Scottish Electrification updates & discussion

[385001]

Class 385 confirmed as running on the Shotts line today as per ScotRail Twitter.

https://twitter.com/ScotRail/status/1120601945855725568

Brand new #Class385 Express trains have arrived on our Edinburgh - Glasgow Central via Shotts route. #Trainsformation

 

[d9009alycidon]

Unit 385019 worked/will work the following

2Y60 0715 Glasgow Central to Edinburgh
1Y75 0858 Edinburgh to Glasgow Central
2Y52 1016 Glasgow Central to Edinburgh
1Y81 1157 Edinburgh to Glasgow Central
2Y44 1316 Glasgow Central to Edinburgh
1Y87 1457 Edinburgh to Glasgow Central
2Y50 1616 Glasgow Central to Edinburgh
2Y51 1755 Edinburgh to Glasgow Central

 

[edwin_m]

Wow, that was fast given that they only turned Shotts on about three weeks ago.

But the actual construction was finished well before that and the design even earlier.

 

[najaB]

But the actual construction was finished well before that and the design even earlier.

True, but I doubt everyone involved has since retired.

 

[Fougasse]

True, but I doubt everyone involved has since retired.

I didn't say retired, although some may well have.
There are no major electrification programmes ongoing in Scotland now and very few electrification resources still being utilised here.
Elsewhere, GWEP (South Wales) and NWEP (North-West) are drawing down and laying off personnel and equipment. The only major electrification project in the UK (as far as I am aware) that is still in "full swing" is Midland Mainline.

 

[13h202]

There is no other infrastructure needed as electrification clearance was done at the outset. It would just be straight simple electrification being fed from Millerhill Yard and isolation/neutral section so saves on a feeder station. The cheapest 30 miles, some 18 miles single track, of electrification in Scotland and almost shovel ready?
If the line was closed with rail replacement buses like Preston-Blackpool, it could be wired and energised in 4 months.

Exactly. It's a no-brainer really and would save a significant amount of pollution as well as improving punctuality/reliability along the ECML.

Just by electrifying the line and not extending the double track (though of course doing both is preferable), could any more services be timetabled?

I read somewhere on here that electrifying it would allow for 40/45min journey times under the current track arrangements but anything further would require more double track. I believe there is the capacity for more double track between just after the Hardengreen Viaduct and just before Gorebridge, as well a significant distance between Falahill and Stow.

Class 385 confirmed as running on the Shotts line today as per ScotRail Twitter.

https://twitter.com/ScotRail/status/1120601945855725568

That must have been a pleasant surprise for the regular commuters this morning! They are a transformational step up from the 156s and 158s.

 

[317 forever]

I rode the Edinburgh - Glasgow electrifications via both Cumbernauld and Falkirk High over Easter.

I can understand the lines to Barrhead, Kilmarnock and Stranraer not being electrified, and maybe East Kilbride too. I am now surprised that there seem to be no plans to electrify the line to Anniesland via Summerston.

I identified an interesting distinction between Scotland, England and Wales. It seems that Scotland has a large amount of rail mileage electrified, England has a smaller amount of rail mileage electrified but Wales still has no electric trains in service, until next January.

 

[CEN60]

Exactly. It's a no-brainer really and would save a significant amount of pollution as well as improving punctuality/reliability along the ECML.

I read somewhere on here that electrifying it would allow for 40/45min journey times under the current track arrangements but anything further would require more double track. I believe there is the capacity for more double track between just after the Hardengreen Viaduct and just before Gorebridge, as well a significant distance between Falahill and Stow.

That must have been a pleasant surprise for the regular commuters this morning! They are a transformational step up from the 156s and 158s.

Travelled on the 1615 from Central Last Week - what a difference than the usual 156 or 158 Cattle truck!!! There were even empty seats, which was a surprise given the number of Hitatchi Techs that were on the train! (Shame there is no 1st class though) - It sat at UDD on the WCML for 2 mins, I'm assuming because it bolted there rather quickly and was ahead of the 156 scheduled arrival!

 

[clc]

Interesting comment from Transport Scotland’s Director of Rail:

He adds that his rolling stock team is actively engaged with research regarding alternative fuel trains and is exploring options for trials and deployment. They were recently demonstrated a class 230 battery train by Vivarail in Scotland. However, he has his doubts about wide-reaching deployment of these types of vehicles.

“Fuel cell and battery trains, as promising as they are, for the next five to 10 years are going to be more expensive to buy and operate than diesels and they can't match the performance characteristics of diesels,” Reeve says. “Whereas in some places they are seen as an alternative to electrification, we see in hard numbers, that they strengthen the case for electrification.”

https://www.railjournal.com/in_depth/devolution-delivers-scotland/

 

[ScottDarg]

Grangemouth is likely to get it's first regular electric-hauled service from this weekend.

DRS/Stobart are to launch a new service between Grangemouth and Daventry (final destination being Tilbury) on Friday/Saturday and the motive power has been described as "state-of-the-art locomotives" - presumably Class 88s.

Press release: https://www.forthports.co.uk/latest...t-link-from-tilbury-to-grangemouth-announced/

4Z40 Daventry - Grangemouth on Friday 28/06 (runs overnight into Saturday): http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R03168/2019/06/28/advanced

4Z41 Grangemouth - Daventry on Saturday 29/06: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R03169/2019/06/29/advanced

 

[59CosG95]

Grangemouth is likely to get it's first regular electric-hauled service from this weekend.

