MML Electrification: progress updates

[snowball]

Press release:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/kettering-rail-bridge-set-for-upgrade/

Network Rail will upgrade the rail bridge which crosses Northampton Road in Kettering next month as part of the Railway Upgrade Plan.

The six-week-scheme is the latest part of a major project that will allow more trains to run between Northamptonshire and London. The bridge will be substantially strengthened so that it can cater for increased volumes of trains passing over it in the future.

To allow the work to be carried out as efficiently and safely as possible, Northampton Road will be closed to road users. The closure comes into place Monday, 24 July and runs until Monday, 4 September, with a clearly signposted diversion in place. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the project.

Spencer Gibbens, principal programme sponsor for Network Rail, said: “There isn’t ever a good time to close an important transport link like Northampton Road, but we have deliberately targeted the school holidays to allow us to carry out this important part of our Railway Upgrade Plan at a time when it will cause less disruption than it otherwise would.

“Once complete, the bridge will be able to support the increased number of trains traveling between Northamptonshire and London. I’d like to thank motorists for their patience whilst this upgrade is completed.”

Network Rail will hold a drop-in event on Monday, 3 July at Kettering Borough Council offices between 15:00 and 18:30. Members of the project team from Network Rail will be on hand to answer any questions which residents may have.

Notes to editors

The substantial strengthening work includes extensive brickwork repair and the installation of tie-bars and pattress plates through the bridge.
In addition the track over the structure will be removed and excavation will take place to enable pre-cast concrete reinforcements to be installed.
The removing and the replacement of the track will take place over night, with no disruption to train services

 

[Flying Phil]

The detailed plans for Market Harborough station £M46 rebuilding are with the Local Council - so things are happening.

 

[InTheEastMids]

The detailed plans for Market Harborough station £M46 rebuilding are with the Local Council - so things are happening.

Already approved, and work starts a week on Monday

https://www.networkrailmediacentre....-event-ahead-of-construction-of-new-car-park#

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Apologies if it's already been covered but what will happen to the Welland Valley services post electrification ?

 

[A0]

Apologies if it's already been covered but what will happen to the Welland Valley services post electrification ?

How do you mean?

I understand the current plan is for half-hourly Corby - St Pancras calling as the current Corby's do.

There's only a couple of Corby's per day which head onto Leicester / Derby - I'd assume something would be kept in the timetable if only to ensure driver route knowledge is maintained for diversion purposes.

Or did you have something else in mind?

 

[Flying Phil]

Already approved, and work starts a week on Monday

https://www.networkrailmediacentre....-event-ahead-of-construction-of-new-car-park#

Indeed there are Big yellow excavators and diggers on site today!

 

[Mutant Lemming]

How do you mean?

I understand the current plan is for half-hourly Corby - St Pancras calling as the current Corby's do.

There's only a couple of Corby's per day which head onto Leicester / Derby - I'd assume something would be kept in the timetable if only to ensure driver route knowledge is maintained for diversion purposes.

Or did you have something else in mind?

Just wondering what kind of passenger service will eventually operate over Harringworth Viaduct post MML electrification. Would imagine little difference after the Corby branch is done but once the whole MML project is complete with the main service being all electric would a diesel set still be found to operate a through Melton>Oakham>St.Pancras service or DMU connecting shuttle to Corby or no service at all ?

 

[edwin_m]

Just wondering what kind of passenger service will eventually operate over Harringworth Viaduct post MML electrification. Would imagine little difference after the Corby branch is done but once the whole MML project is complete with the main service being all electric would a diesel set still be found to operate a through Melton>Oakham>St.Pancras service or DMU connecting shuttle to Corby or no service at all ?

It very much depends on how well the service is doing passenger wise and what rolling stock strategy the new franchise follows.

Basically the workings north of Corby are stock positioning moves to get the 222 units off the Corby service to and from the depot in Derby. Effectively any passengers carried are a bonus and cost almost nothing to carry. But if Corby gets straight EMUs, as seems likely, then a diesel unit would have to be found for any service north of there.

If the main line continues with diesels or gets bi-modes then it's possible a couple could divert via Corby, or maybe a 158 could work from Leicester, but either would be a significant extra cost to the operator so would need a good number of passengers to make it worth their while. There's another decision point if and when the committed eletrification is completed, probably the franchise after next, when the main line may go to an all-electric fleet.

