Scottish Electrification updates & discussion

[Southsider]

Breich station nearing completion.
https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/1040297785172652032?s=21

With this and the wiring being so advanced there must be a real chance of early completion of the electrification on this route. I believe May is the advertised date but that’s eight months away.

 

[59CosG95]

I was in the Craigmill area today. Looks pretty much complete as far as Causewayhead at the rugby club. No visible progress between Broomridge and Plean. Lots of activity at Stirling station.

So, just to get bearings: the line from Alloa is now fully wired from Alloa up until the Causewayhead area behind the pitch for Stirling County RFC?

 

[gingertom]

So, just to get bearings: the line from Alloa is now fully wired from Alloa up until the Causewayhead area behind the pitch for Stirling County RFC?

I believe that to be the case, yes. There's a chance I will be in the area again tomorrow, if so i will have a recce.

 

[Southsider]

Shotts update.

All catenary and contact wires are now installed on the up line between Holytown Junction and Mid-Calder, with the exception of Carfin cutting.

According to twitter, installation of bespoke masts is underway in the Carfin cutting.
https://twitter.com/shottslineelec/status/1040519458215940097?s=19

 

[gingertom]

So, just to get bearings: the line from Alloa is now fully wired from Alloa up until the Causewayhead area behind the pitch for Stirling County RFC?

Progress on the Forth Viaduct with lightweight masts up and wired as far as the rugby ground. There is a small gap in the wiring at the rugby ground, where the installation of a track sectioning cabinet and its associated wiring runs are making good progress.
NR tweeted recently that more work is about to happen on the viaduct in the very near future, this will be on the Dunblane section.

 

[68000]

The Shotts Electrification team are planning for a Mid November energisation

 

[route:oxford]

Progress on the Forth Viaduct with lightweight masts up and wired as far as the rugby ground. There is a small gap in the wiring at the rugby ground, where the installation of a track sectioning cabinet and its associated wiring runs are making good progress.
NR tweeted recently that more work is about to happen on the viaduct in the very near future, this will be on the Dunblane section.

So why are the first and second Forth bridges called a viaduct when the, fourth & fifth Forth bridges were called bridges?

I can't find much detail about the third Forth bridge, so not sure if it was a bridge or a viaduct, I suspect just a bridge.

 

[Macwomble]

I can't find much detail about the third Forth bridge, so not sure if it was a bridge or a viaduct, I suspect just a bridge.

The 3rd Forth "Bridge" is/was probably Alloa Swing Bridge which linked Alloa with Throsk. It was a single line swing bridge which was closed & demolished (apart from the piers) around 1970.

 

[Aictos]

The Shotts Electrification team are planning for a Mid November energisation

That's fast, does that mean they're nearly completion?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

That's fast, does that mean they're nearly completion?

Yes indeed

 

[Aictos]

Yes indeed

That's faster then I expected, is this project being completed well ahead of time then as I wasn't expecting them to finish until January.

I guess it won't be until May though when we see EMUs in passenger service especially as the timetable changes won't be happening in December this year or will we see Scotrail be in a position to operate electric passenger services sooner?

I wonder if the next step once they finish there is if they can get Hyndland to Cowlairs Jcns via Anniesland wired up which would mean the only Diesels using Queen Street would be the Inverness/Aberdeen/Mallaig/Oban/Perth services plus it be handy to access Queen Street Low Level using Electric trains when Queen Street High Level is not available.

 

[gsnedders]

That's faster then I expected, is this project being completed well ahead of time then as I wasn't expecting them to finish until January.

I guess it won't be until May though when we see EMUs in passenger service especially as the timetable changes won't be happening in December this year or will we see Scotrail be in a position to operate electric passenger services sooner?

I wonder if the next step once they finish there is if they can get Hyndland to Cowlairs Jcns via Anniesland wired up which would mean the only Diesels using Queen Street would be the Inverness/Aberdeen/Mallaig/Oban/Perth services plus it be handy to access Queen Street Low Level using Electric trains when Queen Street High Level is not available.

No reason for EMU introduction to be linked to timetable changes; that only matters if you're changing the timetable at the same time! (Sure, they might arrive at ever station early or be chasing yellows, but that's not per se a problem.)

 

[route:oxford]

The 3rd Forth "Bridge" is/was probably Alloa Swing Bridge which linked Alloa with Throsk. It was a single line swing bridge which was closed & demolished (apart from the piers) around 1970.

No the Alloa Swing Bridge was the fourth Forth Bridge. The third Forth bridge was on the Strathendrick & Aberfoyle railway.

https://goo.gl/maps/TYs4rXbwru72

 

[kilonewton]

I wonder if the next step once they finish there is if they can get Hyndland to Cowlairs Jcns via Anniesland wired up which would mean the only Diesels using Queen Street would be the Inverness/Aberdeen/Mallaig/Oban/Perth services plus it be handy to access Queen Street Low Level using Electric trains when Queen Street High Level is not available.

