Scottish Electrification updates & discussion

[gingertom]

Looking on Google Earth it seems there's enough space for a double track at the station, but nowhere to then put a second platform.

Could the same goal be achieved by extending the existing platform west, and putting in a passing loop that allows one unit to terminate behind another, without the latter ending up trapped?

Hmm. Not so sure about that. I think there is space for a second platform.

 

[route101]

Hmm. Not so sure about that. I think there is space for a second platform.

There used to double track at EK station . Was lifted last decade i think . I dont know if it was used to stable units or anything.

 

[gingertom]

Hmm. Not so sure about that. I think there is space for a second platform.

I am talking about Hairmyres here. East Kilbride seems to have had some land where the second platform used to be sold to a developer.

 

[lancastrian]

Just read today that the Alloa line is now being worked on for electrification, mainly the bases for the masts going in. I was just looking at a map of the line and nearby large towns, that are NOT served by rail. The trains go through Cambus but no station. Then they could continue on to Clackmannan and Kincardine. All three are sizable towns. The route was upgraded not that long ago, plus with just a single point at the far end of Alloa a passing loop could be easily put in. OK I accept that there would be a cost for the second platform and footbridge and lifts but surely the purpose of a rail service is to enable people to get from A to B. If you travel over the Clackmannan & Kincardine road bridges travelling toward either Glasgow & Edinburgh, so are soon snarled up in traffic. A fast, efficient electric service to first Glasgow & hopefully later via Dunfirmline to Edinburgh would be well used. I know that there is money, just look at what has been spent on the second Forth Road Bridge, for a part of that these services and lines could have been reopened.

 

[NotATrainspott]

Just read today that the Alloa line is now being worked on for electrification, mainly the bases for the masts going in. I was just looking at a map of the line and nearby large towns, that are NOT served by rail. The trains go through Cambus but no station. Then they could continue on to Clackmannan and Kincardine. All three are sizable towns. The route was upgraded not that long ago, plus with just a single point at the far end of Alloa a passing loop could be easily put in. OK I accept that there would be a cost for the second platform and footbridge and lifts but surely the purpose of a rail service is to enable people to get from A to B. If you travel over the Clackmannan & Kincardine road bridges travelling toward either Glasgow & Edinburgh, so are soon snarled up in traffic. A fast, efficient electric service to first Glasgow & hopefully later via Dunfirmline to Edinburgh would be well used. I know that there is money, just look at what has been spent on the second Forth Road Bridge, for a part of that these services and lines could have been reopened.

The Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine project was primarily about providing a route for Longannet coal trains that didn't require running over the Forth Bridge. As a result, capacity was freed up for more Fife commuter trains. The Alloa station reopening was just a bonus - and one which has done better than expected. With the line no longer being needed for coal trains, it is possible that the passenger service might be tweaked, but only if there's a clear justification.

The primary problem with a full reopening through Dunfermline and into Edinburgh is that there isn't enough capacity available over the Forth Bridge. That's why the line was opened in the first place. There are very few people living between Dunfermline and Stirling. Even if the Kincardine line pointed the right way towards Edinburgh, it would still be a bad use of limited capacity.

A station at Cambus is not out of the question. It's the sort of project that might well happen if there are significant housing developments near the line. An unstaffed station, especially a single-track one, would have minimal cost. The upfront capital could be at least partly paid by the developer while the operational costs may be low enough to be funded by ticket revenue. The same may go for a station along at Clackmannan or Kincardine. The most crucial aspect of the business case is the timetable. If it would be possible to add in these stops without requiring more trains or crews or the rest of the timetable to be affected, then there's little difficulty. That's what made the 1989 reopening of Drumgelloch viable, as the trains and staff there would otherwise just be waiting around in Airdrie. If the timetable doesn't work and you need an extra train and some more staff, it gets a lot harder to justify it.

The further an Alloa train is extended east, the less people there will be and the less competitive the rail journey will be against pure driving or park-and-riding at a station across the Forth. From an overall transportation perspective it may well be more efficient for the Scottish Government to fund a ScotRail-branded shuttle bus from Falkirk High across the Kincardine Bridge. There's a big dog-leg involved in going via Stirling when there are two road bridges running directly. The business case for a new station would also have to take into account any loss of custom at other stations. The new one might be nice and busy but if everyone was previously just driving to Falkirk and getting the train there, the overall increase in revenue might not be high enough to justify the line.

