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Chase Line electrification

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absolutelymilk

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http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Inbox/stop-start-progress-on-essential-walsall-electrification-bridge-rebuilds-/95346

Network Rail is confident, though, that (delays to bridge rebuilding) will not impact on the overall electrification project between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley which will be completed by the end of 2017.

Is this still the case? I haven't heard anything about work on this project on here or from reports, but the Hendy report (p. 75) says that it will be complete by December 2017 and electric trains will be running by May 2018.
Hendy report
 
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Philip Phlopp

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http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Inbox/stop-start-progress-on-essential-walsall-electrification-bridge-rebuilds-/95346



Is this still the case? I haven't heard anything about work on this project on here or from reports, but the Hendy report (p. 75) says that it will be complete by December 2017 and electric trains will be running by May 2018.
Hendy report

Yes. Nothing to report.

Walsall station (non electrified platforms) had track lowering last Easter, went all OK. Murphy have been doing at least some of the bridges, again all OK as far as I know, maybe the odd delay from the utilities re-installing electric or gas, but no railway issues.
 

dangie

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Travelled from Rugeley Town to Walsall last week and noticed that most of what I assume are the concrete bases for the gantry's are in place.
 

LNW-GW Joint

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Good progress on the Chase line electrification.
It's about 15 miles from Walsall to Rugeley TV, and the mast bases (piles) start about half way, after Landywood.
All the bridges look finished apart from one under scaffolding.
Walsall will need quite a bit of work, as only P3 is currently wired, and the route towards Pleck Jn will need the wires extending (best part of a mile).
At the Rugeley end, the line is already wired across the bridge over the Trent.
So now we have 4 concurrent electrification schemes on the go.
 
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GRALISTAIR

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Presumably GWML, North-West, Midlands infills/extensions and GOBLIN.

There's also the MML and Transpennine in the queue.

OK - fair enough - Scotland is devolved so does not count - two routes involved there. Also cross-rail is new build so does not count either. Great news though on the West Midlands infill.
 

LNW-GW Joint

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Which 4 did you have in mind?
Presumably GWML, North-West, Midlands infills/extensions and GOBLIN.
There's also the MML and Transpennine in the queue.

OK - fair enough - Scotland is devolved so does not count - two routes involved there. Also cross-rail is new build so does not count either. Great news though on the West Midlands infill.

Scotland very much does count. EGIP (and extensions) is a big project and being run very successfully by NR.
My 4 are: GW, NW, EGIP and now the West Midlands (Chase, with Bromsgrove to come).
I don't get to see GOBLIN but if it has had a visible start then that would make 5.
Crossrail and GW are the same project to me.

MML had a few bases installed north of Bedford before the hiatus but has stalled for now.
At least I haven't heard of any new work on the ground since it was "un-paused".
Transpennine is stuck at the design stage, with Victoria-Stalybridge now part of the NW scheme.
Ditto Welsh Valleys.
 

hwl

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I don't get to see GOBLIN but if it has had a visible start then that would make 5.

First masts are already up, over 50% of piling is completed and track lowering work has started in places.

Crossrail and GW are the same project to me.

But different contracts, contractors...
 

RichmondCommu

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MML had a few bases installed north of Bedford before the hiatus but has stalled for now
At least I haven't heard of any new work on the ground since it was "un-paused".

That's interesting. I'm a frequent user of the MML but I've not noticed any bases; I'll have to look more carefully next time :) At least all the bridge work appears to have been completed between Bedford and Kettering.
 

LNW-GW Joint

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But different contracts, contractors...

But you can't have the one without the other. ;)
Crossrail trains finishing at Ruscombe wouldn't be very clever.
It's also one design west of Airport Jn (Series 1).

There was a van marked "ABC Electrification" at Rugeley. (ABC = Alstom Babcock Costain JV).
I presume these are the contractors for the Chase line.

