Scottish Electrification updates & discussion

[Railsigns]

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.

Transparent plastic, not glass. If nothing else, they're acting as a handy shelf for people to leave their litter on (mostly empty drinks cans).

 

[mcmad]

Not sure where the couple of 385's in the country are currently based but would imagine it'd have to be one of the glasgow depots as the only east depot with wires is Craigentinny which is still VTEC isn't it?

 

[Macwomble]

Thought the 385s were Corkerhill based.

 

[ScottDarg]

Transparent plastic, not glass. If nothing else, they're acting as a handy shelf for people to leave their litter on (mostly empty drinks cans).

You're right, had another look at it today and it has scratches on it that highlighted it was plastic. No rubbish on it today though.

Not sure where the couple of 385's in the country are currently based but would imagine it'd have to be one of the glasgow depots as the only east depot with wires is Craigentinny which is still VTEC isn't it?

No idea how up to date it is but scot-rail.co.uk has them both based at Shields. Though I've seen 001 at Mossend on the back of a 66 recently.

There's moves between Mossend and Craigentinny on RealTimeTrains, pathed as an EMU (specifically, 315 but doubt that's the actual traction.)

 

[Railsigns]

No rubbish on it today though.

There was at lunchtime, mostly at the Buchanan Galleries end.

 

[380101]

Not sure where the couple of 385's in the country are currently based but would imagine it'd have to be one of the glasgow depots as the only east depot with wires is Craigentinny which is still VTEC isn't it?

They are based at Craigentinny as that's where the Hitatchi depot is. Hitatchi have the maintenance contract for the 385s and Craigentinny is the Hitatchi depot in Scotland. 385s will of course be taken through the train wash at Corkerhill and stabled overnight at Shields once they take over 314 duties on the Cathcart circle and Nielston/Newton routes. Eastfield will also stable 385 units.

 

[najaB]

They are based at Craigentinny as that's where the Hitatchi depot is. Hitatchi have the maintenance contract for the 385s and Craigentinny is the Hitatchi depot in Scotland.

Is Millerhill completely off the cards now?

 

[92002]

They are based at Craigentinny as that's where the Hitatchi depot is. Hitatchi have the maintenance contract for the 385s and Craigentinny is the Hitatchi depot in Scotland. 385s will of course be taken through the train wash at Corkerhill and stabled overnight at Shields once they take over 314 duties on the Cathcart circle and Nielston/Newton routes. Eastfield will also stable 385 units.

Last reported movement of 385002 and 385101 was Sunday 3Rd September from Craigentinney to Mossend.

Presumably for more West of Scotland testing.

They both need to head back to the factory to be fitted out.

 

[signallerscot]

Is Millerhill completely off the cards now?

No... https://www.railscot.co.uk/img/60/615/

 

[380101]

Is Millerhill completely off the cards now?

stabling depot only. Plans for a Traincrew depot there were cancelled in May.

 

[Mordac]

Is the chord into Springburn also energised?

 

[InOban]

And has anyone seen any sign of anything with a pantograph traversing the E-G?

 

[Railsigns]

And has anyone seen any sign of anything with a pantograph traversing the E-G?

I would hope not. The newly energised line is blocked to electric traction until early October.

 

[InOban]

I was thinking of a diesel-hauled train with test coach with a pantograph checking catenary geometry etc.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I was thinking of a diesel-hauled train with test coach with a pantograph checking catenary geometry etc.

Me too

 

[diamond chap]

385s to be introduced "early next year" now rather than December: http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/commuters-hit-by-third-delay-to-scotrail-s-new-electric-service-1-4561609/amp

 

[47271]

385s to be introduced "early next year" now rather than December: http://www.scotsman.com/news/transp...scotrail-s-new-electric-service-1-4561609/amp

I've pasted the article content below.

I'm not fussed whether the trains start running this year or next, but you would think they'd have got their story straight with Hitachi first.

On top of the weirdness with the CCTV dispute, not a good week for Scotrail media relations.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=154044

The launch of electric trains on the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line has been delayed for a third time – leaving them more than a year late.

