MML Electrification: progress updates

[InTheEastMids]

Far from a core project of the MML electrification - it's got basically nothing to do with electrification, but this seemed like the most appropriate thread.

The replacement of the currently closed foot crossing at Little Bowden (Market Harborough) appears to have inched forward. I had a quick look on Harborough DC Planning Portal, and there seems to be nothing about it there so far.

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/plans-to-be-revealed-for-little-bowden-railway-footbridge

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Far from a core project of the MML electrification - it's got basically nothing to do with electrification, but this seemed like the most appropriate thread.

The replacement of the currently closed foot crossing at Little Bowden (Market Harborough) appears to have inched forward. I had a quick look on Harborough DC Planning Portal, and there seems to be nothing about it there so far.

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/plans-to-be-revealed-for-little-bowden-railway-footbridge

It almost certainly won't appear on the planning portal - the council will agree it's Network Rail making use of their permitted development rights* and NR will go about their business.

NR's permitted development rights are usually enshrined in the Act(s) of Parliament authorising construction of the railway line in question, and generally none of the subsequent legislation concerning planning overrides the Acts of Parliament used to authorise the construction of railway lines.

 

[InTheEastMids]

It almost certainly won't appear on the planning portal - the council will agree it's Network Rail making use of their permitted development rights* and NR will go about their business.

NR's permitted development rights are usually enshrined in the Act(s) of Parliament authorising construction of the railway line in question, and generally none of the subsequent legislation concerning planning overrides the Acts of Parliament used to authorise the construction of railway lines.

Thanks - of course the bridge will get built in fairly short order. The reason I checked the Planning Portal is that, in a very similar situation a few km North, they submitted this to the Harborough Council. (12/01383/FUL in case the link doesn't find the relevant application).

My reading from NR's covering letter, is that they couldn't do that bridge under PD, so they had to use the Prior Approval process (Don't ask me, I only look at this sort of stuff to get angry about new housing estates! ).

Totally accept accusations of pedantry at this point, because of course the bridge will be built - it's wanted as a historic right of way has been closed for nearly a year. However, if they do this, it gets interested locals a bit of an early look at the solution.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Thanks - of course the bridge will get built in fairly short order. The reason I checked the Planning Portal is that, in a very similar situation a few km North, they submitted this to the Harborough Council. (12/01383/FUL in case the link doesn't find the relevant application).

My reading from NR's covering letter, is that they couldn't do that bridge under PD, so they had to use the Prior Approval process (Don't ask me, I only look at this sort of stuff to get angry about new housing estates! ).

Totally accept accusations of pedantry at this point, because of course the bridge will be built - it's wanted as a historic right of way has been closed for nearly a year. However, if they do this, it gets interested locals a bit of an early look at the solution.

It gets a bit more complicated where the bridge lands outwith the boundary of the railway line as authorised by Act of Parliament.

Prior Approval is used when planning application would normally be provided, and exists as a process to avoid having to make a full planning application for developments which have an existing blanket approval.

 

[Class 170101]

I suppose this thread is the right place for Kettering-Corby redoubling.

Press release

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...o-upgrade-kettering-corby-rail-route-unveiled

I hope this access is used to install some of the OLE masts / wiring etc where possible but I just get the feeling it won't be.

 

[Flying Phil]

There was a large crew of Hi-Vis workers/diggers etc on the side of the line North of Kettering station yesterday - so things are definitely happening!

 

[snowball]

Press release

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...e-work-as-midland-main-line-upgrade-continues

Network Rail to begin bridge work as Midland Main Line upgrade continues

Three major bridge upgrades will begin in the East Midlands in the coming weeks as Network Rail’s investment in the Midland Main Line continues.

The Midland Main Line upgrade will, once completed, reduce journey times, create more seats for passengers and make the railway cleaner and quieter for those living nearby.

The bridge on Syston Road near Syston in Leicestershire is being adjusted to allow electrical wires to pass beneath it – part of a huge route upgrade that, when complete, will ireduce journey times and allow more trains to run between Sheffield and London St Pancras through the East Midlands.

