MML Electrification: progress updates

[InTheEastMids]

The MMLEP is cleverly designed with relatively few high capacity ATFS sites, only Braybrooke needing a new compound. The maximum power it would draw from a 400kV line would be less than 5% of line capacity, not a great imbalance.

Can't remember where I saw it, so might have misremembered but I think the next ATFS was originally proposed for a new site between Ratcliffe-on-Soar village and Kegworth, where 2 400 kV lines cross the railway. Something like...

52°51'01.8"N 1°15'47.1"W · Kingston on Soar

Kingston on Soar

goo.gl

Although interestingly, HS2 propose(d) a GSP in a very similar area in 2018 that would be right next to the MML (connected by cable to HS2), slightly North of the above site.
"an option (grid supply point 2) south of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station, east of Kegworth Road and adjacent to the A453 Remembrance Way, which would require a feeder cable route 2.6km in length along the A453 corridor (this is the preferred grid supply point option taken forward into the Proposed Scheme)"
Source: ES Report (publishing.service.gov.uk)

I would like to think that whichever came first, MML or HS2 Ph2b, they would look for some synergy here.

It doesn't. A few portions of the journey (including the stretch between Desborough and approx. a mile west of the Braybrooke site) were trimmed off.

If you go to 41:50 of this video, the substation will be connected to the transmission tower to the left (East) side of the railway.
Nottingham to London St Pancras, Drivers Eye View | Class 43 HST! - YouTube

An interesting article in Modern Railways on how introduction of a pile cap enabled SPL to use standard foundations on 93% of the MML scheme, instead of around 40% without, resulting in a halving of the time, and presumably enabling cost savings too on what typically amounts to a third of the total electrification cost.

Elsewhere it notes how SPL is working with NR to develop continuation of electrification further north than Market Harborough, with plans divided into 8 route sections. With the connection at Braybrooke in place, presumably there is some element of progress north that would be limited to stringing the wires up, so maybe there is a low cost win that takes the scheme closer to Leicester at a relatively low cost per km track mile if there was the desire to keep things moving.

Agree - some of the bridge works North of Harborough were done years ago, so getting to Wigston at least ought to be reasonably straightforward.

 

[Flying Phil]

Some of the bridges North of Leicester were also raised in the recent past. The GCR bridge across the MML was also built because the line was soon (!!) to be electrified.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Some of the bridges North of Leicester were also raised in the recent past. The GCR bridge across the MML was also built because the line was soon (!!) to be electrified.

Which should help with costings and indeed timing.

 

[Brissle Girl]

Some of the bridges North of Leicester were also raised in the recent past. The GCR bridge across the MML was also built because the line was soon (!!) to be electrified.

That's true but taking it beyond Leicester (and even maybe Wigston) takes it well beyond a very simple add-on scheme of predominately stringing some wires up connected to an existing supply.

 

[59CosG95]

That's true but taking it beyond Leicester (and even maybe Wigston) takes it well beyond a very simple add-on scheme of predominately stringing some wires up connected to an existing supply.

From what I can remember, a sectioning site was planned for Wigston. Not sure where the next site was, other than that Kegworth would be the next ATFS. I'd imagine Syston (or similar) would be the next mid-point sectioning site.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Kegworth makes huge sense and is hugely logical

 

[WAO]

There are two parts to an ATFS; the SGT's or transformers from the 400/275kV supply and the NR switchgear connecting to the OLE. They can be in one (divided) compound as at Braybrooke and Patford Bridge, or in two, joined with a 25/50kV "extension lead". It's clearly preferable to use an existing HV connection (i.e Ratcliffe power station site's switching compound); NR can then site its lineside switchgear, wherever's convenient.

WAO

 

[Elecman]

There are two parts to an ATFS; the SGT's or transformers from the 400/275kV supply and the NR switchgear connecting to the OLE. They can be in one (divided) compound as at Braybrooke and Patford Bridge, or in two, joined with a 25/50kV "extension lead". It's clearly preferable to use an existing HV connection (i.e Ratcliffe power station site's switching compound); NR can then site its lineside switchgear, wherever's convenient.

