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MML Electrification: progress updates

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WymoWanderer

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It appears the new fourth line is now in operation on the Wymington deviation. Spotted this video which shows the new slow line in use with a freight train heading towards Wellingborough from Sharnbrook/Souldrop tunnel.

Further up the line near the sub-station you can see the signals have been changed.
October 2019
y4mqsMVZiWvvXmzHQwWC7-jnrTvfemh5SQzkH629EcT-fyiJCwwLszB7QLnHVxBvP_Gt-3D6alwOS9zRP1G2uoE7PesSO29B8WbdNcfK7MVst6T4kezNI_0ZgtWTqChinRRThBpFsJjiggIKhaEZrZ7MKARzlBOlqplNdZi8qZmExRnZ8f3e_i4sERFp8vHf2TIiXxqc3883HIC9kF07zWGhA


May 2019
y4mRvXF0H308PEuyrjWmDTlvtqyptUrioXWaMK_rq67IvCmaWwduDe0UqtXwWgJhPtTwO9pUjflBh_tYD2PwLTLOB5JumMv6r6ivb7g7KUhLrop2x450WKvM_VTDsBhluvBiaBjEgaWWP9HmtxFIWI6F0qcTFk38coQIHoxgAeia2ItmpD5i2NYopPC_rQudXbbbsB_mXytSxeg_7envwJv9Q


Closer to the Sharnbrook/Souldrop tunnel you can see these new sensors on tracks. Track nearest to me is the new track.
y4myBHPCU8M8VnLdG3e2q5tjZX_gYPgAS4rkJHcm6HjC3lvKUmo1sag79xZQCotLUAkAoIvsdb8FoAKQbZTxqxIFt5MWHp6oOQVxOmxp6c6cF0Nt79c4SDMVV7dNG8vTl1dR2UtiThvbxGMa17tioT64dUHvDzEmD5ZOIU7030Zl0KyEEQR4dNFmTwr-8ZJezdGbUMEx5H2Uc8NLtHRYw_E-Q
 
westcoaster

westcoaster

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I was going to mention that I thought I saw bi-directional signals on the freight lines. That pic with the two AWS magnets adjacent to each other seems to confirm what I saw.
 
59CosG95

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The newest issue of Modern Railways Magazine (November 2019) reports in the Trackwatch column (p. 90) that at Sharnbrook, the Up & Down Slow was slewed so that it now runs on the formation of the Down Slow from 58m 30ch to 62m 07ch during August 2019, backing up what @Hairy Bear posted 9 days ago.
 
59CosG95

59CosG95

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MML Wiring Progressometer 35.0 (as of 25th of October 2019)
Mileages are from St. Pancras. Unless mentioned otherwise, all reference to the "Fast" side refers to tracks on the western side of the "10-foot" (centre of the track pairs), and the "Slow" side for the tracks on the eastern side.
All 2,248 foundations are now installed.

South of Bedford
  • In the Cricklewood area, around 13 new structures are gradually being erected; these are confirmed to be part of the works for the new Brent Cross Thameslink station.
  • Just south of Sundon FS, Lower Farm Rd ATFS is being commissioned - this will allow for a increase in electric traction on the route.
  • From structure "SPC1 79/659/DF", just north of the Great Ouse Viaduct, new masts are going up on either side of the Fast tracks to support Bonomi Omnia (i.e. S2/UKMS) cantilevers. All of them appear to be up.
  • Just south of the new Sectioning AT site (?) south of Bedford, 2 pairs of spanwire Feeder masts (for switching) are being installed; the more northerly pair's mast adj. to the Up Fast has yet to be installed.

