The Planner
Veteran Member
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You are thinking of further up the line at Dudding Hill.
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Acton Main Line to Acton Wells Jct electrification
- Thread starter GRALISTAIR
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59CosG95
Established Member
Not quite. That's the Dudding Hill Line, which meets the (until recently) North London Line in broadly the same area.
When the GWEP wiring was initially proposed, both the Poplar Lines and the Dudding Hill Line were earmarked in order to plug the gap from the GWML to the MML; however, it was likely to be one of the earliest cutback casualties.
Any wiring along the Dudding Hill route, and indeed from the NLL to the WCML, is outwith the scope of this scheme.
But it does make those two gaps standalone schemes rather than require "+ Poplar lines" as well which is the most technically challenging and the busiest route segment generally out of those 3.
Without W10 clearance on the southern MML Dudding Hill electrification isn't that useful given existing construction material flows.
reddragon
Established Member
This is how "https://www.openrailwaymap.org/" shows it
AML siding & exchange lines to be electrified
Willesden situation - no plans
AML siding & exchange lines to be electrified
Willesden situation - no plans
Does ORM give a source? Because there's a couple of posts upthread from @WiredUp that are fairly clear the Yard isn't being done (which also aligns with the video that appeared on LinkedIn of the OLE design a couple of weeks ago).
reddragon
Established Member
I have no idea, but the source & website owner is in Germany.
ORM is editable by anybody (hence 'Open'), so I'd be reluctant to take anything shown on ORM on future proposals as confirmed without something more official to base it off. ORM is also currently showing HS2 all the way to Leeds, for example.
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Anyone have any construction updates on this scheme please?
When we came this way on the train last weekend from Cardiff to Euston, a couple of incomplete masts were apparent, either only the verticals erected, thrown down into the lineside weeds (as seems a new installation method step everywhere), or just the foundation holes prepared. That was it.
59CosG95
Established Member
I saw, via AIVR, at least one Series 1 TTC up on the Poplars east of the A40.
(Also of note, a number of spanwire assemblies on portals/TTCs between Acton ML & Old Oak Common have been replaced (or are in the process of being replaced) by S1-style single insulator cantilevers. Further west, just west of Southall, some portal booms for headspan conversions are also lying in wait for imminent installation.)
(Also of note, a number of spanwire assemblies on portals/TTCs between Acton ML & Old Oak Common have been replaced (or are in the process of being replaced) by S1-style single insulator cantilevers. Further west, just west of Southall, some portal booms for headspan conversions are also lying in wait for imminent installation.)
Nicholas Lewis
On Moderation
went past yesterday on GWML so view restricted but some masts and several piles prepped ready to receive masts. More work notified for the next two weekends so slow but steady progress should be observable but still not expected to be complete until 2026.
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Well downloaded this and have put in quotes the relevant bit to this thread.
On Target is the good bit
Class15
Established Member
Doesn’t mention freight at all. Very disappointing.
The Chimaera
Member
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- 78
This seems a somewhat surprising statement, sounding like trains will be able to readily get between the two, but unless I am mistaken from the Liz depot they would need to go right through the Core to Stratford, then reverse via the North London line, eventually passing right under the noses of the trains in the Liz depot the best part of two hours later.
Would an incline along the north side of the depot not have served the same purpose a lot more straightforwardly?
Class15
Established Member
The maintenance depot mentioned is Ilford if I’m not mistaken.
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
I am still trying to rack my brains to think of any freight that may use this new bit of electrified infrastructure.
Unlikely to be much if any. Possibly an aggregate train or two.
The actual wires on day 1? Almost nothing, I fear. Freight terminals generally aren't wired and last-mile or bi-mode locos are few and far between.
However with last-mile locos coming in there are several South Wales to East London/Essex paths that overly optimistic people might suggest could be worth an electric on the front given continuous wires from Cardiff to the North London Line (and therefore the ECML, GEML, and LTS without needing a reversal), if a solution for the terminal operations is available. There are London Gateway/Felixstowe - Wentloog paths in particular that look very well suited to electrics with last-mile options, especially for the steep gradients either side of the Severn Tunnel.
Charter TOC use of the new chords is also not out of the question, especially for West Coast and LSL who have the depot at Southall.
(An example list of non-passenger paths at Acton Main Line for a couple of week's time: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...000-2359?stp=WVS&show=non-passenger&order=wtt)
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Nicholas Lewis
On Moderation
Surely Class 99's should be the enabler for a new approach otherwise GBRf have wasted their money.
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Well that is what I was kind of hoping too!
But 99s could run the route if it wasn’t wired. Probably wouldn’t even bother starting the engine heading west!
CastlebarKeith
Member
l seem to remember 50 or so years ago, that BR Southern kept Class 74's for daily loose coupled trip freights from Hither Green to Acton Yard
Hither Green was l believe, wired up as 3rd rail was too dangerous in the yard, and Acton could only be accessed by diesel power
Hither Green was l believe, wired up as 3rd rail was too dangerous in the yard, and Acton could only be accessed by diesel power
edwin_m
Veteran Member
I believe the idea is that while OOC is blockaded, the sets working the residual Liz Line westwards from Ealing Broadway would use this route to get to the depot at Ilford. I'm not sure if they are maintained there now, but the similar Anglia Aventras are. The extra electrification also provides for turnback from the west at Ealing Broadway.
As mentioned, the electrification also creates future opportunities for electric freight and charters, whereas a connection to the back of the depot wouldn't do any of this.
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Post #203 in the GWR to Euston link below has a video of a journey from Euston to Acton Main Line (left hand side), a week ago.
Right at the end is the section down the bank from Acton Wells, and you can see new steelwork at the top.
GWR to use Euston
Broken IBJ Acton West Jn, Down Relief. Thanks. These things happen.
www.railforums.co.uk
reddragon
Established Member
On passing at the weekend I observed: -
Exchange sidings all gantries up from west end of AML platforms
Station area - under Horn Lane - to bottom of ramp - some piling (slow work due to many buried utilities)
Ramp up to Acton Wells jc - piles & some masts at the top.
Exchange sidings all gantries up from west end of AML platforms
Station area - under Horn Lane - to bottom of ramp - some piling (slow work due to many buried utilities)
Ramp up to Acton Wells jc - piles & some masts at the top.
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
I have seen NR work elsewhere planned for over the Xmas-New Year period, I assume some will get done on those scheme over the holidays too?
Given GWR will (IIRC) be using the line to access Euston over the Xmas period, will they have much room to get any work done?
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Ahrr OK - so probably not much then.