Maryhill and Balmore Road bridges would need to be rebuilt for clearance, neither of which is a simple job, and I would guess couldn’t be done concurrently as that would paralyse traffic in north Glasgow.
Easier wins with better returns first I’d say

 

[Southsider]

Maryhill and Balmore Road bridges would need to be rebuilt for clearance, neither of which is a simple job, and I would guess couldn’t be done concurrently as that would paralyse traffic in north Glasgow.
Easier wins with better returns first I’d say

From a passengers served for your buck point of view it’s got to be East Kilbride.

 

[InOban]

And also the canal crossing would have to be converted into an aqueduct as was done at Carmuirs.

 

[gingertom]

And also the canal crossing would have to be converted into an aqueduct as was done at Carmuirs.

which canal crossing? There's 2 on the route, one at Lambhill, where it looks like the track could be lowered if necessary, and one near Kelvindale which looks like it could be a challenge for height.

 

[InOban]

The one at Kelvindale is, as far as I can see, a cycle path. I see no difficulty in raising it.
Lambhill is two narrow bores, like Carmuirs was. Because of propensity to leak, it would be much better to eliminate the tunnels entirely.

 

[Altnabreac]

Balmore Road looks a tricky job, Maryhill Road isn’t an arch structure so you could maybe get away with lowering track but would probably need an expensive rebuild of Maryhill station.

I’m fairly sure the aqueduct at Kelvindale has enough clearance or it could be found. Lambhill might be possible without rebuilding but long term a new structure may be a better option.

 

[gingertom]

Balmore Road looks a tricky job, Maryhill Road isn’t an arch structure so you could maybe get away with lowering track but would probably need an expensive rebuild of Maryhill station.

I’m fairly sure the aqueduct at Kelvindale has enough clearance or it could be found. Lambhill might be possible without rebuilding but long term a new structure may be a better option.

One would have hoped when the Kelvindale spur was reopened that sufficient clearance would have been engineered in to facilitate future wiring. Replacing the Lambhill tunnels sounds expensive and may well need doing, as you have said. If clearance can be obtained by track lowering, would that absolve NR from having to assist financially with replacing the tunnels? Scottish Waterways is strapped for cash, they can't afford to repair their hydraulic lift bridges, and there's 13 at the last count needing urgent repairs.

 

[route101]

From a passengers served for your buck point of view it’s got to be East Kilbride.

Believe when its announced , if it was next surely there would be an extensive survey done ? Low Bridges , passed Crossmyloof bridge which was rebuilt for 390s to pass under , not 100 percent sure if its got clearance for wires.

Id say a toss up between Maryhill and EK .Though it will be a while

 

[Southsider]

Believe when its announced , if it was next surely there would be an extensive survey done ? Low Bridges , passed Crossmyloof bridge which was rebuilt for 390s to pass under , not 100 percent sure if its got clearance for wires.

Id say a toss up between Maryhill and EK .Though it will be a while

I'd be surprised if high level surveys haven't already been carried out on potential electrification schemes. A while before what? If there is to be continuity of the rolling electrification programme following the completion of SDA and Shotts then something should be announced soon.

 

[route101]

I'd be surprised if high level surveys haven't already been carried out on potential electrification schemes. A while before what? If there is to be continuity of the rolling electrification programme following the completion of SDA and Shotts then something should be announced soon.

While before work starts . Hopefully thats not the case and something is going to be announced .

 

[matchmaker]

Progress on the Forth Viaduct with lightweight masts up and wired as far as the rugby ground. There is a small gap in the wiring at the rugby ground, where the installation of a track sectioning cabinet and its associated wiring runs are making good progress.
NR tweeted recently that more work is about to happen on the viaduct in the very near future, this will be on the Dunblane section.

There is a gap in the wiring at the Cambus loop.

 

[mcmad]

While before work starts . Hopefully thats not the case and something is going to be announced .

Even if something was announced today, there is going to be a big gap while the survey/design/clearance work was completed before the piles could start going in the ground. Will be interesting to see how they keep the construction teams gainfully employed for the ~year minimum.

 

[59CosG95]

And on this bombshell...

Scottish Wiring Progressometer - Post 4.0 (dated 17th September 2018)
Shotts (due March 2019)
All mileages taken from Holytown Jct (1m 24ch) to Midcalder Jct (23m 11ch).
New signalling system for the route tested & commissioned. Route due to go live in mid-November.

Holytown Jct (1m 24ch) to Shotts (8m 30ch)
Fully wired (for certain on the Up side; not sure on the Down side), with the exception of the Carfin-Cleland Cutting.

Platforms are being extended at Carfin.
At Cleland, CCTV cameras & CIS are being installed.
At Hartwood Station (6m 62ch), an entirely new DDA-compliant access route is being built, to allow removal of the old footbridge without the need for a replacement. CCTV/CIS improvements are also underway at the station.
The accommodation bridge at Hartwoodhill looks finished.
At Shotts station, Station Rd Bridge is being rebuilt, and platforms are being extended.

Shotts (8m 30ch) to Addiewell (16m 50ch)
Fully wired (for certain on the Up side; not sure on the Down side).

