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East Kilbride/Barrhead electrification updates
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Trainbike46
Established Member
what is happening at carstairs?
See its thread:
Carstairs Overhead Line Equipment renewals and upgrade
Although not an extension of the electrification route mileage, the Carstairs Junction renewals project is a significant investment in OHLE. Today, I visited Carstairs Junction, here are some photos:
www.railforums.co.uk
The majority of the piles and structures were completed ahead but there is still a vast amount of OLE works to be completed within the current stages to support the changed track layouts.
Was at Story Contracts on Thursday and they were sending out a Piling RRV and trailers to Robslee Drive Compound which is used for working from for this work. On Wednesday Quattro had an RRV and trailers on. A good quantity of piles could be seen in the compound.
Would have thought now that a good deal of the work at Carstairs has been carried out that some more time and machines would be available to concentrate on this part of the project
Several Quattro RRVs sitting in the compound at Nitshill this morning that weren't there yesterday, so hopefully a bit of progress is made on installing the last of the masts on the Barrhead route this weekend.
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Not many gaps in the masts now
pollokshaws West on bridge over the White Cart Between Barrhead Road and Busby Junction. Possibly the cutting just after Priestley & Darnley Station. The Levernwater Bridge Arches, Rest of Viaduct completed and through to Barrhead Station Throat. Nothing in Station. A couple of pictures from Friday 14th April
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GRALISTAIR
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Good news. Thanks for posting
Excellent news that the masts on the Barrhead line are in sight of completion.
According to the 2022 Enhancements Delivery Plan Milestones Schedule, there is to be a blockade on the Barrhead line in (or finishing by) August this year, and another on the EK branch in (or finishing by) July next year.
Do we know what works will be done during the Barrhead blockade?
According to the 2022 Enhancements Delivery Plan Milestones Schedule, there is to be a blockade on the Barrhead line in (or finishing by) August this year, and another on the EK branch in (or finishing by) July next year.
Do we know what works will be done during the Barrhead blockade?
The crazy bit of irnory is the Babcock Cranes are on site and could have been used on piling when not doing trackork. Their wiring train has been siting at Polnadie for many months. Doesn't really fill me with confidence of Projevt Planning skills.
The wiring train hasn't been used on projects since SDA one. Also told coming in too high in hiring in costs.
The 2 SB cranes at Carstairs have seen extensive work since Carstairs started beginning of March and will be back this Friday having been away for just over the last week and a bit.
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Example of some of the piling work requiring to be carried out during the blockade. The Piling on the Down side, pic 1 are 12mtrs deep & 14mtrs on the Up Side. Make up is Top Soil, sand, coal and then clay before solid ground
In picture 5 4 of these MEWPs, in the background pic 1, are now in Nitshill Compound
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Southsider
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I went along to the information session at Giffnock Library this afternoon. Sadly I knew more about the project than the Network Rail staff I spoke to did or were prepared to discuss.
On a few specifics :
Q. When will the piling start on the EK branch?
A. At the end of June. The three to four month delay is due to encountering problematic ground conditions on the Barrhead line which will take until then to resolve.
Q. Where will the rolling stock come from given no new order has been placed?
A. Not our problem, one for Scotrail and Transport Scotland to resolve.
Q. Is it still planned to have a second platform at EK?
A. No, the line will be single track. (I know …. but it wasn’t worth pursuing).
Q. What plans are in place for the numerous arched bridges on the branch.
A. No plans in place yet.
I pressed them on their lack of knowledge on the project and they admitted that they were just there to field questions on the piling as it will be noisy and intrusive. A bit of box ticking?
On a few specifics :
Q. When will the piling start on the EK branch?
A. At the end of June. The three to four month delay is due to encountering problematic ground conditions on the Barrhead line which will take until then to resolve.
Q. Where will the rolling stock come from given no new order has been placed?
A. Not our problem, one for Scotrail and Transport Scotland to resolve.
Q. Is it still planned to have a second platform at EK?
A. No, the line will be single track. (I know …. but it wasn’t worth pursuing).
Q. What plans are in place for the numerous arched bridges on the branch.
A. No plans in place yet.
I pressed them on their lack of knowledge on the project and they admitted that they were just there to field questions on the piling as it will be noisy and intrusive. A bit of box ticking?
Falcon1200
Established Member
Unless Scotrail are planning to restore the full pre-Covid timetable, of which there is no sign, stock will not be an issue, given the number of services withdrawn, eg the Ayr expresses.