The Chase line itself, even after significant recent upgrade and resignalling, is still a 45/50mph max line.
It will need to be better than that if through services to the WCML are contemplated after electrification.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
That's interesting. I'm a frequent user of the MML but I've not noticed any bases; I'll have to look more carefully next time :) At least all the bridge work appears to have been completed between Bedford and Kettering.

Well you were the one who posted news of piling work here (post #165, 179): ;)
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=110445&highlight=mml+electrification&page=11
And I did see them for myself. That was just before the DfT "pause".
About 1 mile north of Bedford station.
 
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The Planner

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The Chase line itself, even after significant recent upgrade and resignalling, is still a 45/50mph max line.
It will need to be better than that if through services to the WCML are contemplated after electrification.

Bubbling away in the background.... don't expect 90 or 100mph though. The business case wouldn't be based upon through trains.
 

LNW-GW Joint

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Smethwickian

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It was dubbed Chase Line when first reopened between Walsall and Hednesford in 1989. Somewhere I still have the souvenir metal ticket given to guests on the civic and press launch special train (for my sins I was a reporter on local weekly paper at the time). Marketing under that name has generally been sporadic and parochial, so people further afield may not recognise the name Chase Line.
 

Mr Fizz

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Whats the plan traction - wise for this line when they turn on the leccy? Please don't say 323's!

What will happen to the 170/153 combination? Extra carriages for Shrewsbury and Hereford services from New St?
 

Harbornite

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Whats the plan traction - wise for this line when they turn on the leccy? Please don't say 323's!

What will happen to the 170/153 combination? Extra carriages for Shrewsbury and Hereford services from New St?

I believe so, to both.
 

BHXDMT

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Whats the plan traction - wise for this line when they turn on the leccy? Please don't say 323's!

What will happen to the 170/153 combination? Extra carriages for Shrewsbury and Hereford services from New St?

Can't remember where I read it, but when talking platform lengths on the Chase Line it was mentioned that "3 carriage electric multiple units" were going to be used. What with Northern's 323s becoming spare at the end of 2018....

170s are earmarked for Hereford I think, not heard about anything for Shrewsbury but 153s are a pain on the rare occasions they do end up on the Shrewsbury line as they never keep time.
 

Mr Fizz

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I feared as much. I foresee much disgruntlement from those who have to go from Rugeley to Birmingham every day if they don't have their tables and pull downs for the laptops/ipads.
 

59CosG95

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I feared as much. I foresee much disgruntlement from those who have to go from Rugeley to Birmingham every day if they don't have their tables and pull downs for the laptops/ipads.

I was under the impression that 350s would be the staple traction on the Chase, as they currently run the Wolves-Walsall diagrams. This would then allow the Cross-City to take all the 323s for their services. LM apparently planned to reroute Liverpool services via Rugeley for frequency boosts, so I'd definitely say that'd be a 350 job.
 

The Planner

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No Liverpool trains will go over the Chase unless it is a diversion. Walsall Wolves will end up split anyway as the Wolves leg will be extended via the Potteries when the Trent Valley goes direct to Crewe.
 

LNW-GW Joint

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I feared as much. I foresee much disgruntlement from those who have to go from Rugeley to Birmingham every day if they don't have their tables and pull downs for the laptops/ipads.

You mean Rugeley/Cannock folk might have to put up with the same trains as their near neighbours in Lichfield/Sutton Coldfield?
 

Mr Fizz

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You mean Rugeley/Cannock folk might have to put up with the same trains as their near neighbours in Lichfield/Sutton Coldfield?

Yes. They can be a sensitive bunch. One day i plonked myself down in a seat on a New St - Rugeley service which was half empty. I didn't see that the previous service was still at New St 'delayed'. That service was subsequently cancelled so they all piled on the train i was sat in. I ended up trapped in my window seat due to the aisles and vestibules being full to bursting. When we were on approach to Tame Bridge i apologised and asked to be let throigh so i could get off. Cue nasty comment about people at Tame Bridge asking 'us' to let them off 'our' train. I have also overheard people complaining and saying that 'our trains' shouldn't stop again after Landywood!
 
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