Bedford (49m 65ch) - Wellingborough (65m 09ch)
  • Work to raise Ford End Rd bridge is now complete.
  • On the Fast side, behind Bedford P4's fence, masts to support troughing appear to have been erected. These may carry feeder cables or similar.
  • Two Tensorex portals are now up immediately north of Bedford. Between them lies a "castellated" portal, which has a spanwire feeder mast adjacent to it in the Down Fast Cess. It has yet to receive its twin on the Up side.
  • One TTC is awaiting installation just south of Bromham Rd Bridge in the Down Fast cess; its pile is driven.
  • Over the pointwork of Bedford North Jct (just north of Bromham Rd Bridge), the majority of masts now have booms (either TTC or Portal).
  • The southernmost portal on this stretch is missing its Up side leg, and also its boom. Just north of it, two pairs of spanwire feeder masts have gone up. North of them, two pairs of Tensorex Portal legs are awaiting their boom.
  • Between Bedford North Jct & Sharnbrook Jct, about 90% of masts are up on both sides of the line.
  • Aerial Earth Wire is now up on both sides between Bedford & Oakley, verified in the Clapham area. All four lines are now wired past the former site of Oakley Station as far north as the Tensorex portal between Oakley Viaduct & Highfield Rd. Two-track portals now appear to be up over Oakley Viaduct too (on both lines).
  • The Fast Lines are wired (C&C, plus Aerial Earth on both sides) from just north of the A6 (Great Ouse Way) O/B; the Slow Lines start from the next Tensorex Portal at Lower Farm Rd.
  • In the Milton Ernest area, C&C on the Up Slow stops at the Tensorex portal immediately south of Milton Ernest Viaducts. Wires on the Fasts stop at the "wicket-keepers" immediately south of Radwell Rd O/B, while the Up Slow is wired again from the Tensorex portal a few structures south. on all lines except the Up Slow. North of there, wires only continue on the Up Fast & Down Slow.
  • Both Slow Lines are now fully wired over Radwell Viaduct.
  • Between Radwell Viaduct & Moor End Lane O/B, C&C resumes on the Down Fast and terminates on the Up Slow. Both wire runs on the Down Fast & Down Slow terminate shy of Sharnbrook Viaducts.Two pairs of spanwire feeder masts (one pair for the Slows, one pair for the Fasts) are also up, but have not received any switching equipment yet; these are located between the end of the aforementioned wire runs and the southern end of the viaducts.
  • All 4 lines now wired over Sharnbrook Viaducts.
  • Around Sharnbrook Jct (south of Templars Way O/B), at least 4 piles have gone in adjacent to the proposed alignment of the future Up Slow.
  • North of Templars Way overbridge, an AT switching site has been constructed in the former works compound. A pair of spanwire feeder masts are adjacent to the northern perimeter of said compound.
  • Almost all masts are now up over the Slow lines, from just north of Park Ln, Sharnbrook (https://goo.gl/maps/df2As431FDr) to Sharnbrook Rd overbridge (southern end of Souldrop bank); the 4-tracking here is not yet complete as signals "WH378" and “LR 8” sit right in the path of the restored Up Slow. Some TTCs have now gone up on the Fasts between these bridges too.
  • At Souldrop (between Sharnbrook Rd & Back Lane overbridges), 400m approx of Aerial Earth Wire (AEW) has gone up on the Slow side TTCs. On the Down Slow (to be), a run of C&C has now gone up, continuing south of Sharnbrook Rd to a point halfway between Sharnbrook Rd and Park Ln O/B's. The corresponding MPA portal on the Fast lines is now erected, but SPS, cantilevers & registration arms have yet to be installed. The Fast side AEW is also up to the south of Sharnbrook Rd, but is not registered on the portal.
  • Wymington Deviation - Fasts
    • On the Fasts, wires are now up from the 2nd-closest Tensorex portal south of Back Lane Bridge (aka Odell Viaduct), and continue north past Irchester, north of where the Fast lines rejoin the Slow lines.Three pairs of Spanwire Feeder masts are being installed at the northern end of the Fasts on this stretch, although the central one on the Down Fast side has yet to be installed.
  • Wymington Deviation - Slows
    • The Slow Lines are now both in operation along the Deviation, and wires look complete on both tracks along its length.
    • The switching/feeder site at Wymington now looks structurally complete.
  • Just north of the A45 overbridge, a number of portals (2-track & 4-track?) are awaiting installation.
  • Irthlingborough Viaduct now has masts over all lines, with cantilevers going up too.
  • Between Irthlingborough Viaduct & I'borough Rd Bridge (i.e. the Kangaroo Spinney area), virtually all TTCs have booms now. The Fast side is seeing much more progress than the Slow side, with masts/booms nearly at I'boro' Rd Bridge. (Progress on the Slows stops west of signal LR 23.) A 4-track portal is being erected, with the boom not yet in situ - the structure number is "SPC2 103/387". Both "DF" & "US" masts are up.
  • Irthlingborough Rd Bridge was demolished on Christmas Day 2018 - only the utilities pipe remains. A temporary footbridge has also been erected. Immediately north of the temporary bridge, 2 pairs of TTCs (1 pair in the Fast side cess, the other pair in the 10-foot) have gone up complete with booms, and a mast for a Tensorex Anchor portal has gone up too (in the Slow side cess). Immediately south, 1 4-track portal leg & one boomed TTC are up in the Fast Side cess.
  • Just south of Wellingborough Viaduct, 4 wicket-keeper masts are due to go up; the Down Fast one has been erected, but lacks Tensorex drums. The other 3 are in the 10-foot/cess. North of the viaduct, the 6 nearest TTCs on the Slow lines still lack booms.