Commuters will not be travelling on the new Japanese-designed fleet until “early next year” rather than December, ScotRail told The Scotsman.

The train operator blamed the latest setback to the troubled project on problems at train builders Hitachi’s factory in County Durham.

It comes after the project to provide faster and longer trains was put back twice because of difficulties with electrifying the line, which should have been completed last December, then July.

ScotRail Alliance managing director Alex Hynes said: “It was envisaged there would be a full electric service in December. That’s no longer looking likely.

“The Class 385s, which are being built by Hitachi, are behind programme, and that’s only emerged in the last few months. Clearly, we are very disappointed about that.

“It is the first time Hitachi have properly built a train in the UK. They are doing this for the first time and they have hit some teething issues.”

Mr Hynes said he did not want to jeopardise the line’s current good punctuality and passenger satisfaction by introducing the trains before they were fully tested.

However, Hitachi said testing had been delayed by access to the route being put back from March to next month.

Its spokesman said: “We still require access to infrastructure in Scotland to complete full and thorough testing.

“We’ve always been clear that once we get access to the newly electrified infrastructure, it will take a minimum of four weeks to test, followed by at least 12 weeks of approvals work before trains could safely come into service.

“Under the original March timetable this would have been sufficient.”

The trains were due to cut the 51-minute journey to 47 minutes in December and 42 minutes in December next year.

Mr Hynes said ScotRail’s other electric trains may operate some services on the route from December as a stop-gap.

Scottish Labour transport spokesman Neil Bibby said: “Passengers that travel between Glasgow and Edinburgh have had to put up with major disruption over the past few years and they were given a clear promise from ScotRail and the SNP Government that the new electric trains would be running this year.

”Passengers deserve an apology for another delay with the project and deserve answers as to why passengers have been let down yet again.”

Transport minister Humza Yousaf said: “It is deeply disappointing we won’t have all of the new trains in service this year as expected.”

But he added: “Rail industry experience on previous new train introductions across Britain demonstrates the advantages of a controlled and phased programme to best manage performance risks.

“Given the efforts made by ScotRail over the last 12 months to lift performance, it is understandable for them to say passengers would not want to risk an unnecessary dip in that performance.”

 

[edwin_m]

I was thinking of a diesel-hauled train with test coach with a pantograph checking catenary geometry etc.

There was a post somewhere (possibly further up this thread) of a Mentor test train being dumped in a loop awaiting a technician from Derby.

 

[47271]

I'll believe it when I experience it...

Flagship Glasgow to Edinburgh railway line to pioneer world's fastest wifi on trains

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/...ne_to_pioneer_world_s_fastest_wifi_on_trains/

SCOTLAND’S flagship railway will become the first in the UK to have the world’s fastest broadband installed to transform the daily commute for travellers.

The move will make internet access easier for passengers but could also spell the end of overcrowded trains as rail operators use the service to pass on up-to-date information about capacity.

Computer giant Cisco has installed boxes on the Glasgow to Edinburgh line using software developed in Asia. It will go live when the new electrified line opens later this year.

In a UK first, the super fast broadband of 300mbps will be available to passengers and allow instant and reliable connection for the first time.

Project Swift will be trialled on the route and if successful, it will be rolled out across the entire British network.

Currently passengers travelling by train between Scotland’s two biggest cities can access less than 10 per cent of the new capability.

Wifi connection can also be affected by tunnels, trees and railway embankments which makes the service slow and unreliable.

Cisco has studied networks in Asia, Italy and the US and has worked with the Scotrail Alliance and the UK Government to bring it to Scotland.

Rob Shorthouse, ScotRail Alliance communications director said: “Our customers consistently tell us that one of the things that they expect on their journey is fast, reliable wifi.

“This pilot scheme, which we are undertaking on behalf of the entire rail industry, will allow us to fully understand how we take our current on-train wifi to the next level. We are really excited to be involved.”

Currently in-train mobile services sees 33 per cent of internet requests on trains fail and with 1.4 billion journeys a year this equates to millions of lost hours of productivity, missed opportunity for online retailers and potentially dissatisfied passengers.

