Haymarket to Dalmeny electrification

[Avenger20]

Just as an aside, there is still two passengers services per day passing Dalmeny during the closure. 1N79 and 1N80 both continue to run booked route to/from Glasgow Queen Street.

 

[Scotrail344Lad]

Cheers

 

[RiverDon]

The 1B16 Caledonian Sleeper service has left the Dalmeny section, and thus concludes the unelectrified nature of the Haymarket - Dalmeny line.

The line closure has now officially begun. See yous all in 9 days on the other (electrified) side.

Just FYI and you maybe already know this but it's not being switched on when the line reopens. The wires will be 'permanently' earthed until some later time.

 

[TrainViation]

Yes yes, sorry, I didn't make it very clear and was too busy trying to be "poetic"... that is correct.

 

[Scotrail344Lad]

Ha

 

[RiverDon]

Just as an aside, there is still two passengers services per day passing Dalmeny during the closure. 1N79 and 1N80 both continue to run booked route to/from Glasgow Queen Street.

I don't think that's right, I just looked at the WON and the closure is on continuously from Haymarket Central Junction to Inverkeithing for the whole period. The only access for trains is to platform 1 at Inverkeithing. Also they are fixing a bridge at Dalmeny station which requires a bit of both platforms to be removed.

 

[Avenger20]

I don't think that's right, I just looked at the WON and the closure is on continuously from Haymarket Central Junction to Inverkeithing for the whole period. The only access for trains is to platform 1 at Inverkeithing. Also they are fixing a bridge at Dalmeny station which requires a bit of both platforms to be removed.

Curious. The Scotrail app and RTT both suggest that those services are running as booked but having checked the WON myself you are indeed correct. Will see what happens on Monday.

 

[TrainViation]

From a semi-reliable source, it was said that "hopefully they'll get things moving to get the OLE up on Wednesday".
Makes sense considering most of the movements are Wednesday onwards.

 

[QueensCurve]

Just FYI and you maybe already know this but it's not being switched on when the line reopens. The wires will be 'permanently' earthed until some later time.

When do we expect the wires to be stollen?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

When do we expect the wires to be stollen?

I have had too much stollen already this xmas so I don’t mind if some is stolen.

 

[EastFifer]

I have had too much stollen already this xmas so I don’t mind if some is stolen.

Excellent!

 

[zwk500]

When do we expect the wires to be stollen?

I'd have thought they'd be copper myself

 

[ajwffc]

The 1B16 Caledonian Sleeper service has left the Dalmeny section, and thus concludes the unelectrified nature of the Haymarket - Dalmeny line.

The line closure has now officially begun. See yous all in 9 days on the other (electrified) side.

and was late a delayed the start

I don't think that's right, I just looked at the WON and the closure is on continuously from Haymarket Central Junction to Inverkeithing for the whole period. The only access for trains is to platform 1 at Inverkeithing. Also they are fixing a bridge at Dalmeny station which requires a bit of both platforms to be removed.

only over the weekend it is shortened to Dalmeny this morning as they need the branch for the 20+ engineering trains

 

[najaB]

only over the weekend it is shortened to Dalmeny this morning as they need the branch for the 20+ engineering trains

Random question but are they doing any work on the Forth Bridge at this time since there's a block? It's not often that they'll have a complete block for this long a period, not sure if there's any deferred maintenance work that they can do at the same time.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Random question but are they doing any work on the Forth Bridge at this time since there's a block? It's not often that they'll have a complete block for this long a period, not sure if there's any deferred maintenance work that they can do at the same time.

It would certainly make sense but I fear not sadly!

 

[ajwffc]

Random question but are they doing any work on the Forth Bridge at this time since there's a block? It's not often that they'll have a complete block for this long a period, not sure if there's any deferred maintenance work that they can do at the same time.

There was work on it over the weekend both to the track over it and on the bridge itself

 

[najaB]

There was work on it over the weekend both to the track over it and on the bridge itself

Thanks!

