MML Electrification: progress updates

[Signal_Box]

Does this 100% confirm wires will indeed reach derby ?

No, Cardiff Canton has them as well isolated from the mainline - purely to enable in Cardiff’s case charge unit batteries. I expect Ectches Park is a similar use such as testing units on electric before shipping out of depot.

 

[59CosG95]

Some pics from this afternoon just north of Main Street bridge in Great Bowden.

LinkedIn was reporting that this work was for drainage between the DM & UM (aka '6-foot' drainage). I think the drainage might have been in need of repair as (IIRC) the drainage under the bridge was done before (although I might be wrong).

 

[Trainben]

LinkedIn was reporting that this work was for drainage between the DM & UM (aka '6-foot' drainage). I think the drainage might have been in need of repair as (IIRC) the drainage under the bridge was done before (although I might be wrong).

Thanks for the info

 

[Flying Phil]

The masts are now closer, from the South, to the Braybrooke Supply site and there are piles in place well past the site.


North of Harborough Station, there are still no piles or masts up to the Great Bowden footbridge.

 

[59CosG95]

The masts are now closer, from the South, to the Braybrooke Supply site and there are piles in place well past the site.

View attachment 139271View attachment 139272
North of Harborough Station, there are still no piles or masts up to the Great Bowden footbridge.
View attachment 139273

Great shots Phil, as ever.
The work going on in the first shot with the upright rebar cage must be for the autotransformer base; a dividing wall has to separate two transformers in close proximity AIUI.

 

[Flying Phil]

Thanks CosG
It was interesting to see that the work in the main compound appears to be finished and the site surround is being planted with trees etc.
However there only appear to be HV connections on one side of the pylon despite the Vee insulators on both sides and the duplication of switchgear and transformers in the compound. Does the other half of the site get connected when there is much more wiring to the North?

 

[Edvid]

If memory serves it's consumer demand on the grid that'll determine when the required outage takes place, and it tends to be lower during the summer. From a layman's POV I'd be surprised if the second circuit isn't connected by the end of September.

 

[londonmidland]

When can we expect piling work and masts to start appearing in the Wigston area? It'll be interesting to see if they stop short of Blaby Road bridge or carry on to do all sides of the triangle.

 

[ABB125]

Thanks CosG
It was interesting to see that the work in the main compound appears to be finished and the site surround is being planted with trees etc.
View attachment 139315However there only appear to be HV connections on one side of the pylon despite the Vee insulators on both sides and the duplication of switchgear and transformers in the compound. Does the other half of the site get connected when there is much more wiring to the North?

I can't remember if this has been discussed before (apologies if it has), but why have V insulators been used here? As far as I can tell from the picture, there is no sideways load on the transmission wires, which is the main reason I can think of for using V insulators (indeed, I believe that standard I insulators are designed to allow a small sideways force when, for example, there is a small change in angle in the direction of the transmission wires, but where a "proper" angle pylon isn't needed).
Having just returned from an Interrail trip, V insulators appear to be much more common on the continent; does anyone know why? (They also seem to be happy with high voltage wires being much lower to the ground!)

 

[Flying Phil]

Would the Vee insulators act to steady the main wires so the new feed wires are not flexing due to the possible "sway" of the main wires?

 

[38Cto15E]

On the first and second photos the old up goods line seems to have been cleared, are they thinking of putting in a non electricfied up goods loop ?

 

[zwk500]

On the first and second photos the old up goods line seems to have been cleared, are they thinking of putting in a non electricfied up goods loop ?

Unlikely, much more probably is an access road for engineering purposes.

 

[swt_passenger]

On the first and second photos the old up goods line seems to have been cleared, are they thinking of putting in a non electricfied up goods loop ?

It’s been asked a few times before in this thread, and it was explained there’s no practical necessity for such a loop. I’d go with maintenance access road, it’s usual to allow for one on recent projects if there’s space to do so.

 

[Hairy Bear]

It's only the old headhunt for the yard.
Piles are in just beyond Kilby bridge junction about 300yds. That appears to be the proposed limit as they match the tension beams.

 

[PJM]

The masts are now closer, from the South, to the Braybrooke Supply site and there are piles in place well past the site.

View attachment 139271View attachment 139272
North of Harborough Station, there are still no piles or masts up to the Great Bowden footbridge.
View attachment 139273

Nice shots Phil, looks like 22 July for Great Bowden

Great Bowden
description
SPC3 83m20ch to 84m0ch

What we will be doing:
We will be carrying out piling work to install
foundations in the ground to support new
overhead line equipment (OLE). Piling involves
driving the piles deep into the ground.

When will we be working:
Our specialist teams will be working between 22:00 Sat 22 July 2023 - 08:00 Sat 29 July.