WAO

It is ussually a 25 kV feeder cable and the ATFS transformers convert it to the 2x25kV 180 degree separated supplies for the ‘50kV‘ ATF

 

[GRALISTAIR]

There are two parts to an ATFS; the SGT's or transformers from the 400/275kV supply and the NR switchgear connecting to the OLE. They can be in one (divided) compound as at Braybrooke and Patford Bridge, or in two, joined with a 25/50kV "extension lead". It's clearly preferable to use an existing HV connection (i.e Ratcliffe power station site's switching compound); NR can then site its lineside switchgear, wherever's convenient.

WAO

I was intrigued so -- File:Patford Bridge Substation - geograph.org.uk - 183276.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

 

[John Webb]

I was intrigued so -- File:Patford Bridge Substation - geograph.org.uk - 183276.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Wider-angle view in this picture:
Patford Bridge Substation

© Copyright N Chadwick and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
(Click on picture to go to the larger original.)

Drove past the probable Napsbury site last Saturday - still no sign of any work taking place.

 

[Nottingham59]

Thanks for posting those images of Patford Bridge. All electricity pylons are ugly, but that one takes the biscuit!

It also answers the questions I had upthread - the tap is between two of the three phases of each circuit, and they tap into both circuits separately, presumably for redundancy.

 

[InTheEastMids]

ALL-IMPORTANT MML ELECTRIFICATION GREAT CRESTED NEWT UPDATE

New Protection For Great Crested Newts During Railway Upgrade – HFM (harboroughfm.co.uk)

 

[themiller]

Thanks for posting those images of Patford Bridge. All electricity pylons are ugly, but that one takes the biscuit!

It also answers the questions I had upthread - the tap is between two of the three phases of each circuit, and they tap into both circuits separately, presumably for redundancy.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some people can’t get enough of pylons. See https://www.pylonofthemonth.org/

 

[59CosG95]

https://flic.kr/p/2kNZqWu South of Glendon Rd O/B (Kettering North Jn area), the first non-portal-or-spanwire masts have gone up adjacent to the Down Fast. It's a pair of TTCs, although no booms yet.

 

[snowball]

A cause for celebration - physical work towards Market Harborough!

https://flic.kr/p/2kNZqWu South of Glendon Rd O/B (Kettering North Jn area), the first non-portal-or-spanwire masts have gone up adjacent to the Down Fast. It's a pair of TTCs, although no booms yet.

A cause for celebration - physical work towards Market Harborough!

 

[38Cto15E]

Are Market Harborough commuters are dreading EMU's once electrification arrives?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Are Market Harborough commuters are dreading EMU's once electrification arrives?

After Covid 19 I would actively look forward to a commute again but that is just me. I certainly would NOT dread it.

 

[swt_passenger]

Are Market Harborough commuters are dreading EMU's once electrification arrives?

Not if they’ve been following what’s going on properly and realise that the EMU service doesn’t actually serve the place...

 

[WAO]

It is ussually a 25 kV feeder cable and the ATFS transformers convert it to the 2x25kV 180 degree separated supplies for the ‘50kV‘ ATF

I was under the impression that the SGT was a 400/50kV affair with the centre tap of the secondary earthed, thus deriving the opposite phase 25kV supplies that the AT system uses. Perhaps we mean the same thing.

WAO

 

[38Cto15E]

Thank you very much swt, I am aware that the EMU service does not and is not scheduled to reach Market Harborough, for the time being at least.

However, just pretend this part of the post is from 4 or 5 years ago, "Are Wellingborough and Kettering commuters dreading the arrival of EMU's for their commute to London?"

My original post was not very concise, the point I was trying to make, was with electrification to Corby; Wellingborough and Kettering and Corby commuters have lost their Inter City commute, will the same happen to Market Harborough when electrification arrives at the town?

 

[swt_passenger]

Thank you very much swt, I am aware that the EMU service does not and is not scheduled to reach Market Harborough, for the time being at least.

However, just pretend this part of the post is from 4 or 5 years ago, "Are Wellingborough and Kettering commuters dreading the arrival of EMU's for their commute to London?"

