MML Electrification: progress updates

[Bald Rick]

You would be comparing the cost of installing them with the saving by not doing all the difficult bits of the MML electrification, presumably all the large stations.

You‘re missing my point. If you want to save money, the trains woukd run on diesel.

 

[Halish Railway]

You would be comparing the cost of installing them with the saving by not doing all the difficult bits of the MML electrification, presumably all the large stations.

It’s not just the 810s you need to worry about. We can assume that in due course the stopping service to Nottingham will be worked by EMUs (provided the service doesn’t continue beyond Nottingham) which could also work London to Corby services, but also should Birmingham to Peterborough or any other route useful for freight be electrified then battery/bi-mode capability would have to be added to all the trains that could potentially make use of such electrification.

Not wiring Leicester would be incredibly short sighted given how many other services in the future could switch to electric traction.

 

[59CosG95]

You‘re missing my point. If you want to save money, the trains woukd run on diesel.

Precisely. I don't know what rail projects (if any) are going to be pared back/cut, but I'm expecting the A303 at Stonehenge and the Lower Thames Crossing to be cut.

It’s not just the 810s you need to worry about. We can assume that in due course the stopping service to Nottingham will be worked by EMUs (provided the service doesn’t continue beyond Nottingham) which could also work London to Corby services, but also should Birmingham to Peterborough or any other route useful for freight be electrified then battery/bi-mode capability would have to be added to all the trains that could potentially make use of such electrification.

Not wiring Leicester would be incredibly short sighted given how many other services in the future could switch to electric traction.

Amen to that!

 

[sharpley]

Rumours in the press this morning that Rachel Reeves will try to plug a £20B financial black hole by cancelling some rail projects (amongst other things). Let's hope MML electrification escapes the cull.

 

[DDB]

Yes

I was rather hoping you would tell us when they expect to finish the work to increase the speed limit on the wiring south of Bedford!

 

[snowball]

Press release

Power lines now live as latest section of Midland Main Line is electrified

A major milestone has been hit as Network Rail teams have successfully electrified the line between Kettering and Wigston, allowing for greener and quieter journeys along the Midland Main Line in the future.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

A major milestone has been hit as Network Rail teams have successfully electrified the line between Kettering and Wigston, allowing for greener and quieter journeys along the Midland Main Line in the future.

Yesterday (Sunday 28 July), 25,000 volts of electricity was switched on between Kettering and Wigston as work continues on the wider Midland Main Line Upgrade to provide passengers with more reliable, faster, and greener journeys.

The wires will power new bi-mode (diesel and electric) trains through the area in the future, resulting in quieter journeys for passengers and residents living near the railway.

Network Rail is electrifying the railway as part of the multi-million-pound Midland Main Line upgrade.

Now the lines are live, residents are being reminded of Network Rail’s ‘Always On!’ campaign and the consequences of trespassing on the railway.

Ahead of the electrification, Wigston fire service has received additional training on how to safely respond to emergencies on the railway.

These were held at East Langton substation, which is one of the three new substations that is providing power to the route.

The sessions were delivered by Network Rail and SPL Powerlines teams. Fire crews were able to examine the overhead lines and substation to understand the potential dangers of live power lines and how to best manage these in an emergency.

Electrifying the Midland Main Line will help reach Network Rail’s net zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

 

[Trainben]

I was walking down Bellfields Iane this evening and I was surprised to see two pigeons perched on the wire that the pantograph collects power from. I guess it's a limited power switch on for now until full testing starts.

 

[swt_passenger]

I was walking down Bellfields Iane this evening and I was surprised to see two pigeons perched on the wire that the pantograph collects power from. I guess it's a limited power switch on for now until full testing starts.

Birds can sit on live power lines. They (the birds) are not earthed.

 

[Smoggy]

I was walking down Bellfields Iane this evening and I was surprised to see two pigeons perched on the wire that the pantograph collects power from. I guess it's a limited power switch on for now until full testing starts.

