MML Electrification: progress updates

[fflint]

Well done 69CosG95 especially and all others who have contributed to updating this thread on the progress of the wiring etc.

 

[jfowkes]

Any idea what's happening tonight on the MML? Only curious because I'm on a rammed-to-the-gills 222 on the slow lines. The timetable today has this planned in, so I'm assuming it's engineering works.

Got to travel through Wymington Tunnel, which is a first for me (yay) but was dark and wasn't near a window (boo).

Yes I know tunnels are always dark you know what I mean

 

[InTheEastMids]

Any idea what's happening tonight on the MML? Only curious because I'm on a rammed-to-the-gills 222 on the slow lines. The timetable today has this planned in, so I'm assuming it's engineering works.

Got to travel through Wymington Tunnel, which is a first for me (yay) but was dark and wasn't near a window (boo).

Yes I know tunnels are always dark you know what I mean

I don't think NR or EMT routinely publicise the scope of engineering works on the MML unless it concerns bridges or stations.

The signalling between Bedford and Wellingborough also suffered a Total Inability To Support Usual Performance today, which can't have been helping

 

[43055]

Any idea what's happening tonight on the MML? Only curious because I'm on a rammed-to-the-gills 222 on the slow lines. The timetable today has this planned in, so I'm assuming it's engineering works.

Got to travel through Wymington Tunnel, which is a first for me (yay) but was dark and wasn't near a window (boo).

Yes I know tunnels are always dark you know what I mean

It was the same last week when I got the 1620 from Derby to London. Though only 20 minuets behind another service it was 3 hours until the next direct Sheffield to London service. It meant I had to stand up for the whole 2 hours and 20 minuets to London between two coaches.

 

[WymoWanderer]

Had a look at what works have been going on to the South and South-West of Wymington, North Bedfordshire today.

• Five additional TTCs on the slow line just North of the Sharnbrook tunnel entrance.
• A portal on the fast line to the South-West of the village.
• Majority of single track masts on the fast line now have cantilever arms.
• No apparent changes to the line or bridge structure following the recent bridge works adjacent to the New Inn pub.
• The first two photos are taken from a metal footbridge which also has running water flowing (a stream) in a deck below the bridge footpath. There's been no notifications of the bridge being changed - would this be permitted with electrification?

Looking South towards Sharnbook tunnel northern entrance. Original

Looking North towards Wymington, Sharnbrook tunnel behind me. Original

Portal on fast line to the South-West of Village. Original

 

[59CosG95]

MML Wiring Progressometer 19.0 (as of 3rd of December 2018)
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.

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.
• Piles have gone in next to the turnback siding at Bedford.
• On the Fast side south of Bromham Rd Bridge, Bedford, at least 9 masts are now up. These masts stretch northwards from Bromham Rd as far as the eye can see, towards the Great Ouse Bridge. A number of masts now have TTC booms - many booms have stovepipes.
  