My original post was not very concise, the point I was trying to make, was with electrification to Corby; Wellingborough and Kettering and Corby commuters have lost their Inter City commute, will the same happen to Market Harborough when electrification arrives at the town?

Surely not, because there’s no known plans (except in random forum suggestions) to divert the EMU service from Corby, not least because there won’t be enough of them? So Market Harborough will be served by 810s as currently planned, just that they’ll be able to change from electric to diesel during the stop.

 

[AM9]

Thank you very much swt, I am aware that the EMU service does not and is not scheduled to reach Market Harborough, for the time being at least.

However, just pretend this part of the post is from 4 or 5 years ago, "Are Wellingborough and Kettering commuters dreading the arrival of EMU's for their commute to London?"

My original post was not very concise, the point I was trying to make, was with electrification to Corby; Wellingborough and Kettering and Corby commuters have lost their Inter City commute, will the same happen to Market Harborough when electrification arrives at the town?

I doubt that there are many commuters who would describe their feeling as 'dreading' such a change, (apart from a few who tend to be leading lights on commuter pressure groups).

 

[MarkLong]

I doubt that there are many commuters who would describe their feeling as 'dreading' such a change, (apart from a few who tend to be leading lights on commuter pressure groups).

I think the semi-fast London-Nottingham/Sheffield service will still calling at Wellingborough and Kettering, even the fast service perhaps will still calling at Market Harborough.

 

[swt_passenger]

I think the semi-fast London-Nottingham/Sheffield service will still calling at Wellingborough and Kettering, even the fast service perhaps will still calling at Market Harborough.

You must have missed all the EMR Timetable discussions, because it just doesn’t work like that after May. Kettering and Market Harborough get calls in both Nottingham trains, but no Derby/Sheffield. Wellingborough gets no intercity calls normally, but there’s a couple of peak calls.
Better discussed here though:

The impact of the new EMR timetable on journeys from Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough to London

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/emr-class-360s.205226 The biggest loser in this is Wellingborough. We will loose a frequent peak time service to a half hourly one, northbound services - unless one wants to visit Corby, service in First Class and comfortable inter...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[MarkLong]

You must have missed all the EMR Timetable discussions, because it just doesn’t work like that after May. Kettering and Market Harborough get calls in both Nottingham trains, but no Derby/Sheffield. Wellingborough gets no intercity calls normally, but there’s a couple of peak calls.
Better discussed here though:

The impact of the new EMR timetable on journeys from Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough to London

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/emr-class-360s.205226 The biggest loser in this is Wellingborough. We will loose a frequent peak time service to a half hourly one, northbound services - unless one wants to visit Corby, service in First Class and comfortable inter...

www.railforums.co.uk

OK, i have missed that, sorry.

 

[Flying Phil]

I took my exercise today and happened to have my camera....Glendon views South and North. There is nothing else happening yet apart from the vegetation clearance work.

 

[59CosG95]

I took my exercise today and happened to have my camera....Glendon views South and North. There is nothing else happening yet apart from the vegetation clearance work.

Looking north I can see that, of the 3 TTC locations south of the overlap:

• The one closest to the bridge has its pile in position, with pile cap & holding down bolts fitted
• The pile for the one in the middle isn't fully down yet (will probably get sorted next time the piling subcontractors, Van Elle, pay a visit)
• The one immediately next to the overlap has its mast leg installed, but awaits its boom.

Additionally, one of the two TTC locations in the overlap itself now has its mast (sans boom).

 

[Kneedown]

Actually drove a train to and from London yesterday and today, and the verticals for TTC's all appear to be in place from Kettering to Kettering Nth/ former Glendon Jct. I counted over 30. No horizontal arms yet though.

 

[59CosG95]

Actually drove a train to and from London yesterday and today, and the verticals for TTC's all appear to be in place from Kettering to Kettering Nth/ former Glendon Jct. I counted over 30. No horizontal arms yet though.

Very nice indeed!

In other news, work to prepare the track for the OLE continues apace further north towards Market Harborough...

 

[Flying Phil]

That would be the troughing on these pictures? taken at Rushton looking South and North.