MML Electrification: progress updates

[WAO]

I imagine that wiring North of Glendon Junction will be planned for completion after the introduction of the Midland Bi-modes and will depend on the long-lead item of Braybrooke GSP/Feeder Station. This will need cutting into a NG 400kV overhead line and one or two (large) SGT's (supergrid transformers). The minimum wiring North of the GSP would be to a straight where pan up/down could take place, possibly the new Market Harborough Station alignment. If the sun's shining the wires even could stretch to Wigston, before the junction and the zone of the putative Leicester Capacity scheme.

There's plenty of time to make a cup of coffee before any announcement is made...

WAO

 

[59CosG95]

I imagine that wiring North of Glendon Junction will be planned for completion after the introduction of the Midland Bi-modes and will depend on the long-lead item of Braybrooke GSP/Feeder Station. This will need cutting into a NG 400kV overhead line and one or two (large) SGT's (supergrid transformers). The minimum wiring North of the GSP would be to a straight where pan up/down could take place, possibly the new Market Harborough Station alignment. If the sun's shining the wires even could stretch to Wigston, before the junction and the zone of the putative Leicester Capacity scheme.

There's plenty of time to make a cup of coffee before any announcement is made...

WAO

ISTR that wires are due to go into Mkt Hboro, and end just before the Great Bowden Rd O/B.

 

[Kneedown]

ISTR that wires are due to go into Mkt Hboro, and end just before the Great Bowden Rd O/B.

If a straight bit of track is required for high speed changeover, then Great Bowden to East Langton would seem to be the logical place

 

[WAO]

ISTR that wires are due to go into Mkt Hboro, and end just before the Great Bowden Rd O/B.

Including the overrun, that would seem to confirm changeover between the platforms and even allow an EMU to terminate there.

If a straight bit of track is required for high speed changeover, then Great Bowden to East Langton would seem to be the logical place

That would need a really final decision on the Great Bowden curve. Easing it would have greater benefit with electric traction. They could go even further and wire over Kibworth Summit, if there's not much in the way.

WAO

 

[Flying Phil]

There is still no sign of activity for building the Braybrooke feeder station......

 

[WAO]

Unfortunately that's what "long lead" means. Think five years from actual decision to proceed, then "just in time" for the work on site.

WAO

 

[SPL-OLE1989]

Market Harbourgh works are to commence sometime between weeks 48 -51 onwards i belive starting from Kettering station Fasts

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I imagine that wiring North of Glendon Junction will be planned for completion after the introduction of the Midland Bi-modes and will depend on the long-lead item of Braybrooke GSP/Feeder Station. This will need cutting into a NG 400kV overhead line and one or two (large) SGT's (supergrid transformers).

There's plenty of time to make a cup of coffee before any announcement is made... WAO

Unfortunately that's what "long lead" means. Think five years from actual decision to proceed, then "just in time" for the work on site. WAO

Yes breaking into 400kV grid will not exactly be a walk in the park either.

 

[InTheEastMids]

Including the overrun, that would seem to confirm changeover between the platforms and even allow an EMU to terminate there.

EMR have already been terminating services from the North when the line is blockaded and then bussing people to (typically) Bedford.
Yes, you will be able to turn a train from the South using the crossing immediately North of the station (or even using Bi-Di running), but doing so as part of a regular timetable would make no sense to anybody and isn't on the agenda.

Yes breaking into 400kV grid will not exactly be a walk in the park either.

In general, work like this is favoured to happen at times of low demand on the transmission system, as it's easier to manage with bits of the network switched off.
So, at a guess, Summer 2022 for this task?

 

[edwin_m]

EMR have already been terminating services from the North when the line is blockaded and then bussing people to (typically) Bedford.
Yes, you will be able to turn a train from the South using the crossing immediately North of the station (or even using Bi-Di running), but doing so as part of a regular timetable would make no sense to anybody and isn't on the agenda.

For a line block between MH and Leicester it makes sense to put the Corby stops into the bi-modes running via Harringworth, and run EMUs from St Pancras to MH instead.

 

[Roast Veg]

For a line block between MH and Leicester it makes sense to put the Corby stops into the bi-modes running via Harringworth, and run EMUs from St Pancras to MH instead.

Agreed, though it will depend on whether there's enough desire for it over busses to MH. Will 360 drivers maintain competence via MH only for the odd weekend?

 

[Kneedown]

Agreed, though it will depend on whether there's enough desire for it over busses to MH. Will 360 drivers maintain competence via MH only for the odd weekend?

There are Derby based 360 Drivers who are competent over the entire MML. Even the Kettering based Drivers will retain work to Derby and Nottingham as they do currently.

 

[Roast Veg]

There are Derby based 360 Drivers who are competent over the entire MML. Even the Kettering based Drivers will retain work to Derby and Nottingham as they do currently.

Good to know, makes MH turnbacks from the south much more viable.

 

[QueensCurve]

Unfortunately that's what "long lead" means. Think five years from actual decision to proceed, then "just in time" for the work on site.