• On the Slow side, 8-9 piles are now in north of Bromham Rd Bridge; none are fully down yet. Two TTC masts are also up.
• Two masts are up on the Slow side, immediately south of the Great Ouse Box Girder Bridge (nr Bedford North Jct); one of them has a boom, the other doesn't.
• Between Bedford North Jct & Sharnbrook Jct, the Slow lines have around 80% of their masts & SPS up.
• At Bromham, between the A6 (Great Ouse Way) & Lower Farm Rd (https://goo.gl/maps/rSPFrDAZQ362), 13 Twin Track Cantilevers/TTCs (with booms) are up over the Slow Lines, and about 6/7 over the Fast Lines. This includes the Box Girder bridge over the river Great Ouse.
• At least 9 boomed and dressed (aka. bedanglied) TTC masts have now gone up north of Lower Farm Rd, adjacent to the Down Fast; 2 similar structures are now up adjacent to the Up Slow here too.
• To the south of Oakley, all the TTCs that are up appear to have sprouted their registration arms (https://flic.kr/p/NuS8uw). The extent of these running southwards is not yet clear.
• At Oakley, on the site of the old station (just south of Station Rd Bridge), all visible piles over both lines now carry TTC booms. Between Station Rd & Highfield Rd bridges, all TTCS over the Slows and Fasts are now boomed.
• Another upright has gone up to the north of Highfield Rd bridge, adjacent to the Down Fast.
• The 2 piles just south of Oakley Viaduct (https://goo.gl/maps/r5oXUSSPSAo; one on the Down side, one on the Up side) now have boomed & bedanglied TTC masts. A further 4 similar masts on the Down and a further 2 on the Up side north of the viaduct are also in evidence.
• Lots of TTCs also up over both pairs of lines around Milton Ernest (between Radwell Rd & East End; https://goo.gl/maps/V5afGGQEZiE2).
• Between Radwell Rd & New Rd, a TTC mast has been placed between the Up Fast & Down Slow, as the embankment adjacent to the Up Slow had to be replaced with a gabion retaining wall.
• About 6 TTCs are up immediately to the north of Radwell Viaduct, over the Slow lines (https://goo.gl/maps/r5oXUSSPSAo); 3 more TTCs are up accompanying them over the Fast lines (positioned between the pairs of lines). Another 2 are now up over the Slows south of the viaduct. Masts for 2 portal booms are up at the southern end of the viaduct; both pairs of masts now have booms, completing the portals.
• Roughly 3 or 4 piles (now with boomless TTC masts) are in next to the Down Fast, and another 4 (3 of which have boomed TTC masts) next to the Up Slow just north of Moor End Lane, Radwell (https://goo.gl/maps/cmgWsgyYAo62). South of Moor End Lane (but north of the next bridge to the south), about 5 TTC masts are up (2 of which have booms) adjacent to the Up Slow, with a similar number in adjacent to the Down Fast. South of that bridge, another 2 piles have masts (possibly w/ booms).
• 2 parallel piles are in place (no masts) adjacent to the Fast lines at Radwell; possibly for a portal frame?
• TTCs have now sprouted at the northern end of Sharnbrook Viaduct; (at least) two over the Fasts and one over the Slows.
• A couple of piles (no masts) have now gone in around Sharnbrook Jct.
• 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) 4 TTC masts (all bedanglied) are in next to the future Down Slow at Souldrop, at the southern end of the bank. All the TTCs for the Fasts are up between the two bridges.
• Back Lane Bridge (aka Odell Viaduct), demolished & rebuilt earlier in the year, had its new bridge deck installed over the weekend of 10th/11th November, to allow for a more generous OLE clearance. Follow-up work occurred the following weekend.
• North of Sharnbrook Tunnel, and south of Bridge WYM-4 (adjacent to the New Inn), 9 of the 17 piles are now in on the Down side of the Slow lines - presumably for the (future) Down Slow at least.
• Between Wymington (https://goo.gl/maps/apZ6wwj9StR2) and Wellingboro', intensive 4-tracking is underway. Near the Google Maps link posted for Wymington, the car park used for the 4-tracking works is due to house a National Grid substation for the electrification; the concrete base has now been laid for the substation. Link to application to Beds Council: http://www.publicaccess.bedford.gov...ils.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=ONBIS8CUMMJ00
• In the southern area of the Wymington Deviation, around 9 masts are now up on the Fasts (single cantilever type). North of Souldrop Tunnel, all 7 piles south of the footbridge at 60m56ch (5 down, 2 up) now have masts (4 STCs, 3 TTCs), and another 7 piles (6 of which bear boomed TTC masts) are up to the north.
• A portal (two track) has now gone up on the Fast just south of Wymington Village.
• Near the centre of the "deviation", there are now many more masts up (with cantilevers too) on the Fasts.
• On the Slows at the northern end of the "deviation", a number of STCs and TTCs have gone up, with at least two twin track portals also up.
• Station Rd Bridge, Irchester (closed from 9/4 to 22/11 to allow reconstruction for OLE) should now have reopened.
• Masts have now sprung up in large numbers north and south of Station Rd Bridge, Irchester. North of Station Rd, all masts seem to be up over the Fast lines as far as the first footbridge north of there.
• Irthlingborough Rd Bridge, nr Kangaroo Spinney (https://goo.gl/maps/K8C8gkgvNaD2) is due to be demolished on Christmas Day.
• 2 piles now in between the Up Fast & Down Slow north of Station Rd Bridge, Irchester; 9 piles have also gone in adjacent to the Down Fast on this stretch.