 

[Kettledrum]

The artist's impressions of the new Market Harborough station don't show any platform cover or much in the way of shelters for passengers. It's going to be a lousy experience for passengers in bad weather

 

[Flying Phil]

The artist's impressions of the new Market Harborough station don't show any platform cover or much in the way of shelters for passengers. It's going to be a lousy experience for passengers in bad weather

More worryingly there is no OLE shown.....

 

[A0]

It very much depends on how well the service is doing passenger wise and what rolling stock strategy the new franchise follows.

Basically the workings north of Corby are stock positioning moves to get the 222 units off the Corby service to and from the depot in Derby. Effectively any passengers carried are a bonus and cost almost nothing to carry. But if Corby gets straight EMUs, as seems likely, then a diesel unit would have to be found for any service north of there.

If the main line continues with diesels or gets bi-modes then it's possible a couple could divert via Corby, or maybe a 158 could work from Leicester, but either would be a significant extra cost to the operator so would need a good number of passengers to make it worth their while. There's another decision point if and when the committed eletrification is completed, probably the franchise after next, when the main line may go to an all-electric fleet.

Surely the obvious solution if the Corby was all electric would be to run a couple of peak services to points beyond Corby using diesel units - probably Meridians? Which is effectively what happens now.

Surely longer term it depends whether services from Corby northwards are viewed as an area for development, or simply used to ensure driver route knowledge is maintained for use as a diversion.

 

[edwin_m]

Surely the obvious solution if the Corby was all electric would be to run a couple of peak services to points beyond Corby using diesel units - probably Meridians? Which is effectively what happens now.

Some of the through workings will be associated with strengthening of other routes but others will be the units for the Corby service itself, which won't be required in diesel form.

 

[RichmondCommu]

More worryingly there is no OLE shown.....

As I understand it Derby station will be remodeled next summer. If at that point no masts are erected (and they must have surely got as far as the design stage before the project was delayed) then I will really being to worry.

 

[edwin_m]

As I understand it Derby station will be remodeled next summer. If at that point no masts are erected (and they must have surely got as far as the design stage before the project was delayed) then I will really being to worry.

During the re-modelling may not be the best time to put up the OLE supports, though it was done that way at Reading. After the re-modelling is complete it should be easier to get possession of a couple of tracks at quiet times to do that sort of work.

 

[Kettledrum]

The artist's impressions of the new Market Harborough station don't show any platform cover or much in the way of shelters for passengers. It's going to be a lousy experience for passengers in bad weather

When I stopped at Market Harborough station today, I noticed that the existing station doesn't have any platform canopies or much in the way of any shelter either, so perhaps the hardy folk of Market Harborough are used to it.

I also notices that there was a third track still in situ, but didn't look like it had been used for a long time, didn't have a platform edge and seemed to serve the old goods shed and sidings. Presumably this will all go in the re-modelling.

No need for third track at Market Harborough then, like other places along the line?

 

[edwin_m]

The third track is an engineering siding, used to hold tampers and the like, but I think it has now been closed to make way for the relocated car park.

Market Harborough was re-built at platform level sometime in the 80s, and the walls of the Down side platform building follow the new alignment (at least as it was anticipated to be at the time) so it's not parallel to the platform edge. I don't know if this building, or the ramp that is the only "old" item at platform level, survives the remodelling.

 

[RichmondCommu]

When I stopped at Market Harborough station today, I noticed that the existing station doesn't have any platform canopies or much in the way of any shelter either, so perhaps the hardy folk of Market Harborough are used to it.

I also notices that there was a third track still in situ, but didn't look like it had been used for a long time, didn't have a platform edge and seemed to serve the old goods shed and sidings. Presumably this will all go in the re-modelling.

No need for third track at Market Harborough then, like other places along the line?

The siding used to be used to stable track machines. If the rest of the MML does end getting electrified I wonder if it might be an act of folly to get rid of those kind of sidings.

 

[InTheEastMids]

The siding used to be used to stable track machines. If the rest of the MML does end getting electrified I wonder if it might be an act of folly to get rid of those kind of sidings.

