MML Electrification: progress updates

[Legolash2o]

If it's just the portals that are listed, would that make track lowering an option?

Looks like a tight squeeze!

 

[Nottingham59]

If it's just the portals that are listed, would that make track lowering an option?

I would expect so.

EDIT: Maybe not that easy. There's an invert below the tracks to give the elliptical shape, according to Wikipedia, and the Historic England listing stresses their "Intactness":

Intactness: as a pair of largely unaltered tunnel portals that are remarkably well preserved.

Image: Wikimedia User RHaworth

 

[Mr. SW]

Would something like what they did at Kings Cross suffice?

King's Cross: Clearing the Throat and removing the hump! - Rail Engineer

Listen to this article Back in pre-COVID times, when life felt normal but hectic, Rail Engineer published an article about Network Rail’s plans to spend £1.2 billion upgrading the East Coast main line. It outlined a hugely ambitious scheme that has taken some time to plan and organise, coupled...

www.railengineer.co.uk

Headline picture showing slab track in tunnel.

 

[Bald Rick]

If it's just the portals that are listed, would that make track lowering an option?

AIUI, the sleeper ends are a matter of millimetres from the tunnel invert.

 

[swt_passenger]

Off the wall suggestion, use the tunnel for a centralised up line, and build a new down line past the disused side of Ambergate station…

 

[zwk500]

Off the wall suggestion, use the tunnel for a centralised up line, and build a new down line past the disused side of Ambergate station…

Would hardly be the silliest solution to a clearance problem!

 

[59CosG95]

Off the wall suggestion, use the tunnel for a centralised up line, and build a new down line past the disused side of Ambergate station…

Could even be an "old" line as a loop from the mainline used to exist just to serve Ambergate!

 

[londonmidland]

Is there any news as to when work will start for RS2 – Wigston South to Syston?

 

[Nottingham59]

I suspect the solution to Toadmoor will be a combination of slab track and an extended 250m-long neutral section.

EDIT:
I assume a rigid contact bar extending well beyond the portals would be the least intrusive, visually.

And since existing diesels, class 810, class 99, and any likely electric rolling stock for Cross Country would be cabable of self-rescue from any length of neutral section, then there's no need to spend any more on electrifying the tunnel.

 

[AndrewE]

I suspect the solution to Toadmoor will be a combination of slab track and an extended 250m-long neutral section.

EDIT:
I assume a rigid contact bar extending well beyond the portals would be the least intrusive, visually.

And since existing diesels, class 810, class 90, and any likely electric rolling stock for Cross Country would be cabable of self-rescue from any length of neutral section, then there's no need to spend any more on electrifying the tunnel.

Time to resurrect my solution to the "limited clearance" problem: we need a diddy pantograph as most problems are caused by the width-at-height requirements of the current designs.

So just fit a narrow/lower pan (with maybe a speed restriction through these sorts of tunnels or across the Forth Bridge.) Most electric rolling stock has more than one pantograph well per loco or train set - and before people say it wouldn't work, a pan dropping device before the commencement would remind drivers who had forgotten to change over!

 

[Snow1964]

AIUI, the sleeper ends are a matter of millimetres from the tunnel invert.

In theory don't have to use wood or concrete sleepers, can also use those new resin type (utilising recycled materials), which I understand are slimmer vertically.

Of course if using cast resin sleepers, they don't have to be 100% rectangular, they can be made to whatever shape their mould is, so could add tapers to underside (to clear invert), or even extra protruding wedge shaped sideways part at ends to maintain the size of surface area of flat end.

 

[zwk500]

In theory don't have to use wood or concrete sleepers, can also use those new resin type (utilising recycled materials), which I understand are slimmer vertically.

Of course if using cast resin sleepers, they don't have to be 100% rectangular, they can be made to whatever shape their mould is, so could add tapers to underside (to clear invert), or even extra protruding wedge shaped sideways part at ends to maintain the size of surface area of flat end.

The sleepers still need to be able to withstand 125mph trains (or whatever the linespeed is there) and heavy freight simultaneously, so reduction of sleeper depth may still be limited.

 

[edwin_m]

The sleepers still need to be able to withstand 125mph trains (or whatever the linespeed is there) and heavy freight simultaneously, so reduction of sleeper depth may still be limited.

Slab track as suggested above is the most likely way to deal with both problems. The slab could be poured right up to the tunnel invert, thus holding the rails in position and not trying to go outside the space available. It does make it difficult though when it eventually has to be replaced, as they found out not too long ago with the 1970s slab just north of St Pancras.

