East Kilbride/Barrhead electrification updates

[OB23Gone]

Caught my first view of TTCs at the Barrhead end this afternoon as I drove under the line at Glasgow Rd before the petrol station and new retail park.

Terrible low-res preview from GoPro app but you can just about make out one TTC on the right through the trees.

One from the other side of the Viaduct. From the Nitshill direction, to the right hand side, the last mast is out of sight behind the bushes and not yet on the Viaduct. Story Plant were working out of Nitshill Compound installing more Pile's. Drove along Muriel St from Barrhead station and the 1st Mast was at the very end pf it at Centre Point.

 

[Frankton Junct]

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

As far as I recall, this 150 year old (my estimate) steel lattice footbridge won't be replaced but the project will modify it with higher solid balustrades.

SPL Powelines installed the first wire run on the Down Barrhead line through Crossmyloof Station:



The Nithsdale Road bridge is open to traffic and pedestrians although the stone masons are still to build most of the stone cladding on the balustrades.



There are rolls of Aqua TED4 beside the access point just north of the Titwood Road bridge. It seems that some work on the permanent way at this location is planned.

 

[380101]

As far as I recall, this 150 year old (my estimate) steel lattice footbridge won't be replaced but the project will modify it with higher solid balustrades.

As a driver who regularly stops at Nitshill and having an engineering background, I've studied this foot bridge many a time and it is very much beyond it's design life and requires replacement. The legs on the down platform (Glasgow direction for those not familiar with the line) had to be patched up with large metal plates in 2017 due the massive amount of corrosion in them. It was initially scheduled to be replaced in 2018 before the electrification project was announced.

I'd be extremely surprised if they do not replace it in the near future.

 

[GLC]

View attachment 128132

There are rolls of Aqua TED4 beside the access point just north of the Titwood Road bridge. It seems that some work on the permanent way at this location is planned.

Why are the new OLE masts so much more substation than the 1960s one in the foreground for the Cathcart circle? I'm sure the modern mast is stronger, more resilient etc, and but I don't recall many problems occurring with the Cathcart Circle OLE even with all the bad weather over the last few years

 

[Railsigns]

The signalling scheme plan associated with the electrification work shows the footbridge at Nitshill being replaced.

 

[Bald Rick]

Why are the new OLE masts so much more substation than the 1960s one in the foreground for the Cathcart circle? I'm sure the modern mast is stronger, more resilient etc, and but I don't recall many problems occurring with the Cathcart Circle OLE even with all the bad weather over the last few years

the old one in the foreground is carrying the OLE for one track, the new one in the background could be a “Twin Track Cantilever” and carry two. In this case it isn’t (although does have more work to do as it appears to be at an overlap, and is carrying two wires, albeit over the same track. )

 

[59CosG95]

the old one in the foreground is carrying the OLE for one track, the new one in the background could be a “Twin Track Cantilever” and carry two. In this case it isn’t (although does have more work to do as it appears to be at an overlap, and is carrying two wires, albeit over the same track. )

Looks to me as if that TTC in the background was designed to provide safe cess access (i.e. without live parts directly overhead) in the vicinity of the bridge and the points heating transformer/electrical cabinet next to it.

 

[Frankton Junct]

As a driver who regularly stops at Nitshill and having an engineering background, I've studied this foot bridge many a time and it is very much beyond it's design life and requires replacement. The legs on the down platform (Glasgow direction for those not familiar with the line) had to be patched up with large metal plates in 2017 due the massive amount of corrosion in them. It was initially scheduled to be replaced in 2018 before the electrification project was announced.

I'd be extremely surprised if they do not replace it in the near future.

I agree with you that the footbridge at Nitshill looks to be life expired. Perhaps the footbridge I remembered is the one at Kennishead. Pollokshaws West and Barrhead stations have underpasses. The footbridge between Crossmyloof Gardens and Shawlands station (attached to the Cathcart Circle overbridge) will need modifications too.