The project, which forms part of the Railway Upgrade Plan, means the bridge in Syston will be closed to road traffic between Monday 5 September and Thursday 10 February 2017.

The bridge span which crosses the railway will be replaced between Saturday 8 October and Monday 10 October, meaning buses will replace trains over those few days.

Two bridges in Nottinghamshire, Station Road bridge in Sutton Bonington and Bowleys Bridge in Normanton-on-Soar, will also have improvement work carried out. Station Road will close on Thursday 8 September until Friday 17 March 2017, while Bowleys Bridge closes on Monday 19 September until Friday 31 March 2017.

The bridges in both Sutton Bonnington and Normanton-on-Soar will see the spans crossing the railway replaced over three days between Saturday 12 November and Monday 14 November, which will also mean bus replacement services for trains using the line.

Gary Walsh, area director in the East Midlands, said: “These bridge projects clearly demonstrates that work to upgrade the Midland Main Line is progressing well. This is an important part of our plan to upgrade the railway in Leicestershire and while we recognise their will be inconvenience to some – particularly road users – we assure all those affected that we have done everything possible to keep the disruption to a minimum and that diversions will be clearly signposted.”

Notes

Syston Road Bridge (Syston) – closed to road traffic and pedestrians between Monday 5 September 2016 and Thursday 10 February 2017

Station Road Bridge (Sutton Bonnington) – closed to road traffic and pedestrians between Thursday 8 September 2016 and Friday 17 March 2017

Bowleys Bridge (Normanton-on-Soar) – closed to road traffic and pedestrians between Monday 19 September 2016 until Friday 31 March 2017

 

[Flying Phil]

Nice to see that progress is being maintained. Thanks for the update Snowball.

 

[deltic08]

Can somebody please tell me how much of the £100m, quoted for additional track on the MML, is allocated to the Kettering-Corby doubling and upgrade?

 

[richieb1971]

I assume doubling of track from Corby is to the main MML artery only. Not to Sharnbrook?

 

[Trog]

Was little Bowden the crossing that was closed illegally? In that it is a public right of way and Network Rail just shut it without due process.

 

[Flying Phil]

Was little Bowden the crossing that was closed illegally? In that it is a public right of way and Network Rail just shut it without due process.

It certainly was closed with very little notification locally.....But there is a "consultation" about the replacement bridge going on at present I believe.

 

[InTheEastMids]

It certainly was closed with very little notification locally.....But there is a "consultation" about the replacement bridge going on at present I believe.

NR certainly didn't follow the approved LCC process for closing a public right of way. I guess what happened is NR re-did their risk assessment and suddenly discovered it was so dangerous that it required immediate closure.

On the topic of the footbridge, there was a brief public consultation (a weekday afternoon, to minimise the chances that anybody with a job could get there). That's now passed and the planning application has gone in.

The main challenge is about step-free access, because NR propose a stepped footbridge, whilst provision for pedestrians at the nearby underbridge on Bellfields Lane is really poor, and it's the only step-free walking route to a local primary school.

 

[Trog]

NR certainly didn't follow the approved LCC process for closing a public right of way. I guess what happened is NR re-did their risk assessment and suddenly discovered it was so dangerous that it required immediate closure.

That is not a valid reason to close the crossing, obstructing a right of way is illegal. If you are doing something that makes the use of the right of way dangerous you should either stop what you are doing or mitigate it so that the use of the right of way becomes safe again.

 

[westcoaster]

On the south end of the project has there been a closure date for Bromham road bridge (bedford) yet, iirc it's the only bridge south of Kettering to still be lifted.

 

[Bald Rick]

That is not a valid reason to close the crossing, obstructing a right of way is illegal. If you are doing something that makes the use of the right of way dangerous you should either stop what you are doing or mitigate it so that the use of the right of way becomes safe again.

You can get a (legal) emergency (temporary) closure of a crossing in under 24 hours. This only has a limited duration, and a 'temporary' closure is then applied for from the highway authority which may allow closure for up to 6 months.

 

[Trog]

You can get a (legal) emergency (temporary) closure of a crossing in under 24 hours. This only has a limited duration, and a 'temporary' closure is then applied for from the highway authority which may allow closure for up to 6 months.

