East Kilbride/Barrhead electrification updates

[Frankton Junct]

A quick snap from a Cathcart Circle train this afternoon:

There are many tubular steel piles driven in stage 2 from Kennishead to Barrhead (with a few obvious refusals). It seems that they don't have stock of the orange caps for these piles (on the slow boat from China?) and so they have capped them with squares of plywood. The team has erected the first few masts in stage 2, north of Priesthill & Darnley station; these are the first in the project erected with their registration arms. I noted too a couple of two track cantilevers have been erected north of the Muirhead junctions opposite the Sher Bros. warehouse - I am not sure if these are part of this project or a separate renewals project. The Kennishead Path bridge is still intact although the project has built a new stair down to track level beside it.

Alstom branded devices on small pallets were delivered to Barrhead station and new 'not in service' devices have appeared on the platforms. I assume that these were delivered by the re-signalling project.

 

[qpsnapper]

Went by Strathbungo this morning and not a lot of activity going on. Noticed that the tree felling has left about a 50 meter gap just south of the pedestrian footbridge where everything has been cut back; couldn't see much evidence of pruning anywhere else in the area.

 

[Frankton Junct]

Went by Strathbungo this morning and not a lot of activity going on. Noticed that the tree felling has left about a 50 meter gap just south of the pedestrian footbridge where everything has been cut back; couldn't see much evidence of pruning anywhere else in the area.

The tree felling opposite Darnley Place is for the construction of a temporary compound for the electrification project.

Today, the demolition contractor demolished the Kennishead Path bridge.

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At Nithsdale Road, the reconstruction of the bridge has started - they are lifting in the new lintels.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

The tree felling opposite Darnley Place is for the construction of a temporary compound for the electrification project.

Today, the demolition contractor demolished the Kennishead Path bridge.

View attachment 119187

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At Nithsdale Road, the reconstruction of the bridge has started - they are lifting in the new lintels.

View attachment 119193

Always great to see a photo of works in progress thanks for posting

 

[Frankton Junct]

Meanwhile, the former Arnold Clark car dealership couple of hundred metres along the railway remains vacant.

I must correct myself - bam are using the office of the former Arnold Clark dealership as their site office. There is a new access point opened up from their car park.

Local photographer Nic Gordon recorded the events last weekend, and more pictures can be seen on his website: Nic Gordon Photographer.

Network Rail replied to a query from the Strathbungo Society regarding the tree felling:

As you know, the primary work in the Strathbungo area for the last few months has been around the bridge at Nithsdale Road and nearby footbridge. Since April we have also been undertaking work along the length of the route from Barrhead to install foundations for the overhead lines, something you had previously sought clarity on following our notification letter in April, specifically around the type of piling this would involve. With the foundation work now reaching the Strathbungo area, this has brought with it some accompanying activity required in order to deliver the work. I'm sorry this wasn't made clear in our letter in April.

Upcoming work for this activity includes:

15-19 Aug - Dayshift removal of wall section and installation of drop kerb.

20 Aug - Dayshift commencing of site clearance and excavation, including stump removal.

21-26 Aug - Day and nightshift civil works, including delivery of stone, ahead of construction of compound surface.

28-30 Aug - Installation of compound surface.

31 Aug - Dayshift work involving final site walkthrough of compound.

The construction of the compound involves removing a section of the boundary wall, retaining the existing copes, and installing a concrete drop kerb. This will involve the use of an excavator and concrete wagon with small work tools. Once complete, an excavator and dumper truck will be in operation within the de-vegetated area to dig out the compound area, and all materials, soil etc will be stockpiled on site. No soil material will be leaving the site. We do not envision vibrations from these machines impacting on surrounding properties.

From an environmental perspective, the entire area is confirmed as having knotweed contamination which is why no soil will be removed from site. The dumper truck and excavator will remain in the contaminated zone, and will be fully cleaned and inspected before leaving site to ensure they are not contaminated with knotweed. All operatives working within the site will be required to undertake a full boot and PPE wash and inspection when leaving site. A knotweed membrane will be installed for the full extent of the compound area, and a quarantine zone around the stockpiled soil materials. A weekly inspection of the compound surface will take place, but as the growing season for knotweed has now passed, there won't be any encroachment growth out of the quarantined area. As we approach summer 2023, which is next knotweed growing season, an increased inspection regime will be implemented, primarily inspecting the compound surface for any signs of penetration of the knotweed membrane and growth outwith the quarantine zone.

