Glasgow Queen Street refurbishment and remodelling

[swt_passenger]

According to the Network Rail GQS Twitter, yes...

I see the twitter audience is worried that bar conductor will wear out the pantographs because it is straight. I hope someone can let them know the bar is staggered in the same way as ordinary OHLE; because it is unlikely the NR twitter people will know...

 

[Altnabreac]

I see the twitter audience is worried that bar conductor will wear out the pantographs because it is straight. I hope someone can let them know the bar is staggered in the same way as ordinary OHLE; because it is unlikely the NR twitter people will know...

In the replies that was pointed out.

I would point out though that the Network Rail Scotland twitter team are excellent and have really good knowledge of projects and engineering details. I have met a couple of the people who do some of the tweeting via my work and they really know their stuff.

 

[mbreckers]

In the replies that was pointed out.

I would point out though that the Network Rail Scotland twitter team are excellent and have really good knowledge of projects and engineering details. I have met a couple of the people who do some of the tweeting via my work and they really know their stuff.

Ive seen some of the tweets your talking about and i just assumed that it was someone with a background in railway engineering

 

[PaxVobiscum]

[cryptic mode] Oh no it isn't [cryptic mode]

Sorry about that.

 

[Altnabreac]

Network Rail have released a really good timelapse video to mark the half way point of the works.
https://vimeo.com/168611431?ref=tw-share

Really shows well how much work has been done so far.

 

[martinr1]

Very impressive!

 

[PaxVobiscum]

You've seen the time lapse, now for the slow motion version:
Update 8 (31/5/16)
series link

No paint drying yet, but that will come.

72 days' progress.

I think the OHLE disinformation last time was a genuine mistake as that was what some of the contractor's men thought was being built, but all the same I chose not to believe the the guy this time who told me that you can see his mate clearly in the time lapse - he's the one who hadn't moved at all for 6 weeks.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Network Rail have released a really good timelapse video to mark the half way point of the works.
https://vimeo.com/168611431?ref=tw-share

Really shows well how much work has been done so far.

Just to be clear, there have been actually two videos about the work released in the last few days by Network Rail:

Queen Street Tunnel Timelapse The First Fifty Days (11'05") covering weeks 1-8 which is the one linked above by Altnabreac
and
Network Rail - Glasgow Queen Street Tunnel renewal Half way there….(4'08") which covers weeks 1-10 ie includes the signal gantry installation and has subtitles with 'interesting' facts.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Passed through Queen Street on my way back from the Inverness forum do - couldn't ignore the work digging up the concourse.
Result: Update 9 Mercifully short this time

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Thank you so much for posting these and keeping them all on one thread. This is a valuable historical record much like the one LDECRexile keeps on the NW electrification threads. Great to see. Pity we cant create a wiki or similar with all these updates on this website.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Been a while, but here's the latest:
Update 10
Video series

Signals now on the gantry and a quarry sized hole in the concourse. Also some cylindrical steel masts (about whose future function I am not going to speculate ) towards the north end of the platforms.

 

[Highland37]

Good video and thanks. I wonder why the station lights are flashing? Your camera sample rate?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Operator error - reinstalled the Filmic Pro app which wiped my presets and it defaulted to 24 fps instead of 25 fps and I think that's what caused the strobing.
Didn't have time to fix it. Amateur!

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Been a while, but here's the latest:
Update 10
Video series

Signals now on the gantry and a quarry sized hole in the concourse. Also some cylindrical steel masts (about whose future function I am not going to speculate ) towards the north end of the platforms.

Headspan masts. Dirty word.

(Off the top of my head and not having consulted the plans)

 

[najaB]

Headspan masts. Dirty word.

Given the location - and the amount of airborne steel that's already around - I'm surprised they'd go with headspans.

 

[Lurpi]

Headspan masts. Dirty word.

(Off the top of my head and not having consulted the plans)

It seems quite surprising that headspans are being fitted. You've sounded doubtful about headspans being installed from now on. Why would they be fitted here, do you know? Perhaps for aesthetic reasons like the ones fitted at Rainhill?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

It seems quite surprising that headspans are being fitted. You've sounded doubtful about headspans being installed from now on. Why would they be fitted here, do you know? Perhaps for aesthetic reasons like the ones fitted at Rainhill?

I assumed it was because it is a terminus station, and thus the speeds will be so slow, that dewirement is an extremely low risk and thus portals are not really necessary. Still it still seems to be penny pinching IMHO.

 

[NotATrainspott]

I assumed it was because it is a terminus station, and thus the speeds will be so slow, that dewirement is an extremely low risk and thus portals are not really necessary. Still it still seems to be penny pinching IMHO.

The OHLE installation is covered by planning application 16/00592/DC. I would link to it directly but I've had problems with links to Idox planning application viewer systems before. The plans take into account the Grade A listing of the train shed and the aesthetics of the overhead line equipment.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

I assumed it was because it is a terminus station, and thus the speeds will be so slow, that dewirement is an extremely low risk and thus portals are not really necessary. Still it still seems to be penny pinching IMHO.

Listed building consents and sensitivity to what is a splendid structure. It's Grade A listed (the highest in Scotland - equivalent to Grade 1 in England)

Dewirement risk is relatively low, more likely to damage pantograph and more likely to have a ADD or VCB operation before doing any significant damage to the OLE.

 

[matchmaker]

Listed building consents and sensitivity to what is a splendid structure. It's Grade A listed (the highest in Scotland - equivalent to Grade 1 in England)

Dewirement risk is relatively low, more likely to damage pantograph and more likely to have a ADD or VCB operation before doing any significant damage to the OLE.

