Haymarket to Dalmeny electrification

[GRALISTAIR]

Tweedbank should be a relatively easy electrification scheme. When the line was reopened it was built with plans for electrification at some point.

That was my recollection too. I am sure there will be an interim battery-electric solution though.

 

[waverley47]

Tweedbank should be a relatively easy electrification scheme. When the line was reopened it was built with plans for electrification at some point.

Yes it will be, however the planning permission from the council for the actual wires is yet to manifest

 

[zwk500]

That was my recollection too. I am sure there will be an interim battery-electric solution though.

My personal feeling is that a sensible limit of wires would be either Gorebridge or Fushiebridge junction, as the stations between Edinburgh and Gorebridge are quite close together (4 stations in less than 6 miles) and there's reasonable construction access from the A7 without the terrain being too obstructive. Fushiebridge Jn, half a mile further south, would give the option of a train standing at the signal to Pan up, or for a train to clear the single line before panning down and switching to batteries.

Beyond Fushiebridge Jn the access gets much harder as the line follows the valley and the hills turn into actual mountains, while the stations get much further apart so the potential traffic thins out rather quickly. The just under 25 miles to Tweedback making a c.50 mile round trip comfortably suits a BEMU range. If needed, a trickle-charged fast-dump supply could be installed at Tweedbank.

 

[Hagbard Celine]

My personal feeling is that a sensible limit of wires would be either Gorebridge or Fushiebridge junction, as the stations between Edinburgh and Gorebridge are quite close together (4 stations in less than 6 miles) and there's reasonable construction access from the A7 without the terrain being too obstructive. Fushiebridge Jn, half a mile further south, would give the option of a train standing at the signal to Pan up, or for a train to clear the single line before panning down and switching to batteries.

Beyond Fushiebridge Jn the access gets much harder as the line follows the valley and the hills turn into actual mountains, while the stations get much further apart so the potential traffic thins out rather quickly. The just under 25 miles to Tweedback making a c.50 mile round trip comfortably suits a BEMU range. If needed, a trickle-charged fast-dump supply could be installed at Tweedbank.

The current plan is to wire it from Newcraighall Junction to roughly Kingsgate Junction and also from Bowshank Tunnel to Tweedbank.

 

[hwl]

That was my recollection too. I am sure there will be an interim battery-electric solution though.

Yes the power supply south of the south side of Edinburgh need upgrading, hence starting with electrifying the southern end.

 

[EMU303]

Are we still awaiting the updated decarbonisation plan to know the timelines for partial and full electrification and new trains to run on them?
And those timelines will be vulnerable to future government spending risks. There can’t be too many years left in the 156, 158, 318, 320s fleets.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Are we still awaiting the updated decarbonisation plan to know the timelines for partial and full electrification and new trains to run on them?
And those timelines will be vulnerable to future government spending risks. There can’t be too many years left in the 156, 158, 318, 320s fleets.

ScotRail could have had the Renatus units which at least had modern traction kit that could regen as well so a modest contribution to decarbonisation whilst the timeline gets reset but they'd rather let their passengers put up with old kit to avoid the media saying we only get English cast offs.

 

[scotraildriver]

ScotRail could have had the Renatus units which at least had modern traction kit that could regen as well so a modest contribution to decarbonisation whilst the timeline gets reset but they'd rather let their passengers put up with old kit to avoid the media saying we only get English cast offs.

For what?

 

[Starmill]

Yes the power supply south of the south side of Edinburgh need upgrading, hence starting with electrifying the southern end.

Wasn't there also some question about the possibility of installing a double junction at Portobello? I don't think that's likely to be funded now though.

 

[Western Gaffer]

Wasn't there also some question about the possibility of installing a double junction at Portobello? I don't think that's likely to be funded now though.

Yes, this was the (or at least a) thread about that:

Borders Railway at Portobello Jct - slow?

I'm sure this has been mentioned somewhere else but I honestly can't find where I saw it. Why do trains on the Borders Railway seem to go so slowly through Portobello Junction? They even seem to go slowly just north of Brunstane. Comparing journey times, it seems to take about 7 minutes to get...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[delt1c]

ScotRail could have had the Renatus units which at least had modern traction kit that could regen as well so a modest contribution to decarbonisation whilst the timeline gets reset but they'd rather let their passengers put up with old kit to avoid the media saying we only get English cast offs.

Would have required some rebuilding as Scot Rail fleet is 3 cars. Alkso 318's and 320's here have haqd refurbs and are still good units

 

[Class 170101]

Would have required some rebuilding as Scot Rail fleet is 3 cars. Alkso 318's and 320's here have haqd refurbs and are still good units

Some Class 321s were rebuilt to Class 320/4s.

