Scottish Electrification updates & discussion

[Aictos]

Page 40 of the budget states that £207 million will be spent on the rail electrification programme in 2019/20.

Page 140 states “In 2019-20 we will continue the delivery of the rolling programme of electrification, including the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Shotts.”

So it looks like Shotts won’t be complete by March.

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/publication/2018/12/scottish-budget-2019-20/documents/scottish-budget-2019-20/scottish-budget-2019-20/govscot:document?forceDownload=true

I'm not so sure on them saying Shotts won't be completed by March simply because the overheads are all done and it can't take forever to finish whatever needs to be done going by this update below:

Scottish Wiring Progressometer - Post 13.0 (dated 9th December 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.
The Shotts Line (eastern section) has been live as of the 4th of November; the western section followed on the 23rd after the removal of the bridge at Hartwood. The ORR are due to sign the route off for electric traction near Christmas.

Holytown Jct (1m 24ch) to Midcalder Jct (23m 11ch)
Fully wired throughout on both lines. All wires are LIVE, either side of the Track Sectioning Cabinet at Addiewell.

Platform extensions at Carfin are now open.
At Cleland, CCTV cameras & Customer Information Screens are being installed.
At Hartwood Station (6m 62ch), an entirely new DDA-compliant access route has been built, and the old footbridge (which fouled the clearances for live OLE) has been removed. 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.
At Fauldhouse Station, CCTV and Customer Information 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.

 

[Altnabreac]

Page 40 of the budget states that £207 million will be spent on the rail electrification programme in 2019/20.

Page 140 states “In 2019-20 we will continue the delivery of the rolling programme of electrification, including the line between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Shotts.”

So it looks like Shotts won’t be complete by March.

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/publication/2018/12/scottish-budget-2019-20/documents/scottish-budget-2019-20/scottish-budget-2019-20/govscot:document?forceDownload=true

There's a load of stuff listed in the budget that is just a continuation of existing work so I'm not sure I'd read anything into that in particular. I'm sure some of the associated station work will still be ongoing after March but the wiring is pretty much complete now so I can't see any reason why electric trains won't be running earlier in 2019.

 

[mcmad]

Other than a lack of electric traction....

 

[najaB]

Other than a lack of electric traction....

Is but a trifling detail...

 

[Altnabreac]

Other than a lack of electric traction....

Is but a trifling detail...

Well yes there is that but the 385s do seem to be coming on stream now. I make it that there were 10 delivered to Scotrail in November and it looks like all the remaining four car units except the test units will be with Scotrail by the end of the year.

If they can deliver the 3 car units at around 8-10 per month then the vast majority of the fleet should be in service by March 2019.

 

[najaB]

Well yes there is that but the 385s do seem to be coming on stream now. I make it that there were 10 delivered to Scotrail in November and it looks like all the remaining four car units except the test units will be with Scotrail by the end of the year.

If they can deliver the 3 car units at around 8-10 per month then the vast majority of the fleet should be in service by March 2019.

Indeed. The rate of delivery should pick up a bit as well.

 

[Stopper]

Wouldn’t expect the Shotts diagrams to need many units. Would be surprised if they are doubling up 385s at all on that line.

 

[Altnabreac]

Wouldn’t expect the Shotts diagrams to need many units. Would be surprised if they are doubling up 385s at all on that line.

There's a few four car 156s at peak times that are pretty much full at the moment and ideally would be run as a six car. In general 3 cars will be fine for most of the day though and given current shortages I suspect strengthening peak Shotts services will be a relatively low priority until Scotrail have all the 385s available.

 

[Stopper]

I guess it all depends on the Shotts frequencies/timetable post-May. If they are keeping it the same then some 6-cars may be needed. If there are extra services then maybe not. Is there any news on that yet?

 

[Southsider]

Well yes there is that but the 385s do seem to be coming on stream now. I make it that there were 10 delivered to Scotrail in November and it looks like all the remaining four car units except the test units will be with Scotrail by the end of the year.

If they can deliver the 3 car units at around 8-10 per month then the vast majority of the fleet should be in service by March 2019.

And the 365s are here until May

 

[mcmad]

Well yes there is that but the 385s do seem to be coming on stream now. I make it that there were 10 delivered to Scotrail in November and it looks like all the remaining four car units except the test units will be with Scotrail by the end of the year.

If they can deliver the 3 car units at around 8-10 per month then the vast majority of the fleet should be in service by March 2019.

But how many of those 385 have been accepted and are in service with Scotrail? The current lack of electric traction on the Glasgow - SDA and the vast numbers of units parked up at Eastfield (and presumably Millerhill/Craigentinny) suggest that either Scotrail are really far behind in the staff training or there is an issue with Scotrail accepting the units into service. Do they still have to do so many miles of fault free running before acceptance and if so is any of this running still taking place?

 

[Altnabreac]

But how many of those 385 have been accepted and are in service with Scotrail? The current lack of electric traction on the Glasgow - SDA and the vast numbers of units parked up at Eastfield (and presumably Millerhill/Craigentinny) suggest that either Scotrail are really far behind in the staff training or there is an issue with Scotrail accepting the units into service. Do they still have to do so many miles of fault free running before acceptance and if so is any of this running still taking place?