Listed building entry here http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB32822

 

[fgwrich]

I'm rather pleased they've chosen the Headspan alternative for inside Queen Street - It works well in Paddington station and is almost virtually unnoticeable, so should be a fine choice for Scotland's finest terminus station!

 

[47271]

Isn't Waverley headspan within the station area, and I don't mean the Cheapo McCheapo bits done by BR in the first electrification, I'm thinking more P14-17 done by NR ten or so years ago?

I pass through so often that I can't quite visualise what the overhead looks like!

 

[Philip Phlopp]

I'm rather pleased they've chosen the Headspan alternative for inside Queen Street - It works well in Paddington station and is almost virtually unnoticeable, so should be a fine choice for Scotland's finest terminus station!

I'd have preferred the masts to match the roof or bridge columns using some form of cast iron cladding, but otherwise, it's a fine choice.

 

[Southsider]

I assumed it was because it is a terminus station, and thus the speeds will be so slow, that dewirement is an extremely low risk and thus portals are not really necessary. Still it still seems to be penny pinching IMHO.

Confirmed on the EGIP twitter feed that they are indeed head span masts.

 

[clc]

I'm rather pleased they've chosen the Headspan alternative for inside Queen Street - It works well in Paddington station and is almost virtually unnoticeable, so should be a fine choice for Scotland's finest terminus station!

What has Glasgow Central got to do with it?

 

[najaB]

What has Glasgow Central got to do with it?

Oh... it's on now!

 

[route:oxford]

What has Glasgow Central got to do with it?

I was thinking Wemyss Bay.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Latest video:
Update 11
Video series

More signals, extra excavations and hunners of headspan masts.

In the station, helpful Scotrail staff and BTP now direct anyone found taking pictures through a hole in the fence to the viewing area "in case they hadn't found it" and not a word about asking permission. Probably helps just using a phone without any extras on display.

EDIT: Just noticed this -

http://stv.tv/news/scotland/1359715-minister-hits-out-at-delays-to-742m-railway-project/
Oh dear - things not going as well as I thought:

Edinburgh to Glasgow electric trains delayed by seven months
Electric train services between Edinburgh and Glasgow will not be operational until July next year, seven months behind schedule.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said he was "concerned and disappointed" with Network Rail after it emerged the £742m project has hit delays, prompting fears costs will spiral.

He said there had also been "slow progress" on improvement work to the Highland mainline and the Aberdeen to Inverness route.

The Scottish Government-funded Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme includes upgrades to junctions and infrastructure, in addition to the widespread electrification of the country's rail network.

Mr Yousaf said: "I am not prepared to simply accept the long-term cost implications nor the revised programmes that Network Rail have set out.

"I will also be doing everything possible to ensure that Network Rail deliver the full programme in Scotland by March 2019 and without any extra funding from the Scottish Government.

"Whilst there is always risk in the delivery of major construction projects, Network Rail have fallen short of their previous standards."

The minister hit out at "systematic issues" including poor management of contractors and unsatisfactory planning and cost estimation.

He said passengers would be "rightly frustrated" the Edinburgh to Glasgow electric services would not start in December after facing longer journeys during construction works such as the Queen Street tunnel upgrade.

A new fleet of faster electric Class 385 trains is still on schedule and will arrive in September 2017, with a full electric service on the route from December 2017 as planned.

The article doesn't specify where the delays have been. Quite recently Network Rail were tweeting that the Queen Street works were on schedule.

I think this report is behind the news of the delays:

Network Rail’s programme of major enhancements projects in Scotland

Network Rail has successfully completed some major enhancement projects in the past year, including the Borders Railway, Scotland’s first new rail line in over 100 years. However, the electrification work on the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) is behind schedule and could cost more than expected. There are also cost pressures on other projects, and ORR is reviewing Network Rail’s plans around costs and capability, to provide further challenge on efficiency and delivery.

These reviews have already started and are covering:

(1) The risk to the on-time delivery of obligations on the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) project (first electric train running between Edinburgh and Glasgow). An underlying problem has been the transparency of reporting by Network Rail. Network Rail states that a number of factors have contributed to a delay with the electrification element of EGIP including compliance with standards in relation to electrification, competing demands for electrification resources and poorer productivity than expected. An improvement plan has been put in place with immediate effect under a new delivery structure and a new management team, designed to facilitate and support greater visibility and transparency. This improvement plan will consider whether it is possible to intensify works so as to pull back the programme to deliver the March 2017 milestone.

So it appears to be the electrification work in general and not the Queen Street tunnel and refurbishment works per se.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Latest update:
Update 12
Video series

 

[PaxVobiscum]

The plans take into account the Grade A listing of the train shed and the aesthetics of the overhead line equipment.

I'm rather pleased they've chosen the Headspan alternative for inside Queen Street - It works well in Paddington station and is almost virtually unnoticeable, so should be a fine choice for Scotland's finest terminus station!

I'd have preferred the masts to match the roof or bridge columns using some form of cast iron cladding, but otherwise, it's a fine choice.

Then we can only hope this bit is temporary (currently the end of platform 2 - but not for long) - it has the aethetics of a brick ****house.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Then we can only hope this bit is temporary (currently the end of platform 2 - but not for long) - it has the aethetics of a brick ****house.

It's the anchor point for the catenary - two crossmembers, lower for contact wire, upper for catenary wire. There's another on platform 4/5 behind the PIS display.

 

[Carntyne]

Good to see the wiring going in and signalling too. Not long to go now.