Wellingborough (65m 09ch) - Kettering (72m 01ch)

• Extensive 4-tracking laid (except at points where existing infrastructure has to be moved).
• Finedon Rd Bridge, closed from 22/3 to 28/9 to allow reconstruction for OLE, should now have reopened.
• At least 6 TTC masts (with booms) are now in position between Finedon Rd Bridge and the curve to the south of Harrowden Junction. These are mainly on the Down side; work has yet to commence on the Up side equivalents.
• TTCs stretch north from Wellingborough Yards over the Fast lines as far north as the Weetabix factory (north of Burton Latimer). A couple of gaps remain where old equipment has to be removed e.g. the signal gantry at Harrowden Jct.
• Progress on the Slows is now much more advanced, perhaps level-pegging with the Fasts.
• A number of TTCs have now appeared over the Slows near Wellingborough Yards, along with masts for MPA Portals.
• At Burton Latimer (south of the Weetabix factory), power lines (National Grid) might be due a raise; taller wooden poles have been ercected adjacent to the existing ones.
• Several piles are now in at the south end of Kettering Yard.
• Ground clearance works ongoing at Kettering Yard; the yard will be electrified as part of an EMU stabling facility.

Kettering (72m 01ch) - Glendon Jct (74m 00ch) - Corby (79m 40ch)

• 
  [8]No activity yet at Kettering station - Platform extensions for the new EMU services are planned, and it is not yet known if canopy works will need to be undertaken.
• Between Kettering station & the A43, a number of piles are now in on the Slow side between the A43 bridge (nr Prologis Park) & the A6003 (Northampton Rd) bridge.
• 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. Unclear of progress with piling/masts on the Main line north of Glendon Junction.
• 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 handful of masts (~10) are now up in the Great Oakley area, halfway between Glendon Jct & Corby. All are single track cantilevers.

North of Glendon Jct (74m 00ch)

• Braybrooke Substation approved. To be located here: (https://goo.gl/maps/fuy1uZeDjdQ2).
• The extent of wiring towards Market Harboro' has been all but decided to reach the station itself.

Any updates would be greatly appreciated.

 

[59CosG95]

And to update here:
MML Wiring Progressometer 20.0 (as of 10th of December 2018)
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.

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.
• Piles have gone in next to the turnback siding at Bedford.
• On the Fast side south of Bromham Rd Bridge, Bedford, at least 9 masts are now up. These masts stretch northwards from Bromham Rd as far as the eye can see, towards the Great Ouse Bridge. A number of masts now have TTC booms - many booms have stovepipes.
  