(NR would not be involved in rolling stock provision at all, of course).
If ground conditions are a problem .cast base could be used.
Plenty of quality second hand units available to use fron store. New could be a problem.
A solution for arched bridges is available and has been used in the Sourh.
Southsider
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I’m assuming the solution you refer to is something other than complete demolition and replacement, can you elaborate on what it is?
Bridge lift could solve Network Rail electrification woes | New Civil Engineer
ElevArch rail business development manager John Kennils said it would be possible to avoid demolishing the bridge by jacking it up to create the required
www.newcivilengineer.com
This is an article in New Civil Engineer in August 2018
Southsider
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Many thanks, very interesting.Bridge lift could solve Network Rail electrification woes | New Civil Engineer
ElevArch rail business development manager John Kennils said it would be possible to avoid demolishing the bridge by jacking it up to create the required
This is an article in New Civil Engineer in August 2018
zwk500
Veteran Member
Bridge lift could solve Network Rail electrification woes | New Civil Engineer
ElevArch rail business development manager John Kennils said it would be possible to avoid demolishing the bridge by jacking it up to create the required
This is an article in New Civil Engineer in August 2018
It should be pointed out that arch jacking has been done only 1 time, and that was on a line closed for reconstruction. There's a timelapse somewhere that shows it isn't a quick process and involves closure of road and railway for a substantial time, while not being immune from risk as the arch can shift while jacking or settle after jacking, and an arch bridge's strength is inherently tied to the integrity of the structure - 1 brick out of place can fundamentally weaken the structure to such a point that it will eventually fail.
Guess thst is a ridk you take with the process. Cant see any alternative to close both road and rail to carry it out.
Ir was a listed structure that coukd not be demolished.
The bridge at Steventon, which is central to the way NCE presents that report, remains unlifted and, as far as I know, physically unmodified. The saga of that bridge has received much coverage on this forum and in publications such as Modern Railways.
zwk500
Veteran Member
AIUI the problem was not the bridge in isolation but its proximity to the level crossing which made the wire gradient too steep. A combination of solutions was used to ease the gradient slightly that it was acceptable with an enhanced maintenance regime (but I can't remember what all of them are).
Whereas if the arched bridge is physically preventing the wire being run through that's a different issue. The Arch Jacking on EWR was a trial and AFAIK has not been used again, although it is an interesting option should aesthetic concerns be prominent again.
Frankton Junct
Member
Tubular steel piles have been driven at Busby Junction and other types of piles/foundations have been built in the rock cuttings. Masts are still to be erected on these piles.
The first bracket is on the Pollokshaws Viaduct.
There is an additional mast on Priesthill & Darnley Station. Plus an additional pile next to the over bridge. This indicates that wires will go through under the bridge and no need for demolition and replacement.
Kennishead station now has masts installed. So fewer gaps to be sorted
Southsider
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I found this in a presentation on Paisley Canal electrification.
It shows the issue with the arched bridges on the EK line and the amount of lowering that would be required. At almost half a metre is this achievable at bridges at the end of platforms without lowering the platforms themselves?
59CosG95
Established Member
IIRC, all new schemes have to comply with the standards set out in GL/RT1210 (unless a derogation is applied for).
In public-interfacing areas, such as station platforms, no live elements of an OLE system (including pantograph horns on passing trains) must come within 3.5m of a credible standing surface. Even if the OLE is greater than 3.5m from the platform, an energised pantograph horn could breach that envelope, especially under dynamic conditions (i.e. when the train is moving).
The dynamic envelope tends to be larger at higher speeds due to oscillation. However this might not be as much of an issue on the EK branch (it's hardly a 125mph section of the ECML after all!).
The bigger issue is definitely with regards to grading either side of the station (what with the need for contenary and low wire height through the bridges) - personally, even with all the work due to be pumped in, I wouldn't be surprised if a derogation is applied for.
1/2 A bracket has appeared on the park side of the line. Hefty pieces of kit.
Don't know if this is the cutting you are refereeing to but these are appearing along the cutting between Barrhead Road and Busby Junction. Believe they are called Micro Piles! according to an SPL operative I was talking to at Nitshill Compound. He also mentioned the 6 week blockade in June & July that will see the section All but completed
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GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Fantastic close-up shots - thanks for posting.
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