MML Electrification: progress updates

[Merle Haggard]

Only SPC3/34 (next to Braybrooke ATFS) I believe, but that's due to start imminently.
SPC3 bridges 42, 35, 28E, 28, 25, 24, 19 (done way back), 18, 10, 9, 8 (done way back), 7, 3 and possibly 2 have all had work to modify/demolish the bridge completed or underway.
SPC3 bridges 40, 39, 28D and 15 have all had track lowering completed or are in the midst of track lowering works.
SPC3 bridges 39, 38, 16B and possibly more are using surge arresters.

Someone I know is a retired bridge engineer and he mentioned to me that some of the bridges, not on electrified routes, he had been involved with had the clearance increased when rebuilt (to 'future-proof' for possible electrification) but this increased height would not be sufficient if the line under it was to be electrified now, because of the changed (EU???) legislation. I know he was involved with bridges around Oakham/Melton so he may have had ones on the MML in mind. Do you know if this is definitely not the case?

 

[londonmidland]

Grabbed this image off Facebook - looks like the first lot of portals have gone up at Cooks Lane, Kilby Bridge.

 

[59CosG95]

Grabbed this image off Facebook - looks like the first lot of portals have gone up at Cooks Lane, Kilby Bridge.

View attachment 145438

Bizarre arrangement with that portal nearest the camera - the Down side leg seems to be sitting on a "chair"! (@Elecman and others in the OLE trade know what I mean )

 

[WAO]

Looks like the pile was driven just too wide for the portal- hence the adaptor, and the far pile is proud anyway.

WAO

 

[380DC]

Bizarre arrangement with that portal nearest the camera - the Down side leg seems to be sitting on a "chair"! (@Elecman and others in the OLE trade know what I mean )

The UDS pile's gone in the wrong orientation, so they've used a pile orientation adapter bracket

 

[Trainbike46]

Grabbed this image off Facebook - looks like the first lot of portals have gone up at Cooks Lane, Kilby Bridge.

View attachment 145438

Off-topic, but what is the SE train doing on the MML??

Back on topic, good to see continuous progress on this electrification project!

 

[43066]

Off-topic, but what is the SE train doing on the MML??

Off for storage at Worksop, most likely. A few networkers are being stored due to displacement by 707s, and a severe lack of siding space on the SE network.

It’s good to see electric trains have made it to Kilby Bridge well ahead of schedule .

 

[Peter Sarf]

Off for storage at Worksop, most likely. A few networkers are being stored due to displacement by 707s, and a severe lack of siding space on the SE network.

It’s good to see electric trains have made it to Kilby Bridge well ahead of schedule .

Ha ha. But seems they have mucked it up on the MML - wrong kind of electrification .

 

[Jamesrob637]

Grabbed this image off Facebook - looks like the first lot of portals have gone up at Cooks Lane, Kilby Bridge.

View attachment 145438

That's near Leicester, isn't it?

 

[baz962]

That's near Leicester, isn't it?

Kilby bridge is around six miles away in railway mileage

 

[QSK19]

Ha ha. But seems they have mucked it up on the MML - wrong kind of electrification .

Maybe they’re transferring up to EMR-land to have a pantograph attached in order to supplement the shortformed 360 services

 

[Flying Phil]

There are masts up further North than post 6782 shows, as they can be seen where the Welford road goes under the MML, no cantilevers there yet though.

 

[Elecman]

Looks like the pile was driven just too wide for the portal- hence the adaptor, and the far pile is proud anyway.

WAO

I’d agree with that it’s more like a adaptor saddle to correct the height for the portal

 

[themiller]

I’d agree with that it’s more like a adaptor saddle to correct the height for the portal

It looks like the adapter is to compensate for slight error in centering the piles as the horizontal beam (crossbar) isn’t an adjustable length unlike the one behind. The difference in pile depths is likely to be to accommodate the adapter.

 

[43066]

Maybe they’re transferring up to EMR-land to have a pantograph attached in order to supplement the shortformed 360 services

Let’s hope not. Given how much people moan about the 360s, I dread to think how they’d react if a Networker turned up!

 

[londonmidland]

Another picture grabbed off Facebook - looking in the opposite direction (towards Leicester) at Cooks Lane, Kilby Bridge -

 

[380DC]

I’d agree with that it’s more like a adaptor saddle to correct the height for the portal

It's to correct for the pile being driven in at a 90° wrong heading

 

[snowball]

It's to correct for the pile being driven in at a 90° wrong heading

Are the piles not intended to be vertical?

 

[380DC]

Are the piles not intended to be vertical?

Yes, but the bolts that are attached to the piles aren't evenly spaced around the circumference, but instead have a specific pattern. So the orientation of the foundation needs to be considered dependant on the mast and structure type

 

[Merle Haggard]

Is it the case that the adaptor (short piece with flanges at each end) is only used when there's been an error in pile position? On the G.W. electrification, they seem to be common. What's the reason for some piles having a much longer length showing above ground? Is that intentional?

I can remember the Euston - Birmingham/Manchester/Liverpool electrification, and there didn't seem to be the same problems with the augur method - all the structures very tidy and even. They certainly worked quickly then, too - but probably reflecting the pay structure, though.