Doesn't |"long lead" refer to the distance between the switch and the crossing?

 

[yorkie]

Sorry to be a pain but this thread is already over four thousand posts long and it becomes unwieldy if we end up discussing lots of different things in one topic

So, can we try to stick to updates regarding the MML electrification on this thread please.

Feel free to create a new thread (if there isn't one already) in the relevant area to discuss anything else (such as traction & rolling stock updates, timetable updates or speculative ideas).

For ideas, suggestions and other speculation relating to the MML, please use the following thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/suggestions-for-improving-mml-services.213894/

Thanks

 

[Class 170101]

For a line block between MH and Leicester it makes sense to put the Corby stops into the bi-modes running via Harringworth, and run EMUs from St Pancras to MH instead.

Agree with this as long as the Class 360 and Intercity services meet for interchange at Kettering.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I see Network Rail have just published an update showing work at Market Harborough QUOTE "In step towards Electrification"

Network Rail begins vital work at Market Harborough in step towards electrification (networkrailmediacentre.co.uk)

 

[swt_passenger]

I see Network Rail have just published an update showing work at Market Harborough QUOTE "In step towards Electrification"

Network Rail begins vital work at Market Harborough in step towards electrification (networkrailmediacentre.co.uk)

Odd that there doesn’t seem to be a story associated with that picture?

 

[Raddleman]

Odd that there doesn’t seem to be a story associated with that picture?

Vital electrification works to take place near Kettering's rail line

Work will continue until mid-April

www.northantstelegraph.co.uk

 

[swt_passenger]

Vital electrification works to take place near Kettering's rail line

Work will continue until mid-April

www.northantstelegraph.co.uk

Thanks. I hadn’t look at the wider media, I was surprised the source article isn’t on Network Rail’s media pages, like that earlier image is...

 

[DaveN]

Thanks. I hadn’t look at the wider media, I was surprised the source article isn’t on Network Rail’s media pages, like that earlier image is...

It is now at https://www.networkrailmediacentre....et-harborough-in-step-towards-electrification

Perhaps it wasn't there earlier because the text says that it is starting to-day.

 

[swt_passenger]

It is now at https://www.networkrailmediacentre....et-harborough-in-step-towards-electrification

Perhaps it wasn't there earlier because the text says that it is starting to-day.

Probably. Just lucky that @GRALISTAIR caught them midway through altering the web page...

 

[InTheEastMids]

It is now at https://www.networkrailmediacentre....et-harborough-in-step-towards-electrification

Perhaps it wasn't there earlier because the text says that it is starting to-day.

The letter I've received says the work will be carried out between 81m 73ch and 83m 26ch.

If 83m 26ch is the Northern limit of electrification then that's about 0.6km North of MH station building, so not as far as the Great Bowden Road overbridge.

Obvs that is not necessarily the full extent of the works...

 

[Flying Phil]

Having just driven from Harborough to Braybrooke, I can confirm that there are workers doing vegetation cutting back along that section.

 

[Hairy Bear]

Having just driven from Harborough to Braybrooke, I can confirm that there are workers doing vegetation cutting back along that section.

Don't read too much into that as there having mass cutting sessions between London and Sheffield anyway.
And about time as it's been sorely needed for a very long time now.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Don't read too much into that as there having mass cutting sessions between London and Sheffield anyway.
And about time as it's been sorely needed for a very long time now.

I obviously do not want to go OT but yes I dread the fact that if a tree fell on the line and derailed a train and people got injured or worse how we would feel. Good vegetation management is also good practice- but a necessary prelude to electrification.

 

[petpylon]

I might be wrong but they do not look like 400kV powerlines but 275K.

Definitely 400kV on L2 towers, typically rated c2000MVA/circuit - usually twin conductor lines. You may be thinking of a slightly later heavier duty design which used larger L6 towers and quad conductors typically rated c2700 MVA/circuit (some have been reconductored and uprated above 3000 MVA/circuit).
Depending on which circuit they tap into at Braybrooke, one is rated at 2009 MVA Grendon - Cottam, the other Grendon - Staythorpe rated at 2514 MVA (both winter ratings). I think its unlikely they would tap into both circuits.

 

[Nottingham59]

Thanks for the info, Petpylon, and welcome to the forum!

Can you (or anyone else here) explain how such a tap works from a 3-phase powerline? I know that railways have to use high capacity feeder circuits as the OHLE only uses one phase, and this would create phase distortions in a lesser supply circuit. Will Braybrooke just take a tap from two of the three cables? Or does the OHLE feeder use clever Delta and/or Y transformers to produce a one-phase output from a three phase supply?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Thanks for the info, Petpylon, and welcome to the forum!

Yes welcome. I too add my thanks.

 

[snowball]

I think new feeders on the northern ECML as part of the upgrade there are getting solid state electronic converters that use all the phases symmetrically. So perhaps Braybrooke will be the same?