MML Electrification: progress updates

[A0]

But to alter the pairing of the lines has significant cost implications for resignalling - and difficult to implement south of Bedford due to the turn-back arrangements at Luton and St Albans City, I would have thought?

I'm not saying it's immediately viable - as you say re-signalling would need to happen - but the current configuration makes it difficult to allow slow trains to be passed by quicker trains without blocking the oncoming lines - something the layout on the southern section of the GN handles more elegantly.

 

[edwin_m]

Almost every station on the slows has line alignment which curves around the currently existing platform. Whilst the fasts are straight through.

To keep line speed on the Up fast (under the new pairing) would require that every single station which has this curve be taken out to maintain speed. I doubt a train can do 125mph on the slow line where these curves exist. Or am I wrong?

I think you're right, at least on the Midland. At several stations the slow line speed drops at the start of the platform. And easing a reverse curve to 125mph will often involve taking land outside the railway boundary.

 

[Class 170101]

Another disadvantage with the Up Up Down Down combination is insufficient space (the six foot) to maintain the middle pair of lines.

Notice how there are more blocks on midweek nights of the WCML for line pairs between Euston and Wolverton unlike the ECML between Kings Cross and Peterborough.

 

[Bald Rick]

Another disadvantage with the Up Up Down Down combination is insufficient space (the six foot) to maintain the middle pair of lines.

Notice how there are more blocks on midweek nights of the WCML for line pairs between Euston and Wolverton unlike the ECML between Kings Cross and Peterborough.

That's a function of track spacing, not line configuration.

 

[snowball]

Perhaps because the project scope had to be delivered in line with the available funding. That is what can happen in the real world. Something the august Modern Railways often seems to overlook

My purpose in quoting Roger Ford was not to get at NR or anyone else but to address LTJ87's question of whether there was a real issue behind the Nottingham Post piece.

 

[snowball]

Press release:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/network-rail-continues-work-to-electrify-the-midland-main-line/

Network Rail is issuing a reminder to residents in Northamptonshire that the latest stage of work to electrify the line will begin this weekend.

Strange, I thought the line through Northampton was already electrified ... oh, they don't mean that one.

Piling – the process of installing foundations for the masts and gantries that will carry electrified wires along the railway – starts on Saturday, 13 May between Kettering and Corby and will continue for several months.

‘Piling’ is a noisy activity as it involves driving cylindrical steel piles deep into the ground to provide a secure base for gantries. There can also be noise from vehicle movements as safety rules dictate that a horn must be sounded when moving vehicles in the vicinity of the railway.

Although noise levels are dependent on the distance of homes from the train line and piling locations – which are installed every 50 to 60 metres – residents are being advised to expect some disturbance whilst this work takes place. The majority of piling will take place overnight, as this is the time when it causes the least impact on passenger services.

Network Rail is inviting residents wishing to find out more about the work to attend one of its upcoming information events. Network Rail workers will be on hand to answer any questions which residents may have.

The public information events will take place on the following days:

Tuesday, 9 May from 15:00 to 18:30 at The West Glebe Sports Pavilion, Cottingham Road, Corby.
Wednesday, 17 May from 18:00 to 21:00 at Brooke Weston Academy, Coomb Road, Corby.

If you can’t make an event but wish to find out more about the work, as well as keep up to date with its progress, please visit the Network Rail Community Facebook page – https://en-gb.facebook.com/NetworkRailCommunity/

You can also find out more about piling by watching this video: https://youtu.be/qpaFPCa0ZlA

 

[Roast Veg]

That's a good little video at the end there, communicates the situation well to those who might be affected by the work.

 

[eusd]

I have a question, would increasing the Class 700 top speed to 110mph solve the issue of slowing down the Intercity trains?

 

[RichmondCommu]

I have a question, would increasing the Class 700 top speed to 110mph solve the issue of slowing down the Intercity trains?

More to the point why were they not designed to run at 125 mph?

 

[Bald Rick]

I have a question, would increasing the Class 700 top speed to 110mph solve the issue of slowing down the Intercity trains?

Not really. The difference between 100mph and 110mph is 3 seconds a mile. Given that the 700s are only at 100mph for about 12 miles between the North Circular and Napsbury (south of St Albans), it would save half a minute at most after allowing for acceleration and deceleration.

North of St Albans (where almost every TL service calls) almost every fast train crosses to the slows at Harpenden 5 miles down the line, so perhaps 5 seconds gained from 110 running on that stretch.

Putting all that together, 110 capability for the 700s would do very little.

As an aside, my train home (class 700) has caught up the preceding EMT fast service both nights this week so far, as it has far better acceleration.

 

[NotATrainspott]

More to the point why were they not designed to run at 125 mph?

Because the 700s need to be able to do 24tph through the Thameslink core. >100mph running could be achieved but it would probably require longer gearing, which would damage performance in the low-speed section in Zone 1. As others have said, the difference between 100mph and higher speeds on the services that Thameslink run would be extremely minimal.

 

[asylumxl]

Because the 700s need to be able to do 24tph through the Thameslink core. >100mph running could be achieved but it would probably require longer gearing, which would damage performance in the low-speed section in Zone 1. As others have said, the difference between 100mph and higher speeds on the services that Thameslink run would be extremely minimal.

I think 125mph would probably been excessive but I do feel they should have been specified for 110mph, with the necessary infrastructure improvements.


I'd imagine the 700s are capable of 110mph like the other AC Desiro UKs. They required no changes to gearing etc. as they had ample power to keep accelerating beyond 100mph. I wouldn't be surprised if the 700s are electronically limited.

