MML Electrification: progress updates

[Merle Haggard]

We were told balaises were not going to be used due to the changing swap over locations. There will just be reminder boards for us drivers to adhere to.

Thanks for the info..

They obviously believe you don't have anything else to think about other than 'where's the changeover this week?' /s.

 

[snowball]

According to previous discussions in relation to other bimode routes, the OLE has to be mechanically stronger at locations where the pantograph may be raised on the move.

Presumably this could be required to cover a considerable distance to allow for possible variation in the exact point at which a driver raises the pan.

 

[59CosG95]

According to previous discussions in relation to other bimode routes, the OLE has to be mechanically stronger at locations where the pantograph may be raised on the move.

Presumably this could be required to cover a considerable distance to allow for possible variation in the exact point at which a driver raises the pan.

IIRC the increased mechanical strength is just with relation to MkIII OLE.
MkIIIB-MkIIID is all 11/11kN (in Cat & Con respectively) and has no independent tensioning.
Series 2/UKMS 100 is 11/11kN again but now has independent tensioning.
UKMS 125 is 12/15kN (again, cat & con respectively), with independent tensioning, so already that's stronger.
Series 1/UKMS 140 is 13/16.5kN, with independent tensioning, so that's as strong as you get outside of HS1.

The MML beyond Bedford is all 12/15kN, and this seems to be persisting north of Kettering; AIUI the only change to 11/11kN is where the Slows become the Corby lines at Kettering North.
I'd imagine speed has a part to play in the process too; the speed limit drops to 80 in the Wigston Triangle between Wigston South & North Jns, so that might be a plausible area for pan-ups/pan-downs.

 

[snowball]

IIRC the increased mechanical strength is just with relation to MkIII OLE.

I thought I first saw it mentioned in relation to locations on the GWR, when Hitachi bi-modes were first being introduced, but I may be wrong.

 

[59CosG95]

I thought I first saw it mentioned in relation to locations on the GWR, when Hitachi bi-modes were first being introduced, but I may be wrong.

So did I, but I think it was later detailed as being at those particular locations purely for signage and balise purposes.

 

[swt_passenger]

I thought I first saw it mentioned in relation to locations on the GWR, when Hitachi bi-modes were first being introduced, but I may be wrong.

I think on the GW it was clarified eventually that the nominated pantograph raising locations were not actually strengthened in comparison with normal lengths, but were locations that would then be subject to higher levels of inspection and maintenance.

 

[edwin_m]

Didn't they also decide to avoid switches, crossings and overlaps, where there was a risk of the pan riding up over one of the wires?

 

[swt_passenger]

Didn't they also decide to avoid switches, crossings and overlaps, where there was a risk of the pan riding up over one of the wires?

Yes, I would assume that was also part of the decision making.

 

[stuu]

I think on the GW it was clarified eventually that the nominated pantograph raising locations were not actually strengthened in comparison with normal lengths, but were locations that would then be subject to higher levels of inspection and maintenance.

Yes, that's my understanding too

 

[snowball]

The updated Enhancements Delivery Plan has completion of OLE infrastructure Kettering-Wigston by March 2024.

 

[59CosG95]

The updated Enhancements Delivery Plan has completion of OLE infrastructure Kettering-Wigston by March 2024.

I have it on fairly good authority (from someone within the team) that the go-live date is 'Week 37'.
Keep your peepers peeled for December!

Also, work is underway in the Flitwick area today:

New cantilever-y bits and bobs in Flitwick station car park.
While driving south, I saw that work's occurring more precisely in the Westoning area on a handful of new portals. (I'll ad pics later)

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I have it on fairly good authority (from someone within the team) that the go-live date is 'Week 37'.
Keep your peepers peeled for December!

All credit to the teams on this section who have demonstrated that we can deliver electrification to plan and at pace ok not most difficult section but be a crying shame if they aren't mobilised to other side of Leicester in 24 to crack on Northwards which im pretty sure will happen just govt timing an announcement to suit political needs.

 

[Killingworth]

When was that announced and does the government still regard itself as bound by it or have there been changes of policy since then?

There's probably nothing on the MML yet as there are no bi-modes operating on the route yet, but there are balises at a few locations on the GWML and ECML, and for example approaching Dunblane. Presumably they can easily be moved or removed if necessary.

Announced? That's an interesting question that was posed to the then Transport Secretary in December 2021. Grant Shapps MP said he was ‘aware of the history’ but insisted he ‘absolutely, fully’ intends to complete electrification of the Midland Main Line to the city (Sheffield) by 2030.

2 years later it's all gone very quiet and Shapps has nothing more to do with it. The government clearly doesn't consider itself bound by that statement and is likely to trade it off against HS2 and/or delay until nearer 2035-2040.

 

[snowball]

Announced? That's an interesting question that was posed to the then Transport Secretary in December 2021.

That's a little bit more recent than the Transport Decarbonisation Plan of June 2021, which said

Commitment
We will deliver an ambitious, sustainable, and cost-
effective programme of electrification guided
by Network Rail’s TDNS

 

[Peter Sarf]

That's a little bit more recent than the Transport Decarbonisation Plan of June 2021, which said

Commitment
We will deliver an ambitious, sustainable, and cost-
effective programme of electrification guided
by Network Rail’s TDNS

It would be worth remembering that and reminding THEM.

 

[59CosG95]

#splpowerlinesuk #sitevisit #ole125 #safetyfirst #teamcollaboration | Adam Jones

On 30th September during rail weekend 27, I had the privilege of joining our Managing Director, Martin Hawley, and the Head of Major Projects, Lee Farmer, alongside our duty manager Tony Barnes for an in-depth site visit and workforce engagement tour in the Bedford area. Why was this weekend so...

www.linkedin.com

This was indeed the first OLE 125 shift.
Looks like the scope is mainly heavy headspan adjustments to get them up to 125mph spec at the moment.