Yes but Network Rail just closed the crossing without telling anyone, and then fobbed the council off and told them to ring the Network Rail help line when they wrote to complain about the illegal closure.

 

[Flying Phil]

Has any more prep work been done on this or is it being concentrated on the Corby section?

 

[John Webb]

Something was going on this weekend south of Bedford. There were no East Midland trains south of Bedford, and Thameslink trains were reversing either at St Albans City or Harpenden. Coach link from Bedford to St Albans. Not clear if this was ordinary maintenance or preparation works - as it covers a section of track already electrified. The NR website on works taking place didn't give any detail.

 

[Blamethrower]

Something was going on this weekend south of Bedford. There were no East Midland trains south of Bedford, and Thameslink trains were reversing either at St Albans City or Harpenden. Coach link from Bedford to St Albans. Not clear if this was ordinary maintenance or preparation works - as it covers a section of track already electrified. The NR website on works taking place didn't give any detail.

This was announced, if you saw a news article "chaos expected over bank holiday for Thameslink" then that was the one

 

[A0]

Something was going on this weekend south of Bedford. There were no East Midland trains south of Bedford, and Thameslink trains were reversing either at St Albans City or Harpenden. Coach link from Bedford to St Albans. Not clear if this was ordinary maintenance or preparation works - as it covers a section of track already electrified. The NR website on works taking place didn't give any detail.

I thought when I travelled to London last Friday from Wellingborough EMT said they were running to / from Luton with coach transfer to London but weren't stopping at Bedford - which would make some sense since they would inevitably be overcrowded.

I suspect this was routine maintenance rather than any electrification works given that the works appeared to be between Luton & London.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I thought when I travelled to London last Friday from Wellingborough EMT said they were running to / from Luton with coach transfer to London but weren't stopping at Bedford - which would make some sense since they would inevitably be overcrowded.

I suspect this was routine maintenance rather than any electrification works given that the works appeared to be between Luton & London.

Unless it was work to upgrade everything for 125 mph running when the wires reach Corby / East Midlands and South Yorkshire.

 

[Bald Rick]

I thought when I travelled to London last Friday from Wellingborough EMT said they were running to / from Luton with coach transfer to London but weren't stopping at Bedford - which would make some sense since they would inevitably be overcrowded.

I suspect this was routine maintenance rather than any electrification works given that the works appeared to be between Luton & London.

It was a difficult track renewal just south of Luton.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

"Drainage improvements between Harpenden and Flitwick" according to the NR press release about Bank Holiday works.

 

[38Cto15E]

On Sunday I travelled on the 0855 from leicester to St Pancras, which actually arrived 10 mins early because of the easy schedule.
The highlight for me was going on the up/down slow line from Wigston to Kilby Bridge then the down main to Kettering Jct. This is scheduled but I cannot remember seeing any engineering work between these points.
At Glendon Jct there are huge piles of ballast for the Corby doubling.
I didn't get a good view but the track laying on the fast line was around Elstree and Borehamwood.

 

[Bald Rick]

I didn't get a good view but the track laying on the fast line was around Elstree and Borehamwood.

Different renewal this weekend, at Elstree as you say.

 

[hwl]

Today's NR press release on the up coming Kettering - Corby works:

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...l-ahead-of-kettering-to-corby-railway-upgrade

 

[Blamethrower]

can I ask, how will they provide the extra trains?

A result of electrification and new trains?

 

[snowball]

Press release

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...ches-vital-stage-in-midland-main-line-upgrade

Network Rail has completed the demolition of Syston Road bridge in Leicestershire as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan to electrify the Midland Main Line.

The bridge was demolished overnight on Saturday 8 October and the new, replacement bridge will be constructed in stages over weekend nights during October and November.

Syston road has been closed to traffic for the past month to prepare for the upgrade. It will continue to be closed until Friday 17 March and route diversions are in place. The new bridge will be built overnight to try and reduce any further disruption to local residents and rail users.

 

[J-2739]

can I ask, how will they provide the extra trains?

A result of electrification and new trains?

Probably by 2022, more electric stock would be available to get hold of?

Such as the 379s?