 

[Bald Rick]

I think 125mph would probably been excessive but I do feel they should have been specified for 110mph, with the necessary infrastructure improvements.


I'd imagine the 700s are capable of 110mph like the other AC Desiro UKs. They required no changes to gearing etc. as they had ample power to keep accelerating beyond 100mph. I wouldn't be surprised if the 700s are electronically limited.

But why? See my post above.

 

[asylumxl]

But why? See my post above.

Because there are peak services that travel on the fast lines most of the way to Bedford. If it's not an upgrade that would require massive amounts of work, why not do so?

Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk

 

[QueensCurve]

I'd be interested to hear views on whether the claims in this story are true.

I thought extra capacity was to be added at London St Pancras together with additional track between Bedford and Kettering?

http://www.nottinghampost.com/anoth...o-get-longer/story-30310958-detail/story.html

The "crash" word is a bit melodramatic. Someone should tell the author about block signalling.

 

[londonmidland]

I thought all electric trains were limited to 100mph on the Midland Mainline anyway due to (the tension of the wires?) So before any speed increases happen the OHLE must be upgraded first.

 

[Bald Rick]

Because there are peak services that travel on the fast lines most of the way to Bedford. If it's not an upgrade that would require massive amounts of work, why not do so?

Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk

Because (repeating myself) it would save half a minute, max for 95% of fast line TL services. For the six trains a day that go fast line north of Harpenden, it would save maybe a minute total. It would be difficult to justify any amount of work for that purpose.

 

[Roast Veg]

But the current fast line working is timetabled for 100mph services - aren't there additional possible fast line interleavings where the extra minute or two make the path viable in the first place?

 

[richieb1971]

Did the piling start at Corby as advertised earlier in the thread?

 

[Hairy Bear]

Did the piling start at Corby as advertised earlier in the thread?

Has indeed started. At least 8 pairs of piling's can now be seen..

 

[Timrud]

What are they building just North of Cricklewood?

 

[asylumxl]

What are they building just North of Cricklewood?

Perhaps the new Brent Cross station?

 

[Dr Hoo]

There is a new DB Cargo stone terminal being constructed in the former 'Brent' yard at the moment.

Is that what is being referred to? It is nothing directly to do with the long mooted new 'Brent Cross' development additional passenger station.

[Edit: Nothing to do with MML electrification, of course, so strictly OT.]

 

[RichmondCommu]

There is a new DB Cargo stone terminal being constructed in the former 'Brent' yard at the moment.

Is that what is being referred to? It is nothing directly to do with the long mooted new 'Brent Cross' development additional passenger station.

[Edit: Nothing to do with MML electrification, of course, so strictly OT.]

Perhaps OT but the nevertheless very interesting. Will the terminal be served by a brand new contract or is just transferring business from an existing terminal?

 

[RichmondCommu]

Has indeed started. At least 8 pairs of piling's can now be seen..

That's very good news. Lets hope they don't stop until they reach Sheffield / Nottingham.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Perhaps OT but the nevertheless very interesting. Will the terminal be served by a brand new contract or is just transferring business from an existing terminal?

The word on the street is "new business" although given the constant churn of final construction demand in London and range of companies and quarries supplying the market one can never be entirely sure.

 

[InTheEastMids]

Has indeed started. At least 8 pairs of piling's can now be seen..

It's a step forward at least. Although by their own PR they were spending 16 nights doing this during late May, and I'd like to think that they can manage more than 1 per night?

There was also a complete block on EMT services between Leicester and Wellingborough on Sunday, guessing this meant that they were working on Kettering junctions, and some late evening EMT services are going via Oakham this week, but I don't know why.

I understand that Harborough District Council have approved the NR planning application regarding the new car park, which is also a step forward

Finally, I haven't seen it mentioned here, but there's a Facebook page for the Bedford to Corby electrification. Hopefully it will be as good as the one Traffic England had for the Cathorpe project.
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkRailCommunity/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED

It's where the piling dates were posted, and also tells me about vegetation clearance happening around Wellingborough & Kettering in the next days

 

[YorkshireBear]

It's a step forward at least. Although by their own PR they were spending 16 nights doing this during late May, and I'd like to think that they can manage more than 1 per night?

There was also a complete block on EMT services between Leicester and Wellingborough on Sunday, guessing this meant that they were working on Kettering junctions, and some late evening EMT services are going via Oakham this week, but I don't know why.

I understand that Harborough District Council have approved the NR planning application regarding the new car park, which is also a step forward

Finally, I haven't seen it mentioned here, but there's a Facebook page for the Bedford to Corby electrification. Hopefully it will be as good as the one Traffic England had for the Cathorpe project.
https://www.facebook.com/NetworkRailCommunity/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED

It's where the piling dates were posted, and also tells me about vegetation clearance happening around Wellingborough & Kettering in the next days

There is preparatory work to be done as well which was probably done in the same work.. rather than just doing 1 per night.

 

[InTheEastMids]

National Grid will be having a stakeholder consultation event for the substation that will be built at Braybrooke (between Kettering & Market Harborough) to supply the electrified MML. A switch-on date of October 2020 is mentioned.

http://media.nationalgrid.com/press...station-at-braybrooke-near-market-harborough/

 

[snowball]

Braybrooke is about 6 miles down the MML from Glendon Junction where the Corby line turns off, so perhaps there will be one of Joseph Locke's "extension leads" (as discussed in the NW electrification threads) covering that distance.