MML Electrification: progress updates

[londonmidland]

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.

Hello. Do you have the link to this article as I'd like to have a read through it. Thanks.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Sharnbrook Looking South -
...

Thank you for all these pics.
Perhaps I'm being paranoid-ish, but does anyone else, seeing these pics with the fourth line still waiting to be installed, and so late on, wonder ... could they possibly drop it in yet another last minute 'cost-cutting' move?

 

[WymoWanderer]

Hello. Do you have the link to this article as I'd like to have a read through it. Thanks.

Here you go.... https://cdn.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/EDP-December-2018.pdf which is linked from this page https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/publications-resources/our-plans-for-the-future/

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Here you go.... https://cdn.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/EDP-December-2018.pdf which is linked from this page https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/publications-resources/our-plans-for-the-future/

Which I have also put in the pinned electrification resources thread too at top of infrastructure home page

 

[InTheEastMids]

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.

More likely that the modelling was done before the MML electrification project went through the process of Graylingification.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

the process of Graylingification.

Oooh a new word- I love it.

 

[deltic08]

the process of Graylingification.

Oooh a new word- I love it.

Graylingfication rolls off the tongue better? Or should it be Furkingrayling?

 

[Grumbler]

Our electrification has got holes in it. The Holey Grayl!

 

[InTheEastMids]

I felt, when confronted with the unprecedented force of incompetence that is the current Secretary of State for Transport, that there wasn't a suitably cromulent word. So, it felt right to embiggen the language on this occasion.

 

[Senex]

Perhaps we might have a vote on some options:
"the MML electrification project went through the process of Graylingification"
"the MML electrification project went through the process of Graylingisation"
"the MML electrification project was Graylinged"
Any other ideas?

 

[InTheEastMids]

Perhaps we might have a vote on some options:
"the MML electrification project went through the process of Graylingification"
"the MML electrification project went through the process of Graylingisation"
"the MML electrification project was Graylinged"
Any other ideas?

To me they all look more or less like the same verb in different tenses?

 

[jyte]

Perhaps we might have a vote on some options:
"the MML electrification project went through the process of Graylingification"
"the MML electrification project went through the process of Graylingisation"
"the MML electrification project was Graylinged"
Any other ideas?

I think I might have invented Graylinged, but really not sure

 

[HowardGWR]

To me they all look more or less like the same verb in different tenses?

The first two are nouns, the last a verb and could be used as an adjective, as in "the graylinged electrification project'.

 

[Senex]

The first two are nouns, the last a verb and could be used as an adjective, as in "the graylinged electrification project'.

The first two could be nouns from verbs, the verbs being "graylingify" and "graylingise" respectively. Both perfectly good ways in the English language of forming new verbs, just as "to grayling" is a perfectly good English way of forming a verb from a noun. From the verb you then get the past participle "graylinged" which is a verbal adjective.

 

[edwin_m]

The first two could be nouns from verbs, the verbs being "graylingify" and "graylingise" respectively. Both perfectly good ways in the English language of forming new verbs, just as "to grayling" is a perfectly good English way of forming a verb from a noun. From the verb you then get the past participle "graylinged" which is a verbal adjective.

Many people on here would no doubt welcome the use of the word "grayling" only in the past tense.

 

[WymoWanderer]

Looks like the A45 westbound bridge over the MML is finally going to be done. This bridge was damaged by a car a couple of years back and has been narrowed with a 50 mph limit ever since. Painful whilst the work is done but at least when the eastbound bridge was built back in the eighties they had the foresight to make it high enough for the wires to go underneath.

https://www.networkrailmediacentre....rade-to-higham-road-bridge-and-changes-to-a45

Network Rail is inviting residents and businesses in Northamptonshire to attend one of two drop-in sessions to find out about plans to demolish and rebuild a section of Higham Road bridge, near Wellingborough.

The section of the bridge needs to be raised to allow for the safe clearance of overhead line equipment in anticipation of electrification of the route between London to Kettering and Corby via Bedford.

To allow the work to take place safely, the westbound section of the A45 will be closed from Monday 4 February 2019 until Wednesday 16 October 2019, when all traffic will use the eastbound carriageway. Network Rail is working closely with Highways England to co-ordinate the traffic management arrangements in the area.

Residents and businesses wishing to find out more about the work to the bridge and the traffic management arrangements, are invited to attend the information event being held on Friday 25 January at Swansgate Shopping Centre, Wellingborough between 09:00-17:00 or Rushden Lakes Shopping Centre between 09:00-15:00 on Saturday 26 January. Network Rail workers will be on hand to answer any questions which residents may have.

Network Rail Sponsor, Wendy Bell said: “We understand that closing a lane of the dual carriageway can be disruptive and we thank road users in advance for their patience. This work is part of the Midland Main Line Upgrade and is vital for the electrification of the route from London to Bedford.

“We are working closely with Highways England to keep disruption to a minimum and we apologise for any inconvenience which this work causes. I would encourage anyone wishing to find out more to attend one of the drop-in events, where we will be happy to answer any questions.”

Motorists are reminded that Irthlingborough Road bridge, Wellingborough also remains closed as part of further upgrades to the Midland Main Line.