In terms of noise, this will be at its highest in the final week while we are laying the new stone for the compound surface, which will sit on top of the knotweed membrane. This specific activity takes place nightshift 28-30 Aug, however earth moving machines will be in operation for the duration of the civil works.

In terms of the knotweed treatment plan, this will not commence until the 2023 growing season and involves a spray herbicide over two sessions suitably spaced apart, with a further inspection towards the end of the growing season to review the effectiveness of the treatment. This treatment plan will continue for the next 2 to 3 years. Your concerns have also been passed to our knotweed specialist regarding any impact the herbicides may have on other plants in the surrounding area.

In terms of future environmental management plans for the area, it is intended that the top compound surface will be inspected and removed along with the knotweed membrane. Depending on the results of the inspection, these materials will likely be classified as waste and treated accordingly. A review of the stockpiled soil material will be undertaken to determine if it should be left in place I.e if there has been suitable wilding taken place. The wall will be reinstated with matching stone, rather than engineering brick, and opportunities for biodiversity improvement assessed. The Network Rail environmental team will be involved throughout this process.

We don't have specific dates for the foundation and stanchion installation, but it should take place at some point between 3-30 Sep.

Strathbungo Society

 

[qpsnapper]

A picture from this morning with both lintels now in place:

 

[Frankton Junct]

Meanwhile, the electrification team are working on the railway at Darnley erecting masts:

 

[nlogax]

Meanwhile, the electrification team are working on the railway at Darnley erecting masts:

Great shot!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Great shot!

I concur! Really good action shot.

 

[Frankton Junct]

Removal of storage building and feeder station extension, installation of new feeder station and associated apparatus including security fencing and change of use to railway operational land.

On 30 May 2022, Network Rail lodged a Permitted Development Notification and Request for Prior Approval for development at 594 - 598 Eglinton Street, Glasgow (Reference 22/01412/PDE). On 26 July 2022, Glasgow Council approved the application, subject to conditions. See Glasgow Council Online Planning Applications.

Background
The Scottish Government is committed to a substantial rolling programme of electrification of the railways to achieve decarbonisation of domestic passenger services by 2035. To facilitate the electrification of Glasgow Barrhead Electrification Project, the Rolling Programme of Electrification projects around Kinning Park TSC and additional resilience on the network, there is a requirement to enhance the existing railway apparatus located at Eglinton Street.

The Proposal
There are currently two feeder station buildings at Eglinton Street known as the main building and the extension building. It is proposed to remove the extension building, for repurposing elsewhere, and install a new feeder station building which will sit parallel to the main building. The upgrade will also require installation of underground cabling and security fencing/gates. The land required for the new feeder station is currently leased from Network Rail by Best Fit Tyre and MOT Service Centre and the proposal includes a change of use to use this site permanently as railway operational land. A storage building formerly used by the tenant is to be removed as it will no longer be accessible. The remaining land is to have new secure perimeter fencing and re-grading of the car park before being handed back to the tenant.

- quoted from the Section 11 letter from Network Rail to Glasgow Council.

 

[Southsider]

I must correct myself - bam are using the office of the former Arnold Clark dealership as their site office. There is a new access point opened up from their car park.

Local photographer Nic Gordon recorded the events last weekend, and more pictures can be seen on his website: Nic Gordon Photographer.

Network Rail replied to a query from the Strathbungo Society regarding the tree felling:



Strathbungo Society

I read in the Glasgow Evening Times that local residents had fought a 'valiant battle' to retain the Suzies Stores building. I find this somewhat surprising as it has been an eyesore for many years; its demolition is a great improvement.