 

[snowball]

Yes, but the bolts that are attached to the piles aren't evenly spaced around the circumference, but instead have a specific pattern. So the orientation of the foundation needs to be considered dependant on the mast and structure type

Thanks for the explanation. It was the word "heading" that made me wonder - I thought it meant the centreline of the pile was going in the wrong direction, but now you've made it clear.

 

[380DC]

Is it the case that the adaptor (short piece with flanges at each end) is only used when there's been an error in pile position? On the G.W. electrification, they seem to be common. What's the reason for some piles having a much longer length showing above ground? Is that intentional?

I can remember the Euston - Birmingham/Manchester/Liverpool electrification, and there didn't seem to be the same problems with the augur method - all the structures very tidy and even. They certainly worked quickly then, too - but probably reflecting the pay structure, though.

That adaptor is specifically for rotating the bolt positions through 90° for the transfer plate that the mast attached to

There's a few reasons some of the piles end up high, but mainly it's due to the ground being too hard. With the 300DC type portals (the portal shown in the picture with the adaptor), there's less adjustment available so sometimes a pile may end up higher as a function of the structure type.

 

[Merle Haggard]

That adaptor is specifically for rotating the bolt positions through 90° for the transfer plate that the mast attached to

There's a few reasons some of the piles end up high, but mainly it's due to the ground being too hard. With the 300DC type portals (the portal shown in the picture with the adaptor), there's less adjustment available so sometimes a pile may end up higher as a function of the structure type.

Thanks, informative.

 

[Flying Phil]

There seem to be all the masts in place around the Braybrooke Supply site, but many are still missing the cantilevers or portals (cross beams?) so there are no catenaries or wires for about 1/2 a mile.

 

[snowball]

And another press release

Engineering work to cause disruption to train travel on weekends throughout November

Network Rail is urging passengers travelling between London and the East Midlands in November and December to check their journey before they travel as major engineering work means journeys will be disrupted on weekends throughout the months.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Network Rail is urging passengers travelling between London and the East Midlands in November and December to check their journey before they travel as major engineering work means journeys will be disrupted on weekends throughout the months.

Lines between Leicester and Kettering will be closed to trains as Network Rail lowers sections of track and demolishes some bridges to enable overhead electric lines to be installed.

Engineering work will mean no trains will operate between the stations on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November, and then on subsequent Sundays for the remainder of the month.

As a result, rail replacement bus services will be in operation between Kettering, Market Harborough and Leicester which will shuttle passengers through the closed section.

East Midlands Railway’s (EMR) ‘Connect’ services will also start and terminate at Wellingborough, rather than Kettering or Corby.

The work is part of the ongoing Midland Main Line Upgrade project which is electrifying the line between London St Pancras and the East Midlands, allowing for the introduction of bi-mode trains in the future, delivering greener, faster, and smoother journeys for passengers.

Also on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November, 670 yards of old track will be being replaced close to Leicester, with teams adding new sleepers, ballast, and rails allowing for a smoother, more reliable journey for passengers.

Elsewhere on the Midland Main Line, work will be carried out on selected dates in November and December between Luton and Bedford to upgrade overhead line equipment which will enable the new fleet of trains to run at speeds of up to 125mph.

Until 08.05 on the mornings of Sunday 5 and 26 November and 3 December, buses will replace Thameslink services between Luton and Bedford, with a revised timetable in operation between London St Pancras and Luton.

Passengers are being encouraged to check their journey before they travel via National Rail Enquiries or their train operator.

 

[londonmidland]

Still some vegetation removal works needed between the ‘Down’ line (line towards Leicester) and the freight line, leading to the spur for the Nuneaton line, but piles are pretty much all in at this point.

 

[jfowkes]

From @snowball 's post above:

East Midlands Railway’s (EMR) ‘Connect’ services will also start and terminate at Wellingborough, rather than Kettering or Corby.

Is this somehow related to the OHLE works, or something else happening at the same time? Can't imagine how EMR Connect services are affected by works north of Kettering North junction...

 

[59CosG95]

From @snowball 's post above:


Is this somehow related to the OHLE works, or something else happening at the same time? Can't imagine how EMR Connect services are affected by works north of Kettering North junction...

EMR Intercity services are, I believe, making additional calls at Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby (which is crying out for a second platform). Everything northbound calling at Corby has to switch from the Down to the Up, and then back to the Down again!

Plus, everything on the Fasts at Wellingborough (the ICs) can only switch to/from the Slows at Wellingborough North or Kettering South Jns; it's impossible to reach the Corby lines from the Fasts once you pass Kettering South Jn.

 

[Edvid]

Interesting to see some OLE 125 works will be done during the usual overnight Sunday shutdowns; I thought we'd have to wait until the next full day/weekend closure for further progress.

 

[59CosG95]

Interesting to see some OLE 125 works will be done during the usual overnight Sunday shutdowns; I thought we'd have to wait until the next full day/weekend closure for further progress.

Headspan refurbishment would have to be done over the weekend shutdowns, true enough; Balance Weight Anchor upgrades (to an anti-fall system) can be done in the standard overnight possessions.