According to experts at Cisco the difference between the current capacity and the new system is akin to streaming a music service with interrupted coverage and downloading the entire Beatles back catalogue in under two minutes.

Scot Gardner, chief executive of Cisco UK and Ireland said: “Project SWIFT embodies the art of the possible.

“If the UK is to truly benefit from what digital technologies have to offer, then connectivity has to be a given even when travelling at 140mph.

“If only a fraction of the time that we spend travelling is made more productive, the potential for commuters, the train companies and the UK as a whole is immense.”

Rail operators, including ScotRail, hope the superfast broadband will also reduce overcrowding on trains or empty seats on busy trains.

Cisco believe the internet service can be used to provide instant information into crowding on trains which will enable rail operators to display at the station or in an app information on which carriages have spare seats so all capacity can be best used.

If a train is very crowded then a passenger can also opt to wait for the next one if they know they will get a seat.

It is hoped that in the future it could all be tied to Smart Ticketing.

Passengers will also be able to shop online, pickup up their shopping at their final destination or commuters could order shopping on the way to work and collect it at their home station on return.

Project SWIFT has been initially implemented on a full scale train and test track near Stratford-upon-Avon and will now be rolled-out on one of the current fleet of ScotRail trains that operate services between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The project, which is funded by the UK Government’s Innovate UK and Rails Safety and Standards Board will utilise existing trackside fibre to receive data from trackside masts.

Both existing and newly installed masts will be used along the route to ensure that consistent coverage can be trialled along the line, regardless of tunnels and cuttings.

 

[InOban]

There was a post somewhere (possibly further up this thread) of a Mentor test train being dumped in a loop awaiting a technician from Derby.

It was reported as sitting in Career yard. Someone must know if it has moved.

 

[edwin_m]

It was reported as sitting in Career yard. Someone must know if it has moved.

That's a good one from the predictive text - presume Cadder is intended!

 

[InOban]

That's a good one from the predictive text - presume Cadder is intended!

Oops! Yes, of course.

 

[ScottDarg]

It was reported as sitting in Career yard. Someone must know if it has moved.

It wasn't there when I passed on Tuesday, whether or not it was repaired and done a run or went straight back down to Derby I don't know.

 

[Southsider]

The Shotts electrification twitter feed continues to show apparently good progress. It would be interesting to know where it stands against programme as this piece of information doesn't seem to be conveyed. Are there any public domain sources for this?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The Shotts electrification twitter feed continues to show apparently good progress. It would be interesting to know where it stands against programme as this piece of information doesn't seem to be conveyed. Are there any public domain sources for this?

The NR milestones (June) just show entry into service as March 2019 as a target, with no intermediate milestones.
It also says Motherwell North resignalling is also required to be finished by that date.
All civil clearance work is assumed complete by Dec 2017.
This should at least be one project that is not impacted by electrical clearance design issues.

 

[Southsider]

The NR milestones (June) just show entry into service as March 2019 as a target, with no intermediate milestones.
It also says Motherwell North resignalling is also required to be finished by that date.
All civil clearance work is assumed complete by Dec 2017.
This should at least be one project that is not impacted by electrical clearance design issues.

I think the clearance work is all but complete with just a couple of station footbridges to be rebuilt. Piling and mast electron is well under way but I guess any optimism must be tempered in light of delays and setbacks encountered elsewhere.

 

[deltic08]

I think the clearance work is all but complete with just a couple of station footbridges to be rebuilt. Piling and mast electron is well under way but I guess any optimism must be tempered in light of delays and setbacks encountered elsewhere.

That is clever. Energisation of masts already before wires are strung OR could it be mast erection?

 

[Southsider]

That is clever. Energisation of masts already before wires are strung OR could it be mast erection?

Yes, looks like I am having trouble with my erections .........!

 

[route101]

Do we think the 380s will get a chance before the 385s come in?

 

[92002]

It wasn't there when I passed on Tuesday, whether or not it was repaired and done a run or went straight back down to Derby I don't know.

The broken down test train at Cadder was the PLPR train or plain line pattern recognition test train. Which would you believe tests plain line track. Moved on the following day after a fitter repaired the locomotive.