Scottish Electrification updates & discussion

[Peter0124]

Maybe. We haven't seen any timetables for Shotts line post electrification.

It is only the 1tph stopping service that would be likely to be diverted to Central Low Level.

In my view though they would be better having a complete rethink of services here. I'd like to see 2tph semi fast on the eastern section, with one of them heading south at Holytown to provide Motherwell and Hamilton with a fast Edinburgh service.

Shotts to Central Low Level would be a 1tph stopping service reversing in Shotts.

You might also want to run a 1tph Edinburgh - West Calder stopping service if you could find a path for it.

Yea, I'd like to see my local station (Newton Lanarkshire) get a direct service to Edinburgh on the upcoming 385s

 

[InOban]

Does anyone know if the test train ran last night?

 

[ScottDarg]

Does anyone know if the test train ran last night?

It did run, should be heading back south this morning.

Last nights run between Linlithgow and Newbridge Jn:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R00107/2017/10/09/advanced

Working back south this morning: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U23185/2017/10/10/advanced

 

[InOban]

So only tested a part of the route? I would have thought it would need to stay for a week while it checked the whole thing, including every platform at QS

 

[47271]

Is this why there's nothing running south of Stirling late Sundays-Thursdays at the moment? I've noticed that the 2015 Inverness-Queen Street is terminating short on those days until December.

 

[InOban]

This is for phase 2. They're piling and installing the masts every night. The revised timetable was announced a while ago. I think it will restart in the New Year.

 

[92002]

Does anyone know if the test train ran last night?

There were 2 test trains on the E&G yesterday. The NMT during the day and the 67s one during the night. Both have the ability to test the OHL.

No doubt if all is well the planned driver training will start as expected on Monday.

 

[InOban]

Excellent. I was expecting that there would be some sort of photo op while the SNP were meeting in Glasgow.

 

[snowball]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/communities-can-drop-in-to-find-out-more-about-railway-work/

Network Rail is offering local people in Stirling and Bridge of Allan the chance to ‘drop in’ to find out more about work to electrify the railway lines through Stirling.

Piling will be ongoing through these areas from October until the end of November and everyone is being invited to come along to informal events in Stirling Rugby Club and the Allan Community Centre to meet the team, learn more about the work and ask any questions about the project.

The work is part of the electrification of the railway from Grangemouth and Falkirk, through Stirling to Alloa and Dunblane which will enable, longer, faster, greener modern electric trains. The project is being delivered by Network Rail on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Community Drop-ins:

Thursday 19th October 4.30pm – 7.30pm, Stirling County Rugby Football Club, Bridgehaugh Park, Stirling, FK9 5AP

Tuesday 24th October, 4pm – 7pm, Allan Community Centre (PE Room), Fountain Road, Bridge of Allan, FK9 9AT

If you can’t make it along to either of the events, you can email questions to SDAelectrification@networkrail.co.uk or call our 24hr national helpline on 03457 11 41 41

The electrification project also includes bridge works at Perth Road in Dunblane and Kerse Road in Stirling, with enhancement works to station platforms also underway at Falkirk Grahamston, Larbert and Camelon.

Network Rail will finish the main electrification works in 2019. This builds on the recent delivery of electrification between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Falkirk High, the Cumbernauld line, the redevelopment of Edinburgh’s Haymarket station and the completion of the Edinburgh Gateway train-tram interchange.

Dave Boyce, Network Rail’s senior communications manager for the project, said: “This electrification programme will transform travel on Scotland’s railway and we’d like to encourage the community to come to these events, where they can find out more about our plans.”

 

[GrimShady]

Nice to see progress. Is the any drawings of how the retail are and more importantly the drop off are will look? Dropping off has always been difficult at this station.

 

[InOban]

According to the Scotrail 385 thread, one made it as far as Linlithgow last night.

 

[ScottDarg]

Press release from ScotRail

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/about-scotrail/news/edinburgh-glasgow-electrification-takes-steps-forward

The electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow mainline took positive steps forward yesterday, as the ScotRail Alliance prepares for full testing of its new trains on the electrified route.

