ECML vs WCML - issues with wires damage

[SuspectUsual]

Yesterday we had the latest issue with the wires being down on the ECML.

It seems to me that this happens a lot more on the east coast than it does on the west.

Is this the case? Is there any empirical evidence for it?

If so, why? Cheaper infrastructure? A downside of more modern design?

 

[172007]

ECML ia mostly cross span (wire accross all tracks holds up the registration arms). WCML vertical steel stansions generaly hold up each regiatration arm. WCML is more resiliant but more costly.

 

[800001]

Yesterday we had the latest issue with the wires being down on the ECML.

It seems to me that this happens a lot more on the east coast than it does on the west.

Is this the case? Is there any empirical evidence for it?

If so, why? Cheaper infrastructure? A downside of more modern design?

What caused the fault yesterday? Train? Or infrastructure?

 

[SuspectUsual]

What caused the fault yesterday? Train? Or infrastructure?

I’ve no idea. But even if the root cause was the train, is the ECML infrastructure more fragile and more liable to be damaged? I don’t know. That’s why I asked the question

 

[Bald Rick]

ECML ia mostly cross span (wire accross all tracks holds up the registration arms).

Actually it isnt. Head spans are almost exclusively for 3/4 track sections, and not always even then. Most of the ECML is regular cantilevers.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Yesterday was interesting because there were OLE failures on ECML and WCML.
The ECML one was at Temple Hurst Jnc and I think was a pantograph strike. This is a two track section so no headspans
The WCML one was a registration arm falling off near Kensal Green.
Also at the same time the Thameslink Core was down due to multiple track circuit failures. Quite the mess all around.

 

[edwin_m]

Much of the WCML catenary and contact wire was renewed in the early 2000s, but most of the ECML equipment is ten years older or more.

 

[AndrewE]

Much of the WCML catenary and contact wire was renewed in the early 2000s, but most of the ECML equipment is ten years older or more.

do you mean all the way to Scotland?
I was going to add that the original WCML wiring through the Lakes suffered badly in high winds with the wires being blown off the sides of pantographs, so the supports were increased in number to limit sideways movement.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Much of the WCML catenary and contact wire was renewed in the early 2000s, but most of the ECML equipment is ten years older or more.

That, and the WCML portal structures, only really applies to the 1960s wiring south of Manchester/Liverpool.

The 1974 electrification extension from Weaver Junction to Glasgow has headspans on 4-track sections (station areas mainly), though like the northern ECML, there are a lot of single track cantilevers on the 2-track sections.

While the catenary on the fast lines south of Crewe was renewed and upgraded for 125mph operation around 2000, the northern section was not done, and a campaign of possessions has just started for the renewal.

Both the overhead line equipment (OHLE) and signalling north of Crewe is 50 years old (much older than that on the ECML), and there are pinch points on the power supply too.

Much of the slow lines south of Crewe were not touched by the WCRM on the fasts, so the catenary there is up to 70 years old. The signalling was renewed throughout south of Crewe.

 

[edwin_m]

do you mean all the way to Scotland?
I was going to add that the original WCML wiring through the Lakes suffered badly in high winds with the wires being blown off the sides of pantographs, so the supports were increased in number to limit sideways movement.

I did say "much of"...

I get the impression the catenary on the northern WCML is less prone to failure than the ECML, but I may be wrong on this. But the southern ECML carries more electric trains than the northern WCML, and speeds are probably higher on average.

 

[D6130]

Another possible factor is the fact that a much larger proportion of the ECML runs across flat open countryside and is therefore more exposed to high cross-winds than most of the ECML.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Another possible factor is the fact that a much larger proportion of the ECML runs across flat open countryside and is therefore more exposed to high cross-winds than most of the ECML.

Albeit the WCML reaches higher elevations and is on the side of the country facing the prevailing wind…..

 

[zwk500]

Albeit the WCML reaches higher elevations and is on the side of the country facing the prevailing wind…..

The WCML tends to run in the valleys where possible though, and often in cuttings. Also isn't the story that BR were pressured into spacing the ECML masts further apart than normal to save a bit of cash?

 

[GraphitProjekt]

WCML north of Preston always seems to falling over for some reason or another. I always thought the more extreme weather has something to do with it

 

[zwk500]

WCML north of Preston always seems to falling over for some reason or another. I always thought the more extreme weather has something to do with it

Isn't that the 50-year-old-plus section mentioned above, that's being renewed as part of (what was?) Project Trilink?

 

[QueensCurve]

do you mean all the way to Scotland?
I was going to add that the original WCML wiring through the Lakes suffered badly in high winds with the wires being blown off the sides of pantographs, so the supports were increased in number to limit sideways movement.

Extra supports were put in on Shap bank about 1984 or 85.

That, and the WCML portal structures, only really applies to the 1960s wiring south of Manchester/Liverpool.

The 1974 electrification extension from Weaver Junction to Glasgow has headspans on 4-track sections (station areas mainly), though like the northern ECML, there are a lot of single track cantilevers on the 2-track sections.

While the catenary on the fast lines south of Crewe was renewed and upgraded for 125mph operation around 2000, the northern section was not done, and a campaign of possessions has just started for the renewal.

Both the overhead line equipment (OHLE) and signalling north of Crewe is 50 years old (much older than that on the ECML), and there are pinch points on the power supply too.

Much of the slow lines south of Crewe were not touched by the WCRM on the fasts, so the catenary there is up to 70 years old. The signalling was renewed throughout south of Crewe.

I frequently visit Stone and the contact wires there have must have been replaced. The old ones had coroded to a lovely shade of green but they aren't green anymore.

 

[endofthetunnel]

On Friday the ECML definitely came off worse with OHLE issues but there was a further failure on Saturday morning. This second one caused very little delay and therefore didn’t end up in a long RF thread.
Trains were running all day coasting under the wires due to damage discovered overnight, and most passengers were none the wiser.

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Really! What area, and for how long a distance? I didn't think coasting with pan down was an arrangement that would be attempted these days

 

[endofthetunnel]

On the Up between Newark and Grantham, in the Peascliffe tunnel area. I think it was about 4 miles of High Speed coasting but can’t remember the exact mileage.

Both high speed and low speed coasting exist in the rules

 

[swt_passenger]

Really! What area, and for how long a distance? I didn't think coasting with pan down was an arrangement that would be attempted these days

It was reported being done only a few weeks ago after the M6 Clifton overbridge replacement.

 

[jfollows]

Really! What area, and for how long a distance? I didn't think coasting with pan down was an arrangement that would be attempted these days

It was added to the rules quite a number of years ago, I’d hazard at least 15.

 

[800001]

Really! What area, and for how long a distance? I didn't think coasting with pan down was an arrangement that would be attempted these days

It happens more often than you would think.
It's a good tool for example if there are a few droppers off/loose, coasting can be implemented until they are fixed.

Or for example OHL disruption today, problem not fixed over night, coast the following day until proper fix in place.

 

[Ian Hardy]

On Tuesday 6th September 2016 something brought down the wires near Rossington on the ECML that the afternoon. The service was back up and running with the 91s coasting through affected section the following day but with some delays.
Coasting was still in place on Saturday 10th September with 08:03 ex KGX arriving at Doncaster 19 minutes late.
The OHLE was fixed overnight that evening, however as the works overran by 2 hours, the 09:00 KGX - EDI service on Sunday 11th September sat on the Down Fast at Retford from 10:24 until 12:21.

I do remember that during some engineering work at Hitchin, the services coasted through the works, but I cannot remember when it was and the distance that there was no power.