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Aberdeen - Inverness £170m Upgrade

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GusB

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Network Rail have posted this today: https://www.networkrailmediacentre....berdeen-inverurie-double-tracking-this-summer

Network Rail engineers will be working from May to August to complete a multi-million-pound upgrade to track and signalling between Aberdeen and Inverurie as part of the Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project.

From May 4 to August 19, the railway will undergo a series of closures to allow engineers to double the track between Dyce and Inverurie, carryout bridge upgrades and deliver signalling enhancements.

The following service alterations will be in place during the upgrade works:

May 4–June 14: Buses replace trains between Dyce and Inverurie.

June 15–August 9: Buses replace trains between Dyce and Huntly.

August 10–August 12: Bus replace trains between Aberdeen and Inverness.

August 13–August 19: Buses replace trains between Aberdeen and Huntly.

Over the 15 weeks, engineers will lay 10 miles of rail over nearly 40,000 sleepers and replace or refurbish 19 bridges on the line.

The work builds on the closure of the line between May and August 2018 which saw the successful completion of the first phase of double-tracking between Aberdeen and Dyce.

Funded by the Scottish Government, the Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project will reduce journey times and increase capacity on the route between the two cities.

The benefits of the project for ScotRail customers include:

  • More services between Elgin and Inverness (from December 2018), increasing during 2019 until there is an hourly service all day, providing 1,300 additional seats.
  • A half-hourly service all day between Inverurie and Aberdeen from December 2019, with extra services at peak times, providing 3,000 additional seats each day
  • Additional Elgin-Aberdeen early morning and late evening services.
  • InterCity trains operating between Aberdeen and Inverness, providing an extra 1,400 each day between the two cities.
  • A new direct service between Inverurie and Montrose, reducing the need to change in Aberdeen.
Billy McKay, Network Rail senior programme manager, said: “Double-tracking the line between Aberdeen and Inverurie will improve reliability on the route and allow a significant increase in the number of services available to customers.

“The Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project means more services, more seats and faster journeys for passengers and our engineers will be working around-the-clock to complete this complex programme as quickly as possible.

“We understand the inconvenience the work will cause to some passengers and residents, but such a huge engineering project cannot be delivered without the closure of the line. We are encouraging customers to leave extra time for travel, and plan journeys in advance.”

Derek Glasgow, ScotRail Aberdeen-Inverness project manager, said: “This is a significant project that will play a critical role in delivering a better service for our customers, as we continue to invest in Scotland’s Railway.

“We know that this level of engineering works will be an inconvenience, but we will do everything we can to keep customers moving with replacement bus services in place for the duration of the line closures.”

More information is available at scotrail.co.uk/improvements as well as on the ScotRail app.
 

Deltic1961

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Ha ha.

This is assuming they have enough rolling stock which they plainly don't. And the chances of the HSTs appearing is also slim.
 

Altnabreac

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Great - where does Kintore station opening fit into this I wonder?

Construction groundworks started last week. Main construction will coincide with the blockade.

https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/work-begins-on-new-north-east-railway-station1/

Nestrans chairman Councillor Peter Argyle said: “Work at Kintore Station began this week with de-vegetation. Following this, the contractors will then be working on establishing their site access and compound.

Keep up to date with the latest news with The Evening Express newsletter
“These are all necessary advance works prior to main construction commencing, which will coincide with the blockade of the line planned this summer.

“The final programme from contractors for completion of the project is still being agreed between parties. Nestrans are delighted this milestone has been reached.”

Doesn't give a fixed opening date in the article. Previously Autumn 2019 and December 2019 have both been mentioned. Don't know if the lack of date indicates a potential delay beyond that but I'd expect it to open either late 2019 or early 2020.
 
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Which services are going to stop at Kintore? Seeing as journeys from Inverness are going to be sped up, will it just be Inverurie to Aberdeen/Stonehaven/Montrose services which will stop?
 

MadMac

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On a semi-related note, the closure of Newtonhill box and provision of additional signals between Aberdeen and Stonehaven has been cancelled for this weekend with no rescheduled date as yet.
 

najaB

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On a semi-related note, the closure of Newtonhill box and provision of additional signals between Aberdeen and Stonehaven has been cancelled for this weekend with no rescheduled date as yet.
I presume something came up in the testing?
 