 

[59CosG95]

MML Wiring Progressometer 21.0 (as of 17th of January 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.

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.
  
• Over the pointwork of Bedford North Jct (just north of Bromham Rd Bridge), the majority of masts now have booms (either TTC or Portal). SPS also starting to go up.
• 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.Significantly more steelwork up over the Slows than the Fasts.[/COLOR]
• 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).
• Between Irthlingborough Viaduct & I'borough Rd Bridge (i.e. the Kangaroo Spinney area), at least 10 TTC masts on each side of the line have gone up; about half of those on the Slow side have booms too.
• Irthlingborough Rd Bridge (https://goo.gl/maps/K8C8gkgvNaD2) should have been demolished on Christmas Day - confirmation as to whether it has would be welcome. A temporary footbridge has also been erected.

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.

 

[Flying Phil]

Thanks for the update 59CosG95.

 

[CdBrux]

How about the NR'd electrification projects, i.e. the seeming inability of NR to deliver them to time or budget, or even close to those.

 

[59CosG95]

How about the NR'd electrification projects, i.e. the seeming inability of NR to deliver them to time or budget, or even close to those.

It's not necessarily NR's fault alone - the principal designers, principal contractors & the various subcontractors also have parts to play in major projects such as large-scale electrification. The interfacing issues between each various organisation are very likely to be a contributory factor to delays.

 

[CdBrux]

NR manage the projects. If (the admittedly very much smaller) projects we have at work are late / overspent I don't think such reasons would carry much weight when trying to explain what went wrong! The only thing NR have for them is a lack of experience for both them and the subcontractors.

 

[Jozhua]

NR manage the projects. If (the admittedly very much smaller) projects we have at work are late / overspent I don't think such reasons would carry much weight when trying to explain what went wrong! The only thing NR have for them is a lack of experience for both them and the subcontractors.

Exactly why electrification should be carried out slow and steady like in every other country! Even 100/200 track miles per year for the next 10 years would electrify a significant amount of the network.

 

[edwin_m]

Exactly why electrification should be carried out slow and steady like in every other country! Even 100/200 track miles per year for the next 10 years would electrify a significant amount of the network.

It's noticeble that the electrification in Scotland, run by NR but on just this basis, has had far fewer problems of delay and overspend than in England and Wales.

 

[CdBrux]

Exactly why electrification should be carried out slow and steady like in every other country! Even 100/200 track miles per year for the next 10 years would electrify a significant amount of the network.

That I would agree to, I would hope plans are still in place enough for this to be the case.

 

[Jozhua]

It's crazy how a successful program can be running under the same leadership just across the border yet it's going so wrong just below it!

Manchester-Bolton has been delayed for 2+ years and despite all the infrastructure seeming to be in place, no electric trains are running under it yet...

Gvmt needs to stop trying to electrify thousands of miles in short timescales and then cancelling it as soon as the budget (unsurprisingly) spirals! In comparison to other major projects, putting up some poles and dangling some wires off it shouldn't be that hard. A modern railway needs to run electrically, while bi-modes are great for making sure the current infrastructure is used to it's full potential, it's the only sensible option for a fast, quiet and environmentally friendly network that attracts as many new passengers as possible!

 

[edwin_m]

It's crazy how a successful program can be running under the same leadership just across the border yet it's going so wrong just below it!

Manchester-Bolton has been delayed for 2+ years and despite all the infrastructure seeming to be in place, no electric trains are running under it yet...

Gvmt needs to stop trying to electrify thousands of miles in short timescales and then cancelling it as soon as the budget (unsurprisingly) spirals! In comparison to other major projects, putting up some poles and dangling some wires off it shouldn't be that hard. A modern railway needs to run electrically, while bi-modes are great for making sure the current infrastructure is used to it's full potential, it's the only sensible option for a fast, quiet and environmentally friendly network that attracts as many new passengers as possible!

Absolutely - but it cuts both ways. Nor should the government give up on electrification simply because these schemes have gone wrong (that's not a political point, three compexions of government each have a share of the blame). It should be allowed to continue at a steady rate with close monitoring of how costs and timescales are (hopefully) coming down.

 

[Jozhua]

Absolutely - but it cuts both ways. Nor should the government give up on electrification simply because these schemes have gone wrong (that's not a political point, three compexions of government each have a share of the blame). It should be allowed to continue at a steady rate with close monitoring of how costs and timescales are (hopefully) coming down.

Absolutely, Grayling needs to actually tap into his "conservative" side and start managing resources effectively!

 

[Geogregor]

Graying needs to actually tap into his "conservative" side and start managing resources effectively!

Forget about it, Graying would be unable to manage piss up in a brewery....

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Absolutely, Grayling needs to actually tap into his "conservative" side and start managing resources effectively!

Forget about it, Graying would be unable to manage piss up in a brewery....

—— or an orgy in a brothel!

 

[Jozhua]

—— or an orgy in a brothel!

Agreed! Maybe it's time to devolve power to more local powers who understand what they're doing better, like Transport for the North and TFGM, maybe set up a body to manage the midlands/south as well.

Also there should be a national electrification team set up to work on electrifying lines in a steady and cost effective way and allowing them to slowly build up a workforce with the skills to do so!