East Kilbride/Barrhead electrification updates

[Southsider]

I don’t know if you ever experienced it in a 1st generation DMU: it was worse…..

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Jul 2023 ==


Biggest problems I see from my non-civil engineering perspective are Clarkston Toll (major road) and Thorntonhall (right next to the station). Everything else should be relatively straightforward including getting rid of redundant bridges (I think a couple near Hairmyres were removed recently). Beyond Hairmyres, the bridges are modern and shouldn’t present any clearance issues.

The fact that there are two, low, arched bridges either end of Clarkston station is an interesting problem. No simple diversion routes for large vehicles if they’re replaced, track lowering would require platform lowering.

 

[najaB]

The fact that there are two, low, arched bridges either end of Clarkston station is an interesting problem. No simple diversion routes for large vehicles if they’re replaced, track lowering would require platform lowering.

You don't happen to know what the local rainwater drainage is like? Is lowering even an option?

 

[snowball]

As I've said several times before, for the B767 the obvious solution is to realign it onto a new bridge.

 

[Southsider]

As I've said several times before, for the B767 the obvious solution is to realign it onto a new bridge.

It is indeed and get rid of the dangerous dog leg while they’re at it.

 

[d9009alycidon]

You don't happen to know what the local rainwater drainage is like? Is lowering even an option?

Given the gradient I would doubt if drainage would be an issue. The service access to the shops is also lower than the track level

 

[MadMac]

Given the gradient I would doubt if drainage would be an issue. The service access to the shops is also lower than the track level

I don’t recall any drainage/flooding issues there.

 

[Frankton Junct]

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.

 

[kaysha]

I don’t know if you ever experienced it in a 1st generation DMU: it was worse…..

Yes I did! When I started work in 1975 and used the train to get to work I think it took the thick end of 1/2 hour to travel the short distance from Glasgow to Clarkston. If travelling outwith the rush hour the bus was always quicker and more frequent. It was only one train an hour and no Sunday service then.

 

[MadMac]

The fact that there are two, low, arched bridges either end of Clarkston station is an interesting problem. No simple diversion routes for large vehicles if they’re replaced, track lowering would require platform lowering.

The one at the Busby end doesn’t look as if a period of closure would present that much of a problem, leading to housing with other ways in. Clarkston Road would be a difficult matter with no easy diversion around it. Like others, I’m surprised that there’s been little information out there as yet.

 

[sannox]

The one at the Busby end doesn’t look as if a period of closure would present that much of a problem, leading to housing with other ways in. Clarkston Road would be a difficult matter with no easy diversion around it. Like others, I’m surprised that there’s been little information out there as yet.

Clarkston Road is probably off-line construction, move to new bridge and then demolish old one.

 

[ld0595]

Clarkston Road is probably off-line construction, move to new bridge and then demolish old one.

There's not really the space to move to a new one while the old one is still there.

 

[Southsider]

There's not really the space to move to a new one while the old one is still there.

It depends on the alignment that is used. A diagonal from before the existing bridge to the roundabout seems feasible. It would also make it easier for buses and HGVs to negotiate.

 

[snowball]

We seem to have had this discussion about Clarkston Road several times in the history of this thread. To me it seems obvious that there's plenty of room to build a new bridge clear of the existing one and improving the alignment of the road. You might have to take a bit of land from the adjacent car park, and once the new bridge is in structurally complete there might need to be road closures while you divert first mains services and then traffic onto it.

Of course this doesn't prove it will be done that way. The local authority may be unable to contribute money on the scale needed.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

Link is to Google satellite view of the area.

 

[nlogax]

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.

Discovered this on Saturday when I went to use the RRB, and this appeared to be a surprise to the assistants on the ground. The Glasgow-bound fast bus had to park at bottom of the ramp to the recycling centre and they had to marshal us across the street to board it.

 

[snowball]

A web search found this video, "Glasgow to Barrhead Electrification - Week 1 Update", dated today.

 

[clc]

So they are reopening the underpass as a replacement for the footbridge? Nitshill isn’t the nicest area, which might give a clue as to why the underpass was closed in the first place.