Wellingborough (65m 09ch) - Kettering (72m 01ch)
  • Immediately south of the station, MPA portals are going up. The portal over the Fasts is complete; the one over the Slows is not.
  • Preparations to return the 4th platform (P4) at Wellingborough to public use have now begun. Concrete facings for P4 are now appearing.
  • All masts but one are now up within Wellingborough Station; the outlier is a TTC on P2 which has led to the platform surface being excavated to install the foundations.
  • Extensive 4-tracking laid (except at points where existing infrastructure has to be moved).
  • It is very difficult to track the progress of specific items from an outsider's perspective, but it seems to me that Wellingborough to Kettering is almost wire-ready.
  • Between Mill Rd O/B, and Finedon Rd O/B, over 95% of steelwork is now up. Only a few things remain outstanding, like Anchor Portal Backstays, Across Track Feeder masts etc.
  • North of Finedon Rd Bridge, all portal booms are now up.These accompany the TTCs over both pairs of lines near Wellingborough Yards; SPS and cantilevers are now starting to go up.
    South of these booms, a TTC (boom facing the Slow side) has been erected in the 10-foot.
  • Rumours are afoot that the two western sidings in Wellingborough Up Yard (those nearest the Up Slow) will be wired and used by NR. These rumours also state that a northern connection to the yards will be provided as well.
  • TTCs stretch north from Wellingborough Yards over both pairs of lines as far north as the Weetabix factory (north of Burton Latimer).
  • At Harrowden Junction, Aerial Earth Wires are starting to go up on both sides of the line.
  • A new feeding/switching site is going in at the former Finedon Sidings; six pairs of spanwire feeder masts are now all up on either side of the line where the switching equipment will be suspended.
  • At Burton Latimer (south of the Weetabix factory), power lines (National Grid) might be due a raise; taller wooden poles have been erected adjacent to the existing ones.
  • Almost all (if not all!) masts and booms have now gone up around Kettering Headlands. SPS also starting to go up.
  • Ground clearance works ongoing at Kettering Yard; the yard will be electrified as part of an EMU stabling facility.
  • A number of TTCs have now been erected on the southern approach to Kettering station, roughly parallel to Kettering Yard. So far, these amount to 8 over the Fasts (4 having booms) and 5 (all boomed) over the Slows. At least 1 STC and 2 Anchor Portal uprights are also up next to the Slows.
  • Within Kettering Station, all 5 Mk1-style bespoke portal booms spanning all 4 tracks have been erected.

Kettering (72m 01ch) - Glendon Jct (74m 00ch) - Corby (79m 40ch)
  • Works appears to have started to extend the southern end of P3, and a small chunk of the canopy on P3 is missing at the north end.
  • On the Fast side, around 6 TTCs are up to the north of the signal gantry at the north end of Kettering station; another is up immediately south of said gantry. A matching number is up on the Slow side; SPS appearing on both sides now. An SSA (wicketkeeper) has gone up in the 10-foot between the Up Fast & Down Slow, where there was previously a capped pile.
  • Immediately north of the platforms at Kettering, uprights for a mid-point anchor portal are now up.
  • Limit of Live Wires on the Fasts appears to be 500m north of Kettering Station.
  • At Glendon Jct/Kettering North Jct, all piles on the Slow side have now grown TTCs with booms; at least 5 are now bedanglied ("dressed"). A few signal gantries from the BR days have been (or are due to be) removed. A pair of portals spanning all 4 lines have gone up over the Kettering North Jct pointwork.
  • A pair of Anchor Boom Portal Masts are now up on the Slow side just short of where the lines to Corby diverge; 2 TTCs (one without a boom) are between them.
  • 4 Spanwire masts have also gone up around Glendon, all so far on the Up side. A pile for a fifth is up near the northernmost one.
  • About 5/6 STC masts are up adjacent to each side of the line just north of Glendon Jct, roughly where the Corby Lines diverge from the Mains.
  • Pile now in on the Down side near Kettering North Jct.
  • 2nd track now in operation, and linespeed raised to 90mph where it was previously 60mph.
  • A good stretch of the overheads are now up between a point south of Barford Bridge (over the A6003), continuing northwards to the end of the planned wiring at Corby. At this stage, only the earth wires have reached as far south as the Iron Coy's Bridge nr Glendon (the first overbridge on the Corby branch).

