East Kilbride/Barrhead electrification updates

[jamieintercity]

Is there any work being done between kilmarnock and barrhead whilst the line is currently closed?

 

[snowball]

Is there any work being done between kilmarnock and barrhead whilst the line is currently closed?

The press release in #1425 said

Beyond Barrhead, track, signalling and embankment upgrades will also be delivered near Lugton, in East Ayrshire, while the line is closed.

 

[jamieintercity]

The press release in #1425 said

So does the signalling upgrades mean lugton signal box is to close or is it remaining open for the foreseeable future along with the semaphore signals?

 

[nlogax]

So does the signalling upgrades mean lugton signal box is to close or is it remaining open for the foreseeable future along with the semaphore signals?

I recently read somewhere that the Lugton box is scheduled to close this year so I wonder if that will happen during this blockade. Barrhead's box went some months before this summer's work started.

 

[Railsigns]

I recently read somewhere that the Lugton box is scheduled to close this year.

It isn't.

 

[nlogax]

It isn't.

Is Section C info now out of date?

https://signalbox.org/section-c/alterations-2023/

Are actual dates available?

 

[Railsigns]

Is Section C info now out of date?

https://signalbox.org/section-c/alterations-2023/

Are actual dates available?

The information there has been hopelessly unreliable ever since a strategy for the migration of signalling control to ROCs was produced about ten years ago, which the compiler of those pages decided to treat as gospel rather than a wish-list. Until then, they had only included projects that were funded and stood a good chance of coming to fruition.

 

[Southsider]

Had a look over the parapets of Church Road bridge when out for a walk this evening. No sign of piles in either direction.

 

[nlogax]

As of this morning catenery and contact wires are now in place on the westbound track over Levern Water Viaduct and towards Barrhead station.

 

[snowball]

Had a look over the parapets of Church Road bridge when out for a walk this evening. No sign of piles in either direction.

For the benefit of non-locals could you clarify which Church Road? I can find several in the general vicinity of the Barrhead and EK lines but haven't found one crossing the line.

Edit: I've now found a Church Road a short distance towards EK from Giffnock station. (For some reason, the Google Streetview car seems to have avoided going near the bridge!)

 

[Southsider]

For the benefit of non-locals could you clarify which Church Road? I can find several in the general vicinity of the Barrhead and EK lines but haven't found one crossing the line.

Edit: I've now found a Church Road a short distance towards EK from Giffnock station. (For some reason, the Google Streetview car seems to have avoided going near the bridge!)

That’s the one

 

[380101]

Had a look over the parapets of Church Road bridge when out for a walk this evening. No sign of piles in either direction.

Piles stop a short distance beyond Thornliebank station towards Giffnock on the down line only, so far. Think I've counted 3 or 4, but hard to see due to the explosion of weeds.

 

[OB23Gone]

Had a look over the parapets of Church Road bridge when out for a walk this evening. No sign of piles in either direction.

Went out today to have a look from Church Road bridge and as you say No Piles in sight. Couldn't get any closer as didn't have much time and couldn't find a nearby parking place. Maybe have a closer look from the station at a similar level to that as from the train. Or maybe I might just go to Specsavers.

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

As of this morning catenery and contact wires are now in place on the westbound track over Levern Water Viaduct and towards Barrhead station.

As of this morning catenery and contact wires are now in place on the westbound track over Levern Water Viaduct and towards Barrhead station.

Both lines have been installed as far as the turning point at the end of Commercial Road as of this afternoon. Masts and portals are all in to the start of platform 1. Presumably the next wire run will be from Commercial Rd to there. Only through the station and as far as the end of the run of beyond to go. Lastly the bits through Busby Junction from Shaw's Bowling Club and some towards Kennishead. Then almost all good to go excluding adjustments etc.. Someone will probably explain what that entails, hopefully

 

[Southsider]

Is there any work being done between kilmarnock and barrhead whilst the line is currently closed?

Driving between Barrhead and Lugton this morning there were two parts of the line where work crews were active.

 

[InOban]

Driving between Barrhead and Lugton this morning there were two parts of the line where work crews were active.

Network Rail Scotland have posted a video. They're replacing the lamp units and upgrading the area around the bases to improve reliability and maintenance access. They will then move to Kilmarnock. So clearly the semaphores will be there for some time.

 

[Southsider]

I’ve run parallel to and crossed the line at various places on my travels over the last few days. I could have missed something but it looks like wires are up on both lines all the way from Muirhouse to Barrhead with just the final stretch into Barrhead station to complete. Does this tally with other people’s observations?

 

[snowball]

I’ve run parallel to and crossed the line at various places on my travels over the last few days. I could have missed something but it looks like wires are up on both lines all the way from Muirhouse to Barrhead with just the final stretch into Barrhead station to complete. Does this tally with other people’s observations?

So perhaps it could be live by 6 Aug as suggested at the end of #1437.

 

[Frankton Junct]

I’ve run parallel to and crossed the line at various places on my travels over the last few days. I could have missed something but it looks like wires are up on both lines all the way from Muirhouse to Barrhead with just the final stretch into Barrhead station to complete. Does this tally with other people’s observations?

The wiring run on the Down Barrhead from the Pollokshaws Bowling Club through Busby junction has been done. However, there are still two drums beside the site of the demolished Cartcraigs bridge with no wires attached. So, more work is to be done at Busby junction.

 

[OB23Gone]

I’ve run parallel to and crossed the line at various places on my travels over the last few days. I could have missed something but it looks like wires are up on both lines all the way from Muirhouse to Barrhead with just the final stretch into Barrhead station to complete. Does this tally with other people’s observations?