One of the new Class 385 electric trains – which has still to be fitted with interiors – successfully travelled between Edinburgh and Linlithgow at 02:00 hours on Wednesday 18 October.

This marks clear progress for the infrastructure as this is the first time that an electric train has travelled on any section of the route.

When the final safety checks on the infrastructure along the remainder of the route are complete, full testing of the new trains will begin.

The new fleet will enter passenger service over the next few months, offering faster journeys, more seats and better services for customers travelling between Scotland’s two biggest cities.

ScotRail Alliance Programmes and Transformation Director Ian McConnell, said:

“Yesterday’s trial was a hugely important step towards completing the electrification of the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Having a train run on the route is one of the final phases of the electrification process. That it has gone so well tells us that we are almost ready to begin the next stage – which is to start fully testing the new trains themselves.

“We are building the best railway that Scotland has ever had. When we replace the diesel trains with the brand new, state of the art, electric fleet we will deliver enormous benefits to our customers. Cleaner, greener travel – with more seats and faster journeys will completely transform travel between our two biggest cities.”

Hitachi Rail Europe Programme Manager Andy Radford, said:

“It’s positive so see that progress is being made on Edinburgh to Glasgow electrification.

“We’re hopeful that we’ll be given permission to start full testing soon so we can guarantee the trains can run for passengers safely. We’ve now got trains at our factory in Newton Aycliffe ready to travel to Scotland as soon as they can run on new electric power line.”

 

[route101]

Yea, I'd like to see my local station (Newton Lanarkshire) get a direct service to Edinburgh on the upcoming 385s

On a Shotts service perhaps?
Has there been any services that call at Newton and go Uddingston way rather than Hamilton?

 

[clc]

Is it likely that frequency on the Shotts line will be increased after electrification to make the most of the investment?

 

[najaB]

Is it likely that frequency on the Shotts line will be increased after electrification to make the most of the investment?

Even if the frequency isn't immediately increased, having another electrified route will pay off no end when one of the other routes is shut, not to mention the lower running costs and cleaner operation of EMUs over DMUs.

 

[InOban]

Remember that the main reason for the upgrade of the Shotts line is to provide a W12 freight route from Felixstowe to mossend. The electrification was a nice xtra.

 

[Peter0124]

On a Shotts service perhaps?
Has there been any services that call at Newton and go Uddingston way rather than Hamilton?

That used to happen back before 1991 when the Newton rail crash happened

 

[Class 170101]

Remember that the main reason for the upgrade of the Shotts line is to provide a W12 freight route from Felixstowe to mossend. The electrification was a nice xtra.

At least they seem to be doing two schemes at the same time in any given possession on the route.

 

[route101]

That used to happen back before 1991 when the Newton rail crash happened

Last time i passed the track allows for it but gets in the way of WCML .
Shotts timetable needs to be rejigged , its 2x hour but not half hourly !

 

[Mag_seven]

That used to happen back before 1991 when the Newton rail crash happened

Indeed they were stopped in the immediate aftermath of the Newton crash but never reintroduced when the layout was remodelled. Why?

 

[QueensCurve]

Indeed they were stopped in the immediate aftermath of the Newton crash but never reintroduced when the layout was remodelled. Why?

One of the concerns raise after the Newton Collision was that the junction was a single lead with no flank protection.

Since then the junction has been remodelled as a double lead (parallel lead?) providing flank protection.

 

[Mag_seven]

One of the concerns raise after the Newton Collision was that the junction was a single lead with no flank protection.

Since then the junction has been remodelled as a double lead (parallel lead?) providing flank protection.

Sorry I should have made my question clearer - why when flank protection was introduced after the remodelling were the services not reintroduced?

 

[QueensCurve]

Sorry I should have made my question clearer - why when flank protection was introduced after the remodelling were the services not reintroduced?

I don't know the answer to that.

 

[Macwomble]

According to the Sunday Post a full E & G electric service may now not happen 'til next May's timetable change.

Full story here.

https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/gover...sses-after-795m-project-is-delayed-yet-again/

The First Minister called a summit with Hitachi, which is building 70 electric trains for ScotRail, after the Japanese firm was hit with production problems.

