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MML Electrification: progress updates

hooverboy

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Shouldn’t be that much of a problem re the TTCs, all they’d need is some anti-climbing guards affixed.
the track and ballast on the other side look reasonably new, so why is it not being made use of?
what is the point of laying new track if it's going to sit there rusting?
 
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edwin_m

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and with a failure/blockage in the existing platform,then what happens?
we see quite a few bottlenecks at bedford when a unit decides it's not going to play...and they have a choice of 3 platforms(assuming none are occupied which is quite rare)

assuming corby et all are expecting some fairly significant housing growth, then why not future-proof now? the kit is there, then engineers are there.
No worse than hundreds of other stations where all trains in a particular direction have to use one platform.

A second platform and accessible footbridge would probably run into the tens of millions even before extending the electrification. I think there would be complaints on here if that much taxpayers' money was wasted on a platform that was only used a few times a day.

Shouldn’t be that much of a problem re the TTCs, all they’d need is some anti-climbing guards affixed.
Can't tell for sure from that photo but it looks to me to be at the standard spacing from the track, so would be in the way of a platform.

the track and ballast on the other side look reasonably new, so why is it not being made use of?
what is the point of laying new track if it's going to sit there rusting?
Don't recall the track layout, but it would certainly be possible for a Down through freight to pass by on that track, and there may be crossovers to allow an Up freight to go through "wrong line".
 

59CosG95

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Can't tell for sure from that photo but it looks to me to be at the standard spacing from the track, so would be in the way of a platform.
I’ve seen a few other photos, and it looks like each structure has been erected into the space occupied by the old platform - if a new platform was required, it could just be constructed around it.
If wires were of course needed, a stovepipe could be slotted in parallel to the one in the picture, with the cantilever just facing the other way.
 

Flying Phil

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Up at Glendon bridge, looking South, all the masts seem to be in place and some have been partially "Bedangled". A freight is snaking across to the Northbound MML. There is some activity on the West side of the four tracks....
Interestingly, when looking Northbound, there are a couple of masts going across all four tracks....the start of electrification to Market Harborough?DSCF6976.JPG DSCF6978.JPG
 

59CosG95

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Up at Glendon bridge, looking South, all the masts seem to be in place and some have been partially "Bedangled". A freight is snaking across to the Northbound MML. There is some activity on the West side of the four tracks....
Interestingly, when looking Northbound, there are a couple of masts going across all four tracks....the start of electrification to Market Harborough?View attachment 67593 View attachment 67594
Nice set of shots Phil. At the crossovers, a pair of portals have now gone in for any OLE runs crossing between the Manton & Leicester lines. To the north, the two mono-boom Anchor Portals have spanned all 4 tracks for several reasons...
  1. Materials cost saving; because why have 2 portals next to each other when 1 will do?
  2. Signal sighting; if there was a portal leg in the 10-foot, it might obstruct the driver's view of the signal, just in front of the "65" speed limit board.
  3. Future-proofing; for any proposed electrification to Market Harborough!
Note also the 5 unadorned masts standing much taller than the TTCs & portals - these'll support Across Track Feeder wires (not to be confused with Auto-Transformer Feeder wires!) for sectioning purposes. The corresponding masts on the Main side of the railway (that is, on the side of trains bound for Mkt H'boro') have yet to go in.
 

59CosG95

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Images from "6089Gardener" on Flickr at Bedford.
2019-08-25_12-55-40.jpg
1) Assumed new base for a TTC over the Fast Lines near the northern end of P4.
2019-08-25_12-55-45.jpg
2) At the southern end of P4, a proposed mast base for a TTC (I think?) in the foreground, with another base behind the hoarding closer to the footbridge in the background.
 

WymoWanderer

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Looks like the wires have gone up on the slow lines around Wymington. I'll post pictures and details when I get out early next week.
Here's some photos of the wires on the slow line on the Wymington deviation. These were taken close to the substation / works depot. The wires certainly don't reach the northern end of the deviation - not sure where they start yet.

Original
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Original
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Original
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Original
y4mZnnpxNf-AVWZtOGuz0XWjZflHRc_eANUiwb0Fho8LJzTLA6KnEV-siZioFiSysjU--DNrx-qtqprk5vh5PZo0Nk-4WdvtKy2w8WzagdsisPh0pJ0INZX4YI7E6y2Gr1cDKhaORJJOUOvd3WcBfFFNMEXxBsMQe37n_G4_bxRSemCB3deMUVooaRNk0MhY2tjx2mqqQvNg8tPeyKaBiH5gQ



Will be looking to the South of the deviation and further photos to follow.
 

deltic08

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Here's some photos of the wires on the slow line on the Wymington deviation. These were taken close to the substation / works depot. The wires certainly don't reach the northern end of the deviation - not sure where they start yet.