 

[InOban]

NR Scotland are increasingly good at carrying out work during a block, unrelated to the primary reason for the block. Indeed not just in Scotland - during the Cumbrian blockade recently they also worked on the OHLE in the Lune Valley.

 

[TrainViation]

I’ve heard from a source that NR is now realising the A8 road bridge next to Edinburgh Gateway station is too low to fit wires… that’ll be fun to work around.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

NR Scotland are increasingly good at carrying out work during a block, unrelated to the primary reason for the block. Indeed not just in Scotland - during the Cumbrian blockade recently they also worked on the OHLE in the Lune Valley.

That really is great to hear.

 

[SoloSR334022]

I’ve heard from a source that NR is now realising the A8 road bridge next to Edinburgh Gateway station is too low to fit wires… that’ll be fun to work around.

Is it possible to just drop and re-raise the pantograph through the section, otherwise they'll have to close the bridge in sections as to not completely shut off the A8.

 

[rmHawk765]

Is it possible to just drop and re-raise the pantograph through the section, otherwise they'll have to close the bridge in sections as to not completely shut off the A8.

It's possible but you'd have to have magnets to trigger it. AFAIK magnets like these are currently only used in neutral sections to switch the VCB off, not to physically lower the panto.

 

[najaB]

I’ve heard from a source that NR is now realising the A8 road bridge next to Edinburgh Gateway station is too low to fit wires… that’ll be fun to work around.

Maybe a short section of solid bar conductor, depending on how tight the clearance is?

 

[Elecman]

Maybe a short section of solid bar conductor, depending on how tight the clearance is?

And the ussual voltage control diverters installed either side of the bridge to reduce flashover

 

[GRALISTAIR]

And the usual voltage control diverters installed either side of the bridge to reduce flashover

Is that the fancy name for surge arrestors around bridges etc?


Like this quoted from the PACE webpage.

Existing tunnel and bridge structures can present challenging environments for rail electrification projects. Low bridges, tightly curved tunnels and listed structures often mean that meeting target electrical clearances requires substantial structural alterations. Reconstruction, track lowering or bridge jacking will add significant project costs and disruption for possessions. Many OLE installations under these structures also add an ongoing maintenance burden to prevent leakage and flashovers.

PACE Networks provide a Low Profile Tunnel Solution and a range of bridge arms that will help you to successfully implement smaller overhead line clearances, reducing the need for reconstruction and making significant project cost savings. They are more adaptable to better fit the existing environment, simpler and lighter, meaning they are faster to install, and require less maintenance than alternatives.

 

[Phillipimo]

Is that the fancy name for surge arrestors around bridges etc?

Here are a couple of screenshots from the video in post #794 of a back cab ride through Edinburgh Gateway in August.

First shows surge arrestors in place on the south side of the A8 bridge (Also visible on Google Streetview).

Second shows the supports for the overhead wires already installed under the bridge.

To me that suggests that this bridge shouldn't be an issue unless there was a big problem with the design which Network Rail have only just realised, but I doubt it.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Thanks for those photos.

 

[Elecman]

Is that the fancy name for surge arrestors around bridges etc?


Like this quoted from the PACE webpage.

Yes amongst other things

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jan 2026 ==

Here are a couple of screenshots from the video in post #794 of a back cab ride through Edinburgh Gateway in August.

First shows surge arrestors in place on the south side of the A8 bridge (Also visible on Google Streetview).

Second shows the supports for the overhead wires already installed under the bridge.

To me that suggests that this bridge shouldn't be an issue unless there was a big problem with the design which Network Rail have only just realised, but I doubt it.

Those aren’t surge arrestors

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I’ve heard from a source that NR is now realising the A8 road bridge next to Edinburgh Gateway station is too low to fit wires… that’ll be fun to work around.

Its not an arched bridge but im surmising the wire height through the station platforms has to be at a minimum which may be the issue.

 

[Scotrail344Lad]

Potentially. I am sure they will have plans though.