According to Scot-rail the current situation is:
16 x 3 cars delivered
All 16 in service
21 x 3 cars complete at Newton Aycliffe on test
5 x 3 cars in production at Newton Aycliffe
2 x 3 cars in production in Japan
2 x 3 cars fitting out in Italy

19 x 4 cars delivered (including last night's and assuming it arrived)
13 x 4 cars in service
3 x 4 cars complete at Newton Aycliffe on test
2 x 4 cars fitting out in Italy
http://www.scot-rail.co.uk/page/Class+385+Formations

So that suggests the majority of any shortages would be some combination of Lack of Staff Training / Lack of Hitachi Fitters for onboard running rather than lack of acceptance as such.

Would be interesting to know how many of the 29 units that have been used in service so far are actually out in service each day? I suspect a fair bit less than that.

 

[mcmad]

The E&G are (supposed to be) fully 385 so thats 8 3 car and 8 4 car, The Grahamstons seem to be mainly 4 car 385's, the North Berwick has at least 1 pair of 3 cars running and allegedly Stirling has an hourly 4 car so thats, what, 10 3 car and 12 4 cars at least?

 

[Stopper]

Been 3-car 380s passing my house a lot in Linlithgow. I’m guessing they’re either SDA or Cumbernauld so not all 385s that way.

 

[P Tompkins]

It would be good if the new Shotts timetable from May had limited stop trains calling at Newton and connecting with the Central HL Newton trains. This would mean people living in the Cathcart Circle / Newton line who are travelling to Edinburgh would not to change stations in the centre of Glasgow

 

[mcmad]

Edinburgh - SDA was supposed to be all 365 since they haven't got another route to operate on at the moment so are the cumbernaulds a mix of 3 and 4 car?

 

[Highlandspring]

It would be good if the new Shotts timetable from May had limited stop trains calling at Newton and connecting with the Central HL Newton trains.

That would require some route learning (certainly Edinburgh crews) for the North and South Connecting lines at Newton.

 

[Altnabreac]

That would require some route learning (certainly Edinburgh crews) for the North and South Connecting lines at Newton.

Would also create additional conflicting moves so I very much doubt it would be considered.

 

[adrock1976]

Would also create additional conflicting moves so I very much doubt it would be considered.

The only possibility I can think of would be for Sunday diversions if the route via Polmadie is closed.

During the summer of 2016, the Lanark trains ran via Queens Park and Newton, then rejoined the normal route via Bellshill.

 

[superkev]

I've lost track of where we are with all the electrification routes. Is there a map somewhere.
Is everything up and working now apart from the Shorts line which must be close.
I hope all the hard earned expertise and expensive plant is not now going for waste.
Thanks

 

[najaB]

I hope all the hard earned expertise and expensive plant is not now going for waste.

Dunblane to Perth (and on to Carnoustie?) is likely to happen in the very near future.

 

[Southsider]

Dunblane to Perth (and on to Carnoustie?) is likely to happen in the very near future.

There was a slightly encouraging mention regarding East Kilbride in the Scottish Parliament a month or so back. Now that funding for electrification schemes has been confirmed I live in hope!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I've lost track of where we are with all the electrification routes. Is there a map somewhere.
Is everything up and working now apart from the Shorts line which must be close.
I hope all the hard earned expertise and expensive plant is not now going for waste.
Thanks

There is the pinned thread at the top where I am hoping all up to date information and maps will get stored. The latest map I can find is in that thread and the direct link to the exact post is here Electrification threads and resources index

 

[diamond chap]

There have been serious issues with pantograph wear on the E & G in the last few days - indeed this was the cause of last night's failure at Croy. A number of 365s and 385s are out of traffic with damaged carbon. Suspect an OHL issue, lots of checking going on now.

Could these movements be something checking the OHL? (credit to poster on scot-rail)

Slateford depot - Edinburgh

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O65806/2018/12/14/advanced

Edinburgh - Glasgow QS

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O65809/2018/12/14/advanced

Glasgow QS - Edinburgh

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O65811/2018/12/14/advanced

Edinburgh - Derby RTC

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O65926/2018/12/14/advanced

 

[mcmad]

Dunblane to Perth (and on to Carnoustie?) is likely to happen in the very near future.

Unless your definition of very near future is at least 5, more likely 10 years then no.

 

[Carntyne]

Shotts will be finished before March.

 

[Highlandspring]

Could these movements be something checking the OHL? (credit to poster on scot-rail)

Slateford depot - Edinburgh
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O65806/2018/12/14/advanced

Edinburgh - Glasgow QS
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O65809/2018/12/14/advanced

Glasgow QS - Edinburgh
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O65811/2018/12/14/advanced

Edinburgh - Derby RTC
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O65926/2018/12/14/advanced

It was MENTOR, yes.

 

[najaB]

Unless your definition of very near future is at least 5, more likely 10 years then no.

Dunblane to Perth is waiting on Perth being remodeled, IIRC it's a CP6 job.

 

[Legolash2o]

My data shows that electric schedules are planned in the December 2018 to March 2019.

1 EDINBUR to DUNANE
Many GLGQHL to ALLOA and ALLOA to GLGQHL
0 Grangemouth
1 ILFEMUD to SHENFLD via Shotts

 

[mcmad]

Dunblane to Perth is waiting on Perth being remodeled, IIRC it's a CP6 job.

Very much doubt Perth remodelling will be delivered in CP6.