Haymarket to Dalmeny electrification

[najaB]

The current South to East curve at Carstairs was originally the Dolphinton Branch I believe.

I thought that the Dolphinton branch junction faced the other direction?

NLS side-by-side map viewer link: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sid...at=55.68979&lon=-3.65882&layers=168&right=osm

 

[takno]

The current South to East curve at Carstairs was originally the Dolphinton Branch I believe.

one of the reasons I've heard suggested for Queens Curve being abandoned was that the dolphington branch was built and cut through the formation. That would certainly suggest a branch which joined facing Carstairs with the primary service towards Carstairs or Glasgow.

The whole area seems to be weirdly buried in railway folklore though, where we usually have a fairly concrete idea of what lines went where in other locations

 

[TrainViation]

After submitting an FOI, I can confirm that the scheduled EIS (entry into service)
for the new overhead equipment between Haymarket and Dalmeny will be March 2027.

It does baffle me that it'll take seven months between completion of wiring and EIS...

 

[absolutelymilk]

After submitting an FOI, I can confirm that the scheduled EIS (entry into service)
for the new overhead equipment between Haymarket and Dalmeny will be March 2027.

It does baffle me that it'll take seven months between completion of wiring and EIS...

Thanks - is that FoI available anywhere online?

 

[Siemens Trains]

one of the reasons I've heard suggested for Queens Curve being abandoned was that the dolphington branch was built and cut through the formation. That would certainly suggest a branch which joined facing Carstairs with the primary service towards Carstairs or Glasgow.

The whole area seems to be weirdly buried in railway folklore though, where we usually have a fairly concrete idea of what lines went where in other locations

Now you're just doing it on purpose!

The disused railway line near Carstairs is Dolphinton, with no G. Its Caley and North British stations mentioned by @ian1944 are shown on the old map supplied by @najaB. There is no electrification here. In fact there's no railway here either.

However Haymarket to Dalmeny electrification work has reached Dolphington, with a G. I'll attach a copy of the relevant map showing the bridge and spelling convention for this area.

Unfortunately Network Rail's signs (both pre- and post-electrification) call overbridge 24 at Dalmeny "Dolphinton" like the place near Carstairs instead of Dolphington which is where the bridge is located. I'll attach a photo of the sign below.

I'm pretty sure this is a straightforward mistake on Network Rail's part due to the name similarity and the unusual railway history of the place near Carstairs.

 

[TrainViation]

Thanks - is that FoI available anywhere online?

I'll link it here: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/future_electrification_in_fife_d#incoming-3424582

And for simplification, I'll attach the response PDF as well below.

(I also asked other questions which aren't so relevant, but still useful nonetheless.)

 

[ajwffc]

After submitting an FOI, I can confirm that the scheduled EIS (entry into service)
for the new overhead equipment between Haymarket and Dalmeny will be March 2027.

It does baffle me that it'll take seven months between completion of wiring and EIS...

probably testing and other work to the power supply

 

[och aye]

probably testing and other work to the power supply

I would imagine so. I doubt it's as simple as plugging it into a socket and switching it on. If only rail electrification was that simple.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

They also need time to actually correct any issues identified in testing, there also really is no rush because LNER don't strictly need to use the wires and Scotrail's bimodes are not even vector art. Reminds me of York-Church Fenton wiring.

 

[najaB]

probably testing and other work to the power supply

Is it a long enough stretch of track that timetable adjustments would be required?

 

[och aye]

Now you're just doing it on purpose!

The disused railway line near Carstairs is Dolphinton, with no G. Its Caley and North British stations mentioned by @ian1944 are shown on the old map supplied by @najaB. There is no electrification here. In fact there's no railway here either.

However Haymarket to Dalmeny electrification work has reached Dolphington, with a G. I'll attach a copy of the relevant map showing the bridge and spelling convention for this area.

Unfortunately Network Rail's signs (both pre- and post-electrification) call overbridge 24 at Dalmeny "Dolphinton" like the place near Carstairs instead of Dolphington which is where the bridge is located. I'll attach a photo of the sign below.

I'm pretty sure this is a straightforward mistake on Network Rail's part due to the name similarity and the unusual railway history of the place near Carstairs.

Have you contacted Network Rail? A simply tweet to @networkrailscot with your images may be all that's required to have them correct it.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Is it a long enough stretch of track that timetable adjustments would be required?

There might a slight benefit for an LNER but cant see them bothering to change the timings over such a short distance

 

[najaB]

There might a slight benefit for an LNER but cant see them bothering to change the timings over such a short distance

Didn't think so. but you never know.

 

[ajwffc]

Is it a long enough stretch of track that timetable adjustments would be required?

The E&G ran with the old 158/170 timings for a while after the wires went up.

Have you contacted Network Rail? A simply tweet to @networkrailscot with your images may be all that's required to have them correct it.

I doubt it would get changed as there is a lot of documents that would need to be changed.

 

[Falcon1200]

Is it a long enough stretch of track that timetable adjustments would be required?

Any timetable adjustments for the LNER trains (only) would probably cause conflict with other services, in both directions.

 

[TrainViation]

This is the latest update of progress I’ve seen in the past few weeks, showing Edinburgh Gateway now having both lines with partially installed wires.

 

[TrainViation]

Edinburgh Gateway is now fully wired, and a new TTC mast has been installed next to the bridge at South Gyle station on the car park side.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Edinburgh Gateway is now fully wired, and a new TTC mast has been installed next to the bridge at South Gyle station on the car park side.

Fabulous. Each bit helps.

 

[Scotrail344Lad]

Thanks for the update.

 

[TrainViation]

South Gyle now has some wires in place on the up line, however none have been registered yet.

 

[TrainViation]

The short section of masts on both lines next to the northern terminus of the section near Dolphinton now have SPS, but I'm unsure if they have wires yet. Just passed on the X59 to Edinburgh so wasn’t the best view.

 

[TrainViation]

The up line at South Gyle is now registered, and the down line has been installed but not registered yet.

 

[TrainViation]

It looks like the overhead lines at South Gyle and towards Edinburgh are now registered, as shown in this photo by John Webb on Flickr:

SOUTH GYLE 221117

SHOT AT SOUTH GYLE STATION 09/08/2026. DEPICTS THE 5A66 ECS CRAIGENTINNY TO DUNDEE SERVICE

www.flickr.com

 

[TrainViation]

As of the 5th of September, all works relating to the installation and registration of the Haymarket West Jn - Dalmeny electrification have been completed.

All that awaits now in the next six months is the testing and commissioning of the overhead line equipment into public service.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

That is absolutely fantastic news. Thanks for posting.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

As of the 5th of September, all works relating to the installation and registration of the Haymarket West Jn - Dalmeny electrification have been completed.

All that awaits now in the next six months is the testing and commissioning of the overhead line equipment into public service.

Will LNER take advantage for a few miles given its drivers on this leg are probably trained on diesel only operation?

 

[positron]

Depends if the electric costs are worth it to save on diesel costs.

 

[najaB]

Will LNER take advantage for a few miles given its drivers on this leg are probably trained on diesel only operation?

Is that the case? Do no LNER drivers cover both north and south of Edinburgh?

 

[Bald Rick]

Is that the case? Do no LNER drivers cover both north and south of Edinburgh?

AIUI Edinburgh drivers go both ways if you’ll pardon the expression. Newcastle used to do the Highlander and Lodge but I seem to remember that changing in December (could be wrong).

 

[Highlander1]

Will LNER take advantage for a few miles given its drivers on this leg are probably trained on diesel only operation?

They run electric to Haymarket at the moment so they won't be trained on diesel only.