East Kilbride/Barrhead electrification updates

[Frankton Junct]

Notice posted in the New Notice case at work stating the new OHLE will be live from Muirhouse to just outside Crossmyloof after this weekend's blockade.

I am surprised that it is not necessary to remove the temporary utility diversion bridge before the new wiring goes live.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I am surprised that it is not necessary to remove the temporary utility diversion bridge before the new wiring goes live.

Might of course not really be live but notice maybe to deter copper thieves

 

[snowball]

I imagine that, as usual with such notices, the one seen by 380101 contains the words "to be treated as" rather than claiming any part will definitely be live.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I imagine that, as usual with such notices, the one seen by 380101 contains the words "to be treated as" rather than claiming any part will definitely be live.

Exactly- your wording is better than mine.

 

[d9009alycidon]

Demolishing work in progress at the Hairmyers bridge site when I passed this morning

 

[qpsnapper]

Wiring looking complete on the southbound side as far as Crossmyloof station this morning whilst the northbound wiring stopping just short of the Titwood Road bridge. A couple of pictures from this morning:

 

[380101]

I imagine that, as usual with such notices, the one seen by 380101 contains the words "to be treated as" rather than claiming any part will definitely be live.

It also clearly says that a short section between Muirhouse and Crossmyloof WILL be energised. Up until this week no such notice has been posted regarding the wires which have been in place for more than a month now.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jan 2023 ==

Might of course not really be live but notice maybe to deter copper thieves

Can't see train drivers being partial to a bit of copper wire theft!

 

[nlogax]

Wiring looking complete on the southbound side as far as Crossmyloof station this morning whilst the northbound wiring stopping just short of the Titwood Road bridge. A couple of pictures from this morning:

Great photos and lovely to see this sort of sustained progress.

 

[route101]

With the wires up, makes it seem like its really happening now. Will be interesting to see the progress on the East Kilbride branch next.

 

[Southsider]

With the wires up, makes it seem like its really happening now. Will be interesting to see the progress on the East Kilbride branch next.

Progress predicted on Barrhead seems slow, almost a year to finish the wiring as I understand it.

 

[Frankton Junct]

It seems that the bridge was cut-up and removed in the most efficient manner and so I assume that there were no takers from the heritage sector.

As the pictures linked in post #1,134 show, the bridge span was lifted out intact. It is now in the SPL compound between Thornliebank and Giffnock. I hope someone in the heritage sector has a use for it.
Site of the former Strathbungo pedestrian bridge:



A lot of work was done this past weekend, but much remains to be done. The southern approach to Muirhouse South Junction:


Crossmyloof Station:



The new Nithsdale Road bridge is open to pedestrians. The road markers and stone masons are on site:





The bridge at Hairmyers adjacent to the site of the proposed replacement station was demolished:

 

[Falcon1200]

I travelled from Glasgow Central to Barrhead this afternoon, albeit at dusk and only able to view the Down side of the line from an Up train, however masts seem to be in place to quite near Barrhead, certainly beyond the Blackbyres Road underbridge, apart from a gap in the rock cutting near Nitshill, so hopefully the year estimate is a worst case scenario!

 

[OB23Gone]

As the pictures linked in post #1,134 show, the bridge span was lifted out intact. It is now in the SPL compound between Thornliebank and Giffnock. I hope someone in the heritage sector has a use for it.
Site of the former Strathbungo pedestrian bridge:

View attachment 127134

A lot of work was done this past weekend, but much remains to be done. The southern approach to Muirhouse South Junction:
View attachment 127136

Crossmyloof Station:

View attachment 127137

The new Nithsdale Road bridge is open to pedestrians. The road markers and stone masons are on site:

View attachment 127141

View attachment 127142

The bridge at Hairmyers adjacent to the site of the proposed replacement station was demolished:

View attachment 127143

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jan 2023 ==

Very busy on and around the Bridge today Thur. 19th Jan there is a big push to get Road Traffic Crossing on it Tomorrow Friday or maybe Sat at latest
Some pics of the Cleeves Quadrant OB that was demolished last weekend
Also some pics of Preisthill & Darnley Station Footbridge. Thoughts on thoughts about clearance anyone?