• On the Slow side, 8-9 piles are now in north of Bromham Rd Bridge; none are fully down yet. Two TTC masts are also up.
• Two masts are up on the Slow side, immediately south of the Great Ouse Box Girder Bridge (nr Bedford North Jct); one of them has a boom, the other doesn't.
• Between Bedford North Jct & Sharnbrook Jct, the Slow lines have around 80% of their masts & SPS up.
• At Bromham, between the A6 (Great Ouse Way) & Lower Farm Rd (https://goo.gl/maps/rSPFrDAZQ362), 13 Twin Track Cantilevers/TTCs (with booms) are up over the Slow Lines, and about 6/7 over the Fast Lines. This includes the Box Girder bridge over the river Great Ouse.
• At least 9 boomed and dressed (aka. bedanglied) TTC masts have now gone up north of Lower Farm Rd, adjacent to the Down Fast; 2 similar structures are now up adjacent to the Up Slow here too.
• To the south of Oakley, all the TTCs that are up appear to have sprouted their registration arms (https://flic.kr/p/NuS8uw). The extent of these running southwards is not yet clear.
• At Oakley, on the site of the old station (just south of Station Rd Bridge), all visible piles over both lines now carry TTC booms. Between Station Rd & Highfield Rd bridges, all TTCS over the Slows and Fasts are now boomed.
• Another upright has gone up to the north of Highfield Rd bridge, adjacent to the Down Fast.
• The 2 piles just south of Oakley Viaduct (https://goo.gl/maps/r5oXUSSPSAo; one on the Down side, one on the Up side) now have boomed & bedanglied TTC masts. A further 4 similar masts on the Down and a further 2 on the Up side north of the viaduct are also in evidence.
• Lots of TTCs also up over both pairs of lines around Milton Ernest (between Radwell Rd & East End; https://goo.gl/maps/V5afGGQEZiE2).
• Between Radwell Rd & New Rd, a TTC mast has been placed between the Up Fast & Down Slow, as the embankment adjacent to the Up Slow had to be replaced with a gabion retaining wall.
• About 6 TTCs are up immediately to the north of Radwell Viaduct, over the Slow lines (https://goo.gl/maps/r5oXUSSPSAo); 3 more TTCs are up accompanying them over the Fast lines (positioned between the pairs of lines). Another 2 are now up over the Slows south of the viaduct. Masts for 2 portal booms are up at the southern end of the viaduct; both pairs of masts now have booms, completing the portals.
• Roughly 3 or 4 piles (now with boomless TTC masts) are in next to the Down Fast, and another 4 (3 of which have boomed TTC masts) next to the Up Slow just north of Moor End Lane, Radwell (https://goo.gl/maps/cmgWsgyYAo62). South of Moor End Lane (but north of the next bridge to the south), about 5 TTC masts are up (2 of which have booms) adjacent to the Up Slow, with a similar number in adjacent to the Down Fast. South of that bridge, another 2 piles have masts (possibly w/ booms).
• 2 parallel piles are in place (no masts) adjacent to the Fast lines at Radwell; possibly for a portal frame?
• TTCs have now sprouted at the northern end of Sharnbrook Viaduct; (at least) two over the Fasts and one over the Slows.
• Around Sharnbrook Jct (north of Templars Way overbridge), 3 boomed TTC masts are in place on the Slow side, and 1 boomed & dressed TTC mast is in place on the Fast side. South of these, a pair of portal uprights have gone up - the boom is assumed to go in at Christmas.
• 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) 4 TTC masts (all bedanglied) are in next to the future Down Slow, at the southern end of the bank. All the TTCs for the Fasts are up between the two bridges.
• Back Lane Bridge (aka Odell Viaduct), demolished & rebuilt earlier in the year, had its new bridge deck installed over the weekend of 10th/11th November, to allow for a more generous OLE clearance. Follow-up work occurred the following weekend.
• North of Sharnbrook Tunnel, and south of Bridge WYM-4 (adjacent to the New Inn), 9 of the 17 piles are now in on the Down side of the Slow lines - presumably for the (future) Down Slow at least.
• Between Wymington (https://goo.gl/maps/apZ6wwj9StR2) and Wellingboro', intensive 4-tracking is underway. Near the Google Maps link posted for Wymington, the car park used for the 4-tracking works is due to house a National Grid substation for the electrification; the concrete base has now been laid for the substation. Link to application to Beds Council: http://www.publicaccess.bedford.gov...ils.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=ONBIS8CUMMJ00
• In the southern area of the Wymington Deviation, around 9 masts are now up on the Fasts (single cantilever type). North of Souldrop Tunnel, all 7 piles south of the footbridge at 60m56ch (5 down, 2 up) now have masts (4 STCs, 3 TTCs), and another 7 piles (6 of which bear boomed TTC masts) are up to the north.
• A portal (two track) has now gone up on the Fast just south of Wymington Village.
• Near the centre of the "deviation", there are now many more masts up (with cantilevers too) on the Fasts. On the Up Fast side, there is one mast missing near Sharnbrook Summit, just north of the northernmost bridge before the summit. I suspect it might be an Overlap Termination, and as such will bear Tensorex.https://twitter.com/HiPa1973/status/1072224750003466240
• On the Slows at the northern end of the "deviation", a number of STCs and TTCs have gone up, with at least two twin track portals also up.
• Station Rd Bridge, Irchester (closed from 9/4 to 22/11 to allow reconstruction for OLE) should now have reopened.
• Masts have now sprung up in large numbers north and south of Station Rd Bridge, Irchester. North of Station Rd, all masts seem to be up over the Fast lines as far as the first footbridge north of there (Knuston Lodge).
• Irthlingborough Rd Bridge, nr Kangaroo Spinney (https://goo.gl/maps/K8C8gkgvNaD2) is due to be demolished on Christmas Day.