Glendon Jct (74m 00ch) - Market Harborough (82m 74ch)
  • Braybrooke Substation approved. To be located here: (https://goo.gl/maps/fuy1uZeDjdQ2).
  • Enabling Works are now underway.
  • The extent of wiring towards Market Harborough has now been as good as confirmed to reach the station.

Upcoming works:
  • 23/6/19: Kettering to Corby replaced by buses all day; done.
  • 30/6/19: No early morning trains between Bedford & Kettering. First northbound service from Bedford departs 10:47; first southbound service from Kettering departs 10:45. Done.
  • 7/7/19: No early morning trains between Bedford & Kettering. First northbound service 10:47. Kettering to Corby replaced by buses all day; done.
  • 14/7/19: All trains diverted between Kettering & Syston North Jns (i.e. via Corby & Manton Jn). Leicester & Mkt H'boro served by coach from Kettering; done.
  • 21/7/19: Kettering to Corby replaced by buses all day; done.
  • 28/7/19: Kettering to Corby replaced by buses all day; done.
  • 4/8/19: No early morning trains between Bedford & Kettering, and no trains between Kettering & Corby; done.
  • 11/8/19: No early morning trains between Bedford & Kettering, and no trains between Kettering & Corby; done.
  • 31/8/19 to 1/9/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering; done.
  • 8/9/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering all day. Kettering to Corby still open; done.
  • 29/9/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering all day. Kettering to Corby still open; done.
  • 6/10/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering all day. Kettering to Corby still open; done.
  • 2/11/19 to 3/11/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering.
  • 10/11/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering all day. Kettering to Corby still open.
  • 16/11/19 to 17/11/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering.
  • 1/12/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering all day.
  • 21/12/19 to 28/11/19: No service between Bedford & Kettering.

The Future - Midlands Engine Rail (Midlands Connect) & HS2
  • Electrification proposed from Market Harborough to Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham & Derby; as part of the Midlands Connect strategy.
  • Electrification proposed from Clay Cross HS2 Connection to Sheffield (Midland) as part of HS2 works.
  • Currently, no electrification is proposed between Clay Cross HS2 Connection & Nottingham, or Tupton & Derby (via Belper).

    Any updates would be greatly appreciated.
 
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muddythefish

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59CosG95 said:
The newest issue of Modern Railways Magazine (November 2019) reports in the Trackwatch column (p. 90) that at Sharnbrook, the Up & Down Slow was slewed so that it now runs on the formation of the Down Slow from 58m 30ch to 62m 07ch during August 2019, backing up what @Hairy Bear posted 9 days ago.
Click to expand...

To clarify, does that mean there's only one slow line between Sharnbrook and Wboro?
 
59CosG95

59CosG95

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https://www.networkrailmediacentre....ahead-of-service-changes-on-midland-main-line News for the weekends of the 2nd/3rd and 16th/17th of November.

...The first weekend will see the demolition of Bromham Road bridge in Bedford ahead of it being rebuilt at a raised height to allow overhead line equipment to safely pass underneath it. Network Rail will also renew track in and around Wellingborough station.

On the second weekend, Network Rail will use cranes to clear remaining spoil from the demolition. There will also be work to extend the platforms at both Kettering and Wellingborough stations. Once completed, it will enable newer and longer trains to call there. Parking at Bedford station is significantly reduced whilst work to Bromham Road bridge takes place....
Click to expand...
 
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Chris125

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In an article earlier this year it was hoped that the wires would up by Christmas with testing afterwards, is that now looking unlikely?
 
Y

yorkie

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richieb1971

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Extra track at Sharnbrook is not being used.
Ballast only under the sleepers and rails are rusty like never used.
 
Aictos

Aictos

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richieb1971 said:
Extra track at Sharnbrook is not being used.
Ballast only under the sleepers and rails are rusty like never used.
Click to expand...

The rust always happens even with new track, don't know why I'm sure @ChiefPlanner @Bald Rick etc might know but run a few trains over it and the rust will go.

Just because it's got some rust don't mean it can't be used.
 
