MML Electrification: progress updates

[snowball]

Thanks. The work from Kettering to Market Harborough and Wigston I assume would be CP6 then?

After the original dropping of Kettering to Sheffield, the proposed reinstatement as far as Market Harborough was, if I remember correctly, a possibility of gradually increasing strength over a long period. The recently quoted summary post by @59CosG95, posted on the first day of CP6, includes

The extent of wiring towards Market Harborough has now been as good as confirmed to reach the station.

The extension to Wigston South is much more recent.

But, as #6000 shows (congratulations on the round number, by the way!) work further north may have been going on years ago, when the whole route was believed to be going ahead.

 

[gingertom]

After the original dropping of Kettering to Sheffield, the proposed reinstatement as far as Market Harborough was, if I remember correctly, a possibility of gradually increasing strength over a long period. The recently quoted summary post by @59CosG95, posted on the first day of CP6, includes



The extension to Wigston South is much more recent.

But, as #6000 shows (congratulations on the round number, by the way!) work further north may have been going on years ago, when the whole route was believed to be going ahead.

I was under the impression that reinstatement to Market Harborough was because of the cancellation costs of the Braybrook feeder station was greater than the cost of wiring to MH.

 

[snowball]

I was under the impression that reinstatement to Market Harborough was because of the cancellation costs of the Braybrook feeder station was greater than the cost of wiring to MH.

Nevertheless my recollection is that it took a long time from the first suggestion that it might be happening to confirmation that it would definitely be happening and would reach MH.

They could have gone for an extension lead instead.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

This link to the Leicester Mercury details 3 bridges that were rebuilt North of Leicester

Revealed: Millions wasted on scrapped electrification project

Rail bridges and gantries have already been adapted at huge expense in Leicestershire

www.leicestermercury.co.uk

Plus Station Street bridge in Kibworth was rebuilt in 2013 and so is electrification ready

Perfect. Thanks

 

[edwin_m]

I was under the impression that reinstatement to Market Harborough was because of the cancellation costs of the Braybrook feeder station was greater than the cost of wiring to MH.

I believe existing feeders were enough to power the 360s but they needed Braybrooke to run 810s under electric power, so would have looked a bit silly cancelling it. So the choice was between extending the OLE at least to Braybrooke, or installing an "extension lead", which would cost a significant fraction of the OLE cost for much less benefit.

 

[InTheEastMids]

I believe existing feeders were enough to power the 360s but they needed Braybrooke to run 810s under electric power, so would have looked a bit silly cancelling it. So the choice was between extending the OLE at least to Braybrooke, or installing an "extension lead", which would cost a significant fraction of the OLE cost for much less benefit.

Probably didn't hurt that the Harborough MP was a special advisor to Theresa May when she was PM so was will placed to lobby for a good news story

 

[WAO]

The three bridges in the 2017 press article mentioned are all north of Leicester (Syston Rd, Cossingtom, next one north of the A46 crossing); the others are just south of Kegworth, north of Loughborough (Station Rd Sutton Bonnington and Stanford Road between Normanton and Stanford).

They look nice jobs at c£2.5M each.

They must have had some priority so will give an extra push to wiring to the Kegworth/Ratcliffe ATFS.

WAO

 

[Hairy Bear]

These 3 bridges were of the same type as the one at Barrow upon soar which gave way after the pipe burst, and were rebuilt to alleviate the similar risk at the time.
Not an accurate analysis by the newspaper .

 

[InTheEastMids]

These 3 bridges were of the same type as the one at Barrow upon soar which gave way after the pipe burst, and were rebuilt to alleviate the similar risk at the time.
Not an accurate analysis by the newspaper .

I think this is rather unfair to the Leicester Mercury (I find myself surprised to be standing up for local journalism as what I see is rarely much good)

My commute at the time was affected by the rebuild at Sutton Bonington.

Network Rail were clear with media and stakeholders at the time that electrification was the reason why the bridge was being replaced in 2015. Howver, it didn't go ahead because MML electrification got paused for a few months. The Barrow bridge collapse was not until August 2016.

After MML electrification was unpaused, the bridge was rebuilt in late 2016, so may well have been prioritised because of the events at Barrow on Soar, but to say it only got done because of Barrow just doesn't fit the timeline. NR had the chance to explain this to the Leicester Mercury when asked for comment and didn't. So it doesn't seem inaccurate to suggest that this was a waste of public money when MMLE got the Grayling treatment.

To be honest, it's equally believable that NR cooked up a cock and bull story about decaying pipework after the event to cover their backsides, having (from the perspective of 2017) wasted a load of public money on pointless bridge works.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

@InTheEastMids thank you for giving the other side of the story.