At Fauldhouse Station, CCTV and CIS screens are being installed/improved.
Breich Station reopened after a 12-week closure. Platforms have been reprofiled, with access to the eastbound platform now coming from the north, avoiding the need for a new footbridge.
Addiewell Station's old footbridge has gone, and the New Footbridge almost complete. CIS screens and CCTV cameras are also being installed.

Addiewell (16m 50ch) to Midcalder Jct (23m 11ch)
Fully wired. Wires currently extend westwards from Addiewell towards Breich.

Edinburgh-Falkirk-Glasgow
All mileages taken from Queen Street High Level (0m 00ch) towards Haymarket (46m 02ch).
Electric services (Class 380s) running between Glasgow Queen Street High Level & Edinburgh Waverley via Falkirk High (21m 63ch) in regular service; due to switch to Class 385 operation in December '18.

Via Falkirk Grahamston - LIVE as of 1/5/18. This includes

• Greenhill Upper Jct to Greenhill Lower Jct;
• Greenhill Lower Jct to Polmont Jct via Falkirk Grahamston;
• Grangemouth Jct;
• The "Larbert Triangle" (Larbert Jct, Carmuirs West Jct, and Carmuirs East Jct).

Now signed off for passenger service; Class 365s in operation as of 23/6/18.
Wires up and live as far north as Larbert Jct (but no further); SPS-bearing portals extend a short way north from Larbert Jct., along with a short run of catenary wire.
Steelwork is also up in the Grangemouth Terminal area, however the extent of SPS & wiring there is not yet known. Wires are now largely up in the vicinity of Fouldubs Jct, but work has yet to be completed with snagging etc.

Larbert - Stirling - Dunblane/Alloa
Alloa station now has contact & catenary wires installed; only the earth wire is up at Craigmill (nr Stirling). Wires currently end short of the River Forth on the Kincardine Lines, just behind Stirling County RFC's grounds; a gap is present at Cambus Loop.
At Larbert, both main lines and the Down Passenger Loop are fully wired.
Earth wires now up around Plean; masts are fully bedanglied around the M9.
TTCs up to the north of Hope's Crossing (between Cowie & Bannockburn).
A gap of around 4 TTCs can be found around Cowie, awaiting works from Scottish Power to alter pylons.
Lots of masts (mostly single masts, but a few TTCs too plus a pair to bear a portal boom) now up to the south of Millhall Rd Footbridge, between Kerse Rd & the A91.
Kerse Rd bridge undergoing reconstruction; due to be completed in October 2018.
Within Stirling, many masts/TTCs/portals are now up.

• SPS up over bay platforms 7 & 8, affixed to a multi-track portal.
• From Stirling Middle SB to the platforms, a large number of TTCs and portal booms (all with SPS) have gone up.
• SPS (on TTCs) up over through platforms 6 & 9 (on the east side).
• SPS on single masts up and folded out of position by Platform 10 (on the eastern edge of the station).

Large number of masts (single masts, TTCs and a two-track portal) are up in the area around Stirling North Signal Box; a few piles remain unmasted at present.
Many masts up on both sides of the track around Cornton, just north of the diversion with the Kincardine Lines.
Through Bridge of Allan, all SPS is up, along with earth wires on both sides; the EW extends south to Stirling, again on both sides.
First pile in at the SW end of Dunblane. Concrete base with a cable embedded now in at the northern end of the station; possibly for a replacement signal?

Glossary of Terms
SPS - Small Part Steelwork; the "dangly bits" that hang off the masts e.g. registration arms.
TTC - Twin Track Cantilever; the "gallows" style masts with 2 sets of small part steelwork on it.
CIS - Customer Information Screen; the "dot matrix" displays shown on most modern stations.

 

[Southsider]

Even if something was announced today, there is going to be a big gap while the survey/design/clearance work was completed before the piles could start going in the ground. Will be interesting to see how they keep the construction teams gainfully employed for the ~year minimum.

My hope is that some forward planning has been done. My fear is that you are correct and the impetus that has been built up will be lost. I'm leaning towards the latter although, when Paisley Canal was done, there was reference to the same approach not being suitable for East Kilbride, inferring that some assessment had taken place.

 

[385001]

Thanks for the update 59CosG95. Really shows how close these projects are to the finishing line.

Even if something was announced today, there is going to be a big gap while the survey/design/clearance work was completed before the piles could start going in the ground. Will be interesting to see how they keep the construction teams gainfully employed for the ~year minimum.

Is the Edinburgh South Sub 'ready to go'? I know some bridges have been re-done (made for difficult viewing of the Flying Scotsman a few months ago ) but I'm not sure if all have been done. Or if Portobello Junction work needs done first.

 

[InOban]

All the major work on the south sub is complete. I think there is something minor at the East end. It's certainly the only pile-ready scheme.

 

[Fougasse]

Good summary. To clarify the wiring situation on the shottsline:

UP SHOTTS: Fully wired except Carfin cutting (no structures up yet).
DOWN SHOTTS: Wired from Holytown Junction to Carfin Cutting and from Mid-Calder Junction to just west of Fauldhouse station. Wiring is progressing west towards Carfin Cutting.