There's space for those sidings at Kett & Welly though, and once the work is complete there will be plenty of space on what is the current alignment

I had to make a trip to London today, so also had a quick chat to the NR guys at Harborough station today. Phase 1, which is starting now, will see the new car park and access road built where the engine shed still stands, completion target is "Spring 2018". Then Phase 2 will see new platforms built across the car park parallel to the operational railway (possibly all the way up to North of Great Bowden). According to the NR chaps, grafting the new alignment into the operational railway will only require a 5 day blockade (I was anticipating a month).

Further South, there's a lot of new sleepers appeared at Wellingborough. Additionally, a lot of deforestation has happened at Wellingborough, and also between Sharnbrook and Wymington on the slow line, so looks like the 4-tracking work is really getting going.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Last Monday 19th there was a tamper parked at Market Harborough all day; it was just behind the wall at the back of the up platform - is this the siding being mentioned above?

 

[Kettledrum]

Just wondering what kind of passenger service will eventually operate over Harringworth Viaduct post MML electrification. Would imagine little difference after the Corby branch is done but once the whole MML project is complete with the main service being all electric would a diesel set still be found to operate a through Melton>Oakham>St.Pancras service or DMU connecting shuttle to Corby or no service at all ?

Melton Mowbray to St Pancras is only one direct train a day in each direction.

Lack of rolling stock availability is a big factor behind why it's only one service in each direction (and it's not a franchise commitment).

There could be some suppressed demand as well - we don't really know.

Once/if electrification happens, it could be an opportunity to use bi-modes to run more services on this route, as there are no plans for the line beyond Corby to be electrified.

 

[Mugby]

How is the 'straightening of the line' through Market Harborough to be achieved?

I can't see any scope at all from the Braybrooke end so presumably they must be intending some realignment north of the station in the paddocks area?

 

[snowball]

How is the 'straightening of the line' through Market Harborough to be achieved?

I can't see any scope at all from the Braybrooke end so presumably they must be intending some realignment north of the station in the paddocks area?

Through the station and for some distance to the north, the line will be realigned somewhat to the west, I think mostly or entirely within existing railway land. No change south of the station.

 

[swt_passenger]

Through the station and for some distance to the north, the line will be realigned somewhat to the west, I think mostly or entirely within existing railway land. No change south of the station.

An "8 minutes old" local news article, (at the time of writing) shows the stages and timescales for the slew:

http://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/new...h-station-plan-will-start-on-monday-1-8029457

 

[furnessvale]

Through the station and for some distance to the north, the line will be realigned somewhat to the west, I think mostly or entirely within existing railway land. No change south of the station.

Speed increases can be achieved by lengthening transitions which are often the limiting factor.

Many speed increases on the WCML north of Carnforth prior to electrification were achieved by doing just that.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Last Monday 19th there was a tamper parked at Market Harborough all day; it was just behind the wall at the back of the up platform - is this the siding being mentioned above?

Yes it is

 

[edwin_m]

Speed increases can be achieved by lengthening transitions which are often the limiting factor.

Many speed increases on the WCML north of Carnforth prior to electrification were achieved by doing just that.

The tightest part of the curve is at the south end of the platforms themselves. Straightening the platform will remove this part of the curve but may also allow a greater amount of cant on the remaining curve further south (since the maximum cant allowed is less in a platform). However there are crossovers on this curve so any improvement there might have to wait for re-signalling when I would hope the crossovers could move north onto straight track.

North of the station the MML originally joined the Northampton to Melton line for a mile or so before diverging off towards Leicester. At a later date it got two new tracks on the east of what became a four-track formation. The re-modelling puts the MML back onto its original alignment to the west of the formation and removes the speed-restricted curves around the bridge where it currently climbs over the Melton tracks. But non-stopping trains will still have to slow down significantly for Market Harborough because of the curve south of the station.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Yes it is

Then it appears it's still in use at the moment?

 

[RichmondCommu]

Then it appears it's still in use at the moment?

Indeed it is

 

[InTheEastMids]

I think this presentation answers most of the questions that have been raised

http://politics.leics.gov.uk/documents/s117741/Network Rail presentation.pdf

Plus a nice historic picture on Slide 2 that also shows why the speed limit through the station is 60mph

 

[Mugby]

So they're going to shave quite a bit off the present car park, are they intending to compensate for this parking loss elsewhere?