and after" comparisons later on.




I took the first one from the Cartcraigs Road pedestrian bridge (formerly used by Kennishead Road until the 1960's).
I assume that the project will replace this bridge:


FJ

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 May 2021 ==

Based on the information by @380101, it's hard to tell where exactly the piles have been sunk in relation to Kennishead & Busby Jn. My guess is that they're closer to Busby Jn as the structures over the junction will most likely be full portals (rather than single track/twin track cantilever masts), which require that much more in terms of precision to install as they have very little margin for error with the foundation spacing.

This evening I took a walk past Busby Junction but I didn't see any piles.
However, overnight piles were delivered along part of the route (but not yet at Busby Junction).
Piles on both sides of the railway here suggest single track cantilevers at this location:

Seven piles here, south of the bridge over Haggs Road:

Piles are in the distance, above the Pollokshaws Bowling Club:

 

[380101]

Here are a couple of photos of this junction taken in April. They might be useful for "before and after" comparisons later on.
View attachment 95595

View attachment 95596

I took the first one from the Cartcraigs Road pedestrian bridge (formerly used by Kennishead Road until the 1960's).
I assume that the project will replace this bridge:
View attachment 95597

FJ

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 May 2021 ==


This evening I took a walk past Busby Junction but I didn't see any piles.
However, overnight piles were delivered along part of the route (but not yet at Busby Junction).
Piles on both sides of the railway here suggest single track cantilevers at this location:
View attachment 95942
Seven piles here, south of the bridge over Haggs Road:
View attachment 95943
Piles are in the distance, above the Pollokshaws Bowling Club:
View attachment 95944

There's piles inatalled on the Kennishead side of Busby Junction and they have dayglow orange safety covers fitted on them to prevent track workers falling down them.

The main construction yard has been established between Thornliebank and Giffnock on what was waste ground. Stacks of piles sitting there alongside portacabin offices and the road rail plant being used to install the piles.

 

[Frankton Junct]

On Sunday morning, the contractors drove in some of the piles that were lying beside the railway between the Pollokshaws Viaduct and the Haggs Road Under Bridge. They finished just short of the access point adjacent to the Haggs Road UB. Some of these piles were in the photographs I posted in post #283. Here is a photo taken today:

It is good to see work underway on the ground.

 

[Mag_seven]

A reminder that this thread is to provide and discuss updates to the Infrastructure works on the East Kilbride and Barrhead electrification scheme.

For discussion on other related issues such as the potential rolling stock or whether the line could be extended please use these threads:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/what-rolling-stock-could-be-used-to-the-east-kilbride-route-once-electrified.214989/

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/could-the-east-kilbride-branch-be-extended-to-hamilton.217586/

thank you

 

[och aye]

Planning application for platform extensions and overhead electrification equipment for Pollockshaws West. Some artist impressions are available in the documentation:

21/01142/LBA | Installation of overhead line electrification steelwork and platform lengthening works. | Pollokshaws West Railway Station Polloksha

21/01142/LBA | Installation of overhead line electrification steelwork and platform lengthening works. | Pollokshaws West Railway Station Pollokshaws Road Glasgow G43 1AT

 

[Bald Rick]

That’s a lot of AstroTurf.

 

[Southsider]

Planning application for platform extensions and overhead electrification equipment for Pollockshaws West. Some artist impressions are available in the documentation:

21/01142/LBA | Installation of overhead line electrification steelwork and platform lengthening works. | Pollokshaws West Railway Station Polloksha

View attachment 97022

Structure numbers allocated - does that imply the project design is at an advanced, detailed stage?

 

[waverley47]

It is a truly impressive share of green.

In all seriousness, 8*23 is about as much future proofing you'd ever need for these routes, which suggests a desire to spend all the money available now and never have to come back. This, while having been all but confirmed already, is a good show of support from transport Scotland for the project, and suggests a degree of gold plating in all projects going forward.

 

[och aye]

It is a truly impressive share of green.

In all seriousness, 8*23 is about as much future proofing you'd ever need for these routes, which suggests a desire to spend all the money available now and never have to come back. This, while having been all but confirmed already, is a good show of support from transport Scotland for the project, and suggests a degree of gold plating in all projects going forward.

