Scottish Electrification updates & discussion

[snowball]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/first-mast-up-on-shotts-line-electrification-project/

Network Rail has erected the first mast on the electrification of the Shotts line between Holytown Junction and Midcalder Junction.

The first steel work going up on the project marks the start of the next phase of the programme that will deliver 74km of electrified railway, as part of a wider £160m Scottish Government investment in the line between Scotland’s largest cities.

Work remains on target to deliver electrification of the railway network between Holytown and Midcalder junctions, which will complete the electrification of the ‘Shotts Line’ between Edinburgh and Glasgow by March 2019 and will create the fourth fully electrified line connecting the cities.

The electrification of the line has so far involved extensive vegetation clearance and piling for mast foundations and has been carried out in tandem with work on a range of bridges as part of a route clearance programme to ensure the overhead lines can run under structures on the route.

With bridge clearance work now only required at a few more structures, the electrification element of the project can progress on to erecting over 1200 masts before running the overhead powerlines. The first mast erected on the project was at Holytown Junction near Carfin on Sunday 30 July 2017

New electric trains will be introduced on services between Edinburgh and Glasgow Central via Shotts following completion of the work using the new Hitachi class 385 rolling stock and will deliver improved reliability and increased capacity for passengers.

Brian Mallon, programme manager for the Shotts Line Electrification said:

“This first mast going up is an important milestone in the delivery of the Shotts electrification project as people travelling on or living beside the railway will now start to see real, visual progress in the work to upgrade the line.

“Although we still have piled foundations to complete, the way we are working with our contractors Carillion Powerlines has enabled us to start putting the masts up at the same time to deliver in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible while minimising disruption for both lineside communities and passengers.

“The electrification of the Shotts Line is part of a rolling programme of work contributing to the transformation of services across the central belt as part of the wider package of investment to enhance rail travel between the country’s two biggest cities, meaning passengers will enjoy increased capacity and better reliability with an improved service on the line.”

 

[route101]

It's fairly obvious that the line will be wired up soon after Shotts. Running long rakes of 156s at high frequency on a stopping service is a silly idea. The Central Belt has enough electric wires installed that novel ideas like bi-modes are simply inappropriate for the handful of lines left.

156s are pretty slow too though when seated more comfortable . I used to the EK line today , gone are the days of quiet train into town just after lunch ! Now its busy busy busy .

 

[DuncanS]

Message on the displays this morning -

September 11th to December 7th,

buses replace trains after 21:00 (sun - thurs),

Polmont to Dunblane
Cumbernauld to Falkirk G
Croy to Stirling

 

[PYROOGOBBO]

anything for the E-G via falkirkj high ? the feed seems to be dead

 

[Altnabreac]

anything for the E-G via falkirkj high ? the feed seems to be dead

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailEGIP

Video from Alex Hynes (Scotrail Alliance MD) on the EGIP twitter feed 11 August.

Summary of what he says:
Edinburgh - Glasgow electrification work will be complete next month (i.e. September 2017.
There will then be "a number of weeks checking it is as designed".
They will then "hand over the route to test our trains and train our drivers"
Finally "later on this year we will introduce our brand new electric trains"

So timeline something like:
September 2017 - work complete
October 2017 - work checked
November 2017 - testing and driver training
December 2017 - 385s introduced on E-G.

Looks like operation by 380s will just be completely bypassed now and it will move straight onto 385 operation.

 

[InOban]

anything for the E-G via falkirkj high ? the feed seems to be dead

There's a Vimeo video from 4 days ago with the Boss. You'll find it in the NR EGIP Twitter feed. Complete next month. I assume the work in phase 2, mentioned in the earlier post, implies that they will have finished E to G via F High by the 10th and will be moving on.

 

[route101]

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailEGIP

Video from Alex Hynes (Scotrail Alliance MD) on the EGIP twitter feed 11 August.

Summary of what he says:
Edinburgh - Glasgow electrification work will be complete next month (i.e. September 2017.
There will then be "a number of weeks checking it is as designed".
They will then "hand over the route to test our trains and train our drivers"
Finally "later on this year we will introduce our brand new electric trains"

So timeline something like:
September 2017 - work complete
October 2017 - work checked
November 2017 - testing and driver training
December 2017 - 385s introduced on E-G.