Wellingborough (65m 09ch) - Kettering (72m 01ch)

• Extensive 4-tracking laid (except at points where existing infrastructure has to be moved).
• Finedon Rd Bridge, closed from 22/3 to 28/9 to allow reconstruction for OLE, should now have reopened.
• At least 6 TTC masts (with booms) are now in position between Finedon Rd Bridge and the curve to the south of Harrowden Junction. These are mainly on the Fast side; work has now commenced on installing Slow side equivalents.
• TTCs stretch north from Wellingborough Yards over the Fast lines as far north as the Weetabix factory (north of Burton Latimer). A couple of gaps remain where old equipment has to be removed e.g. the signal gantry at Harrowden Jct.
• Progress on the Slows is now much more advanced, perhaps level-pegging with the Fasts.
• A number of TTCs have now appeared over the Slows near Wellingborough Yards, along with masts for MPA Portals.
• At Burton Latimer (south of the Weetabix factory), power lines (National Grid) might be due a raise; taller wooden poles have been ercected adjacent to the existing ones.[/COLOR]
• Several piles are now in at the south end of Kettering Yard.
• Ground clearance works ongoing at Kettering Yard; the yard will be electrified as part of an EMU stabling facility.

Kettering (72m 01ch) - Glendon Jct (74m 00ch) - Corby (79m 40ch)

• No activity yet at Kettering station - Platform extensions for the new EMU services are planned, and it is not yet known if canopy works will need to be undertaken.
• Between Kettering station & the A43, a number of piles are now in on the Slow side between the A43 bridge (nr Prologis Park) & the A6003 (Northampton Rd) bridge.
• 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. Unclear of progress with piling/masts on the Main line north of Glendon Junction.
• 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 handful of masts (~10) are now up in the Great Oakley area, halfway between Glendon Jct & Corby. All are single track cantilevers.

North of Glendon Jct (74m 00ch)

• Braybrooke Substation approved. To be located here: (https://goo.gl/maps/fuy1uZeDjdQ2).
• The extent of wiring towards Market Harboro' has been all but decided to reach the station itself.

Any updates would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Flying Phil]

Still no sign of any work on the Braybrooke Substation. It would be ironic if there were wires up and no sparks!

 

[Hairy Bear]

Considering that there will be just 2 more sets taking power in section, then I'm sure the Bedford substation can manage it.

 

[WymoWanderer]

Looks like some significant work on the line over Christmas and New Year
https://www.networkrailmediacentre....efore-they-travel-this-christmas-and-new-year

Replacing old switches and crossings – the movable sections of track that guide trains from one track to another – with new kit and making changes to the track layout between Bedford and Kettering as part of the Midland Main Line Upgrade. This means changes to train services from Monday 24 December to Tuesday 1 January.

 

[59CosG95]

MML Wiring Progressometer 21.0 (as of 17th of December 2018)
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.

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.
• Piles have gone in next to the turnback siding at Bedford.
• On the Fast side south of Bromham Rd Bridge, Bedford, at least 9 masts are now up. These masts stretch northwards from Bromham Rd as far as the eye can see, towards the Great Ouse Bridge. A number of masts now have TTC booms - many booms have stovepipes.
  