 

[sannox]

I read in the Glasgow Evening Times that local residents had fought a 'valiant battle' to retain the Suzies Stores building. I find this somewhat surprising as it has been an eyesore for many years; its demolition is a great improvement.

I agree. It was apparently a 'local landmark'. Personally I agree with you that was of little value and much of it seems to be 'change = bad' but it certainly looked rough in latter years.

 

[snowball]

Removal of storage building and feeder station extension, installation of new feeder station and associated apparatus including security fencing and change of use to railway operational land.

On 30 May 2022, Network Rail lodged a Permitted Development Notification and Request for Prior Approval for development at 594 - 598 Eglinton Street, Glasgow (Reference 22/01412/PDE). On 26 July 2022, Glasgow Council approved the application, subject to conditions. See Glasgow Council Online Planning Applications.


- quoted from the Section 11 letter from Network Rail to Glasgow Council.

Presumably, in terms of the 1st July press release, this counts as one of the "nine upgrades to traction power infrastructure locations on the railway" but perhaps not one of the "six new feeder stations".

 

[Southsider]

Meanwhile, the electrification team are working on the railway at Darnley erecting masts:

View attachment 119222

I could see this section of line from the M77 road bridge today. Looks like most, if not all, masts are in place to Priesthill station. Past Nitshill on the way back, no masts there yet.

 

[snowball]

Yet another complaint (one of many I've found by web searches and mostly not posted) about the decision not to double-track the single-track section of the EK branch.

Still no hint of when actual work will start, but on the other hand, still no confirmation of MadMac's suggestions that electrification of the EK branch has been wholly or partly dropped. You'd think that if politicians or journalists had heard any rumour of that, they would be complaining about that more than the non-doubling.

SLC leader wants transport body to come clean over scrapping of EK dual track

Joe Fagan is calling for Transport Scotland to turn over the evidence supporting their position.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

The leader of South Lanarkshire Council has called on Transport Scotland to come clean over the evidence which led them to ditch the decision to dual East Kilbride's rail line.

Council leader Joe Fagan, who represents the East Kilbride Central North ward, wants the Scottish Government's transport body to turn over the evidence supporting their position to the Council so it can be reviewed.

A sudden announcement in October of a U-turn on track dualling came via Transport Scotland, causing anger among local residents and politicians.

The SLC leader previous wrote to Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth MSP, after the dualling of the line between East Kilbride and Busby was ditched - with electrification only now planned.

Council leader Joe Fagan told Lanarkshire Live : "The idea that dual track was never seriously on the agenda is simply not credible.

"We cannot allow history to be rewritten.

"Dual track was part of the electrification package until a raid on the budget last year.

"Now East Kilbride is expected to suffer while other parts of the country receive investment that was earmarked for our rail line.

"It’s out of order.

"Pre-COVID, this was one of the busiest commuter lines in the country and investment is long overdue.

“I am now calling on Transport Scotland to release the evidence used to support their recommendation dual track should be ditched.

"Turn the evidence over to the council and allow us to have it independently reviewed.

"There is still time to stop dual track being ditched but we need politicians of all parties to speak up for the town. East Kilbride deserves better than this.”

The Scottish Government previously said dualling was "considered" in the business case development process, but deemed not "financailly viable" due to "prohibitive costs".

They added that the line will have “greater resilience” through improvements to signalling and the addition of new ‘loops’ at Hairmyres.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “The Scottish Government is committed to decarbonising the East Kilbride and Barrhead routes and preparatory work has already been under taken ahead of construction.

“Electrification of routes like East Kilbride and Barrhead demonstrate our aim and our commitment of decarbonising all rail passenger services in Scotland by 2035.”

 

[najaB]

A sudden announcement in October of a U-turn on track dualling came via Transport Scotland, causing anger among local residents and politicians.

I thought it was determined up-thread that dual tracking was a nice to have but you could deliver a robust timetable without it. If so, why is there anger?

 

[Glaswegian]

Yet another complaint (one of many I've found by web searches and mostly not posted) about the decision not to double-track the single-track section of the EK branch.