 

[59CosG95]

Compound update:

1. The bridleway access past Kettering North Jn TSC now has a guard posted there - presumably work to rebuild it for AT feeding is now underway.
2. The path at SPC3-28 (Chaters Bridge) is still open, but a compound has now been established. I am puzzled by how the new bridge pieces are going to be installed... Story are rebuilding this one, while AmcoGiffen are doing SPC3-25+24.
3. The Grammar School Car Park in Kibworth now has an AmcoGiffen compound established for rebuilding bridge SPC3-18 (and possibly also 16B).
4. Station Rd, Great Glen (SPC3-10) looks nearly finished now. The road is due to reopen to traffic on 1st of August, with SPC3-7 (Wigston Rd, Newton H'ct') closing from 7th August until 18th Feb 2024. I wonder if all the duct work here is for street lighting?

 

[midland1]

Is the above photo of Wistow Road as it does not look wide enough for Station road.

 

[59CosG95]

Is the above photo of Wistow Road as it does not look wide enough for Station road.

Nope, definitely Station Rd - they've added pavement for pedestrians.

 

[midland1]

Nope, definitely Station Rd - they've added pavement for pedestrians.

Ok thanks.

 

[59CosG95]

Ok thanks.

No worries.

Elsewhere, on a more OLE-related front, I did a bit of a photo reccy yesterday morning and can report the following:

• The "Desborough Gap" has been properly closed now with the installation of the boom on the mid-point anchor portal.
• An additional mast (possibly for AT feeding) has gone up south of the cluster of 4 already in Braybrooke ATFS compound.
• The ATF anchor south of Little Bowden FB (SPC3-31AA) on the UM has now been installed; its number is SPC3/132.596/UM. No brackets on it yet except for the ATF anchor itself.
• Not much of a change in the Kibworth area, except for the installation of more vehicle barriers next to the piles.
• Most masts (except for some near the old station) are up in the Gt Glen area.
• Piles are now up near Kilby Bridge Jn!

Photos to follow.

 

[Flying Phil]

Thanks for the updates 59CosG95.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Going Down Rd currently so viewing Up line side.
Piling and Steelework substantially complete Kettering Nth to Baybrooke
C40% wired
Piled at Baybrooke but as photos above show no steelwork.
Piling c80-85% Nth of Baybrooke
Steelwork c50-60%
Wiring 10-20%
Large concrete foundation being constructed at Wigston Sth guess for a TSC

All my guestimates

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Great updates. Thanks all.

EDIT - I also got my update from Network Rail showing all the work planned in August on the route. Really progressing nicely.

 

[snowball]

An item on page 13 of the August Modern Railways says that the government has committed itself to MML electrification, dismissing the recently discussed threat that it might stop at Wigston in order to fund HS2. It is said that Network Rail presented a range of options to the government for the construction timescale and recommended the fastest one, which would work out cheapest in the long run, but (as with HS2) the government is said to have chosen a slower one. No details of either timescale are given.

 

[stuving]

Did you see that the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), in their 2022-23 Annual Report on the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), rated only one active rail project (out of fourteen) as green? That was Midland Main Line Programme, i.e. electrification plus the other upgrades. However, Further Electrification of Midland Main Line (MML3) could only manage amber. Crossrail was also rated green, as it didn't close until June this year but had effectively finished.

 

[snowball]

Did you see that the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), in their 2022-23 Annual Report on the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP),

Just looked at it in response to your post. The titles of some of the projects seem to be placed against the descriptions of different projects: for example, the title Rail Passenger Services against the description of the Lower Thames Crossing (a road scheme).

 

[stuving]

Just looked at it in response to your post. The titles of some of the projects seem to be placed against the descriptions of different projects: for example, the title Rail Passenger Services against the description of the Lower Thames Crossing (a road scheme).

It's the description that's wrong in that case: duplicated from its correct appearance. AFAICS all the names are right.

 

[PJM]

We have piles between Market Harborough station and Main Street bridge Great Bowden!

Looking south from the road bridge north of the station.



South


North


South from the footbridge in Great Bowden.


South


North towards Main Street.

 

[Flying Phil]

Thanks PJM.
Along the road to Wistow from Kibworth today, masts could be seen without cantilevers or insulated struts in both directions along the line.

 

[59CosG95]

We have piles between Market Harborough station and Main Street bridge Great Bowden!

Looking south from the road bridge north of the station.

View attachment 139824

South
View attachment 139825

North
View attachment 139826View attachment 139827

South from the footbridge in Great Bowden.
View attachment 139828

South
View attachment 139829

North towards Main Street.
View attachment 139830

Nice! That was the only area I left out on my recent expedition.