• On the Slow side, 8-9 piles are now in north of Bromham Rd Bridge; none are fully down yet. Two TTC masts are also up.
• Two masts are up on the Slow side, immediately south of the Great Ouse Box Girder Bridge (nr Bedford North Jct); one of them has a boom, the other doesn't.
• Between Bedford North Jct & Sharnbrook Jct, the Slow lines have around 80% of their masts & SPS up.
• At Bromham, between the A6 (Great Ouse Way) & Lower Farm Rd (https://goo.gl/maps/rSPFrDAZQ362), 13 Twin Track Cantilevers/TTCs (with booms) are up over the Slow Lines, and about 6/7 over the Fast Lines. This includes the Box Girder bridge over the river Great Ouse.
• At least 9 boomed and dressed (aka. bedanglied) TTC masts have now gone up north of Lower Farm Rd, adjacent to the Down Fast; 2 similar structures are now up adjacent to the Up Slow here too.
• To the south of Oakley, all the TTCs that are up appear to have sprouted their registration arms (https://flic.kr/p/NuS8uw). The extent of these running southwards is not yet clear.
• At Oakley, on the site of the old station (just south of Station Rd Bridge), all visible piles over both lines now carry TTC booms. Between Station Rd & Highfield Rd bridges, all TTCS over the Slows and Fasts are now boomed.
• Another upright has gone up to the north of Highfield Rd bridge, adjacent to the Down Fast.
• The 2 piles just south of Oakley Viaduct (https://goo.gl/maps/r5oXUSSPSAo; one on the Down side, one on the Up side) now have boomed & bedanglied TTC masts. A further 4 similar masts on the Down and a further 2 on the Up side north of the viaduct are also in evidence.
• Lots of TTCs also up over both pairs of lines around Milton Ernest (between Radwell Rd & East End; https://goo.gl/maps/V5afGGQEZiE2).
• Between Radwell Rd & New Rd, a TTC mast has been placed between the Up Fast & Down Slow, as the embankment adjacent to the Up Slow had to be replaced with a gabion retaining wall.
• About 6 TTCs are up immediately to the north of Radwell Viaduct, over the Slow lines (https://goo.gl/maps/r5oXUSSPSAo); 3 more TTCs are up accompanying them over the Fast lines (positioned between the pairs of lines). Another 2 are now up over the Slows south of the viaduct. Masts for 2 portal booms are up at the southern end of the viaduct; both pairs of masts now have booms, completing the portals.
• Roughly 3 or 4 piles (now with boomless TTC masts) are in next to the Down Fast, and another 4 (3 of which have boomed TTC masts) next to the Up Slow just north of Moor End Lane, Radwell (https://goo.gl/maps/cmgWsgyYAo62). South of Moor End Lane (but north of the next bridge to the south), about 5 TTC masts are up (2 of which have booms) adjacent to the Up Slow, with a similar number in adjacent to the Down Fast. South of that bridge, another 2 piles have masts (possibly w/ booms).
• 2 parallel piles are in place (no masts) adjacent to the Fast lines at Radwell; possibly for a portal frame?
• TTCs have now sprouted at the northern end of Sharnbrook Viaduct; these stretch north to the extremities of Sharnbrook Jct itself.
• Around Sharnbrook Jct (north of Templars Way overbridge), 3 boomed TTC masts are in place on the Slow side, and 1 boomed & dressed TTC mast is in place on the Fast side. South of these, a pair of portal uprights have gone up - the boom is assumed to go in at Christmas.
• 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) 4 TTC masts (all bedanglied) are in next to the future Down Slow, at the southern end of the bank. All the TTCs for the Fasts are up between the two bridges.
• Back Lane Bridge (aka Odell Viaduct), demolished & rebuilt earlier in the year, had its new bridge deck installed over the weekend of 10th/11th November, to allow for a more generous OLE clearance. Follow-up work occurred the following weekend.
• North of Sharnbrook Tunnel, and south of Bridge WYM-4 (adjacent to the New Inn), 9 of the 17 piles are now in on the Down side of the Slow lines - presumably for the (future) Down Slow at least.
• Between Wymington (https://goo.gl/maps/apZ6wwj9StR2) and Wellingboro', intensive 4-tracking is underway. Near the Google Maps link posted for Wymington, the car park used for the 4-tracking works is due to house a National Grid substation for the electrification; the concrete base has now been laid for the substation. Link to application to Beds Council: http://www.publicaccess.bedford.gov...ils.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=ONBIS8CUMMJ00
• In the southern area of the Wymington Deviation, around 9 masts are now up on the Fasts (single cantilever type). North of Souldrop Tunnel, all 7 piles south of the footbridge at 60m56ch (5 down, 2 up) now have masts (4 STCs, 3 TTCs), and another 7 piles (6 of which bear boomed TTC masts) are up to the north.
• A portal (two track) has now gone up on the Fast just south of Wymington Village.
• Near the centre of the "deviation", there are now many more masts up (with cantilevers too) on the Fasts. On the Up Fast side, there is one mast missing near Sharnbrook Summit, just north of the northernmost bridge before the summit. I suspect it might be an Overlap Termination, and as such will bear Tensorex.https://twitter.com/HiPa1973/status/1072224750003466240
• On the Slows at the northern end of the "deviation", a number of STCs and TTCs have gone up, with at least two twin track portals also up.
• Station Rd Bridge, Irchester (closed from 9/4 to 22/11 to allow reconstruction for OLE) should now have reopened.
• Masts have now sprung up in large numbers north and south of Station Rd Bridge, Irchester. North of Station Rd, all masts seem to be up over the Fast lines as far as the first footbridge north of there (Knuston Lodge).
• Irthlingborough Rd Bridge, nr Kangaroo Spinney (https://goo.gl/maps/K8C8gkgvNaD2) is due to be demolished on Christmas Day.