 

[380101]

So they are reopening the underpass as a replacement for the footbridge? Nitshill isn’t the nicest area, which might give a clue as to why the underpass was closed in the first place.

I believe they are still installing a new, OHLE compliant, footbridge. The underpass re-opening will allow the Up side platform to be fully accessible again for all users.

 

[clc]

I believe they are still installing a new, OHLE compliant, footbridge. The underpass re-opening will allow the Up side platform to be fully accessible again for all users.

Thanks, that’s good go hear.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Thanks, that’s good go hear.

Absolutely!

 

[Frankton Junct]

The stone masons have been working on-site at the Moray Place footbridge building the stone cladding on the footbridge abutments.

 

[OB23Gone]

The stone masons have been working on-site at the Moray Place footbridge building the stone cladding on the footbridge abutments.


View attachment 138802View attachment 138803View attachment 138804

A Wee Bit More on the Railings Detail & Stone Masons Work.This was to have opened last Monday but manufacture to railings was the cause of the delay

 

[Rick1984]

Space looks very tight between front of steps and railings

 

[OB23Gone]

I believe they are still installing a new, OHLE compliant, footbridge. The underpass re-opening will allow the Up side platform to be fully accessible again for all users.

NO NEW Footbridge. Went along to the Drop In. Asked NR Rep that very question answer was A NO. Met a Surveyor today just coming of Nitshill Station and his answer about a new bridge and got a NO again.
So looks like the locals will only have the Under pass as their option. Post #1429 has the Layouts

 

[N1]

NO NEW Footbridge. Went along to the Drop In. Asked NR Rep that very question answer was A NO. Met a Surveyor today just coming of Nitshill Station and his answer about a new bridge and got a NO again.
So looks like the locals will only have the Under pass as their option. Post #1429 has the Layouts

As a local user of the station I think that is fine as long as there are some improvements to the pavement around the underbridge. Also, they do something to move the pigeons, it is a good few inches of leavings around the underside of the bridge beams.

 

[snookertam]

Is it fair to assume the rolling stock will be 380s made available by the cutting back of the Ayr timetable?

Yes. A 4 car class 380 is already diagrammed spare for the Barrhead service, which will only initially use 1 electric unit.

 

[380101]

Indeed - no complaints about noise on Facebook, has piling paused?

Not seen any beyond the two or three past Thornliebank on the down line, having driven over the route lots in the last 3 days.

 

[yorkie]

Just a gentle reminder to stick to infrastructure updates in this thread please.

To discuss rolling stock provision, timetabling, staffing or any other topic, please create a new thread (or use an existing thread, if there is one), thanks

 

[JModulo]

Being directly affected by this pretty much every day of the week, I can say the bus service has been reliable.

On the passing in the bus, I see the wires are up till (atleast) Nitshill.

 

[Frankton Junct]

On the passing in the bus, I see the wires are up till (atleast) Nitshill.

The wire run on the Down Barrhead from Crossmyloof Gardens to Kennishead hasn't been done.

At Priesthill & Darnley station the contractors are renewing the platform surfaces. I don't know if this work was needed for gauge clearance for the EMUs or the blockade is a convenient opportunity to deliver this improvement. The pedestrian overbridge (a redundant masonry arch road bridge) is closed while they build new parapets of engineer's bricks inside the old stone parapets.

So they are reopening the underpass as a replacement for the footbridge? Nitshill isn’t the nicest area, which might give a clue as to why the underpass was closed in the first place.

The old pedestrian footbridge has gone. The pedestrian underpass is beside the road underpass (see photo).

At Barrhead, beside the short stay car park they built a new brick column as a foundation for a mast. On the other side of the main entrance to the station, they have poured a concrete column.

 

[nlogax]

At Barrhead, beside the short stay car park they built a new brick column as a foundation for a mast. On the other side of the main entrance to the station, they have poured a concrete column.

Great photos, thank you. Certainly answers my question of 'is anything visible from the e/b Barrhead ramp? '.. quite rightly the entire thing is closed!