Looks like operation by 380s will just be completely bypassed now and it will move straight onto 385 operation.

If the 380s were used where were they coming from?

Looks like dec timetable change for 385s

 

[Altnabreac]

If the 380s were used where were they coming from?

Looks like dec timetable change for 385s

I think it has been a reshuffle of the new 320s freeing up other stock and 314s doing some more Inverclyde turns.

The 380s have been being used for Driver training but looks like they won't make it onto E-G now.

 

[snowball]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/shotts-road-reopens-following-2m-rail-bridge-reconstruction/

Station Road in Shotts re-opened on Tuesday, August 15, following the on time on budget completion of an 11 month programme to demolish and rebuild the bridge over the railway.

The reconstruction of the bridge represents an investment of £2.25m in the infrastructure and was one of 17 projects needed to increase the height between the railway track and bridges on the route ahead of the electrification of the Shotts line by March 2019.

Part of the Scottish Government’s rolling programme of electrification across central Scotland, the £160m investment to upgrade and electrify the Shotts line is being delivered by Network Rail.

The demolition of the bridge on Station Road and its reconstruction was one of the largest and most complicated projects in the route clearance programme.

Before the physical work to demolish and reconstruct the bridge could even begin, a prolonged period of closure was required to divert and then reinstate the various utilities which run over the structure. This work was essential to maintain supply of water, electricity, gas and broadband to the town and additional time had to be factored into the construction programme to ensure this happened.

The work involved demolishing two adjacent bridge structures and building a new bridge with more height clearance between the rails and bridge for the overhead line electrification cables to run safely underneath

After demolishing the two adjoining structures, 2200 tonnes or material was removed from site. The new bridge has extended abutments and is formed by portal units installed by lifting 45 pre-cast units – one of which was 47.5 tonnes – into place using a 750t crane.

Iain McFarlane delivery director for Infrastructure projects, said: “Completing the work at Station Road in Shotts marks a significant step towards being able to safely run the overhead power cables ahead of the electrification of the line by March 2019.

“It was among the longest and most challenging bridge clearance projects we have in the programme and its location added to the complexity of delivering the work. Credit goes to the project team and contractors Bam Nuttall who have delivered this challenging project safely and efficiently and on time.

“We appreciate there was disruption in the town as a result of this work as the road was closed for a long period – but we thank the Shotts community for their patience as we delivered this important strategic investment in Scotland’s railway.”

For further information on the work to electrify the Shotts line email shottslineelectrification@networkrail.co.uk or follow on twitter @ShottsLineElec

 

[Altnabreac]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/shotts-road-reopens-following-2m-rail-bridge-reconstruction/

I think that may be the second last bridge to be complete

285/009 NEWARTHILL ROAD NS7755758855 Parapet work only. Complete? https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/781855665430077440
285/011 WHITTAGREEN NS7833758672 Parapet work only. Complete?
285/012 CLAY ROAD NS7876258501 ???
285/013 NEWARTHILL NS7910158466 Parapet work only. Complete?
285/017 BIGGAR RD "CLELAND STATION" NS8017358400 Replaced https://www.networkrailmediacentre....e-re-opens-on-time-following-gbp-1-3m-upgrade
285/029 OVERBRIDGE NS8228158114 ???
285/033 KEEPER ROAD FORMER O/B NS8282957931 Replaced
285/044 OVERBRIDGE NS8474759033 Replaced
285/046 OVERBRIDGE NS8493659113 Parapet work only. Complete? https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/718776518021918720
285/049 OVERBRIDGE NS8581059318 Being replaced https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/896021399877410816
285/059 STATION RD NS8743759856 Being replaced - work underway https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/shotts-road-reopens-following-2m-rail-bridge-reconstruction/
285/063 LAUNDRY NS8803560302 Replaced https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/upgraded-shotts-bridge-re-opens
285/069 STRARRYSHAW NS8983961281 Replaced https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/723089486452662273
285/075 OVERBRIDGE NS9184660150 Replaced https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/738039730089144320
285/087 OVERBRIDGE NS9388759805 ???
285/089 OVERBRIDGE NS9415159888 Being replaced - work underway https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/845226316597268481
285/100 OVERBRIDGE NS9557760584 Replaced https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/breich-bridge-back-after-build
285/102 BREICH TERRACE NS9644361000 Replaced
285/112 MEADOWHEAD NS9903362070 Replaced https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/723549065682800641
285/121 HAPPY LAND NT0140063142 Replaced - see Streetview change from 2009 to 2016 https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.8...4!1skfn40GG03ONjfdQFZvKJHw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
285/125 WEST CALDER NT0211263367 Being replaced - work underway https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/870582145470877696
285/126 PARKHEAD NT0244063580 Being replaced by separate project https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/new-wchs
285/131 BLACKMIRES NT0395664132 Replaced https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/723088764982054912
285/132 BEECHWOOD NT0424164224 Replaced https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/livingston-bridge-re-opens-cleared-for-electrification
285/134 NEWPARK NT0490964511 Replaced https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/677836913353564160

