MML Electrification: progress updates

[LNW-GW Joint]

Just to clarify my "negative BCR" comment, the actual Electrification RUS text says the BCR for MML electrification was essentially infinite, with "a positive financial case over the appraisal period".
It relied on the London-Bedford stretch already being wired, and the value of the class 222 fleet being cascaded onwards.
12 years on, two NR management teams later, Grayling/Shapps, and GBR in the offing, things look a little different of course.
GW electrification was painted in similar terms (with the wiring as far as Maidenhead presumed to be funded by Crossrail).

 

[swt_passenger]

Just to clarify my "negative BCR" comment, the actual Electrification RUS text says the BCR for MML electrification was essentially infinite, with "a positive financial case over the appraisal period".
It relied on the London-Bedford stretch already being wired, and the value of the class 222 fleet being cascaded onwards.
12 years on, two NR management teams later, Grayling/Shapps, and GBR in the offing, things look a little different of course.
GW electrification was painted in similar terms (with the wiring as far as Maidenhead presumed to be funded by Crossrail).

Weren’t the ex-Thameslink 319s supposed to have been a part of one of the electrification projects (GWML?) at one stage, the theory being that the rolling stock would effectively be a much reduced cost?

 

[hwl]

Weren’t the ex-Thameslink 319s supposed to have been a part of one of the electrification projects (GWML?) at one stage, the theory being that the rolling stock would effectively be a much reduced cost?

Yes for both GWML and NW use with comparative reductions in leasing costs there is much less of an impact from doing so now

 

[Mordac]

Yes I am sure I have read that elsewhere too. And with my crayonista hat OFF makes sense too.

Wish they'd carry on to Nuneaton.

 

[Halish Railway]

Yes for both GWML and NW use with comparative reductions in leasing costs there is much less of an impact from doing so now

I’d imagine that’s because these electrification schemes were planned in a pre-recession world where there were much higher interest rates.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Wish they'd carry on to Nuneaton.

Well we are wandering into speculative territory but freight is holding up well during/post Covid and F2N (Felixtowe to Nuneaton) is a very key strategic freight route with some passenger benefits too, BCR and business case gets stronger once to and through Leicester is wired with the MML project.

 

[Bald Rick]

Wish they'd carry on to Nuneaton.

No point unless Leicester is done, plus Nuneaton to Birmingham.

 

[Roast Veg]

No point unless Leicester is done, plus Nuneaton to Birmingham.

Even all that would only be good for 1tph, unless the Stansted's can go bimode.

 

[Flying Phil]

There were no masts up yet at Harborough station - I believe they like to leave the concrete for over a week to harden properly and be tested before masts go up though. At the Braybrooke Supply site they were putting fence posts up around the trackside concrete base, and putting more electrical "stuff" up in the main site.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I believe they like to leave the concrete for over a week to harden properly and be tested before masts go up though.

Correct. 7 days is a good compromise. 28 days is ideal.

 

[hwl]

Correct. 7 days is a good compromise. 28 days is ideal.

Given there is no rush I suspect they will go for 28 days as they have done elsewhere recently.
The current philosophy is to leave a time gap between bases completed and masts going up so the base is confirmed as problem free before erecting a number of masts in a small area efficiently. This also helps prevent headless chicken catch up mode if there start to be problems with a few bases (piled or concrete)

 

[Flying Phil]

Here is a view of the work at Braybrooke - I assume the thick black tubes/cables are to carry the electricity from the transformers to the switchgear for the OHLE in that trackside compound?

 

[swt_passenger]

Here is a view of the work at Braybrooke - I assume the thick black tubes/cables are to carry the electricity from the transformers to the switchgear for the OHLE in that trackside compound?

I don’t think there’s ever been a detailed drawing of the NR aspects for this site available online, but when I looked at Marshall Meadows on the ECML, (somewhat different in being a twin SFC set up), there was a substantial network of underground conduit, not just the obvious ie grid to NR compound, and from there to the trackside, but all the connections between the different containers on the NR concrete slab took relatively long underground routes, I suspect some of this is to do with cable bend radius limits. As well as the power connections there’ll be monitoring and control, communications and domestic supplies, etc etc.