 

[SC318250]

Off topic
But 320/4 are just going through a refurbishment at moment at Wolverton and the 318/320 fleet I believe are just about due bogie overhauls (going by tender that was issued, so Iwould reckon they have a good 5-6 years left??

 

[fgwrich]

ScotRail could have had the Renatus units which at least had modern traction kit that could regen as well so a modest contribution to decarbonisation whilst the timeline gets reset but they'd rather let their passengers put up with old kit to avoid the media saying we only get English cast offs.

Some Class 321s were rebuilt to Class 320/4s.

Indeed, I know it’s a little off topic for this thread but I am surprised they didn’t take them. Or even some of them. Yes, the 318s have had a refurb over the last few years, and yes, they perhaps may have been bitten a little with the 321/4 to 320/4 conversions, but they are a much newer refurb almost giving them a brand new train feel. Spares (eg running gear) would be compatible with the existing 320 fleet and staff already fairly familiar with them. There’s no way they can magic up another EMU as quickly as the 321 fleet being available, and unless they plan to chomp the 350/2s down, no other easily available unit on the market to help plug the stopgap until any new fleets arrive in the 2030s. And no signs of anything new being ordered for suburban work either. Soon they’ll either have to stretch the fleet even further or at the very worst, see EK open as an electrified DMU ran railway for a few years.

 

[Waverleystu]

What’s the expected finish date for electrification up to Dalmeny? Was wondering if things will ramp up now that the East Kilbride project is nearing completion?

 

[Cails27]

The weeknight diversions for some services back from Fife are booked to continue until Dec 2025 so that would be my guess for estimated completion.

 

[takno]

The weeknight diversions for some services back from Fife are booked to continue until Dec 2025 so that would be my guess for estimated completion.

That would be my guess for the end of the next timetable. I wouldn't draw any conclusions about diversions from that

 

[zwk500]

The weeknight diversions for some services back from Fife are booked to continue until Dec 2025 so that would be my guess for estimated completion.

That would be my guess for the end of the next timetable. I wouldn't draw any conclusions about diversions from that

The 2026 EAS (V2) available on Network Rail has a note on possessions around the fife circle between December 2025 and December 2026 for 'Extended Access between [x] and [y] for Fife Decarbonisation Project', so it's not clear when the work will be complete.

 

[InOban]

The decarbonisation plan has several phases but there are no dates attached because of the uncertainty of funding.

 

[SouthSub]

I travelled alongside the railway on a tram earlier this week, it looks like all of the cantilevers are in place between Haymarket and the point where the line turns north towards South Gyle.

 

[davetheguard]

I travelled alongside the railway on a tram earlier this week, it looks like all of the cantilevers are in place between Haymarket and the point where the line turns north towards South Gyle.

That's the existing -and in use- railway electrification between Edinburgh & Glasgow isn't it?

 

[jadmor]

That's the existing -and in use- railway electrification between Edinburgh & Glasgow isn't it?

There are headspans crossing all four tracks, but the Fife lines were not wired west of Saughton Junction.

 

[themiller]

There are headspans crossing all four tracks, but the Fife lines were not wired west of Saughton Junction.

Do you mean Gorgie Jct.?

 

[jadmor]

Do you mean Gorgie Jct.?

Thanks, yes, I was thinking of the line running west from Gorgie to the point where the Fife lines bear north.

 

[Railsigns]

Thanks, yes, I was thinking of the line running west from Gorgie to the point where the Fife lines bear north.

That would be from Haymarket West Junction. Gorgie Junction is off the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line.

 

[dra]

Steelwork progressing well including now around Edinburgh Gateway.

 

[themiller]

That would be from Haymarket West Junction. Gorgie Junction is off the main Edinburgh-Glasgow line.

Thanks, a slip of the brain occurred, there!

 

[SouthSub]

That's the existing -and in use- railway electrification between Edinburgh & Glasgow isn't it?

There are headspans crossing all four tracks, but the Fife lines were not wired west of Saughton Junction.

Yes, it’s the Fife lines I was talking about. The headspans now have cantilevers in place for those lines as well as the existing Edinburgh - Glasgow wiring.

 

[Glaswegian]

Yes, it’s the Fife lines I was talking about. The headspans now have cantilevers in place for those lines as well as the existing Edinburgh - Glasgow wiring.

Doesn't this line (the line between Haymarket West Junction and Saughton Junction) have portals rather than headspans?

 

[najaB]

Doesn't this line (the line between Haymarket West Junction and Saughton Junction) have portals rather than headspans?

Yes, it does. I'm struggling to think of a Scottish electrification project that uses headspans.