Wellingborough (65m 09ch) - Kettering (72m 01ch)

• Extensive 4-tracking laid (except at points where existing infrastructure has to be moved).
• Finedon Rd Bridge, closed from 22/3 to 28/9 to allow reconstruction for OLE, should now have reopened.
• At least 6 TTC masts (with booms) are now in position between Finedon Rd Bridge and the curve to the south of Harrowden Junction. These are mainly on the Fast side; work has now commenced on installing Slow side equivalents.
• TTCs stretch north from Wellingborough Yards over the Fast lines as far north as the Weetabix factory (north of Burton Latimer). A couple of gaps remain where old equipment has to be removed e.g. the signal gantry at Harrowden Jct.
• Progress on the Slows is now much more advanced, perhaps level-pegging with the Fasts.
• A number of TTCs have now appeared over the Slows near Wellingborough Yards, along with masts for MPA Portals.
• 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.
• Several piles are now in at the south end of Kettering Yard.
• Ground clearance works ongoing at Kettering Yard; the yard will be electrified as part of an EMU stabling facility.

Kettering (72m 01ch) - Glendon Jct (74m 00ch) - Corby (79m 40ch)

• No activity yet at Kettering station - Platform extensions for the new EMU services are planned, and it is not yet known if canopy works will need to be undertaken.
• Between Kettering station & the A43, a number of piles are now in on the Slow side between the A43 bridge (nr Prologis Park) & the A6003 (Northampton Rd) bridge.
• 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. Unclear of progress with piling/masts on the Main line north of Glendon Junction.
• 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 handful of masts (~10) are now up in the Great Oakley area, halfway between Glendon Jct & Corby. All are single track cantilevers.

North of Glendon Jct (74m 00ch)

• Braybrooke Substation approved. To be located here: (https://goo.gl/maps/fuy1uZeDjdQ2).
• The extent of wiring towards Market Harboro' has been all but decided to reach the station itself.

Any updates would be greatly appreciated.

 

[corsaVXR]

about three portals, and a couple of masts have appeared south of Oakley next to the A6. As far as i can tell, where the masts are, only 3 tracks are covered.

 

[59CosG95]

about three portals, and a couple of masts have appeared south of Oakley next to the A6. As far as i can tell, where the masts are, only 3 tracks are covered.

Is that around Clapham? Can't think of anywhere that would need a 3TC (i.e. a TTC spanning 3 tracks) on this section of the MML.

 

[WymoWanderer]

Is that around Clapham? Can't think of anywhere that would need a 3TC (i.e. a TTC spanning 3 tracks) on this section of the MML.

I have seen these portals on my travels - they've been there a couple of weeks. They're roughly here: https://goo.gl/maps/jWyA2gEK66S2.
Not sure how many of the lines they cover - I assumed it was all four but it is difficult to see when driving past at 70mph!

 

[londonmidland]

Where the Corby branch and Midland Mainline diverge off at, a number of single track cantilevers have been erected on the Corby line. Not sure how far round the bend they go.

Also, a number of TTC’s have gone up opposite Wellingborough yard on the slows with single track cantilevers ‘attached’ to the TTC, facing the yard.

Apologies for the fairly basic explanation and if this has already been mentioned.

 

[59CosG95]

Electrification Progress around Bedford over Christmas:
1) https://flic.kr/p/2dNpcnt - looking south from Bromham Rd Bridge.
2) https://flic.kr/p/2dHUf5f - looking south from Bromham Rd Bridge (zoomed in).
3) https://flic.kr/p/2b2Rq6s - looking north from Bromham Rd Bridge.
4) https://flic.kr/p/2dHUfpd - looking north from Bromham Rd Bridge (zoomed in).

Most steelwork visible from Bromham Rd Bridge is now up; south of the bridge, 1 TTC over the Fast lines is missing its boom, and a number of masts north of the bridge are missing booms too. Note that the heavy-duty portal south of the bridge wil bear Tensorex drums. Others like it await their booms north of the bridge.

 

[InTheEastMids]

Looks like Wellingborough has been the main focus for Christmas on this project... NR page linked below had video of replacement of Wellingborough North Junction:

https://www.networkrailmediacentre....oject-to-improve-railway-in-northamptonshire#

 

[38Cto15E]

Thanks for the link IntheEastMids, very high quality definition. The track guys do a brilliant job whilst we are tucked up in bed or eating our Christmas Turkey.
Would there be a speed restriction through the junction until it settles down, or is there no need?