Bill EWS

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Just returned from a stay in Aberdeen and used the train to Inverurie. I was surprised how busy the trains I used were. From Dyce to Aberdeen will continue to get busier as new stations are opened and I woud think Ellon must be due to rejoin the railway in the not too distant future and Fraserburgh and Peterhead must surely follow not too long after that. Double tracking and modern signalling systems will make a great difference. I'm an Ex Kittybrewster man and worked over these lines in the 60's. It would be fantastic to see them open once again. I also followed the line between Woodside and Kittybrewster while searching the route of the old canal and it was very satisfying seeing the double track and new signals ready to begin. The up line isn't open as yet but most of the work appears to be completed. I saw news today that they are near ready to start doubling between Dyce and Inch.
 
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Interesting you thought it busy. As a reasonably regular user of the line I feel usage has fallen significantly in recent years. The collapse in oil price a few years back (and consequent reduction in workforce) certainly removed a good number of passengers, this was apparent in that parking places at many stations became easier to find.
Last year's blockade put many people into their cars, or other transport, and a good number don't seem to have returned to the train. I suspect this year's blockade may do the same.
The line often seems busier though as many services now see 2-car 158s vice 170s, and increased cancellations as we await full HST delivery.
I worry that this time next year we'll have a much better railway, but many passengers will need significant persuasion to return.
 

Deltic1961

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Dyce has had 49.1% on time trains in the past year, I suspect that's why people are avoiding the line as it's totally unreliable. I get the Stagecoach 35 in to town now because it actually turns up and they've recently invested in brand new very comfortable deckers. Many people I speak to in Dyce don't bother with the train either now.

Aberdeen Crossrail and and an extension to Peterhead/Fraserburgh won't happen in my lifetime.

They never widened the tunnel under Broadford Works either as part of A2I (presumably to cut costs), so the last mile to Aberdeen station is still single track despite them heralding the Inverurie to Aberdeen line as doubled. That would also impact any decision to add another line as that cost would have to be added to any budget for the project.
 

najaB

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They never widened the tunnel under Broadford Works either as part of A2I (presumably to cut costs), so the last mile to Aberdeen station is still single track despite them heralding the Inverurie to Aberdeen line as doubled. That would also impact any decision to add another line as that cost would have to be added to any budget for the project.
It goes without saying that doubling all the way to Aberdeen would have been ideal, but as long as they've used high-speed S&C at the "country end" of the single line section then it's still possible to have a robust timetable in spite of it. That would let trains approach Aberdeen as fast as if the line was double and trains to accelerate up to the double-track line speed as soon as they depart - which has the result of reducing the pathing time required.
 

Deltic1961

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The trains slow down to 35 mph at Kittybrewster anyway, so that's also an issue. Not quite sure why they slow down so far away from stations. coming in to Dyce from the Inverurie side is painfully slow for no reason.
 

najaB

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The trains slow down to 35 mph at Kittybrewster anyway, so that's also an issue. Not quite sure why they slow down so far away from stations. coming in to Dyce from the Inverurie side is painfully slow for no reason.
I'd like to think that this constraint can be removed as the track geometry seems like it can support higher speeds.
 

GusB

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From Network Rail Today: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/bam-nuttall-awarded-new-kintore-station-contract

Network Rail has appointed BAM Nuttall as the main contractor for the construction of the new Kintore station.

The £14.5m station will reconnect Kintore to the rail network for the first time in 56 years.

Funded by Transport Scotland, Aberdeenshire Council and Nestrans, the new station will have step-free access between platforms through a footbridge with lifts.

Providing an interchange between rail and road, the station will have around 170 car parking spaces, bike storage and connect into the local bus network.

The station will be constructed over the next 12 months and is due to enter service in May 2020. All Aberdeen-Inverness trains will call at the station.

The original Kintore station opened in 1854, but closed in 1964 as part of the Beeching cuts.

Reopening Kintore has been made possible by the double-tracking of the line between Aberdeen-Inverurie delivered as part of the Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project.

Funded by the Scottish Government, the Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project will reduce journey times and increase capacity on the route between the two cities.