 

[Altnabreac]

Just read today that the Alloa line is now being worked on for electrification, mainly the bases for the masts going in. I was just looking at a map of the line and nearby large towns, that are NOT served by rail. The trains go through Cambus but no station. Then they could continue on to Clackmannan and Kincardine. All three are sizable towns. The route was upgraded not that long ago, plus with just a single point at the far end of Alloa a passing loop could be easily put in. OK I accept that there would be a cost for the second platform and footbridge and lifts but surely the purpose of a rail service is to enable people to get from A to B. If you travel over the Clackmannan & Kincardine road bridges travelling toward either Glasgow & Edinburgh, so are soon snarled up in traffic. A fast, efficient electric service to first Glasgow & hopefully later via Dunfirmline to Edinburgh would be well used. I know that there is money, just look at what has been spent on the second Forth Road Bridge, for a part of that these services and lines could have been reopened.

Clackmannan and Kincardine are not sizable towns, they are medium sized villages with populations around 3,000 each.

That's borderline for justifying a station on a line with an existing passenger service and no chance of justifying a new service.

If there was a strategic business case for a Dunfermline to Glasgow service then you might be able to justify stations at some of Clackmannan, Kincardine, Culross or Valleyfield but the intermediate stations will not justify a business case on their own merits.

Cambus is a different scenario. With the wider Tullibody area there is a catchment of well over 10,000 people and the passenger service already exists. Hopefully now there is a dedicated rail development fund, Clackmannanshire Council will be more likely to pursue a study on a station here.

 

[Altnabreac]

In a shocking departure from recent Scottish threads I'm going to post an on topic update on electrification.

Travelled along the Shotts line today as was impressed by how many Masts are up already, well over 90% I'd say. A few gaps at stations, the odd one missing here and there and about four sections with larger distances awaiting masts:

• Cutting between Carfin and Cleland
• Viaduct east of Cleland
• Just west of Shotts
• Around the Benhar junction stub siding

New footbridges at West Calder and Addiewell have moved on apace with old Addiewell bridge removed and West Calder footbridge looks ready to be removed during the Easter closure.

Livingston South is also now a big worksite with car park closed off for contractors and initial foundations installed for the new platforms that are about to be constructed.

Looking again today I'm still not entirely sure whether the old bridge at Parkhead in Polbeth requires removal or not.

There are two remaining major jobs that don't appear to have any progress or plans in place:

• Removing or replacing Hartwood Station footbridge. - Presumably there is a plan for this?
• Replacing Breich station - This is obviously a late change of plan so I presume designs are still being worked on. Still unclear whether the proposal is to rebuild alongside the existing station or to move 700m or so eastwards to be closer to the actual village.

 

[Southsider]

In a shocking departure from recent Scottish threads I'm going to post an on topic update on electrification.

Travelled along the Shotts line today as was impressed by how many Masts are up already, well over 90% I'd say. A few gaps at stations, the odd one missing here and there and about four sections with larger distances awaiting masts:

• Cutting between Carfin and Cleland
• Viaduct east of Cleland
• Just west of Shotts
• Around the Benhar junction stub siding

New footbridges at West Calder and Addiewell have moved on apace with old Addiewell bridge removed and West Calder footbridge looks ready to be removed during the Easter closure.

Livingston South is also now a big worksite with car park closed off for contractors and initial foundations installed for the new platforms that are about to be constructed.

Looking again today I'm still not entirely sure whether the old bridge at Parkhead in Polbeth requires removal or not.

There are two remaining major jobs that don't appear to have any progress or plans in place:

• Removing or replacing Hartwood Station footbridge. - Presumably there is a plan for this?
• Replacing Breich station - This is obviously a late change of plan so I presume designs are still being worked on. Still unclear whether the proposal is to rebuild alongside the existing station or to move 700m or so eastwards to be closer to the actual village.

Thanks for the detailed update. Sounds like the infrastructure is going to be ready before the rolling stock, a potential success story for the project spoiled by outside factors.

 

[Altnabreac]

Thanks for the detailed update. Sounds like the infrastructure is going to be ready before the rolling stock, a potential success story for the project spoiled by outside factors.

The infrastructure works were always due for completion by May 2019 timetable change. Given the lack of any firm plans for Breich (which may well need planning permission / land purchase if there is to be alternative level access instead of a new bridge) i'm not entirely convinced that there will be an early completion of work.