 

[Southsider]

As a driver who regularly stops at Nitshill and having an engineering background, I've studied this foot bridge many a time and it is very much beyond it's design life and requires replacement. The legs on the down platform (Glasgow direction for those not familiar with the line) had to be patched up with large metal plates in 2017 due the massive amount of corrosion in them. It was initially scheduled to be replaced in 2018 before the electrification project was announced.

I'd be extremely surprised if they do not replace it in the near future.

Not the same bridge (this is Giffnock) but of the same vintage.

 

[N1]

As far as I recall, this 150 year old (my estimate) steel lattice footbridge won't be replaced but the project will modify it with higher solid balustrades

The signalling scheme plan associated with the electrification work shows the footbridge at Nitshill being replaced.

I would be surprised if the footbridge was being modified, as noted it is in poor condition, but as nothing seems to be happening on it then that may well be the case. I think you may be right with the age estimate.

I would have thought if it was being replaced, it would be replaced pre-wiring and definitely pre-energisation. If it was to be replaced with an accessible footbridge I would have also thought it would have been started by now

Not the same bridge (this is Giffnock) but of the same vintage

I believe early in the East Kilbride electrification scheme plan, Giffnock and Clarkston bridges were planned to be replaced with accessible new ones. Clarkston is of the same vintage as well. Don't know if this is still in the scope or not.

 

[Southsider]

I would be surprised if the footbridge was being modified, as noted it is in poor condition, but as nothing seems to be happening on it then that may well be the case. I think you may be right with the age estimate.

I would have thought if it was being replaced, it would be replaced pre-wiring and definitely pre-energisation. If it was to be replaced with an accessible footbridge I would have also thought it would have been started by now




I believe early in the East Kilbride electrification scheme plan, Giffnock and Clarkston bridges were planned to be replaced with accessible new ones. Clarkston is of the same vintage as well. Don't know if this is still in the scope or not.

The Clarkston footbridge was done a number of years ago. It’s a modern structure but I don’t know if it meets clearance requirements.

 

[d9009alycidon]

Footbridge removed at site of proposed new EK train station and transport hub

But plans to install dual track on the line between East Kilbride and Busby were ditched in a sudden U-turn

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

Footbridge removed at site of proposed new Lanarkshire train station and transport hub

But plans to install dual track on the line between East Kilbride and Busby were ditched in a sudden U-turn

Daily Record article.

 

[MadMac]

Footbridge removed at site of proposed new EK train station and transport hub

But plans to install dual track on the line between East Kilbride and Busby were ditched in a sudden U-turn

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

Footbridge removed at site of proposed new Lanarkshire train station and transport hub

But plans to install dual track on the line between East Kilbride and Busby were ditched in a sudden U-turn

Daily Record article.

If it’s the bridge I think (Disclaimer: long-time Hairmyres commuter) it is, its one of several essentially redundant bridges linking fields. As to the hastily-abandoned doubling: I’m still of the view that someone promised this without realising that it had never been double track in the first place. At least one retired BR Ops “higher-up” agrees with me on that. “Redoubling“ and “doubling” are two different animals balance sheet-wise.

 

[Rick1984]

View attachment 128132

That hut could do with being removed, bit of an eyesore

 

[james73]

That but could do with being removed, bit of an eyesore

No way! Save our railway bothies.

 

[mcmad]

If it’s the bridge I think (Disclaimer: long-time Hairmyres commuter) it is, its one of several essentially redundant bridges linking fields. As to the hastily-abandoned doubling: I’m still of the view that someone promised this without realising that it had never been double track in the first place. At least one retired BR Ops “higher-up” agrees with me on that. “Redoubling“ and “doubling” are two different animals balance sheet-wise.

The project had a design developed for double track all the way so it does fit. TS just didn't like the price.

 

[route101]

There is one of them older bridges at Busby too.