The Shotts line twitter feed in September 2016 posted:

We're well into bridge clearance with 12 of 19 done.

https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/775357562589962300

They're now saying 17 structures which would mean Bridge 49 Hartwoodhill is the final structure.

As well as that there are the footbridge replacements at Addiewell and West Calder and potentially some more parapet work plus whatever is the solution for Breich.

 

[Southsider]

According to Network Rail twitter, EGIP overhead cables go live on 2 September.

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailEGIP/status/898416929991401477

 

[PaxVobiscum]

The latest date for EGIP energisation to Queen Street is confirmed as 2nd September in this tweet from BTP which Network Rail have retweeted (retwat?).

I notice that the day and the month are confidently stated but not the year

EDIT: If I'd scrolled down a bit further I would have seen NetworkRail's series of messages on the same subject, starting with https://twitter.com/NetworkRailEGIP/status/898416929991401477:

The public are being warned that overhead power cables on main #Edinburgh #Glasgow line will be live from Sat 2 Sept

And if I'd looked at the post above when I edited ...

 

[380101]

I think it has been a reshuffle of the new 320s freeing up other stock and 314s doing some more Inverclyde turns.

The 380s have been being used for Driver training but looks like they won't make it onto E-G now.

All drivers that will eventually sign 385s on the E-G have or are being trained on the 380 so as to make 385 training/conversion much quicker. The 385 basically being a Hitatchi 380 in terms of cab layout and most other things drivers need to know about. 380s will probably be used to carry out line proving throughout September. ScotRail are currently looking for class 380 mainline drivers to become part of a team to carry out test driving of the 385s to accumulate mileage before acceptance into service.

 

[Railsigns]

According to Network Rail twitter, EGIP overhead cables go live on 2 September.

The formal energisation notice says 0500 on 3 September.

 

[snowball]

And here's the press release:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/edinburgh-glasgow-electrification-goes-live-for-testing/

Edinburgh-Glasgow electrification goes live for testing

The public are being warned that overhead power cables on the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line will be live for testing from Saturday, September 2.

Work on the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Falkirk High will shortly enter a testing and safety validating process, which will enable the introduction of new electric trains later this year.

Safety on and around the railway is the responsibility of Network Rail. With the overhead power cables carrying 25,000 volts of electricity, a campaign is underway to highlight the new dangers an electrified railway poses to those who trespass on the tracks or accidentally make contact with overhead lines.

Kevin McClelland, route delivery director for Infrastructure projects said: “Energisation is an important phase of work to test and validate the new equipment and ensure it is operating as it should. As well as ‘live testing’ the equipment, the energisation phase of work is critical to ensuring the safe introduction of the electric trains that will operate on the route from later in the year.

“Electrification also marks a significant change to the railway environment in terms of risk for those living or working near to the newly electrified routes so it is important we do what we can to make people, particularly young people, aware of this change and encourage them to stay safe near the railway.

“Electric trains will be quieter and accelerate faster than diesel ones they replace. The overhead power lines we have installed carry 25,000 volts of electricity – enough to kill anyone who comes into contact with them.”

As well as more than 100,000 safety leaflets being delivered through every door in lineside communities and messages online through social media, Network Rail has worked with industry partners in schools and through local groups to take the safety message into the classroom and into the community.

Network Rail is working in partnership with the British Transport Police, Scottish Football Association and local council education departments across six local authority areas to develop programmes which deliver the rail safety message in fun, interactive and engaging formats.