Could well be that everything apart from Breich station is finished by December 2018 though.

 

[Southsider]

They’re not hanging about - Livingston South gone already!
https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/979680303752056832?s=21

 

[Stopper]

Hopefully Livingston South can get a good fast service that can properly compete with Livingston North again.

 

[och aye]

They are moving at quite a pace with the Shotts line electrification in general!

 

[59CosG95]

They are moving at quite a pace with the Shotts line electrification in general!

Indeed - shame the 385s are letting the side down.

 

[Southsider]

More good progress on the Shotts line as they tie in the new wiring with the existing Carstairs OLE.

https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/980377023368630272?s=21

 

[385001]

Midcalder junction tie in completed.

Work on Livingston South continuing and the replacement of the footbridge at West Calder.

https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/981115275046195200

 

[385001]

Some time lapse footage of the work at Livingston South. They're not hanging about!

https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/981807060374446080

 

[gingertom]

Some time lapse footage of the work at Livingston South. They're not hanging about!

https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/981807060374446080

certainly are not! Good job.
Do we know what length the new platforms are being made? Can they accommodate 8 car sets?

 

[Stopper]

certainly are not! Good job.
Do we know what length the new platforms are being made? Can they accommodate 8 car sets?

I’d think that’s unlikely. Most like a 6-car 385 max, which will probably be a very rare sight on the Shotts line.

 

[Altnabreac]

certainly are not! Good job.
Do we know what length the new platforms are being made? Can they accommodate 8 car sets?

147m in length so enough for 6 x 23m with a bit to spare. Suspect an 8 car could work along Shotts line with SDO if required for stock positioning but most of the time 3 and 4 car services should be sufficient for current demand.

http://railtube.info/2018/02/shotts...rm-for-key-electrification-work-network-rail/

Platform 1 (eastbound) will be extended 28m on the west side. Platform 2 (westbound) will be extended 28m split between the east and west sides. Both platforms will be circa 147m in length and extension will enable introduction of new longer trains that will operate on the route from 2019

 

[snowball]

West Calder footbridge to be open by Monday:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/network-rail-opens-new-station-footbridge-at-west-calder/

Passengers arriving at West Calder on Monday April 9 will notice a significant difference in their station with the removal of the old and opening of the new station footbridge.

The old bridge, which will find a new home on Bo’ness heritage railway was removed by a 130t crane in 3 lifts – with work taking place during the 10 day closure of the line so as to minimise disruption for passengers

The new bridge, which weighs more than 21 tonnes, was craned into position in December delivers the clearance for running wires to enable the safe electrification of the line. Following the commissioning of lifts early next month, the new station footbridge and lifts will deliver full accessibility with step free access to both platforms in the West Lothian station.

During work pedestrian access was maintained between platforms as the old footbridge remained open throughout while the station was open. The footbridge was only closed at night to enable work on the new bridge – constructed immediately to the east of the old structure.

Construction work on the new structure was delivered over a 10 month period from a purpose-built site compound established initially to enable work on the A71 road bridge – completed early in 2017. The new bridge is part of wider work on the Shotts line being delivered by Network Rail ahead of the electrification of the route by 2019.

Kevin McLelland, route delivery director for infrastructure projects, said: “We are continuously seeking opportunities to make stations more accessible and the new footbridge at West Calder will help ensure that everyone in the community has the opportunity to easily access train services and thus enables more people to travel by train.

“We are reaching the end of route clearance activities on the project where we have cleared structures on the route from being an obstruction to the safe running of the overhead wires which enable electrification.

“Opening the new bridge is another important milestone for the electrification project – with the added bonus of enabling the old bridge to be relocated and preserved at Bo’ness heritage railway – which is great to see”.

The work on the new footbridge at West Calder station was delivered by contractor Bam Nuttal on behalf of Network Rail.

Electrification of the line across North Lanarkshire and West Lothian coupled with improvements at stations will transform the journey experience for passengers who will enjoy the benefits of improved services for many years to come

 

[InOban]

The Shotts line will reopen on schedule today (Monday). I think it was a close run thing as far as Livingston South station was concerned - they originally tweeted that the line would reopen but the station would stay closed.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

The Shotts line will reopen on schedule today (Monday). I think it was a close run thing as far as Livingston South station was concerned - they originally tweeted that the line would reopen but the station would stay closed.