The benefits of the project for ScotRail customers include:

  • More services between Elgin and Inverness, increasing during 2019 until there is an hourly service all day, providing 1,300 additional seats.
  • A half-hourly service all day between Inverurie and Aberdeen with extra services at peak times, providing 3,000 additional seats each day.
  • Additional Elgin-Aberdeen early morning and late evening services.
  • InterCity trains operating between Aberdeen and Inverness, providing an extra 1,400 each day between the two cities.
  • A new direct service between Inverurie and Montrose, reducing the need to change in Aberdeen.
Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, said: “This Scottish Government is committed to improving rail links across the country and this latest contract award is a milestone in doing so for people in the North East of Scotland.

“Our continued rail investment is providing new infrastructure, improved rolling stock, increased capacity and the enhanced timetables to deliver more services on the Aberdeen to Inverness route. This will make rail a more attractive travel choice, helping encourage more people out of their cars and onto trains.”

Peter Argyle, Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee and Chair of Regional Transport Partnership Nestrans, said: “Aberdeenshire Council and Nestrans have worked closely with Transport Scotland and the rail industry to secure this key investment in our regional transport infrastructure. We are pleased to see this important milestone reached, in order to secure the long waited for benefits for the community of Kintore and surrounding area.”

Graeme Stewart, Network Rail Senior Sponsor, said: “The new Kintore station will reconnect the local community to the rail network for the first time in nearly six decades.

“BAM Nuttall, as the main contractor on the Aberdeen-Inverness Improvement Project, is perfectly placed to deliver this new facility and we look forward to working closely with them to complete the work as quickly as possible.”
It just says that the station will be built over the next 12 months, but no concrete dates have been given for when construction will start. Does anyone know when it's likely to begin?
 

hexagon789

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GusB

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Reading a bit more closely, it says that the station is expected to be ready in May 2020, so they must be ready to go. It also says that all Aberdeen - Inverness trains will stop at Kintore.
 

hexagon789

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Reading a bit more closely, it says that the station is expected to be ready in May 2020, so they must be ready to go. It also says that all Aberdeen - Inverness trains will stop at Kintore.

At least they'll get a decent service frequency.
 

47271

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I don't know if this has been the plan all along, but stopping everything at Kintore is a sound idea to take some of the pressure off Inverurie which has had mad passenger growth in the past ten years or so. The new station will also be a lot more accessible from the A96 than Inverurie is.
 

hexagon789

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I don't know if this has been the plan all along, but stopping everything at Kintore is a sound idea to take some of the pressure off Inverurie which has had mad passenger growth in the past ten years or so. The new station will also be a lot more accessible from the A96 than Inverurie is.

It definitely is a better idea, for precisely the reason you outline. Hopefully Kintore takes some of the pressure off as well as developing it's own demand, of it does I wonder if the likelihood of a station at Dalcross for the airport increases on a similar basis.
 

GusB

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It definitely is a better idea, for precisely the reason you outline. Hopefully Kintore takes some of the pressure off as well as developing it's own demand, of it does I wonder if the likelihood of a station at Dalcross for the airport increases on a similar basis.
A station at Dalcross will also serve as a park and ride station for the new town at Tornagrain, which seems to be coming along nicely. It's currently served by the 11 bus, but the detour into the airport adds time to that journey.
 

hexagon789

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A station at Dalcross will also serve as a park and ride station for the new town at Tornagrain, which seems to be coming along nicely. It's currently served by the 11 bus, but the detour into the airport adds time to that journey.

Forgive me but do you mean one is planned or are you simply outlining why one should be?
 

GusB

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Forgive me but do you mean one is planned or are you simply outlining why one should be?

I was under the impression that a station at Dalcross was very much a "live" proposal.

Tornagrain was just a name on a road sign for a time, but there is now a sizable housing development. If you believe the planners' bumph, it's set to be a new "big" settlement (10k people) in the near future. Having driven through it for a bit of a nosey, it would appear that construction is progressing quite rapidly, but the current transport links are woefully inadequate. The road from Tornagrain to the airport junction with the A96 is still very much single-track with passing places and needs to be seriously looked at.

Any station at Dalcross is going to be on the wrong side of the runway from the Airport terminal, and this is a major failure.
 
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