Merseyrail Infrastructure Upgrade

[shakey1961]

With the arrival of the new trains in 2019, it's been said that platforms have to be made to the level of the new trains and a better power supply has to be installed.

Was wondering if anyone had news of when all this work is taking place?

Just trying to stay up to date with what's going on.

Thanks

 

[Elecman]

The power upgrade is presently being planned

 

[shakey1961]

I presume the power is staying at 750vDC - but isn't supposed to be a lot smoother for the needs of the new rolling stock?

 

[WatcherZero]

Apparently at the edges of the network the available voltage is quite a bit below 750, theres several minutes of times savings which can be achieved on the Southport service simply by supplying enough juice to meet the rolling stocks thirst when accelerating.

 

[swt_passenger]

Even if there was no problem with existing supplies, modern traction with regenerative braking would need a certain amount of upgrades to the power infrastructure to deal with the possibility of higher voltages.

Also, and at least in the former Southern Region, it is only recently that normal supply voltages have been raised to 750 in the inner suburban area, although they have always been described as a "750V system", this was only a nominal figure, in practice much of it was only fed at 660V.

Part of a future upgrade on Merseyside might be concerned with raising the nominal voltage to an actual 750V.

 

[Elecman]

Yes that’s part of the plan

 

[PeterY]

Is the signalling in the tunnel sections going to change?.

I'm led to believe it's similar to London underground, with tripcocks.

 

[Elecman]

Yes it’s tripcocks throughout the whole MR Network, not just the tunnels

 

[Railsigns]

Yes it’s tripcocks throughout the whole MR Network, not just the tunnels

Only the underground sections, and the immediate approaches thereto, are fitted with trainstops. The rest of the Merseyrail network is fitted with standard AWS and TPWS, but no trainstops.

 

[D365]

Onboard batteries could be used to migitate low voltage sections in the supply.