Additionally, a range of resources is available to highlight the changes in an electrified railway including Rail Life; an initiative aimed at young people which provides teachers and parents with a range of resources on rail safety issues. Further information can be found at Rail Safety Resources

The electrification of 46 miles of railway between Edinburgh and Glasgow marks an important milestone in the delivery of the overall Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP). A central part of the Scottish Government’s strategy to ensure the railway is fit for Scotland’s future, EGIP delivers a 20% reduction in journey times and adds 30% more capacity, on comfortable, efficient and more reliable electric trains.

 

[snowball]

And another press release:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/edinburgh-glasgow-boundary-works-complete/

Network Rail has completed a programme of work between Edinburgh and Glasgow to secure the railway boundary and make it compliant with new safety standards ahead of the electrification of the line.



Completion of the Linlithgow cemetery boundary wall marks the end of a route wide, £3.3m investment on the main Glasgow–Edinburgh, via Falkirk High, line – which included replacing or increasing the height of 15km of walls and fencing to comply with the 1.8 metre safety standard for an electrified railway.

The cemetery wall at Linlithgow presented one of the more challenging aspects of this part of the work, given the sensitivities of the location and that scaffolding had to be erected over a number of graves bordering the boundary wall.

Spanning some 110m in length, the wall was raised by between 100 millimetres and 600 millimetres by removing the existing coping stones, rebuilding the wall and replacing the copes.

The work has been completed ahead of the energisation for testing of the line which is scheduled for Saturday, September 2.

Kevin McClelland, route delivery director for Infrastructure projects said: “Electrification marks a significant change to the railway environment in terms of risk for those living or working near to the newly electrified routes so it is important we do what we can to keep people safe.

“Linlithgow Cemetery represents the last section of our boundary work to be completed ahead of the electrification of the line as part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP). From the outset, we were aware that working in this location had added considerations and so we worked closely with West Lothian Council’s cemeteries manager throughout to ensure that work was as unobtrusive as possible.

“With the route wide boundary works now complete, the 1.8m height walls and fences will help protect the public from the overhead power lines carrying 25,000 volts of electricity – enough to kill anyone who comes into contact with them.”

EGIP is a Scottish Government-funded investment to deliver a rolling programme of electrification across the central belt to enable faster, greener and more energy efficient electric trains to be introduced.

In addition to the 15km of boundary enhancements, 60 bridges have been replaced and the parapet heights at more than 100 bridges have been raised.

To date, EGIP has successfully completed the £80m electrification of the Cumbernauld line, the £25m redevelopment of Edinburgh’s Haymarket station and the completion of the new, £41m Edinburgh Gateway train-tram interchange.

 

[DuncanS]

Network Rail leaflets being handed out today around the dangers of the electrification, they appear to be painting an orange line on the trains (outside!) and saying don't put anything above the orange line on fear of death.

 

[Carntyne]

Network Rail leaflets being handed out today around the dangers of the electrification, they appear to be painting an orange line on the trains (outside!) and saying don't put anything above the orange line on fear of death.

The line is already on (all?) trains. It's the "cant rail"

 

[Roast Veg]

It's certainly on a lot of trains that spend almost their entire working lives not-under-wires, which makes me laugh a little - though I know why it has to be there.

 

[DuncanS]

Ah - didn't know the line already existed, the picture on the Network Rail leaflet makes it look like it is in the process of being painted on.

It has the line above the doors but surrounded by polythene, or similar, as if they have the decorators in and don't want to splash the orange on the blue and white.

 

[ScottDarg]

Noticed today that there is now glass panelling along the north side of the road bridge that goes over the Queen St platforms, between Dundas St and North Hanover St. Don't remember seeing them on Monday, is this to do with a wall height regulation now that the wires are going live?

 

[snowball]

Another press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/edinburgh-glasgow-electrification-goes-live/

The public are being reminded that overhead power cables on the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line will be live for testing from this Saturday (September 2).

Work on the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow, via Falkirk High, will enter a testing and safety validating process from this weekend, which will enable the introduction of new electric trains later this year.

Safety on and around the railway is the responsibility of Network Rail and, with overhead power cables carrying 25,000 volts of electricity, a campaign is underway to highlight the new dangers an electrified railway poses to those who trespass on the tracks or accidentally make contact with overhead lines.