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flitwickbeds

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There has been some trackside works for a few months now on the track through Ampthill, Bedfordshire - on the Flitwick side of the Ampthill tunnel. Managed to get a photograph yesterday:



Pretty sure the metal cabinet wasn't there before, but cannot confirm either way. Is this somehow related to MML electrification?
 
B

Bald Rick

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flitwickbeds said:
There has been some trackside works for a few months now on the track through Ampthill, Bedfordshire - on the Flitwick side of the Ampthill tunnel. Managed to get a photograph yesterday:

Pretty sure the metal cabinet wasn't there before, but cannot confirm either way. Is this somehow related to MML electrification?
Click to expand...

Extra power AIUI.
 
59CosG95

59CosG95

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flitwickbeds said:
There has been some trackside works for a few months now on the track through Ampthill, Bedfordshire - on the Flitwick side of the Ampthill tunnel. Managed to get a photograph yesterday:



Pretty sure the metal cabinet wasn't there before, but cannot confirm either way. Is this somehow related to MML electrification?
Click to expand...
Looks to me like the Track Sectioning Cabinet is being upgraded - possibly to a Sectioning Auto-Transformer Site.
 
W

WymoWanderer

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Time lapse footage of the Bromham Bridge demolition last weekend.

Courtesy of Bedford Independent
The replacement of Bromham Road Bridge is growing nearer, as the old bridge was demolished on Saturday 2 November.

Network Rail has shared time-lapse footage of the demolition in progress, making way for the new bridge to be rebuilt at a raised height to allow overhead line equipment to safely pass underneath it.

Additional work will be carried out on the weekend of 16 – 17 November, when Network Rail will use cranes to clear remaining spoil from the demolition.

As part of the Midland Main Line Upgrade, Network Rail has been working to upgrade 12 bridges along the route. Bromham Road bridge is the last of these bridges to be demolished, marking a significant milestone in the £1.5billion project, which, Network Rail says, will provide extra seats and a more reliable service for passengers.

Gavin Crook, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail, said, “We are urging passengers to plan ahead and check before travelling as we reach a significant milestone in the Midland Main Line Upgrade.

“This stage of work is absolutely vital to keep the upgrade progressing well and, unfortunately, it isn’t possible to do this work without impacting on train services. We would think to thank all those affected for their patience and apologise for any disruption this may cause.”

Julian Edwards, Managing Director for East Midlands Railway, said: “As we approach the weekend of 16/17 November, we are advising passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel.

“Replacement coaches are in place between Market Harborough and Bedford and between Corby and Kettering. Trains will only run from Sheffield / Nottingham to Market Harborough and Bedford to London St Pancras meaning your journey may take longer than usual.

“The investment work taking place over these weekends will allow for additional trains and more seats by December 2020 and we thank our passengers for their patience and understanding during this time”.
Click to expand...
 
W

WymoWanderer

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flitwickbeds said:
There has been some trackside works for a few months now on the track through Ampthill, Bedfordshire - on the Flitwick side of the Ampthill tunnel. Managed to get a photograph yesterday:



Pretty sure the metal cabinet wasn't there before, but cannot confirm either way. Is this somehow related to MML electrification?
Click to expand...
It wasn't there before and the construction has been going on for at least 3 months. It looks very similar to the structure at Wymington (post 2271) and the one just south of Bedford station (post 2802).
 
I

InTheEastMids

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WymoWanderer said:
It wasn't there before and the construction has been going on for at least 3 months. It looks very similar to the structure at Wymington (post 2271) and the one just south of Bedford station (post 2802).
Click to expand...

Naturally the majority of the discussion on here has been about what's happening North of Bedford. I'm sure there's plenty of folk who know more and can correct any of this, but AIUI the MML is being updated from local grid connections to 3 grid connections at Borehamwood (done during Thameslink upgrade), Chalton and Braybrooke. This means auto transformer substations are being built trackside at a number of locations South of Bedford as well as North. Attached is the pre Grayling plan from a NR planning application
 

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59CosG95

59CosG95

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InTheEastMids said:
Naturally the majority of the discussion on here has been about what's happening North of Bedford. I'm sure there's plenty of folk who know more and can correct any of this, but AIUI the MML is being updated from local grid connections to 3 grid connections at Borehamwood (done during Thameslink upgrade), Chalton and Braybrooke. This means auto transformer substations are being built trackside at a number of locations South of Bedford as well as North. Attached is the pre Grayling plan from a NR planning application
Click to expand...
Chalton is under construction as well, although a time-lapse video I saw on NR's website named it as "Long Meadow Farm".
 
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