Only bits remaining to be done are as you say are from the end of Commercial Rd. Barrhead to the end of the planned electrification. This approximately 1.24 km long. As of yesterday 24th all but the 3 mast pillars on the station side lack masts. Viewing platform 3 side is not possible. Levernwater Viaduct lacks 1 set of masts and a portal although the wires have been installed. The wires on the Barrhead Bound section between Busby Jn. and the Kennishead High Flats out to Pollokshaws Bowling Club wetre run in on Sunday morning as there was no sign of them on Saturday. Think there is some finishing of works around Busby Jn. though. A couple of weeks back A Railway Neighbor leaflet was delivered saying "Electrified Lines Are Always on SO ALWAYS STAY OFF"

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Jul 2023 ==

Only bits remaining to be done are as you say are from the end of Commercial Rd. Barrhead to the end of the planned electrification. This approximately 1.24 km long. As of yesterday 24th all but the 3 mast pillars on the station side lack masts. Viewing platform 3 side is not possible. Levernwater Viaduct lacks 1 set of masts and a portal although the wires have been installed. The wires on the Barrhead Bound section between Busby Jn. and the Kennishead High Flats out to Pollokshaws Bowling Club wetre run in on Sunday morning as there was no sign of them on Saturday. Think there is some finishing of works around Busby Jn. though. A couple of weeks back A Railway Neighbor leaflet was delivered saying "Electrified Lines Are Always on SO ALWAYS STAY OFF"

Other 2 Files

 

[snowball]

Levernwater Viaduct lacks 1 set of masts and a portal although the wires have been installed.

I didn't know until now that it was ever done to put up the wires with not all masts in place. That's an impressive span over the viaduct.

 

[OB23Gone]

At Barrhead station, the temporary road traffic signals have been removed (they were there when a low loader was parked outside the station on Paisley Road).

There is a new foundation on the Carlibar Road (main entrance) side of the station.

The short term parking bay that was used for the Rail Replacement Bus is now fenced in and in use as a temporary compound. Apparently, the bus contractor was not informed of this decision and so they need to change their pick up and drop off point, otherwise their coaches obstruct the road.


View attachment 138499View attachment 138501

Changes at Barrhead Station. Masts at front of station in, ramp taking shape, track renewal work for platform 3. There were 2 Engineers trains in today Mon 24th July lifting out the old track & removing the spent ballast etc

 

[WesternBiker]

Changes at Barrhead Station. Masts at front of station in, ramp taking shape, track renewal work for platform 3. There were 2 Engineers trains in today Mon 24th July lifting out the old track & removing the spent ballast etc

Great photographs...and good to see progress. It looks as though they could do with a weedkiller train through the main running lines, too...

 

[nlogax]

Great photographs...and good to see progress. It looks as though they could do with a weedkiller train through the main running lines, too...

Indeed, really terrific shots. Thank you @OB23Gone.

I've never seen OLE mounted on tall brick columns before, are there other examples like this? As for the weeds it looks like they've only sprung up in the last three - four weeks since the closure!

 

[pdeaves]

I've never seen OLE mounted on tall brick columns before

That looks quite comical to me. I don't know why, there must be thousands of things funnier.

 

[Nottingham59]

I've never seen OLE mounted on tall brick columns before

I can only assume that is brick facing on a metal column. Or the bolts go all the way down to the ground. A purely brick tower with mortared joints wouldn't provide the tensile forces to resist a sideways pressure on the OHLE.

 

[sannox]

I can only assume that is brick facing on a metal column. Or the bolts go all the way down to the ground. A purely brick tower with mortared joints wouldn't provide the tensile forces to resist a sideways pressure on the OHLE.

It looks like facing panels.

Not particularly sympathetic looking.

 

[OB23Gone]

I can only assume that is brick facing on a metal column. Or the bolts go all the way down to the ground. A purely brick tower with mortared joints wouldn't provide the tensile forces to resist a sideways pressure on the OHLE.

Frightening looking in real life actually. Didn't notice what the actual initial construction was like. Only assumption is that standard mast piles were driven in initially then a concrete pouring around these and then facing brick. Yes not very sympathetic. I would imagine that the same type of brackets as on the Levernwater Viaduct, some of the rods had to go in as far as 4 mtrs ,couldn't be installed here as they would end up penetrating into the station Hall/offices. When you actually see the gap between the column and the retaining wall the cantilever weight of the cantilever plus the weight of the return cable, lvce cable etc would be enough to tilt it in towards the station. No doubt all the safety calculations have been done and ratified

 

[nlogax]

It looks like facing panels.

Not particularly sympathetic looking.

Have just reminded myself of @Frankton Junct's post (#1499) which clearly shows the structure adjacent to Cross Arthurlie St bridge being cast in concrete. In the above update that's now received a brick facing so I'm fairly sure all three examples are of similar construction.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I've never seen OLE mounted on tall brick columns before, are there other examples like this? As for the weeds it looks like they've only sprung up in the last three - four weeks since the closure!

Yes me neither. Looks really weird and yet fascinating.

I can only assume that is brick facing on a metal column. Or the bolts go all the way down to the ground. A purely brick tower with mortared joints wouldn't provide the tensile forces to resist a sideways pressure on the OHLE.

exactly.

 

[snowball]

Only bits remaining to be done are as you say are from the end of Commercial Rd. Barrhead to the end of the planned electrification. This approximately 1.24 km long.

Does that mean the wires will extend onto the start of the single track section south of the station?