Kevin McClelland, route delivery director for Infrastructure projects, said: “Energisation is an important phase of work to test and validate the new equipment and ensure it is operating as it should. As well as ‘live testing’ the equipment, the energisation phase of work is critical to ensuring the safe introduction of the electric trains that will operate on the route from later in the year.

“Electrification also marks a significant change to the railway environment in terms of risk for those living or working near to the newly electrified routes so it is important we do what we can to make people, particularly young people, aware of this change and encourage them to stay safe near the railway.

“Electric trains will be quieter and accelerate faster than diesel ones they replace. The overhead power lines we have installed carry 25,000 volts of electricity – enough to kill anyone who comes into contact with them.”

As well as more than 100,000 safety leaflets being delivered through every door in lineside communities and messages online through social media, Network Rail has worked with industry partners in schools and through local groups to take the safety message into the classroom and into the community.

Network Rail is working in partnership with the British Transport Police, Scottish Football Association and local council education departments across six local authority areas to develop programmes which deliver the rail safety message in fun, interactive and engaging formats.

Additionally, a range of resources is available to highlight the changes in an electrified railway including Rail Life; an initiative aimed at young people which provides teachers and parents with a range of resources on rail safety issues. Further information can be found at Rail Safety Resources

The electrification of 46 miles of railway between Edinburgh and Glasgow marks an important milestone in the delivery of the overall Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP). A central part of the Scottish Government’s strategy to ensure the railway is fit for Scotland’s future, EGIP delivers a 20% reduction in journey times and adds 30% more capacity, on comfortable, efficient and more reliable electric trains.

 

[route101]

Noticed today that there is now glass panelling along the north side of the road bridge that goes over the Queen St platforms, between Dundas St and North Hanover St. Don't remember seeing them on Monday, is this to do with a wall height regulation now that the wires are going live?

Noticed that too . Definitely wasnt there before .

 

[PaxVobiscum]

The A5 size Network Rail leaflet which was being handed out this week at Queen Street:

 

[deltic08]

The A5 size Network Rail leaflet which was being handed out this week at Queen Street:

Since when has north of Cumbernauld been newly electrified according to the leaflet map?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Maybe I should take my metallic helium filled balloon there after I've checked out the platforms at Queen Street this tomorrow morning?

[NB: jest]

 

[NotATrainspott]

Since when has north of Cumbernauld been newly electrified according to the leaflet map?

Cumbernauld to Greenhill junction is part of the primary EGIP wiring even though no electric trains could actually use it. The feeder station is at Greenhill and it's best to just install the OHLE to provide the supply connection onto the Cumbernauld line.

 

[mcmad]

Cumbernauld to Greenhill has the masts up but there is a lack of wires, certainly on at the Greenhill end. It won't be getting turned on tonight.

 

[Railsigns]

Cumbernauld to Greenhill has the masts up but there is a lack of wires, certainly on at the Greenhill end. It won't be getting turned on tonight.

It's due to be energised on 15 October.

 

[adrock1976]

Noticed today that there is now glass panelling along the north side of the road bridge that goes over the Queen St platforms, between Dundas St and North Hanover St. Don't remember seeing them on Monday, is this to do with a wall height regulation now that the wires are going live?

Although I am not sure about the glass panelling, I would have a guess that is most likely the case.

The bridge in question is Cathedral Street Bridge, which for a good number of years from circa 2001 - 2011 or thereabouts was restricted to buses, cycles, and taxis as it was found that the bridge could not take the weight of 44 ton trucks. There was quite a bit of legal wrangling that went on between Glasgow City Council, Railtrack/Network Rail, and the Highways Agency of Scotland as to who was actually responsible for the maintenance of the bridge.

Eventually, Glasgow City Council got some funding from the European Union to help upgrade the bridge. However, no 44 ton trucks are able to use it even though it is an arterial route because Glasgow City Council have retained the buses, taxis, and cycles only use for the use of the bridge. On 25 December 2016, there was a car that pulled over into the bus lane to allow an emergency vehicle to overtake, and even though there are no bus services whatsoever on 25 December, Glasgow City Council sent a penalty to the driver, but was eventually cancelled upon appeal.

This demonstrates the amount of cronyism, fraud, and corruption that had been going on for a number of years in Glasgow City Council. The local council elections in 2017 saw New Labour (they were not new, and are most certainly not Labour) lose overall control of Scotland's largest local council. The saving grace is that some of the worst arch Blairites have cleared off.