 

[Flying Phil]

Of course the other bridge that benefitted from the "Early" MML electrification work North of Leicester was for the Great Central Railway. This was the biggest hurdle in "Bridging the Gap" between the two parts of the preserved line and, if the bridge wasn't built before electrification, then it was extremely likely to be too expensive to do afterwards. NR were very co-operative in getting that work done - even as that part of the electrification was "Paused". The bridge was finished in 2018.

 

[WAO]

These 3 bridges were of the same type as the one at Barrow upon soar which gave way after the pipe burst, and were rebuilt to alleviate the similar risk at the time.
Not an accurate analysis by the newspaper .

From the Barrow on Soar images on line, only a retaining wall collapsed with the arch less affected. As can be seen, the other side wall is still there, albeit with raised parapets. The arches looked quite tall enough not to need raising for clearance and must have survived.

It's a pity NR doesn't get credit for "betterment" in its asset base when a bridge is repaired or replaced. This would certainly make electrification look cheaper as the book value would increase, justifiably.

WAO

 

[Flying Phil]

There are still no piles or masts through Desborough. Masts have gone up a bit closer to the Braybrooke Feeder site from the South,
but there is still a gap of around half a mile before Mkt Hbro. To the North of Hbro there is a half mile gap with no piles or masts through Gt Bowden where the old foot bridge is situated. Then the masts extend all the way to Kibworth. Most masts have booms or cantilevers fitted.
Through Kibworth to S Wigston there has only been vegetation clearance so far.

 

[adrock1976]

Regarding the feeder station mentioned upthread at Kegworth, are East Mids Airport being kept updated with the ongoing works?

The reason I mention this is that there was an aviation disaster at Kegworth back in 1972, and to the best of my knowledge, there has never been a building on the site of the feeder station.

 

[John R]

Do you mean the British Midland crash that occurred on 8/1/89 or another one?

 

[Nottingham59]

Regarding the feeder station mentioned upthread at Kegworth, are East Mids Airport being kept updated with the ongoing works?

The reason I mention this is that there was an aviation disaster at Kegworth back in 1972, and to the best of my knowledge, there has never been a building on the site of the feeder station.

The feeder station site is well away from the axis of the runway. And in any case, it will be situated below an existing 400kV electricity pylon, which will aready constitute hazard to aviation.

The site proposed for HS2 electrification is shown in the maps shown. I assume the MML electrification design will use the same site for grid connection, with the MML feeder point adjacent to that.

I did a bit more digging on this. The Kegworth Autotransformer feeder station for HS2 was planned to be adjacent to M1J24, which is actually 3km from Ratcliffe on Soar power station.

View attachment 113227
(image taken from: https://assets.publishing.service.g..._Ratcliffe-on-Soar_to_Long_Eaton_map_book.pdf )

I can't see what 400kV supply they planned to use. None of the several 400kV lines in the area pass directly over the site. See here (map taken from openinframap).
View attachment 113228

But it's all irrelevant now, as the route of HS2 is likely to be diverted to the other side of Kegworth village in order to join the MML south of East Midlands Parkway.

EDIT: The 400kV tap was indeed the second pylon outside the power station. It looks like they planned to feed the Kegworth ATFS with a +25kV/0/-25kV cable buried along the southern side of the A453 between these two sites.

View attachment 113230

 

[Kneedown]

Through Kibworth to S Wigston there has only been vegetation clearance so far.

Newton Harcourt where the Canal does a 90 degree turn next to the line there are a couple of pilings in place, and another one or two further north just before the straight towards Kilby Bridge.

 

[PJM]

Thanks for the updates Flying Phil and Kneedown, post #5940 by 59CosG95 states `Update 21/02/23: Piling is scheduled to take place in Desborough, from 22:00 on Sat 4th March to 06:00 on Fri 31st March.` So we should finally see some action in Desborough!

 

[Jozhua]

It would make sense to skip Erewash if the focus is on getting most MML services fully electrified.

However, I don't think it is a bit of track that should be slept on for long. If the plan is to run all HS2 trains to Sheffield via Derby, that section of track is going to be horrifically congested.

That, combined with trying to improve journey times from the East of England to Sheffield and the North West and increase freight capacity, I believe a package of upgrades to the Erewash valley including electrification would be a great idea. (Ideally Quad Track with express tracks on the eastern side. I reckon with a bit of work you could easily squeeze 100mph out of it.)

 

[zwk500]

It would make sense to skip Erewash if the focus is on getting most MML services fully electrified.

Would it? Comparatively few MML services actually go up it.

However, I don't think it is a bit of track that should be slept on for long. If the plan is to run all HS2 trains to Sheffield via Derby, that section of track is going to be horrifically congested.

So the upgrades should focus on the route via Ambergate, surely?

That, combined with trying to improve journey times from the East of England to Sheffield and the North West and increase freight capacity, I believe a package of upgrades to the Erewash valley including electrification would be a great idea. (Ideally Quad Track with express tracks on the eastern side. I reckon with a bit of work you could easily squeeze 100mph out of it.)