Original
y4mY8sVbTuoCpAYPk2IUY5c9SnR_vYK8gtA0XUsOtyYMz9dobURHHBf0Z1gxCuX5IrS3Q6P2iWvUvijovpyClifqn7ULEqsyoMn0tYjVOmZoO6UYWZn9VQYK6MjSqy_F1zHsjE_YsIO9jeCsW-C8vaSztFa2Sd3vn49QdRdpHChG4gaJen_4CmLKsbKMJDLV6nILnWXi4_WQV-FuTj-UtbQ7A


Original
y4m_9te-6wjHZ8ux9NGTo_8z-DqeaLNsph75wy-yidCE7H_cTVctrrcjoaNg7KGKJRMvRWZ0dXTZt1tZpeQOBzvdrRec7yK63PfrnU-ZbfNomxr_0_dxbQcAqIN8e9h12w_LRdaAZf2HRuaCZ3p5jWVWHRK22RTQNj8FI3MpHeBtdP3FGCYcdvpL3iiI9pfG3LwDrFDbXm46jXbGJ2N6CYvjQ


Original
y4m-tpdx0A7E7hjsB5n8HaDUBgv2jXaA5nvd_pwX-Ydi1W5jsI8-R253tOhnFBFM2T_uJ_iqzGpg0U-NWqjMjebtdZY1TWPN7DG5LkEhtLOfA4NmeJDUTLk7EuGaWN2jqh0jGKud8_2O31hRTN9du5H4cduTQaFXzZFJca6agEvNZNQbkowzK17b_fM2EFHIn9HZ7xWmTySsWjUiEp0-CJ4jA


Original
y4mZnnpxNf-AVWZtOGuz0XWjZflHRc_eANUiwb0Fho8LJzTLA6KnEV-siZioFiSysjU--DNrx-qtqprk5vh5PZo0Nk-4WdvtKy2w8WzagdsisPh0pJ0INZX4YI7E6y2Gr1cDKhaORJJOUOvd3WcBfFFNMEXxBsMQe37n_G4_bxRSemCB3deMUVooaRNk0MhY2tjx2mqqQvNg8tPeyKaBiH5gQ



Will be looking to the South of the deviation and further photos to follow.
I do love looking at pictures of newly electrified and upgraded routes. Thank you.
 

WymoWanderer

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As promised a few more photos from the Southern end of the Wymington deviation below. The wires stop just short of the footbridge at the Northern end of the Sharnbroook tunnel which is currently being renovated.

Original - looking South towards Sharnbrook tunnel
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Original - Looking North towards Wymington village
y4mQ9yCxdwHWCbVAymnobd6Oc00U5qq0m0XSW6mu3lUrg0YNlqQcTpg1fQgSfbzqiV3X6obofa685IHCDBnN7Nn1IyzXUbQuEn-d9IJ0S_17rGPwuGh6nB4ZQLZlkcHufwK8mt01csT37yzgHxP4Ay1YJoV8B3l0-yPSpeNUbqMRECjnd-MWhzrRMR2rCH6lC5eAgh1bsmiXY53RxRH_Kb3hw
 

Flying Phil

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With HS2 being in the news today, and the fact that it is delayed and so uncertain to getting past Birmingham, will this make it a stronger business case for reinstating the electrification to Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield as a matter of urgency?
 

duffield

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With HS2 being in the news today, and the fact that it is delayed and so uncertain to getting past Birmingham, will this make it a stronger business case for reinstating the electrification to Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield as a matter of urgency?
I'd say 'yes' in principle but the point is moot really, the government has lost its majority today and it's only a matter of weeks/months before we have an election, so anything said about HS2 (go ahead/delay/cancel) or any other policy is fairly meaningless until that's resolved.
 

Meerkat

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With the (wishful?) thinking that MML electrification will roll onward......
Electrifying Nottingham is clearly MML project’s problem, but what about the rest?
In the Sheffield direction I assume there would a be big problems with HS2.Unless it is 100% cancelled (not deferred or other political terms) the design has to be optimised for HS2 - does that mean that MML to Sheffield is effectively deferred until HS2 is cancelled or they finally get round to building the Eastern branch? The only other option would be for MML to be given (a lot) of extra cash to build it HS2 ready....and then not be allowed to use the extra capacity as it was reserved for HS2.
Re Derby - is that a case of whoever gets there first (more likely MML than Cross Country) has to pay to electrify the whole station area and line to Chesterfield, and second place gets a free ride?
 

matacaster

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With the (wishful?) thinking that MML electrification will roll onward......
Electrifying Nottingham is clearly MML project’s problem, but what about the rest?
In the Sheffield direction I assume there would a be big problems with HS2.Unless it is 100% cancelled (not deferred or other political terms) the design has to be optimised for HS2 - does that mean that MML to Sheffield is effectively deferred until HS2 is cancelled or they finally get round to building the Eastern branch? The only other option would be for MML to be given (a lot) of extra cash to build it HS2 ready....and then not be allowed to use the extra capacity as it was reserved for HS2.
Re Derby - is that a case of whoever gets there first (more likely MML than Cross Country) has to pay to electrify the whole station area and line to Chesterfield, and second place gets a free ride?