 

[Frankton Junct]

@OB23Gone, thank you for the photos and the update.

The masonry arch over bridge at Priesthill & Darnley station appears to be another former road bridge retained for pedestrian use. There is no pedestrian over bridge at this station apart from this bridge. There is a problem with trespass on the railway at this location - there are signs warning pedestrians against a short cut over the tracks. There is even a security 'darlek' on platform 2.

I have seen no plans to demolish this masonry bridge. It would be necessary to build a replacement pedestrian over bridge. No doubt the site survey team checked the clearances and the condition of this bridge and determined that demolition is not necessary for the electrification of the route. The scope of this project seems to be limited to electrification. Previous projects in Scotland over the past few years seem to have been comprehensive route modernisations, with some stations completely rebuilt (such as Livingston South or Breich). This project will leave us with many stations lacking PRM compliant access to some or all platforms (such as Pollokshaws West).

 

[Falcon1200]

This project will leave us with many stations lacking PRM compliant access to some or all platforms (such as Pollokshaws West).

That is of course a pity, but electrifying a line and making stations PRM-compliant are separate projects, indeed there are still plenty of stations on lines electrified over 50 years ago which are not PRM-compliant! Hopefully addressing key locations, of which I would say Pollokshaws West is one, given its proximity to the Burrell Collection, will be a priority, but that will be a different scheme, and budget.

 

[59CosG95]

Based purely on the fact that the mast on the Up side in pictures 6, 8 & 9 (structure no. K/06/01) has an earth wire bracket rather than an earth wire anchor, I'd say that the bridge isn't long for this world. Then again, the engineers might be anchoring the EW in the masonry either side.

 

[snowball]

Press release

Network Rail Opens Nithsdale Road Railway Bridge

The new bridge on Nithsdale Road, in the southside of Glasgow, will open this evening.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

The new bridge on Nithsdale Road, in the southside of Glasgow, will open this evening.

Network Rail is opening the new Nithsdale Road bridge to traffic this evening (Friday, 20 January), completing an important phase of the Glasgow to Barrhead electrification project.

It’s part of a wider Scottish Government investment to decarbonise passenger services across Scotland’s Railway by 2035.

Nithsdale Road has been closed since May 2022 to allow Network Rail, working with contractor Bam Nuttall Ltd, to demolish and replace the road bridge over the railway between Darnley Road (B763) and Moray Place in Glasgow’s southside.

The new structure now provides the required clearance to erect overhead powerlines beneath the bridge, ahead of the electrification of the route later this year.

In excess of 40,000 hours were worked to complete this element of the project, with the team removing over 1,000 tonnes of material.

The former bridge was removed last summer, followed by construction work that included a 750-tonne crane lifting 10 new bridge beams into position, with over 450 tonnes of concrete poured to create the new bridge deck.

Sandstone from old structure was kept and redressed as part of the finish to the new bridge.

Michelle McCaig, Network Railway project manager for the bridge work, said: “The new bridge at Nithsdale Road plays a critical part in enabling the electrification of the line through this part of the city, allowing us to deliver a more reliable and greener railway for all.

“We appreciate the inconvenience this closure had for road users, businesses and the community, particularly our neighbours living closest to the bridge, as engineering work of this type cannot be delivered without some degree of disruption.

“Through a collaborative approach with our contractor Bam Nuttall, every effort was made to minimise the impact of our work. I want to thank the community for their patience and understanding while we carried out this vital part of the Barrhead electrification project.”

A road closed at the entrance of Moray Place during the bridge work also reopened today.

With Nithsdale Road re-opened, work now focuses on replacing the footbridge between Moray Place and Darnley Road from this month until July 2023.

Members of the public can find our more on the Glasgow to Barrhead electrification project more information by emailing EKEnhancements@networkrail.co.uk or calling the Network Rail helpline on 03457 11 41 41. For the latest information and progress updates follow on Twitter @NetworkRailScot or visit www.scotlandsrailway.com
Notes to Editors

As part of the Scottish Governments action plan to decarbonise the railway by 2035, Barrhead to Glasgow is a priority line for electrification and represents 12 km of non-electrified track between Barrhead and Busby Junction.