If it’s of interest I uploaded the Marshall Meadows site layout here, note all the red lined conduit routes, especially the density near the bottom left switchgear containers, if you follow some of the labels there’s plenty of runs with 6 x 150mm conduit:

ECML Power Supply Upgrade

As the works were undertaken in 2017, I think it was a case of "while you're here..." for AmcoGiffen. It might have been a small part of the signalling power supply upgrade, which may or may not be separate to the traction power supply upgrade. I don't know for certain as I'm not on either...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Bald Rick]

Update from Napsbury (south St Albans).

The worksite appears to be a work compound for new structures being erected between St Albans and Radlett. several new piles have been installed a few metres from existing structures, and there is a small stock of piles awaiting installation along the line too.

 

[59CosG95]

Update from Napsbury (south St Albans).

The worksite appears to be a work compound for new structures being erected between St Albans and Radlett. several new piles have been installed a few metres from existing structures, and there is a small stock of piles awaiting installation along the line too.

Ooo - do you have any images of the compound/piles?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Jan 2022 ==

On second look, some BTs have been disconnected between Chalton ATFS and Flitwick, but they're still in situ.

Is that the quartet all on the Down side north of the footbridge at Sundon?

 

[Edvid]

Yes it is, plus the other down-side pair(s) on that stretch. (EDIT: Whilst checking the up-side last time I was only looking for removals, not disconnections)

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Here is a view of the work at Braybrooke - I assume the thick black tubes/cables are to carry the electricity from the transformers to the switchgear for the OHLE in that trackside compound?
View attachment 109361

What a fantastic action shot. Thanks for posting. The concrete pad is laid, cured(ing) and taking traffic (the digger) so that is good. Looks like it is raised above track level so reduces flooding risk so also good.

 

[John Webb]

Update from Napsbury (south St Albans).

The worksite appears to be a work compound for new structures being erected between St Albans and Radlett. several new piles have been installed a few metres from existing structures, and there is a small stock of piles awaiting installation along the line too.

Ooo - do you have any images of the compound/piles?

I'll have a look at the weekend and see what I can do in the way of pictures. (There were two Road/Rail platforms parked outside the access compound by St Albans South yesterday afternoon.)

 

[Bald Rick]

Ooo - do you have any images of the compound/piles?

I’m normally going past in the dark, and at 90mph or so, but will try to next time I’m in daylight.

 

[Nottingham59]

Here is a view of the work at Braybrooke - I assume the thick black tubes/cables are to carry the electricity from the transformers to the switchgear for the OHLE in that trackside compound?

Thanks for posting that.

I imagine the black ducts are for control cables etc. I seem to remember that the planning diagrams showed an overhead conducting bar feed from the transformers to the OHLE trackside cabinet, but I will have to check. (EDIT: No it didn't, so I expect the 25/0/-25kV feed will be carried on underground cable. This appears to be what happens at Pately Bridge.)

Also, I'm glad to see that the trackside pad seems to be located far enough away from the running lines to allow Desborough passing loop to be reinstated at that location, if that were ever to be required.

 

[DannyMich2018]

The latest issue of Today's Railways UK has a piece about the progress about electrification north of Kettering. It ends with "Electrification of the Kettering-Market Harborough section is costed at £350 million with a completion date of December 2023"
Is this a mistake? Really that much to electrify a short section little over 10 miles long?

 

[swt_passenger]

Thanks for posting that.

I imagine the black ducts are for control cables etc. I seem to remember that the planning diagrams showed an overhead conducting bar feed from the transformers to the OHLE trackside cabinet, but I will have to check. (EDIT: No it didn't, so I expect the 25/0/-25kV feed will be carried on underground cable. This appears to be what happens at Pately Bridge.)

Also, I'm glad to see that the trackside pad seems to be located far enough away from the running lines to allow Desborough passing loop to be reinstated at that location, if that were ever to be required.

I remember from the design and access statement for the work - it did state explicitly that the cables between the grid compound and the NR compound are all underground.

 

[Elecman]

I remember from the design and access statement for the work - it did state explicitly that the cables between the grid compound and the NR compound are all underground.