 

[WymoWanderer]

I have seen these portals on my travels - they've been there a couple of weeks. They're roughly here: https://goo.gl/maps/jWyA2gEK66S2.

Just been past the same site today (A6 Clapham bypass). There appears to be at least two more portals installed in this area. The three earlier installed ones now have drop poles installed too.
With the five portals the appearance is quite brutalist imho.

 

[futureA]

Can somebody explain the point of only electrifying half the line?

 

[class26]

Try Mr C Grayling

 

[pitdiver]

My wife, who works in Bedford said she is really looking forward to when the work starts on the Bromham Rd bridge. The Ford End Rd works caused enough disruption in the area. Bromham Rd is far busier than Ford End Rd.

 

[InTheEastMids]

Can somebody explain the point of only electrifying half the line?

Because NR has run out of money to do the rest, having failed to deliver many and varied electrification schemes in the current regulatory period.

However what will get done enables EMT commuter focused services from Corby-London to switch to EMUs and the Sheffield/Nottingham services to switch to bimodes, thus ending diesel use between Kettering and St Pancras.

 

[londonmidland]

I’m sure a lot has happened since my last flying visit to Bedford (29th December) given the engineering works etc, but from what I could see off the train, in very dark conditions, there have been twin track cantilevers erected to the south of the station. Effectively closing the ‘gap’ between BR electrification and modern electrification.

It’ll be interesting to see how they will join both up.

 

[59CosG95]

I’m sure a lot has happened since my last flying visit to Bedford (29th December) given the engineering works etc, but from what I could see off the train, in very dark conditions, there have been twin track cantilevers erected to the south of the station. Effectively closing the ‘gap’ between BR electrification and modern electrification.

It’ll be interesting to see how they will join both up.

There'll probably be a single overlap between the two types of system - Tensorex equipped UKMS finishing just south of the BWA (Balance Weight Anchor) equipped Mk3b BR-era OLEMI system's northern limit.

 

[richieb1971]

4/1/19

Some pics I took today.

Looking south towards Bedford Midland from Lower Farm Road, Bromham. And then looking north.



Looking south at Oakley station cottages, looks like the alignment of the slow lines is definitely staying put.

Looking north from Oakley station cottages


Milton Ernest looking south



Radwell looking north in differing stages of zoom.






Sharnbrook Junction - Looking north - No 4th track instated as yet

 

[richieb1971]

Sharnbrook Looking South -



Various pictures at Souldrop. Only bridge and looking south as there is zero visibility looking north. First pic is from temp bridge looking at reconstructed road bridge.

 

[InTheEastMids]

Updated Enhancement Delivery plan observations for MML
- p31 bullet about platform extensions North of Leicester had been removed
- p32 the final bullet about longer trains, the text had changed from "reduce crowding on MML... between London and Nottingham and Sheffield" to "reduce crowding on MML ... Between London and Market Harborough and Corby"

- p34 Key Output 1a: bullets about LDHS train lengthening by March 2023 have been removed

- p39 in the September EDP has disappeared, seeming to confirm that platform lengthening at Long Eaton, East Midlands Parkway, Beeston, Chesterfield and Sheffield has been cancelled.

 

[59CosG95]

Updated Enhancement Delivery plan observations for MML
- p31 bullet about platform extensions North of Leicester had been removed
- p32 the final bullet about longer trains, the text had changed from "reduce crowding on MML... between London and Nottingham and Sheffield" to "reduce crowding on MML ... Between London and Market Harborough and Corby"

- p34 Key Output 1a: bullets about LDHS train lengthening by March 2023 have been removed

- p39 in the September EDP has disappeared, seeming to confirm that platform lengthening at Long Eaton, East Midlands Parkway, Beeston, Chesterfield and Sheffield has been cancelled.

Well that seems to be very drear indeed. So much for the "biggest upgrade" (north of Kettering anyway).

 

[WymoWanderer]

Not sure if it was in the previous EDP but on page 39 it states the Market Harborough Line Speed Improvement "Rolling stock modelled will include Class 222 and Class 395". Perhaps that would confirm wires are going to go all the way to Market Harborough now.