And they've tweeted this morning that Livi South Station is now indeed open...

 

[InOban]

It would seem to have been a well planned and well delivered project. Congratulations to all involved.

 

[Altnabreac]

Considering the amount of snow in Livingston last week I'm very impressed they haven't been delayed.

 

[Stopper]

Livi South certainly looks impressive from the pictures I’ve seen, they’ve done a good job. They have mentioned 6-car trains are going to run on this route, surely that’s a mistake? I’d be very surprised if anything more than a 3 or 4 car 385 was necessary.

Also, any update on what they are actually going to do with Breich? Are they going to rebuild it in the same place, or move it closer to the town?

 

[Altnabreac]

Livi South certainly looks impressive from the pictures I’ve seen, they’ve done a good job. They have mentioned 6-car trains are going to run on this route, surely that’s a mistake? I’d be very surprised if anything more than a 3 or 4 car 385 was necessary.

Also, any update on what they are actually going to do with Breich? Are they going to rebuild it in the same place, or move it closer to the town?

They are making the platforms long enough for 6 x 23m trains. This seems wise as there are already several four car services at peak times that are pretty full so I can certainly see occasional peak 6 car services being needed in a few years time. 90% of the time 3 car services should be quite sufficient though.

As regards Breich no one seems to know what is planned. I suspect the simplest solution is just to rebuild the paltforms a few hundred metres further from the Bridge and with a new level access from the north side to avoid the need for a new footbridge.

I'd much rather see the station move a bit further to actually be in the village where it might actually generate some patronage but this will be more complicated as it would likely involve new land purchase, planning permission and other legal issues. The fact that everything has gone quiet may be an indication that this option is being explored or it may just reflect the fact Network Rail was expecting closure permission to be granted so there was not a detailed alternative plan in place for Breich.

 

[Stopper]

I suppose, there are a lot of 385 units so I can see services being longer as much as possible.

I really hope they experiment with Breich getting more services. Move the station to the actual village, and give it an hourly service. Passengers from places like Longridge and Forth, and maybe even some Whitburn commuters might be more inclined to use the station.

 

[snowball]

Another press release, on the end of the blockade:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds...p-for-livingston-south-station-redevelopment/

The Edinburgh – Glasgow Central via Shotts line has re-opened to passengers following a 10 day closure to enable part of a £3.5m redevelopment of Livingston South station.

Since the start of the blockade on March 29, Network Rail engineers worked around the clock to demolish then rebuild both platforms at the station wider and longer to ensure they are compliant for an electrified railway and long enough for the new six carriage trans that will be introduced on the route.

As well as the work to the platforms, access ramps were re-graded and improvements to lighting, CCTV, customer information systems, ticket machines and validators and waiting shelters were all delivered at the West Lothian station during the line closure.

With the station open and passenger services reintroduced on the line between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central via Shotts, work on the project is ongoing to complete the platforms, construct the lift towers and upgrade the staircases accessing the station.

The closure of the Edinburgh – Glasgow via Shotts line was carefully planned for the school holiday period in order to minimise inconvenience, as passenger numbers are lower and some may be able to be more flexible with their travel plans at this time.

The work is a key part of the Scottish Government funded investment to upgrade and electrify the line to improve reliability and enable the introduction of electric trains on the route by March 2019.

Brian Mallon, Network Rail project manager for the Shotts Line electrification project said:

“While we acknowledge that closing the line is never a popular choice with passengers, the volume of work and the efficiency with which it was delivered during the 10 day blockade, demonstrates that it was the best way to reduce disruption overall for passengers as we redeveloped the station.

“The staff and contractors on the ground did fantastically well in difficult and challenging weather conditions to get the job done. Though the weather made underfoot conditions treacherous at times; bringing some activities to a halt and slowing others, full credit to the team as they just got the snow cleared and got straight back to the job in order to get the station operational in time for the reintroduction of service.

“We appreciate the cooperation of the local community and thank them for their patience as we deliver this massive investment to upgrade the railway. We hope that they enjoy the benefits of the redeveloped station for many years to come”

The full redevelopment of Livingston South will be complete by September 2018

 

[31160]

Are any of the Glas Qst to Edb services EMU formed at the min or are they waiting for the 385's?

 

[najaB]

Are any of the Glas Qst to Edb services EMU formed at the min or are they waiting for the 385's?

There are (were?) several services operated by 380s.