Full testing has been ongoing for the last couple of months. Yesterday was an intense 12hour shift of final testing as we fibally brought both feeds online at Braybrooke as well as energised the 7x Auto Transformers between Kettering and Wigston for the first time. The first train to take load from Braybrooke was 5U00.

 

[Class 170101]

Is it known when they expect to finish the upgrade work to allow full speed running on the exisiting wires south of Bedford?

Yes

Think it would help if you had a rough date @Bald Rick (Thats if you are allowed to tell us )

 

[43066]

I was rather hoping you would tell us when they expect to finish the work to increase the speed limit on the wiring south of Bedford!

It’ll be finished by Christmas, we just don’t know which year .

 

[Trainben]

Full testing has been ongoing for the last couple of months. Yesterday was an intense 12hour shift of final testing as we fibally brought both feeds online at Braybrooke as well as energised the 7x Auto Transformers between Kettering and Wigston for the first time. The first train to take load from Braybrooke was 5U00.

Thanks Smoggy, and congratulations to you and your team.

I should know my basic science, so apologies for my ignorance.

 

[snowball]

Some adjustments required on the OLE according to the second item in this press release:

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/major-railway-upgrades-to-improve-passengers-journeys-for-years-to-come-in-leicester

Network Rail is to carry out more than £5 million of major engineering work south of Leicester station which will improve reliability for passengers for years to come.

On Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 August, engineers will be replacing a key set of switches and crossings, the specialist equipment used by trains to change from one track to another, at Knighton Junction.

Due to its curved layout, Network Rail teams work at the site frequently to keep it safe for passengers and freight trains. However, alongside renewing this equipment, engineers have carried out strengthening measures to protect other components better, prolong their life, leading to smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers.

The junction is a key interchange for trains, carrying north to south journeys on the Midland Main Line, passengers travelling east to west from Anglia to Birmingham, and sees extensive usage by freight trains.

Some work on the £5.3m project has already been carried out with engineers working throughout the upcoming weekend to complete the upgrade.

At the same time, there is additional engineering work scheduled, as Network Rail teams work on the new overhead lines which have been installed and powered up between Kettering and Wigston.

The weekend engineering work means that there will be *some changes to train services through the area, with bus replacements in place.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Rumours in the press this morning that Rachel Reeves will try to plug a £20B financial black hole by cancelling some rail projects (amongst other things). Let's hope MML electrification escapes the cull.

Not specifically cited but given the wider pressures on the public purse I suspect we will see further slippage to any progress north of Wigston as they have too many committed projects burning through cash now HS2 and TRU being the bigger ones.

 

[ChrisC]

Not specifically cited but given the wider pressures on the public purse I suspect we will see further slippage to any progress north of Wigston as they have too many committed projects burning through cash now HS2 and TRU being the bigger ones.

If there are any further delays in electrifying the MML north of Wigston it will be interesting to hear what the Labour MPs from the East Midlands and South Yorkshire have to say about it. Certainly Lillian Greenwood the Labour MP for Nottingham South was always very critical of the Conservatives over their delays to full MML electrification.

 

[Nottingham59]

Not specifically cited but given the wider pressures on the public purse I suspect we will see further slippage to any progress north of Wigston as they have too many committed projects burning through cash now HS2 and TRU being the bigger ones.

It's one project where slippage will have no immediate impact on passengers, and none in the short to medium term either, given that the 810s have the same performance under diesel as they do under the wires.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

If there are any further delays in electrifying the MML north of Wigston it will be interesting to hear what the Labour MPs from the East Midlands and South Yorkshire have to say about it. Certainly Lillian Greenwood the Labour MP for Nottingham South was always very critical of the Conservatives over their delays to full MML electrification.

It's one project where slippage will have no immediate impact on passengers, and none in the short to medium term either, given that the 810s have the same performance under diesel as they do under the wires.

Some progress will happen under Labour (it has to) but the timescale will slip slightly.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

It's one project where slippage will have no immediate impact on passengers, and none in the short to medium term either, given that the 810s have the same performance under diesel as they do under the wires.

Absolutely the route has the benefit of the new trains with or without wires so im afraid it will be shunted down the list of priorities

 

[Class 170101]

Certainly Lillian Greenwood the Labour MP for Nottingham South was always very critical of the Conservatives over their delays to full MML electrification.

