Glasgow Queen Street to Anniesland: could be electrified?

[Chiltern006]

Hi all,

Is there a reason why the line between Glasgow and Anniesland via Maryhill isn’t electrified? To me it seems like such an obvious infill, but is this on the cards, or is there a reason it hasn’t been done.

Appreciate all your responses

 

[MadMac]

Hi all,

Is there a reason why the line between Glasgow and Anniesland via Maryhill isn’t electrified? To me it seems like such an obvious infill, but is this on the cards, or is there a reason it hasn’t been done.

Appreciate all your responses

The tunnels under the Forth & Clyde Canal are the major obstacle.

 

[scotraildriver]

Despite being a short route there are a lot of bridges that would need rebuilt and,as mentioned, Lochburn Tunnels under the canal are a major obstacle. Apparently the track can't be lowered due to mine workings and you can't raise a canal.

 

[Glaswegian]

Trains on this route between Queen Street and Maryhill/Anniesland were introduced (or possibly reintroduced) comparatively recently. Before that the line was just part of the West Highland Line, which was definitely not a candidate for early electrification.

 

[hexagon789]

Trains on this route between Queen Street and Maryhill/Anniesland were introduced (or possibly reintroduced) comparatively recently. Before that the line was just part of the West Highland Line, which was definitely not a candidate for early electrification.

1993 to Maryhill, local service except some workman's trains having ended in 1961.

 

[Indigo Soup]

Apparently the track can't be lowered due to mine workings and you can't raise a canal.

You can... but you need to construct a pair of locks to do so. Or close the canal entirely, as was the case between 1963 and 2000, which would be unfortunate from a heritage point of view but totally insignificant from a transport point of view.

 

[takno]

You can... but you need to construct a pair of locks to do so. Or close the canal entirely, as was the case between 1963 and 2000, which would be unfortunate from a heritage point of view but totally insignificant from a transport point of view.

It's a close call on which is less significant - the canal or an bit of infill electrification on a minor line which could trivially be run on battery. It can be worked by the West Highland units, which are never going to be fully electric anyway, so there isn't even much in the way of flexibility to be gained.

It's a short bit of electrification, but any money spent on it would be much more valuably spent elsewhere, particularly since it's a rather quiet route where there is very little opportunity to run fully-electric units anyway. Moreover it's rather needlessly double track, and the structures on it mean that the spend per mile is much higher than alternative routes in Scotland.

It's really a complete non-starter.

 

[Indigo Soup]

It's a short bit of electrification, but any money spent on it would be much more valuably spent elsewhere, particularly since it's a rather quiet route where there is very little opportunity to run fully-electric units anyway. Moreover it's rather needlessly double track, and the structures on it mean that the spend per mile is much higher than alternative routes in Scotland.

Even with the unlimited funds hat on, it would really only be worth the effort with West Highland electrification - I'll wait for the next flying pig - or as part of a major expansion of Glasgow suburban rail.

 

[matchmaker]

It's a close call on which is less significant - the canal or an bit of infill electrification on a minor line which could trivially be run on battery. It can be worked by the West Highland units, which are never going to be fully electric anyway, so there isn't even much in the way of flexibility to be gained.

It's a short bit of electrification, but any money spent on it would be much more valuably spent elsewhere, particularly since it's a rather quiet route where there is very little opportunity to run fully-electric units anyway. Moreover it's rather needlessly double track, and the structures on it mean that the spend per mile is much higher than alternative routes in Scotland.

It's really a complete non-starter.

As far as I know it's single track now. It was double track until closure in 1980, and at that time connected at Knightswood South Junction to the line from Anniesland to Westerton. When it was reopened to Anniesland in 2005 there was no connection at the former Knightwood South Junction. That was not made until later in connection with the closing of Queen Street High Level to prepare for electrification.

 

[takno]

As far as I know it's single track now. It was double track until closure in 1980, and at that time connected at Knightswood South Junction to the line from Anniesland to Westerton. When it was reopened to Anniesland in 2005 there was no connection at the former Knightwood South Junction. That was not made until later in connection with the closing of Queen Street High Level to prepare for electrification.

I think we're talking about the entire route rather than just the Anniesland chord.

 

[Legolash2o]

I suspect it would make sense to have a bi-mode train instead (battery/OHLE).