Why would you switch the Fast and Slows around? There's already a slow on the eastern side, and at Trent the High Level lines are on the east. What really needs sorting out is the Toton/Trent area, as you have the Slow lines on the east side but DB's depot on the west. If the Erewash is to get busier between Trent and Trowell jns then these crossing moves will become problematic. A Flyover allowing High Level trains to get towards Castle Donnington would be wonderful.

 

[Bald Rick]

If the plan is to run all HS2 trains to Sheffield via Derby, that section of track is going to be horrifically congested.

All two of them an hour?

 

[edwin_m]

All two of them an hour?

I imagine the 2TPH London-Sheffield service could just be replaced by 2TPH of HS2 service, with the existing service cut back to Derby and possibly a London-Leicester-Nottingham-Sheffield which might even continue to Leeds using the current Northern path. This wouldn't increase the number of trains on any section except EM Parkway to Derby.

 

[Nottingham59]

The main issue seems to be congestion around the Trent Triangle. Some years ago, it took a lot of shifting the timetable around to allow 4tph between Nottingham and Derby. (The 4tph were to Birmingham x2, Crewe, Matlock). I don't think they could have found space for a fifth.

The IRP says that if HS2 is to join the MML south of East Midlands Parkway, then it would be necessary to grade-separate the flows from Nottingham to Derby and MML/HS2 to Nottingham. To do that around Trent Triangle would be very expensive. (Discussed here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...-and-capacity-through-trent-junctions.225009/ )

So I fully expect that DfT/HS2 will ignore the IRP recommendation and leave Trent Triangle as it is, as a constraint to rail growth in the East Midlands for another generation.

 

[Jozhua]

Thought I'd start a new thread for discussion around Erewash Valley if anyone is interested:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/future-of-erewash-valley-electrification.244369/

I know most people are here for updates on electrification, so don't want to overshadow that conversation

 

[Flying Phil]

Meanwhile back to the MML here is a current picture, from the old footbridge at Great Bowden, showing the view to the North.

 

[DDB]

Thought I'd start a new thread for discussion around Erewash Valley if anyone is interested:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/future-of-erewash-valley-electrification.244369/

I know most people are here for updates on electrification, so don't want to overshadow that conversation

Link doesn't work for me?

 

[Flying Phil]

Link doesn't work for me?

You can access it direct in the "Other Rail & Transport" section, look up "Speculative Discussion" sub section.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Link doesn't work for me?

That's odd; it doesn't work for me either yet when I copy and paste off the forum I cannot see any spellings or other differences in it - and it seems to work ( here )!

Future Of Erewash Valley/Electrification

Hello, Thought I'd start a new thread branching off of the MML electrification regarding Erewash Valley & how we believe it could best fit in with plans for the rail network in the area? I'll respond to a few people in my next post. Cheers! 1678019492 Would it? Comparatively few MML services...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[59CosG95]

New article on NR's website: https://www.networkrailmediacentre....re-this-month-to-pave-way-for-electrification

Bridges transformed in Northamptonshire and Leicestershire this month to pave way for electrification​

Region & Route: Eastern | Eastern: East Midlands
Vital work to adapt three bridges and lower track to clear the way for an electric railway between Kettering and Wigston will get underway this March.

Bridges in Braybrooke in Northamptonshire, Great Glen and Newton Harcourt in Leicestershire will be demolished, reconstructed or have the track beneath them lowered to clear height for overhead wires to pass underneath.

The wires will eventually power electric and bi-mode trains through the towns as part of the Midland Main Line upgrade. The multi-million-pound programme supports the Government’s ambitions for decarbonisation and will offer more reliable journeys for passengers.

The work involves:

• Demolishing a farm access low bridge in Braybrooke, where a higher replacement bridge has already been installed around 20 metres down the line
• Demolishing a bridge on Station Road in Great Glen and reconstructing it
• Lowering the tracks under Wistow Road bridge in Newton Harcourt

Network Rail engineers will also continue to drive piles into the ground and install masts to carry the overhead wires through Kibworth.

All of this work will help to create a cleaner, greener electrified railway for passengers travelling along this section of the Midland Main Line in the future.

To complete the work safely, there will be changes to services between Sheffield, Nottingham, Corby and London St Pancras across three weekends in March - on Sunday 12, Saturday 18, Sunday 19, and on 25 and 26 March.

That means bridges SPC3-35 and SPC3-10 will be demolished this month. I suspect there's been some confusion regarding which "Wistow Road" is having its track lowered, as Wistow Rd (Newton Harcourt; bridge SPC3-9) is due for an August/September demolition. Wistow Rd (Kibworth Harcourt; bridge SPC3-15) is listed on the MMLE map as having its track lowered this month.

 

[Flying Phil]

Thanks 59CosG95.
The Braybrooke bridge to be demolished can just be seen through the masts and booms in the picture in post #6013.