NR CP5 Enhancements Plan - Draft version published 18 Dec 13

[swt_passenger]

As above really...

Effectively an update to the previous 'overarching enhancements plan'

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/delivery-plans/control-period-5/draft-cp5-delivery-plan/

150 pages to scan through. Final version should be ready in March, if similar milestones to CP4 are in place...

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

As above really...
Effectively an update to the previous 'overarching enhancements plan'
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/delivery-plans/control-period-5/draft-cp5-delivery-plan/
150 pages to scan through. Final version should be ready in March, if similar milestones to CP4 are in place...

Disappointing.
All the electrification milestones have this qualification:

It should be noted that an efficient profiling workstream is considering all electrification
projects and the outcome of this workstream may result in reprofiling the delivery dates of
some electrification projects.

This seems to me code for "we've got too much work on".
Also still no detail on the Electric Spine project and several others.
I did see NR was assuming Class 319s would be used "initially" for Thames Valley electric services.

 

[tbtc]

Disappointing.
All the electrification milestones have this qualification:

This seems to me code for "we've got too much work on"

...yet apparently we can electrify Bolton - Wigan (plus possibly "GOBLIN" and to Windermere, and maybe even Middlesbrough/ Crewe etc) - all of which came after the CP5 announcement?

Though, at the same time, some of the Valley Lines and the MML to Sheffield may be in the 2020s and not inside CP5 - one minute there's too much to wire, next there's an announcement about even more electrification... confusing!

 

[swt_passenger]

...yet apparently we can electrify Bolton - Wigan (plus possibly "GOBLIN" and to Windermere, and maybe even Middlesbrough/ Crewe etc) - all of which came after the CP5 announcement?

That (last week) was only an announcement about NR being asked to investigate adding those listed routes, there's not been anything to suggest they would overtake anything previously mentioned for CP5 in terms of priorities, or order of work...

 

[Goldfish62]

I see it says that the Class 458/5s will be delivered between July 2013 and May 2014... So that's 34 more units to be delivered in the next five months....

Just shows how horrendously late the programme is running.

 

[bluenoxid]

I'm more impressed by the plans to eradicate 92's off the ECML to avoid ERTMS fitment by 2020

 

[YorkshireBear]

I'm more impressed by the plans to eradicate 92's off the ECML to avoid ERTMS fitment by 2020

Haha someone hit the wrong key!

 

[tbtc]

That (last week) was only an announcement about NR being asked to investigate adding those listed routes, there's not been anything to suggest they would overtake anything previously mentioned for CP5 in terms of priorities, or order of work...

I thought that the Bolton - Wigan route was planned for CP5 though? (whilst other CP5 plans may not be done as soon as initially thought)

 

[YorkshireBear]

Bolton Wigan can be added to NW as everything is in the area. Starting a new scheme and moving everything across the entire country takes more time.

 

[northwichcat]

I did see NR was assuming Class 319s would be used "initially" for Thames Valley electric services.

And in 4 and 8 car formations so they are planning for any reformed 319s to be used in that area (Porterbrook unveiled an option to allow some of them to be reformed in to 3 carriage trains.)

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

A closer look at the section on the Electric Spine reveals a two-pace approach.

Firstly the East-West project is planned to complete March 2019 (ie an electrified Oxford-Bletchley route).

The MML electrification project completes as follows:
December 2017 - Bedford-Kettering-Corby
December 2019 - Kettering-Nottingham/Derby
December 2020 - Derby-Sheffield
These include various MML capacity upgrades.

The remaining work is described as a development project, not one to deliver.

These projects have been prioritised for development:
Leamington-Coventry (upgrade and electrification)
Leicester upgrade (Syston-Wigston)
Sheffield-ECML electrification
Reading-Basingstoke electrification

Leaving these electrification projects for later development:
Nuneaton-Coventry
Leamington-Oxford
Bletchley-Bedford
Basingstoke-Southampton DC-AC conversion

I confess to be baffled at all this.
There is this nugget in the text (my bold):

To this end, the DfT have said that they would like to create an electrified network over two
Control Periods which;
 improves rail industry efficiency and value for money;
 improves connectivity by reducing journey times, increasing train carrying capacity and
creating new through journey opportunities;
 improves connectivity to the ports thereby making rail freight more competitive; and
 reduces the environmental footprint of rail.
The Electric Spine will be a new 25kV electrified passenger and freight network from the
Solent, Thames Valley linking to the West and East Midlands to South Yorkshire.
In addition to electrification, the programme also includes a number of strategic capacity
enhancement schemes. The programme of works is expected to be implemented in a
phased approach, starting in CP5 but continuing into CP6 and potentially beyond.

