Scottish Electrification updates & discussion

[snowball]

I don't recall this being the case in the 1980s in fact I was always amazed The Clansman joined the route out of Queen St without drawing reign.

What does "drawing reign" mean?

 

[Macwomble]

What does "drawing reign" mean?

Slowing down?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

What does "drawing reign" mean?

Reining in (not regicide ).

 

[68000]

Whifflet lunes new signals still covered

The WSSC Whifflet Workstation area (Motherwell SC Panels 2 & 3) will be commissioned Easter 2018

 

[QueensCurve]

I have discovered that the delay in energising QS to Newbridge is because they realised that in addition to the ensuring that all the bridges etc met the new regulations, there were a large number of other bits of steel adjacent to the railway, every one of which has to be assessed for compliance! My informant confirmed the 23rd June.

That sadly underlines the current lack of pragmatism in the regulators. If the steelwork had been in compliance with the old regulations it could safely have been energised all be it that might have required the preparation of a brief risk assessment.

 

[InOban]

I don't know what individual or committee failed ask for a similar derogation from the new EU standards as had been asked for and given from the old ones. This failure has cost the country a fortune, and made future electrification schemes unaffordable until the relaxations can be reinstated.

 

[QueensCurve]

Slowing down?

That was what I meant. Homophone corner.

 

[QueensCurve]

I don't know what individual or committee failed ask for a similar derogation from the new EU standards as had been asked for and given from the old ones. This failure has cost the country a fortune, and made future electrification schemes unaffordable until the relaxations can be reinstated.

The problem is not "the new EU standards" but the fact that the clearances were cut and pasted into the new British Group Standard without taking account of the recognition in the European documents that the British railway is built to narrower clearances and therefore may differ.

 

[edwin_m]

The problem is not "the new EU standards" but the fact that the clearances were cut and pasted into the new British Group Standard without taking account of the recognition in the European documents that the British railway is built to narrower clearances and therefore may differ.

Either way the problem is with the UK adoption of the standard not with the standard itself.

What nobody has answered as far as I can tell, is the question of why, if a mistake was made in the UK, the UK can't reverse it.

 

[mcmad]

Because the HSE/ORR don't see it as a mistake?

 

[najaB]

Because the HSE/ORR don't see it as a mistake?

Plus it doesn't look good to say "We don't need to be *that* safe..."

 

[GaryMcEwan]

I'm probably taking this down the wrong path, but when I was down in London, SWT routes are powered by 3rd rail rather than overhead lines.

Instead of overhead lines, could Scotrail have went down the 3rd rail option?

 

[najaB]

Instead of overhead lines, could Scotrail have went down the 3rd rail option?

No. No. For the love of God, no.

 

[edwin_m]

There have been discussions on here about whether new third rail routes should effectively be banned as is current ORR policy because of the level of risk. However I don't think anybody even there has argued that third rail is safer than OLE.

 

[och aye]

Slightly OT, but does anyone know when NR plan on demolishing Consort House?

 

[snowball]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds...ollowing-completion-of-bridge-reconstruction/

The A71 has now fully re-opened following 16 week programme of work to demolish and replace the road bridge next to the station in West Calder.

The bridge reconstruction was delivered in an intensive period of work from January to hit the 16 week programme and is part of wider activities on the Shotts line ahead of the electrification of the route by 2019

As well as work to demolish and reconstruct the bridge cleared for the electrification of the railway underneath, the work programme also involved extensive mining remediation work under the bridge abutments to ensure the ongoing integrity of the rebuilt structure.

 

[clc]

Slightly OT, but does anyone know when NR plan on demolishing Consort House?

The planning application to demolish Consort House was recently withdrawn, which is a bit concerning.

 

[Altnabreac]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds...ollowing-completion-of-bridge-reconstruction/

They've also tweeted that the bridge at West Handaxford (south east of Fauldhouse) is completed this week.
https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/864078830075564036?s=09

That makes 15 bridges out of 19 complete, with Station Road, Shotts underway.

Not sure which the last 3 structures are but hopefully work will start soon on them.

 

[InOban]

NR have notified the ScoGov that there will be a further delay in going live. Apparently there's a safey-critical component which is faulty and will have to be replaced along the entire length.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/transp...-rail-electrification-delayed-again-1-4449540

 

[GRALISTAIR]

NR have notified the ScoGov that there will be a further delay in going live. Apparently there's a safey-critical component which is faulty and will have to be replaced along the entire length.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/transp...-rail-electrification-delayed-again-1-4449540

I know stuff happens and it is wise to replace safety critical components - but how many more nails can be driven into the electrification coffin? GWML huge cost and time overrun, GOBLIN huge delays, EGIP delays, etc etc. I am a total electrification fan but seeing it from the other side -it really is not good.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The content of Mark Carne's letter quoted by Yousaf Humza at Holyrood today:

"Regrettably, it is now clear that a safety critical component is susceptible to failure and must be replaced. This will impact the energisation start date.
We are working extremely closely and collaboratively within the Scotrail Alliance to assess how the impact of this challenge can be minimised for passengers and we will keep your officials informed.”

No clue of the extent or cost of the delay.
Not clear if it is accounted for in the last energisation date we heard of (23 June).
It's buried in this: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=10952&i=100153&c=2000466&s=

 

[NotATrainspott]

At this rate is there going to be much point using the 380s at all? The first 385s arrive in September.

 

[InOban]

From the description of the problem, I would have thought that the cost will fall on the manufacturer, or NR if they specified a substandard item. Certainly not ScoGov.

 

[najaB]

Apparently there's a safey-critical component which is faulty and will have to be replaced along the entire length.

Does anyone ken what the 'safety critical component' is?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

From the description of the problem, I would have thought that the cost will fall on the manufacturer, or NR if they specified a substandard item. Certainly not ScoGov.

I would definitely agree with that assessment

 

[WatcherZero]

Does anyone ken what the 'safety critical component' is?

If its along entire length, insulators?

 

[najaB]

If its along entire length, insulators?

That was my first thought, but replacing them all would be a massive job.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I would definitely agree with that assessment

If it isn't a contractor problem (spec, components, project management etc) where the cost can be recovered, the money will come from other NR projects.

 

[edwin_m]

In any case the supplier of a component is probably only liable for replacing the defective component, not for the cost of swapping them out or the costs arising from delays to completion of the project.

 

[najaB]

In any case the supplier of a component is probably only liable for replacing the defective component, not for the cost of swapping them out or the costs arising from delays to completion of the project.

I'm not so sure about that.