 

[_toommm_]

Sheffield is supposed to be electrified by 2030. As far as I can discover there's still considerable detailed planning needed for that.

Is it still planned to be the half-baked electrification of just a few platforms for the EMR IC services, or all platforms?

I presume with the 810s being bi-modes that the Barrow Hill diversion won't be electrified either?

 

[Roast Veg]

Is it still planned to be the half-baked electrification of just a few platforms for the EMR IC services, or all platforms?

I presume with the 810s being bi-modes that the Barrow Hill diversion won't be electrified either?

I can't imagine electrification of, by way of example, the north facing bay platforms would be a worthwhile addition to the scheme. A future Sheffield to Doncaster and Wakefield scheme would cover that.

 

[takno]

I can't imagine electrification of, by way of example, the north facing bay platforms would be a worthwhile addition to the scheme. A future Sheffield to Doncaster and Wakefield scheme would cover that.

If we're looking at any significant level of battery usage then electrifying captive bays starts to look like an extremely cost effective thing to do while you have a crew in doing the station already

 

[td97]

I can't imagine electrification of, by way of example, the north facing bay platforms would be a worthwhile addition to the scheme.

NR's typical approach is to do the whole job at once, whilst access is available and the whole station OLE can be designed and installed. Like the Victoria east facing bays and Bolton P1.

 

[snowball]

NR's typical approach is to do the whole job at once, whilst access is available and the whole station OLE can be designed and installed. Like the Victoria east facing bays and Bolton P1.

If I remember correctly, the Victoria east facing bays were done a couple of years after the through platforms, when Victoria to Bromley Street was wired. The through platforms were done in 2015 along with Ordsall Lane to Victoria.

 

[John R]

NR's typical approach is to do the whole job at once, whilst access is available and the whole station OLE can be designed and installed. Like the Victoria east facing bays and Bolton P1.

They didn’t do that at Cardiff Central where the valley lines remain unwired.

 

[Peter Sarf]

They didn’t do that at Cardiff Central where the valley lines remain unwired.

Sadly that is probably a case of - let someone else (TfW) pay for that.

 

[GardenRail]

I can't imagine electrification of, by way of example, the north facing bay platforms would be a worthwhile addition to the scheme. A future Sheffield to Doncaster and Wakefield scheme would cover that.

We're presuming it even gets to Sheffield....

 

[Edvid]

#splpowerlinesuk #sitevisit #ole125 #safetyfirst #teamcollaboration | Adam Jones

On 30th September during rail weekend 27, I had the privilege of joining our Managing Director, Martin Hawley, and the Head of Major Projects, Lee Farmer, alongside our duty manager Tony Barnes for an in-depth site visit and workforce engagement tour in the Bedford area. Why was this weekend so...

www.linkedin.com

This was indeed the first OLE 125 shift.
Looks like the scope is mainly heavy headspan adjustments to get them up to 125mph spec at the moment.

#construction | SPL POWERLINES UK

This weekend just gone SPL POWERLINES UK started main contract #construction works on the South of Bedford OLE 125 project, delivering the first 10 headspan renewals safely and on time. This has been in the pipeline for many years and SPL Powerlines took on the project in 2022 to develop the...

www.linkedin.com

10 headspans renewed over the weekend.

Incidentally, what are the extra headspans (with short masts) between Westoning and Wixams for? Is that part of Bedfordshire deemed particularly windswept?

 

[baz962]

#construction | SPL POWERLINES UK

This weekend just gone SPL POWERLINES UK started main contract #construction works on the South of Bedford OLE 125 project, delivering the first 10 headspan renewals safely and on time. This has been in the pipeline for many years and SPL Powerlines took on the project in 2022 to develop the...

www.linkedin.com

10 headspans renewed over the weekend.

Incidentally, what are the extra headspans (with short masts) between Westoning and Wixams for? Is that part of Bedfordshire deemed particularly windswept?

Don't know but I live in a village between wixams and Flitwick and it's v windy right now

 

[59CosG95]

#construction | SPL POWERLINES UK

This weekend just gone SPL POWERLINES UK started main contract #construction works on the South of Bedford OLE 125 project, delivering the first 10 headspan renewals safely and on time. This has been in the pipeline for many years and SPL Powerlines took on the project in 2022 to develop the...

www.linkedin.com

10 headspans renewed over the weekend.

Incidentally, what are the extra headspans (with short masts) between Westoning and Wixams for? Is that part of Bedfordshire deemed particularly windswept?

The shorter headspans are known as 'steady spans' and provide extra registration support at the midspan - albeit only for the contact and not for the catenary.

That part of Beds is rather exposed on the whole, with Ampthill Tunnels being the sole exception. The wind loads are rather high!
IIRC the ECML has similar between Hatfield & Welwyn GC.

 

[Edvid]

Thanks, I'd been wondering about those particular spans for years.

 

[YourMum666]

2030 is a bit worrying for a 60 mile wiring extension

 

[Flying Phil]

2030 is a bit worrying for a 60 mile wiring extension

Looking back on this thread, the work of MML electrification started from Bedford to Kettering to Corby around 2017. Kettering to Market Harborough around 2019 and MH to Wigston 2021 so the team should be able to do Leicester to Sheffield in the next 6-7 years. Especially, given today's HS2 news, they will be very keen to be seen to get this job done so it will get a much higher profile I expect.