 

[Eagle]

I think the Electric Spine boils down to this: those bits which provide benefit on their own (Reading to Basingstoke and Coventry to Leamington) are being prioritized, whereas those bits which only make sense as part of the whole spine (Oxford to Leamington and Basingstoke to Southampton) are being left till later.

 

[swt_passenger]

It's worth re-reading the way the 'Electric Spine' is described in the HLOS. What I hadn't remembered is that it starts off with a whole list of 'Committed Projects' - and then there's a separate Heading for the 'Spine' itself. However the HLOS text does read:

"The Secretary of State wishes the industry to develop and deliver within CP5 the major rail electrification and capability enhancement referred to as the ‘Electric Spine’..."

So perhaps we might have to assume that NR have negotiated their way out of the original DfT request, having worked out that is too difficult in the timescales? If so, let's see what the ORR's final determination has to say:

9.93 The Electric Spine is a new programme announced by DfT, and defined in the HLOS as “a high capacity passenger and freight electric corridor running from the South Coast through Oxford, Bedford and via the Midland Main Line to the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, with a link from Oxford to the West Midlands and the North-West”. Network Rail identified this as having uncertain scope and outputs at the time of its SBP submission. However, it did include the Midland Main Line (MML) electrification and remodelling of Derby station, both of which were further developed than the remaining programme. In its SBP, Network Rail proposed completion of the MML electrification in early CP6. In the consultation responses to the SBP, there was strong stakeholder challenge arguing that this should be accelerated so that full electrification to Sheffield is achieved in CP5.

9.94 Given that the MML electrification is further developed than other elements and has very strong operator support, we expect that there is opportunity to re-prioritise the roll-out of the programme, for example by bringing electrification to Sheffield into CP5.

9.95 We have set an assumed level of funding for the Electric Spine programme – including MML electrification and Derby station. It is now for Network Rail and operators to urgently progress the design and development work of the whole portfolio to define the best value outputs in CP5, taking into account rolling stock availability, schedule risks and efficient delivery in the context of a large amount of other electrification work in CP5.

Which partially validates what Eagle points out, but potentially goes back further to the fact that in the original Electrification RUS, it was assumed that the MML would be the next major wiring project, not the GWML. Hence I'd summarise this as NR have a whole load of development work already complete for the MML, and were thrown a bit off course by all the extra bits in the HLOS...

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Yes, a good summary.
I still think the electrification programme will be based around a small number of regional teams which will work round their patch with appropriate resources.
We will clearly have NW, GW, MML and EGIP teams running in parallel.
TP is not let yet and possibly might be given as an add-on for the NW team.
The awkward projects are the odd-ball lines unconnected to others, like Walsall-Rugeley and Barnt Green-Bromsgrove.
A proper Midlands team could do all this plus the Leamington-Oxford run, but seemingly this is on the back burner now.
Cardiff Valleys is another difficult one, as it won't be a HOPS project.

The HOPS system can only do one job at once, and there has been no hint that NR will buy a second system.

 

[WatcherZero]

The problem with the Electric Spine is its a political project aimed at freight, except the rail freight industry have said they would rather the work was done on the last miles to various freight yards rather than the MML and south coast link so NR hasnt been rushing to programme it, leaving Sheffield slipping into CP6 and the Government via ORR trying to force NR to do it in CP5.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Not only that freight kind of went, good. But. Felixstowe?

NR need to be realistic so that projects don't get done wrong, overrun or go over budget. Good on NR for putting their foot down.

 

[hwl]

The HOPS system can only do one job at once, and there has been no hint that NR will buy a second system.

They haven't had a chance to test the 1st one yet! If the first one performs as expected then it might be sensible to consider getting another. The forthcoming electrification RUS might be where they discuss getting another one and how this might effect time-scales and economics of projects.

 

[anthony263]

Hopefully like many others if the 1st HOOP train proves to be as sucessful as made out then a 2nd such train should be ordered as part of a national rolling electrification program.

I do remember reading somewhere which suggested the Cardiff Valleys would be wired by the team currently doing the north west electrification so if more lines are to be elecrified in the north west then yes there will be delays wiring the valley lines network although the Maesteg and Ebbw Vale branches should be wired by 2018