A full electric train service is now unlikely to run on the Glasgow to Edinburgh route until May next year

.

 

[snowball]

Press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/kerse-road-bridge-works-will-improve-city-transport-networks/

Network Rail has confirmed the work programme and associated road closure dates for the demolition and reconstruction of the bridge over the railway at Kerse Road, Stirling.


The A905 Kerse Road will close for six months from April until the end of October 2018 while engineers demolish and replace the road bridge over the railway to the south of Stirling station. The new structure will deliver a significant increase in the width of the carriageway offering the potential for the council to add a third lane in the future to meet Stirling’s growing traffic needs.

The bridge work is part of a wider programme of improvements on the Stirling line ahead of the electrification of the route as part of a Scottish Government investment being delivered by Network Rail. Electrification of central Scotland’s rail network will reduce journey times to Glasgow and Edinburgh, increase capacity on peak services and provide longer, greener trains.

While work on Kerse Road is required now to enable the forthcoming electrification of the line, the new bridge has enabled Network Rail to work with Stirling Council to create the potential to enhance the local road network in line with the City’s transport strategy. It also avoids the need for the council to undertake significant maintenance on the bridge in the next few years with the new structure having a lifespan in excess of 100 years.

Ahead of the main six month road closure, there will be a period of single lane working between January and April 2018 to allow for the diversion of utilities; water, electricity, gas, broadband etc onto a temporary structure ahead of the bridge demolition.

Work on the bridge will begin with two overnight road closures on Saturday 12th and 19th November to enable the installation of the temporary bridge that will maintain pedestrian/cycle access throughout.

Iain McFarlane, Network Rail’s Route Delivery Director for the Stirling-Dunblane-Alloa (SDA) Electrification project, said: “We know Kerse Road is a critical link in Stirling’s road network, and we do not take the decision to request its closure lightly.

“We understand the impact that this potentially will have for both road users, businesses and those communities adjacent to the proposed diversion route. However, this is the best way to minimise the overall disruption that this unavoidable work will have on the local community.

“Delivering this work in a six month closure is a huge logistical challenge, but we have planned carefully with our contractor, Morgan Sindall, and have every confidence in the project team’s ability to complete this work with the minimum possible inconvenience.”

Network Rail has worked with Stirling Council to put in place an ‘all-vehicle’ diversion appropriate for the volumes of traffic expected during the closure of Kerse Road.

In addition to the diversion route, a number of measures are being discussed with Stirling Council to help mitigate the impact of the closure. These include traffic light alterations, road marking alterations, speed activated signage and pedestrian crossings.

 

[92002]

At least they seem to be doing two schemes at the same time in any given possession on the route.

Whilst the Shotts electrification will help with freight from Felixstowe to Mossend. Once completed it will still mot be possible to run them by electric.

There are no paths available via Waverley, so Freights works as now need to be round by the Sub line avoiding Waverley. However the Sub has not been electrified.

 

[najaB]

Whilst the Shotts electrification will help with freight from Felixstowe to Mossend. Once completed it will still mot be possible to run them by electric.

That's true, however it isn't an intended output of the current work.

 

[Altnabreac]

Whilst the Shotts electrification will help with freight from Felixstowe to Mossend. Once completed it will still mot be possible to run them by electric.

There are no paths available via Waverley, so Freights works as now need to be round by the Sub line avoiding Waverley. However the Sub has not been electrified.

Network Rail did want to electrify the south sub in this Control Period for that reason but it was vetoed by ORR who said it wasn't necessary. Thankfully the CP6 project system looks to be much more Transport Scotland led with ORR interference removed so hopefully the proposal to electrify the south sub will now progress.

 

[InOban]

The freights would have to be diesel hauled from Felixstowe to Doncaster anyway, since the W12 route goes by Lincoln. It is a major change to the use of the ECML, which used to carry very little freight, and was essentially closed at night.

 

[Highlandspring]

Just for the record 385001 has run Edinburgh - Queen St - Linlithgow - Queen St in the early hours of 01/11. As I type this it is sitting in platform 4 at Queen St and will shortly depart for Edinburgh again.