The project scope also includes alterations to Platform 3 at Barrhead station to enable longer, four-car trains.

The Glasgow to Barrhead electrification project is due to complete later this year and enter into service in December 2023.

According to timetable published a year ago (see #590), completion of Nithsdale Road bridge was due today. Arguably that has not quite been achieved as the stone cladding remains to be done.

 

[OB23Gone]

After the opening of the New Bridge yesterday, Friday 20 Jan, took a trip over it
There are restrictions on both foot paths due to sandstone Cladding being completed. Still Capping on top of parapets also traffic lights to be commissioned.

 

[numtot12345]

I wonder how much impact, if at all, the bridge reopening will have on easing traffic on Pollokshaws Road between approx. BP garage, strathbungo, nithsdale Drive and Albert drive during the AM and PM peaks.

 

[Southsider]

Network Rail press release on the bridge reopening.

Network Rail Opens Nithsdale Road Railway Bridge

The new bridge on Nithsdale Road, in the southside of Glasgow, will open this evening.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Not sure they really mean Busby Junction in the project summary, should be Muirhouse?

As part of the Scottish Governments action plan to decarbonise the railway by 2035, Barrhead to Glasgow is a priority line for electrification and represents 12 km of non-electrified track between Barrhead and Busby Junction.

The project scope also includes alterations to Platform 3 at Barrhead station to enable longer, four-car trains.

The Glasgow to Barrhead electrification project is due to complete later this year and enter into service in December 2023.

 

[Nottingham59]

Not sure they really mean Busby Junction

Busby Junction - RAILSCOT

This is the junction between the line from Glasgow Central to Kilmarnock and the branch to East Kilbride. It was originally the junction between the Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway (1

www.railscot.co.uk

 

[Southsider]

Busby Junction - RAILSCOT

This is the junction between the line from Glasgow Central to Kilmarnock and the branch to East Kilbride. It was originally the junction between the Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway (1

www.railscot.co.uk

I know that, my point is that the electrification is from Muirhouse. Doing from Busby junction to Barrhead would leave an inconvenient gap!

 

[mcmad]

I think its just that the Barrhead project was originally to be delivered after East Kilbride so the scope of the Barrhead project was Busby to Barrhead. The Muirhouse to Busby section has been delivered by the East Kilbride project even though the wires up to there will no be done after Barrhead.

 

[snowball]

Indeed there was a misleading press release back in Feb 2021 (linked in #177) which gave the impression electrification throughout to EK was starting, but actually saying this:

Contractors, SPL, will shortly begin on-site activities between Muirhouse South junction and Busby junction – including piling and constructing steelwork foundations to support overhead power masts.

This work will also support future electrification between Busby junction and Barrhead.

So they are evidently counting Muirhouse to Busby Junction as part of the EK project.

 

[route101]

Has there been any work on the East Kilbride branch apart from the bridge at Hairmyres?

 

[Southsider]

Has there been any work on the East Kilbride branch apart from the bridge at Hairmyres?

No ‘spades in the ground’ that I’m aware of beyond vegetation clearance a couple of years back, presumably to enable survey work. Design work must be reasonably advanced by now.

 

[N1]

Does anyone know timescales of when the station footbridge at Nitshill will be replaced? I haven't seen anything about it and assume it will only be replaced with a standard footbridge, if lifts were to go in I would have expected it to have started already? No indication on site at all of it starting AFIK

 

[snowball]

Does anyone know timescales of when the station footbridge at Nitshill will be replaced? I haven't seen anything about it and assume it will only be replaced with a standard footbridge, if lifts were to go in I would have expected it to have started already? No indication on site at all of it starting AFIK

The timescale in #590, which has been quite accurate for the Nithsdale Road bridge, says January to May.

 

[N1]

The timescale in #590, which has been quite accurate for the Nithsdale Road bridge, says January to May.

Sorry, I think those are the dates for the Strathbungo footbridge adjacent to Nithsdale Road. I mean the station passenger footbridge from Platform 1 to 2 at Nitshill station, which also needs to be replaced I believe.

 

[snowball]

Sorry, I misread your post.