This 'first bears the cost' situation is clearly awkward. I would suggest that the Government create a climate change department with its own budget to cover all aspects thereof (ie road. rail etc). Electrification projects would come out of that budget, on merit, rather than the transport budget.
 

edwin_m

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HS2 won't be running at much more than the existing speeds on the line via Chesterfield. In fact as the speeds were reviewed a few years back for the XC upgrade it's possible that there is no scope to upgrade them further. So if electrified to existing standards it's in no worse a position than it would be when using the ECML or WCML - in fact probably better as speeds on that part of the MML are lower and new electrification would be more robust than older equipment.
 

Meerkat

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I believe that HS2 involves at least triple tracking from Dore to Sheffield. You wouldn’t want to electrify before doing that.
 

Killingworth

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I believe that HS2 involves at least triple tracking from Dore to Sheffield. You wouldn’t want to electrify before doing that.

You are correct. Demands for quadrupling fail due to the proximity of too much development since the original 4 tracking was rationalised.

However the chaotic nature of our rail system means the Heeley loop is being extended in conjunction with the Hope Valley Capacity Improvement Scheme. That will give tripling a nudge further along the Sheaf Valley. The scheme has to be constructed to be electrification ready. It hasn't any reference to being HS2 ready. Of course that requirement was for potential cross Pennine electrification. Don't laugh.

Given the slow speed of British electrification anywhere many of us may be wondering if we'll live long enough to see any wires as far as Sheffield.
 

CdBrux

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With HS2 being in the news today, and the fact that it is delayed and so uncertain to getting past Birmingham, will this make it a stronger business case for reinstating the electrification to Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield as a matter of urgency?

Will it get you there more quickly or is the benefit just the fuel & maintenance?
 

MarkyT

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I believe that HS2 involves at least triple tracking from Dore to Sheffield. You wouldn’t want to electrify before doing that.
Nor whatever additional tracks and revised junctions are eventually settled on for a Leicester area remodelling. Getting track changes and compatible signalling finished first before starting work on erecting stanchions and wires is essential for cost control and value. Bi-modes are a pragmatic solution to the delay before all these elements can be completed, or there is sufficient wiring present to allow the diesel gen-sets on the trains to be replaced by battery packs. The Derby and Nottingham areas are already remodelled, resignalled and compatible with future electrification, so perhaps an isolated island of electrification might be considered in that area that could be of some use to bi-modes in extending range and reducing pollution in urban areas. On the other hand it might be more prudent to wait until after HS2 enabling works are decided on and finished around there, as there must be some significant changes to the classic network required around Trent and Toton.
 

deltic08

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Nor whatever additional tracks and revised junctions are eventually settled on for a Leicester area remodelling. Getting track changes and compatible signalling finished first before starting work on erecting stanchions and wires is essential for cost control and value. Bi-modes are a pragmatic solution to the delay before all these elements can be completed, or there is sufficient wiring present to allow the diesel gen-sets on the trains to be replaced by battery packs. The Derby and Nottingham areas are already remodelled, resignalled and compatible with future electrification, so perhaps an isolated island of electrification might be considered in that area that could be of some use to bi-modes in extending range and reducing pollution in urban areas. On the other hand it might be more prudent to wait until after HS2 enabling works are decided on and finished around there, as there must be some significant changes to the classic network required around Trent and Toton.
Dithering, delay and paring everything to the bone on the MML is symptomatic of the attitude towards railways in this country instead of getting on and completing a project together with branches.

Probably less expensive in the long run than restarting and restarting.

And where are the promised bi-modes? More dithering over not wiring Windermere.
 
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westcoaster

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Anyone interested the following YouTube video shows a driver's can view from London to derby (filmed very recently.)

Bedford starts at 36:29, shows the level of work being carried out.
 

WymoWanderer

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Anyone interested the following YouTube video shows a driver's can view from London to derby (filmed very recently.)

Bedford starts at 36:29, shows the level of work being carried out.
Great video, many thanks!
Definitely very recent although the crane is still at Irchester in the video (it's now gone) so probably last week.

Irchester is at 43m35s
 

bb21

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With the risk of running off-topic increasing, let's stick to MML electrification programme please.
 

cle

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It is insane that Sheffield overall is not wired already.

And I’m sure that the original plans for Corby had two electric lines and platforms. Seems not the case.

What would be the logical next step if this was fired up again? Simplest to aim for Nottingham? Given Sheffield has a few diversion routes and more complex junctions/Derby.

None really unlock any local or regional services, as XC provide a lot of this. Leicester - Birmingham would seem like the only one on the horizon.
 

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