 

[Nottingham59]

The sleepers still need to be able to withstand 125mph trains (or whatever the linespeed is there)

80mph. There is very little over 100mph north of Derby.

 

[Mag_seven]

Folks
A lot of posters come to this thread to read about updates to the MML Electrification Project i.e. read about how the current scheme is progressing and perhaps see some pictures of the progress etc

However yet again I see we have been side-tracked into a secondary discussion, this time about what other sections of the MML should be electrified. Those posts can now be found here:

MML Electrification - what hope of further routes being added going forward?

Moderator note - split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/mml-electrification-progress-updates.110445/ Is there any news as to when work will start for RS2 – Wigston South to Syston? Your not going to see any white smoke here until we have the spending review next month but after...

www.railforums.co.uk

So going forward can we please stick to updates only!

thanks

 

[tram21]

Something interesting shown on posters detailing May timetable changes for EMR.

It states that there will be a 2 week continuous closure between Nottingham/ East Midlands Parkway & Leicester in October, I think from the 4th to 17th October. No more info than that, but I wonder what that could be for...

 

[Stephen42]

Something interesting shown on posters detailing May timetable changes for EMR.

It states that there will be a 2 week continuous closure between Nottingham/ East Midlands Parkway & Leicester in October, I think from the 4th to 17th October. No more info than that, but I wonder what that could be for...

From the engineering access statement the closures in October are related to "MML route section 3 Syston - Trent electrification works". The traffic remarks suggest weekend block and slow lines available during the week between East Midlands and Leicester. Track lowering Meadow Lane and Humble Lane look to be the primary activities.

 

[Nottingham59]

Track lowering Meadow Lane and Humble Lane look to be the primary activities.

I can only see one Humble Lane, near Cossington at 105m43ch.
But there are several Meadow Lanes. Is this the Meadow Lane, just north of Loughborough station (111m75ch)?

 

[duffield]

From the engineering access statement the closures in October are related to "MML route section 3 Syston - Trent electrification works". The traffic remarks suggest weekend block and slow lines available during the week between East Midlands and Leicester. Track lowering Meadow Lane and Humble Lane look to be the primary activities.

Presumably the track lowering at Meadow Lane is for clearance under the high level bridge accessing Toton yard? Looks a bit tricky, what with Trent East junction, Down Trent Loop and Meadow Lane level crossing surrounding it!

Edit: Just seen the other posts so it's actually Loughborough Meadow Lane they're referring to.

 

[tram21]

The engineering works says between Nottingham/ East Midlands Parkway- Leicester. Do we think the line will be closed Nottingham- Trent Jn like last time or not...

 

[Stephen42]

I can only see one Humble Lane, near Cossington at 105m43ch.
But there are several Meadow Lanes. Is this the Meadow Lane, just north of Loughborough station (111m75ch)?

Yes referred to as Meadow Lane Loughborough elsewhere in the document. (From the engineering access statement published publicly by Network Rail here, warning 348 page PDF and usual caveats about possibly being outdated)

 

[Nottingham59]

Yes referred to as Meadow Lane Loughborough elsewhere in the document. (From the engineering access statement published publicly by Network Rail here, warning 348 page PDF and usual caveats about possibly being outdated)

Thank you. Searching on "Electrification" and "Track Lowers" finds works related to RS3 only, which is interesting.

In addition to the works at Humble and Meadow Lane, there is also track lowering work (or preparation or cleanup) near East Midlands Parkway in Week 26.

***WEEK 26 WEEKEND***

MML3 ELECTRIFICATION: ROUTE SECTION 3 TRACK LOWERS.

[....]

0655 SUN TO 0855

EMR INTERCITY SERVICES RE-TIMED TO TRAVEL VIA TOTON CENTRE (REVERSE) AND THENCE OVER THE HIGH LEVEL/SLOW LINES BETWEEN TOTON CENTRE AND SYSTON SOUTH JN.

DIRECT ROUTE BETWEEN NOTTINGHAM AND DERBY UNAFFECTED.

 

[LowLevel]

An SPL works compound that doesn't look like it is going anywhere soon has appeared at Loughborough station already and been there for some weeks.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

An SPL works compound that doesn't look like it is going anywhere soon has appeared at Loughborough station already and been there for some weeks.

Wow - that is RS3 - Route Section 3 - so sounds like good news to me.

 

[gingertom]

Wow - that is RS3 - Route Section 3 - so sounds like good news to me.

it does sound like a rolling programme in all but name.... very good news.

 

[QSK19]

If this is all true, it’s refreshing that, as others have commented earlier, progress is being made quietly and without a song & dance.