DRS/Stobart are to launch a new service between Grangemouth and Daventry (final destination being Tilbury) on Friday/Saturday and the motive power has been described as "state-of-the-art locomotives" - presumably Class 88s.

Press release: https://www.forthports.co.uk/latest...t-link-from-tilbury-to-grangemouth-announced/

4Z40 Daventry - Grangemouth on Friday 28/06 (runs overnight into Saturday): http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R03168/2019/06/28/advanced

4Z41 Grangemouth - Daventry on Saturday 29/06: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R03169/2019/06/29/advanced

Fantastic news! Assuming that DB Cargo still have the contract to run 4S49 & 4M30, one would hope that they stick 90s on those workings...

 

[ScottDarg]

88001 worked the inaugural services between Grangemouth / Daventry.

I captured it returning South through Coatbridge Central this afternoon but it was running on diesel. Image on Facebook shows it did have the pan up at Camelon at least when arriving this morning.

 

[InOban]

There was a power failure at Camelon, according to the ScotRail Twitter.

 

[Bassman]

Excuse my ignorance, but wondered has electrification on Scottish lines ceased?

 

[59CosG95]

Excuse my ignorance, but wondered has electrification on Scottish lines ceased?

Yes - the planned projects from CP5 have all now been completed, and Transport Scotland haven't yet announced any further projects.

 

[farci]

Yes - the planned projects from CP5 have all now been completed, and Transport Scotland haven't yet announced any further projects.

The Scottish Govt is thinking about a Borders railway electrification
https://www.scotsman.com/news/trans...ns-to-electrify-the-borders-railway-1-4948207

 

[Bassman]

Yes - the planned projects from CP5 have all now been completed, and Transport Scotland haven't yet announced any further projects.

Thank you, that what I expected, unfortunately.
Does anyone know what happens to the teams who delivered the electrification, are they laid off, redeployed?
It seems wasteful to lose expertise.

 

[Bassman]

The Scottish Govt is thinking about a Borders railway electrification
https://www.scotsman.com/news/trans...ns-to-electrify-the-borders-railway-1-4948207

Yes that seems a positive realisable step!
I would have thought extending Dunblane to Perth then Dundee was also a possibility, but then I believe work has to be done at Perth on track configuration first.

 

[najaB]

I would have thought extending Dunblane to Perth then Dundee was also a possibility, but then I believe work has to be done at Perth on track configuration first.

There is more than a little track configuration work due to happen at Perth. More like a complete rebuild of the station and station area.

 

[Bassman]

There is more than a little track configuration work due to happen at Perth. More like a complete rebuild of the station and station area.

Thanks! So that basically means a brake on electrification to the north until that is done and dusted.

 

[Southsider]

Yes that seems a positive realisable step!
I would have thought extending Dunblane to Perth then Dundee was also a possibility, but then I believe work has to be done at Perth on track configuration first.

I’d have thought completion of the Glasgow suburban network would be more of a priority. Having built up momentum on Whiflett, Cumbernauld and Shotts it’s very disappointing to see the rolling programme come to an end. It’s possible that some of the OLE team are working on maintenance jobs at the moment.

 

[najaB]

Thanks! So that basically means a brake on electrification to the north until that is done and dusted.

Not necessarily. Edinburgh nortwards towards Aberdeen is still on the cards (once we figure out the pesky little Forth Bridge problem).

 

[Clansman]

Thanks! So that basically means a brake on electrification to the north until that is done and dusted.

One would presume that this would be done in conjunction with electrification, as doing it without electrification would essentially double the disruption and double the number of line blockades. In other words, when electrification comes the lines will be blocked anyways, so it's better to get it over and done with in one block of work, which I imagine would take months.

 

[route101]

I’d have thought completion of the Glasgow suburban network would be more of a priority. Having built up momentum on Whiflett, Cumbernauld and Shotts it’s very disappointing to see the rolling programme come to an end. It’s possible that some of the OLE team are working on maintenance jobs at the moment.

Yes , ek line , apparently something is in the pipeline for ek . Believe it when I see it.

 

[Southsider]

Yes , ek line , apparently something is in the pipeline for ek . Believe it when I see it.

I understand the project encompasses EK and Barrhead. There was a bit of publicity a while back when some 156s were retained to allow six car working in the peaks (which has happened) but all gone quiet since.

 

[Bassman]

Not necessarily. Edinburgh nortwards towards Aberdeen is still on the cards (once we figure out the pesky little Forth Bridge problem).

I thought the Forth Bridge was a major problem. It appears Perth and the Forth Bridge are significant obstacles in major further intercity electrification. from a central belt perspective.

I’d have thought completion of the Glasgow suburban network would be more of a priority.

I would agree if this was the case and resources and manpower maintained in continuity. However from a northern perspective, would not Aberdeen be a new centre of electrification, building out to Inverurie through Dyce on the new double tracks and with a tramtrain direct spur to Dyce Airport and other local stations, and also then south to Dundee. Aberdeen as our third city and also Dundee are surely lacking in rail infrastructure compared to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

 

[Legolash2o]

What's the next/current line to be electrified in Scotland during CP6?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

What's the next/current line to be electrified in Scotland during CP6?

You have just asked the $64000 question

 

[GLC]

I understand the project encompasses EK and Barrhead. There was a bit of publicity a while back when some 156s were retained to allow six car working in the peaks (which has happened) but all gone quiet since.

Presumably EK electrification would not happen without also doubling the track? Maybe that’s the reason for the prolonged silence

 

[Legolash2o]

You have just asked the $64000 question

Haha ok