 

[Rick1984]

I agree with you that the footbridge at Nitshill looks to be life expired. Perhaps the footbridge I remembered is the one at Kennishead. Pollokshaws West and Barrhead stations have underpasses. The footbridge between Crossmyloof Gardens and Shawlands station (attached to the Cathcart Circle overbridge) will need modifications too.

View attachment 128138

It looks like it be really easy to climb onto the track there. Is that an illusion?

 

[Frankton Junct]

It looks like it be really easy to climb onto the track there. Is that an illusion?

Not at my age, it isn't! It was just as well that the class 314's didn't have open discharge toilets!

At Pollokshaws West station, it appears that the contractors have built a conduit for the earth wire behind platform 1 (Glasgow bound):



I hope (but don't expect) that the project will plant some shrubs to remediate the vegetation they cut back.

 

[InOban]

I would expect it to rewild without any assistance.

 

[Rick1984]

I like the use of a high tech brick under the metal stanchion!

 

[Meerkat]

As a non engineer I just can't get my head round these great big chunky pylons having a gap at the bottom bridged by four skinny little bolts!

 

[hwl]

As a non engineer I just can't get my head round these great big chunky pylons having a gap at the bottom bridged by four skinny little bolts!

You could suspend a fully loaded Ford Transit from just one of them.
The overall design criteria isn't around strength but stiffness as you don't want movement in the structure so once you get to a sensible threaded rod size (these are fine), the key criteria is having them suitably widely spaced.

 

[Meerkat]

You could suspend a fully loaded Ford Transit from just one of them.
The overall design criteria isn't around strength but stiffness as you don't want movement in the structure so once you get to a sensible threaded rod size (these are fine), the key criteria is having them suitably widely spaced.

Prove it!
It just looks weird - all the chunky metal up in the air on just four little bolts.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Prove it!
It just looks weird - all the chunky metal up in the air on just four little bolts.

Normally I would take up the challenge but to be truthful I can’t be a ***d.

 

[Meerkat]

Normally I would take up the challenge but to be truthful I can’t be a ***d.

It would make you famous!
Not sure where you would choose that wouldn’t involve getting caught or hit by a train, but just imagine the responses as it went up the reporting chain.
”Are you trying to tell me you have found a Ford Transit hanging from the OHLE?!”

Anyway, it’s good to see steady progress, any idea if it’s on time and budget?

 

[McRhu]

Re. first pic in post #1,172 courtesy of Frankton Junct.... Does anybody know why the switch from Series 2 to Series 1? This seems to be done quite often. Is it a legitimate design consideration or just using whatever's in the back of the van?

 

[59CosG95]

Re. first pic in post #1,172 courtesy of Frankton Junct.... Does anybody know why the switch from Series 2 to Series 1? This seems to be done quite often. Is it a legitimate design consideration or just using whatever's in the back of the van?

That's a legitimate consideration - SPL have installed Series 1 cantilevers (now part of UKMS along with the Bonomi Series 2 cantilevers) in stations on the MML programme as they have a smaller live envelope. It's a safety consideration which has clearly found its way north of the border too.
(IIRC the F+F Series 1 cantilevers are also in Series 2, but not as commonly used)

 

[McRhu]

That's a legitimate consideration - SPL have installed Series 1 cantilevers (now part of UKMS along with the Bonomi Series 2 cantilevers) in stations on the MML programme as they have a smaller live envelope. It's a safety consideration which has clearly found its way north of the border too.
(IIRC the F+F Series 1 cantilevers are also in Series 2, but not as commonly used)

Thank you for that; I see what you mean. I always thought the MKIII 'platform' type cantilever with the live steelwork more or less perpendicular to the platform edge was a tad unsettling.

 

[zwk500]

Anyway, it’s good to see steady progress, any idea if it’s on time and budget?

According to this article, somewhat incongruously illustrated with some German (or similar) Catenary: https://www.railway-technology.com/news/barrhead-rail-electrification-project/

It's due for completion in Dec '23 (so appears to be on time) and cost £63m, not sure on the tracking for that. AFAICT this is for Barrhead only, not East Kilbride.