On all new feeder stations they are for safety

 

[59CosG95]

The latest issue of Today's Railways UK has a piece about the progress about electrification north of Kettering. It ends with "Electrification of the Kettering-Market Harborough section is costed at £350 million with a completion date of December 2023"
Is this a mistake? Really that much to electrify a short section little over 10 miles long?

400kV Feeder Stations have a notoriously long lead time as NR essentially have to dance to the National Grid fiddle.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

The latest issue of Today's Railways UK has a piece about the progress about electrification north of Kettering. It ends with "Electrification of the Kettering-Market Harborough section is costed at £350 million with a completion date of December 2023"
Is this a mistake? Really that much to electrify a short section little over 10 miles long?

Lets hope so otherwise stkm rate is way beyond but what the experts say it should be costing.

 

[59CosG95]

Lets hope so otherwise stkm rate is way beyond but what the experts say it should be costing.

Don't forget that this also includes the work to alter the sectioning arrangements (new TSCs at Napsbury & East Hyde; removed TSCs at Radlett, Sandridge & Luton Hoo; moving the Neutral Section at Sandridge to East Hyde), work to increase linespeeds on the Fasts' OLE, and work to upgrade the power supply south of Bedford.

The first part of the power supply work (replacing Sundon) is done - now the focus is switching to de-boostering the entire route north of Borehamwood (currently underway), and then I suspect upgrading the supply further to AT-feeding comes after that (which might add extra cost as transformers are not cheap).
The £350m might add weight to the extension rumours beyond Mkt Harboro' to South Wigston too...

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Also, I'm glad to see that the trackside pad seems to be located far enough away from the running lines to allow Desborough passing loop to be reinstated at that location, if that were ever to be required.

I hadn’t thought about that. Good point.

The £350m might add weight to the extension rumours beyond Mkt Harboro' to South Wigston too...

I hadnt thought about that either. Another good point.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Don't forget that this also includes the work to alter the sectioning arrangements (new TSCs at Napsbury & East Hyde; removed TSCs at Radlett, Sandridge & Luton Hoo; moving the Neutral Section at Sandridge to East Hyde), work to increase linespeeds on the Fasts' OLE, and work to upgrade the power supply south of Bedford.

The first part of the power supply work (replacing Sundon) is done - now the focus is switching to de-boostering the entire route north of Borehamwood (currently underway), and then I suspect upgrading the supply further to AT-feeding comes after that (which might add extra cost as transformers are not cheap).
The £350m might add weight to the extension rumours beyond Mkt Harboro' to South Wigston too...

Not what the article is alleged to have said but haven't read it anyhow sounds more reasonable if it includes all that lot. Mind you compared to the £400m (1B today) in 1986 that bought nigh of 400 miles of OLE, 31 new trains and three resignalling schemes on ECML its still costing far too much.

As an aside im amused by the deboostering having spent several months on testing in the 80's on this stretch convincing the S&T fraternity that the new electrification wasn't interfering with the signalling system because of the boosters.

 

[59CosG95]

As an aside im amused by the deboostering having spent several months on testing in the 80's on this stretch convincing the S&T fraternity that the new electrification wasn't interfering with the signalling system because of the boosters.

IIRC one of the reasons for the move away from boosters is the limitations they place on the power draw of modern stock. The immunisation provided by the RC then goes into the signalling troughs themselves with a Return Screening Conductor (bonded to traction return IIRC).

 

[Flying Phil]

Don't forget that this also includes the work to alter the sectioning arrangements (new TSCs at Napsbury & East Hyde; removed TSCs at Radlett, Sandridge & Luton Hoo; moving the Neutral Section at Sandridge to East Hyde), work to increase linespeeds on the Fasts' OLE, and work to upgrade the power supply south of Bedford.

The first part of the power supply work (replacing Sundon) is done - now the focus is switching to de-boostering the entire route north of Borehamwood (currently underway), and then I suspect upgrading the supply further to AT-feeding comes after that (which might add extra cost as transformers are not cheap).
The £350m might add weight to the extension rumours beyond Mkt Harboro' to South Wigston too...

Certainly the workers "on the ground" have been told that approval has been given for electrification to Leicester......so better than rumours I believe.