She will have to toe the party line being a minister of state, ironically of roads as I recall.

 

[WesternBiker]

She will have to toe the party line being a minister of state, ironically of roads as I recall.

My thoughts entirely. Any lobbying will have to be behind the scenes.

 

[GardenRail]

Looking forward to seeing the wires through Leicester! Oh......

 

[Wapps]

My thoughts entirely. Any lobbying will have to be behind the scenes.

If she had an announce of integrity, she would resign.

First time in my lifetime (as an adult) to see a change of government from Con to Lab and I find it interesting, but frankly not surprising, at the ability of the “austerity is a choice” gang to suddenly say it’s all very necessary and “difficult choices” etc. Not surprised, and I just have less respect for these people

 

[takno]

If she had an announce of integrity, she would resign.

You think she should resign because some people on a forum have decided, without evidence, that a part of the government she isn't in aren't going to do something this year which they never even said they would do?

Seems harsh

 

[GRALISTAIR]

You think she should resign because some people on a forum have decided, without evidence, that a part of the government she isn't in aren't going to do something this year which they never even said they would do?

Seems harsh

I agree with you 100% !!!!!

 

[Wapps]

You think she should resign because some people on a forum have decided, without evidence, that a part of the government she isn't in aren't going to do something this year which they never even said they would do?

Seems harsh

If she has berated the Tories on progress on the MML and then this Labour government delays it then yes, absolutely. Government is run on collective responsibility and moreover it is a matter of integrity. It’s what they demanded of Tories, so now the same must apply in reverse.

 

[Killingworth]

If she has berated the Tories on progress on the MML and then this Labour government delays it then yes, absolutely. Government is run on collective responsibility and moreover it is a matter of integrity. It’s what they demanded of Tories, so now the same must apply in reverse.

But has the new government delayed it any more than the one before would have anyway? More like opened the books and seen what they'd appeared to be promising and quickly spotted it wasn't realistically possible in the timescales suggested and at the budgeted costs.

Chris Grayling was berated for ordering bi-modes because many saw just this scenario. On the other hand, once they work, we'll have much more versatile trains able to take non-electrified diversionary routes and maybe extend to places like Leeds, Doncaster or York.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Chris Grayling was berated for ordering bi-modes because many saw just this scenario. On the other hand, once they work, we'll have much more versatile trains able to take non-electrified diversionary routes and maybe extend to places like Leeds, Doncaster or York.

I was furious at the time with Grayling but with hindsight it was a good (accidental) decision.

 

[Wapps]

But has the new government delayed it any more than the one before would have anyway? More like opened the books and seen what they'd appeared to be promising and quickly spotted it wasn't realistically possible in the timescales suggested and at the budgeted costs.

Chris Grayling was berated for ordering bi-modes because many saw just this scenario. On the other hand, once they work, we'll have much more versatile trains able to take non-electrified diversionary routes and maybe extend to places like Leeds, Doncaster or York.

I know this is going off-topic, but just to say, the counter-hypothetical is irrelevant to my point. My point is that when the Tories were trying to balance the books and delayed electrification (and when Labour said austerity is just a choice), Ms Greenwood was quick to throw stones - there was no understanding and nuance from her. Now she is the decision-maker, she shouldn’t be allowed understanding or nuance from anyone else. If her government delays electrification, she has zero integrity if she stays a member of that government.

From a quick Google, this is what she tweeted:

Deja vu all over again? Tory leaders have form for promising to electrify Midland Main Line in the election & then backtracking. Electric trains are cleaner, greener, quieter, cheaper & more reliable so, sorry to bang on about it, but I won’t be letting Johnson off the hook.

Put simply, I won’t be letting her off the hook in my assessment of her.

 

[ohgoditsjames]

Would be a massive betrayal if it does get postponed or cancelled again, then again, us here up in Sheffield have become accustomed to being disappointed by the Governments transport decisions.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The compromise is Leicester North - Trent and leave the Leicester bit until later.