Still no hint of when actual work will start, but on the other hand, still no confirmation of MadMac's suggestions that electrification of the EK branch has been wholly or partly dropped. You'd think that if politicians or journalists had heard any rumour of that, they would be complaining about that more than the non-doubling.

SLC leader wants transport body to come clean over scrapping of EK dual track

Joe Fagan is calling for Transport Scotland to turn over the evidence supporting their position.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

I think the suggestion that electrification has been dropped was the result of a misunderstanding. There was a document which said something like no structural upgrade, meaning no doubling; this could be understood as no electrification either, but I do not think that was intended.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I think the suggestion that electrification has been dropped was the result of a misunderstanding. There was a document which said something like no structural upgrade, meaning no doubling; this could be understood as no electrification either, but I do not think that was intended.

The latest Scottish government capital works programme report says this

 

[snowball]

March 2022: The total project cost is now estimated at £111 million to £124 million which is an increase from that at OBC and as previously reported. This is due to the scope being changed and Network Rail providing an updated estimate which includes the additional scope. The construction start date is now later than previously reported which is subject to review due to the additional scope. The operational date however the (sic) remains as that at OBC as previously reported.

Thanks for that.

Curious that it refers twice to "additional" scope when the only known recent change was a reduction in scope. Maybe they've found more bridge alterations required than previously thought.

However they claim to be still aiming for completion by the end of 2024.


Edit: I've just found this relevant document which my previous searches have not turned up. It's an FoI release from last December and was written when double tracking was still proposed.

Barrhead to Larkfield to East Kilbride enhancement: EIR release

Information request and response under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004

www.gov.scot

Attached is a copy of Network Rail’s Project Earthworks Philosophy report dated August 2021. The purpose of this report was to set out the proposed earthworks philosophy for exploring the option of double tracking the section of the Barrhead to Larkfield to East Kilbride project.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Transport Scotland spokesman said: “The Scottish Government is committed to decarbonising the East Kilbride and Barrhead routes and preparatory work has already been under taken ahead of construction.

“Electrification of routes like East Kilbride and Barrhead demonstrate our aim and our commitment of decarbonising all rail passenger services in Scotland by 2035.”

Electrification will happen

 

[mcmad]

Indeed but likely in a way that will make future doubling nearly impossible to electrify as cheaply as possible now.

 

[Bald Rick]

Indeed but likely in a way that will make future doubling nearly impossible to electrify as cheaply as possible now.

I’m not really sure what benefit doubling would bring…

 

[ld0595]

I’m not really sure what benefit doubling would bring…

Improved resilience in the timetable and the potential to increase up to 4tph throughout the day in the future.

 

[Bald Rick]

Improved resilience in the timetable and the potential to increase up to 4tph throughout the day in the future.

how does doubling allow 4tph?

 

[najaB]

how does doubling allow 4tph?

Is there even likely to be a need for 4tph any time in the foreseeable future?

 

[Bald Rick]

Is there even likely to be a need for 4tph any time in the foreseeable future?

obviously not.
my point was (through a question) that doubling the EK line doesn’t enable 4tph. There’s the small matter of capacity into Central to worry about too.

 

[Huntergreed]

2 longer tph is more than sufficient in the short to mid term future! Sending 2 x 6 car 385’s (or 1 x 6 car and 1 x 3 car) to EK per hour will be more than enough once electrification is complete for a good while!

 

[Falcon1200]

There’s the small matter of capacity into Central to worry about too.

Indeed, if East Kilbride line traffic ever increases to require 4 trains an hour, would the same not apply to other routes also ?

 

[Southsider]

obviously not.
my point was (through a question) that doubling the EK line doesn’t enable 4tph. There’s the small matter of capacity into Central to worry about too.

I thought an additional platform at East Kilbride was, in part, to reduce demand at Central by allowing a train to lay over there instead?

 

[59CosG95]

I thought an additional platform at East Kilbride was, in part, to reduce demand at Central by allowing a train to lay over there instead?

I was under the impression that a second platform at EK was indeed in the offing. The "partial redoubling" just implies that not all of the "open route" sections of the branch will be redoubled. (ISTR there are some parts of the route which never had double track to begin with)