Borders line (Scotland) electrification news and updates

[och aye]

Press release from NR:

First visible signs of electrification appear on Borders railway​

First visible signs of electrification appear on Borders railway

The electrification of the Borders railway is starting to take shape, as engineers begin installing the steel masts that will support the overhead wires needed for new battery-electric trains.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

The electrification of the Borders railway is starting to take shape, as engineers begin installing the steel masts that will support the overhead wires needed for new battery-electric trains.

It’s part of a £26.2m Scottish Government investment to electrify 13km of the route between Edinburgh and Tweedbank ahead of the arrival of battery-electric trains in the early 2030s. These new fleets will help to deliver more sustainable, reliable and comfortable journeys for passengers.

While the most noticeable parts of the project are only now appearing along the line, much of the preparation for electrification was completed before the railway reopened in 2015. Bridges, stations and other infrastructure were designed with future electrification in mind, reducing the need for major reconstruction work today.

Since work began in March, teams have focused on installing the foundations for 350 new overhead line structures. With around half now complete, work is moving on to erecting the steel masts and support arms which people will see between Tweedbank and Bowshank Tunnel near Stow.

Most of the work is taking place overnight and at weekends to minimise disruption for passengers. Once all structures are in place, attention will turn to installing the wiring, testing the new equipment and final preparations for the introduction of battery-electric trains.

 

[brad465]

How far off is the BEMU fleet that will take advantage of this work? I get the impression at this rate the infrastructure will be ready well before the fleet is.

 

[themiller]

How far off is the BEMU fleet that will take advantage of this work? I get the impression at this rate the infrastructure will be ready well before the fleet is.

Since the line was supposed to have been constructed with wiring in mind, they may have a change of mind and wire the lot to get electric trains running as soon as possible! But this is speculation territory!

 

[John R]

Since the line was supposed to have been constructed with wiring in mind, they may have a change of mind and wire the lot to get electric trains running as soon as possible! But this is speculation territory!

Unlikely, as they won’t have any spare EMUs to run on it.

 

[AndrewE]

Unlikely, as they won’t have any spare EMUs to run on it.

and they haven't got any BEMUs yet either...!

 

[John R]

have they got BEMUs yet either?

No, that’s what they are currently in the process of procuring, but they won’t be available until after 2030, as the press release clearly states.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

No, that’s what they are currently in the process of procuring, but they won’t be available until after 2030, as the press release clearly states.

And that's without any of the inevitable delays and complications in testing and commissioning that befall most fleets, especially one that is instituting a completely new operational model

How far off is the BEMU fleet that will take advantage of this work? I get the impression at this rate the infrastructure will be ready well before the fleet is.

Same with Fife Circle really

 

[AMD]

I was down recently and took some video showing progress with the masts going up -

 

[brad465]

And that's without any of the inevitable delays and complications in testing and commissioning that befall most fleets, especially one that is instituting a completely new operational model

Same with Fife Circle really

At least some of the Fife Circle can be utilised by LNER 800s if live before the new fleet arrives. The only thing that might use the Borders' wires beforehand is if 99s ever do a railtour down there, or an IET goes down there for some reason.

 

[AdamWW]

And that's without any of the inevitable delays and complications in testing and commissioning that befall most fleets, especially one that is instituting a completely new operational model

New to Scotrail yes, but of course not new to the UK.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

New to Scotrail yes, but of course not new to the UK.

I'd say it's quite a new change, electric traction with discontinuities of 10s of miles. This is quite apart from Core Valley Lines where the longest stretch off is about 4 miles. These new schemes have all sorts of considerations like how the islands that are wired correspond to a single dual FS and so could be fully out of use. None wired sections of CVL are all wired together.