Perhaps its something they learned from the Borders Railway, regarding not building some structures that can be easily upgraded to double track, rather than have to rebuild/build additional structures should they want to do so?

 

[Speed43125]

This, while having been all but confirmed already, is a good show of support from transport Scotland for the project, and suggests a degree of gold plating in all projects going forward.

Please, I've already sat my Advanced higher English tests this week! I don't need more analysis doing

 

[waverley47]

Perhaps its something they learned from the Borders Railway, regarding not building some structures that can be easily upgraded to double track, rather than have to rebuild/build additional structures should they want to do so?

This seems reasonable, and double tracking the whole East Kilbride branch seems to support the idea of better to spend buckets of money now, and have it suitably future proofed for decades to come.

Evidence is also supported but the dual tracking of the Levenmouth line, which on the face of things seems excessive but will probably turn out to be an incredibly prudent piece of over-engineering that will have many benefits down the line.

Please, I've already sat my Advanced higher English tests this week! I don't need more analysis doing

I think a thorough, in depth analysis into the connotations of that particular shade of green is definitley in order.

 

[Highlandspring]

Structure numbers allocated - does that imply the project design is at an advanced, detailed stage?

Section and sub section identities have already been allocated for the whole 2035 decarbonisation electrification strategy - all the way up to Tain.

 

[snowball]

In all seriousness, 8*23 is about as much future proofing you'd ever need for these routes,

Sorry, what does 8*23 mean?

 

[adrock1976]

Sorry, what does 8*23 mean?

8 coach train, with each coach being 23 metres.

 

[Tobbes]

Sorry, what does 8*23 mean?

A maximum train length of 8 23m coaches, I believe

 

[Sprinter156]

Sorry, what does 8*23 mean?

8 carriages which are each 23 metres long, I think

Edit: oops someone already put that

 

[InOban]

Have we had the planning application for the relocated Hairmyers Station?

 

[59CosG95]

Section and sub section identities have already been allocated for the whole 2035 decarbonisation electrification strategy - all the way up to Tain.

That's very impressive indeed! I seem to remember from railwaycodes.org.uk that 'K' was originally designated for Reading - Penzance (i.e. 'K for Kernow'). Of course, that's been replaced by using the ELR as a route code, so now it's 'K for Kilmarnock'...

 

[route101]

I seen the piles while passing on the train the other day. Is it just this section from Crossmyloof to Kennishead at first?

 

[d9009alycidon]

Just a thought on the relocated Hairmyers Station, I read somewhere that there was a maximum line gradient for building new stations, the proposed location must be pretty close to that limit, as by my calculations the gradient through the new station would be 1:89 see http://www.railwaydata.co.uk/linefiles/route/?ELR=EKE

 

[pdeaves]

Section and sub section identities have already been allocated for the whole 2035 decarbonisation electrification strategy - all the way up to Tain.

Do you have those available to share, please? Thanks.

 

[Bald Rick]

Just a thought on the relocated Hairmyers Station, I read somewhere that there was a maximum line gradient for building new stations, the proposed location must be pretty close to that limit, as by my calculations the gradient through the new station would be 1:89 see http://www.railwaydata.co.uk/linefiles/route/?ELR=EKE

The normal limit is 1:500...

 

[MadMac]

Just a thought on the relocated Hairmyers Station, I read somewhere that there was a maximum line gradient for building new stations, the proposed location must be pretty close to that limit, as by my calculations the gradient through the new station would be 1:89 see http://www.railwaydata.co.uk/linefiles/route/?ELR=EKE

That’s actually a very good point. When the bay platform was added at Dalmuir Park (as it was then known), I believe there was some sort of derogation due to it being around 1 in 200.

 

[InOban]

Are the rules more restrictive for a terminating platform, where the train will be unmanned while the driver swaps ends, than for an intermediate station? I remember that before the Borders railway reopened and trains used to terminate at Newcraighall, they had to run forward from there to a level section before the crew could change ends. Wrecked the timetable.