The MML has been let down so many times that the various stakeholders can’t get it wrong again.

 

[WAO]

The tea leaves are stirring again.

The appearance of the "pegs" and the award of the SPL sub-contract (#8230) suggest that a considerable stretch of the MML is firmly in the preliminary stages of being wired. Now Wigston is a boundary (MPATS), and Ratcliffe/Kegworth is the site of the next GSP/FS, Toadmoor Tunnel being c44 miles further north of Wigston, is likely to be the Northern boundary of the length fed by Ratcliffe. Thus we would logically see the next stage of the scheme (RS4/5/6) being the complete fed length to the next MPATS, just as RS1/2/3 comprised the complete fed (northern) length from Braybrooke.

I'm sure NR knows how to deal with Toadmoor Tunnel. The pegs will be so that a much tighter design can be quoted for without the uncertainties of say the GWEP.

It will be interesting to see whether Ratcliffe will be ATFS or SFC and whether passive provision for the cancelled HS2 branch is still provided.

#8228 indicates that survey work is starting on RS7/8, which will be the final fed length from the proposed Chesterfield/Hasland GSP.

I think that the above is still definite progress rather than speculation, so I've posted it here.

WAO

 

[Dazza12]

Hi,

The tea leaves are stirring again.

The appearance of the "pegs" and the award of the SPL sub-contract (#8230) suggest that a considerable stretch of the MML is firmly in the preliminary stages of being wired. Now Wigston is a boundary (MPATS), and Ratcliffe/Kegworth is the site of the next GSP/FS, Toadmoor Tunnel being c44 miles further north of Wigston, is likely to be the Northern boundary of the length fed by Ratcliffe. Thus we would logically see the next stage of the scheme (RS4/5/6) being the complete fed length to the next MPATS, just as RS1/2/3 comprised the complete fed (northern) length from Braybrooke.

I'm sure NR knows how to deal with Toadmoor Tunnel. The pegs will be so that a much tighter design can be quoted for without the uncertainties of say the GWEP.

It will be interesting to see whether Ratcliffe will be ATFS or SFC and whether passive provision for the cancelled HS2 branch is still provided.

#8228 indicates that survey work is starting on RS7/8, which will be the final fed length from the proposed Chesterfield/Hasland GSP.

I think that the above is still definite progress rather than speculation, so I've posted it here.

WAO

Given that there is ready availability of 400kV at Ratcliffe then it is extremely unlikely that NR would do anything other than install the standard 2x 80MVA(ish) transformers capable of AT operation.

Whether AT feeding is adopted on the lineside is a different question which will depend on the size of area fed and the expected loading.

 

[GrassInTheSky]

On the sub-contracting front, another two firms have signed up in an engineering / consultancy capacity.

Firms power up with Midland Mainline project

An engineering and consultancy duo has secured work on a headline power project. PBH Rail Group and HBPW Consulting are supporting… | Engineering | Transport | Yorkshire & The Humber | National | Investment | Commercial Partnerships | Manufacturing & Construction |

bdaily.co.uk

Another article indicating that electrification through to Nottingham is going ahead.

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/25140794.pbh-rail-group-midland-mainline-electrification-project/

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Another article indicating that electrification through to Nottingham is going ahead.

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/25140794.pbh-rail-group-midland-mainline-electrification-project/

It will also involve the installation of new overhead line equipment (OLE), modifying bridges and tunnels, and upgrading stations.

The 18-month project will see PBH Rail Group and HBPW Consulting spearhead three specific route sections, including Route Section 4, Sheet Stores Junction to Chaddesden Sidings, Route Section 5 Trent East Junction to Nottingham, and Route Section 6 - Chaddesden Sidings to North of Toadmoor Tunnel.

These areas were not originally designed for electrification, so there are unique challenges involved, including physical interventions on specific bridge structures which require both parapet works and track lowering schemes to accommodate new OLE equipment.

There are also several key structures listed or located within the boundaries of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

The track team at PBH Rail Group will manage the lowering and alteration of the existing track along the route. They will also be responsible for modifying any associated drainage and track bed design work.

Meanwhile, the team at HBPW will oversee adjustments to the bridges and structures affected by the work.

Mark Bonner, Managing Director at PBH Rail, said: “In the past, SPL Powerlines has partnered with large Tier 1 consultancies for this type of work, but due to the combined skillset at PBH Rail and HBPW, both companies were appointed to deliver high-quality design solutions efficiently and effectively, particularly in areas as challenging as Nottingham Stations complex infrastructure.