Werrington grade separation updates

[jfowkes]

Are there any new services or timetable changes coming up that make use of the freed capacity north of Peterborough?

 

[Bald Rick]

Are there any new services or timetable changes coming up that make use of the freed capacity north of Peterborough?

That’s the deferred ECML recast...

 

[quantinghome]

That’s the deferred ECML recast...

I understand that additional upgrades, particularly to power supply, are needed before the train frequency can be increased.

 

[Freightmaster]

Apparently 4E25 Bow to Heck and 4E20 Felixstowe to Masborough used it aswell

All down freights since 3pm have been using the diveunder, but nothing whatsoever in the up direction,
so presumably the up line has not been approved for use at this point in time?




MARK

 

[Bald Rick]

I understand that additional upgrades, particularly to power supply, are needed before the train frequency can be increased.

The recast was due in May, the power supply could accommodate it.

 

[swt_passenger]

All down freights since 3pm have been using the diveunder, but nothing whatsoever in the up direction,
so presumably the up line has not been approved for use at this point in time?

There were no limitations in the ORR authorisation letter, of course that doesn’t mean there can’t have been a subsequent fault. Maybe tomorrow…

 

[zwk500]

There were no limitations in the ORR authorisation letter, of course that doesn’t mean there can’t have been a subsequent fault. Maybe tomorrow…

Slightly stupid question, but how much was booked that could have used it?

 

[Freightmaster]

Slightly stupid question, but how much was booked that could have used it?

Just these two on a Monday afternoon:

4L87 - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H64627/2021-11-29/detailed
4L08 - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H15028/2021-11-29/detailed

(all other 'up' freight services are GBRf intermodals which are booked to call at Peterborough yard)




MARK

 

[quantinghome]

The recast was due in May, the power supply could accommodate it.

Power supply was one of the reasons given in the press when the recast was shelved, along with Azuma-related issues. Is that not the true story?

 

[59CosG95]

Just these two on a Monday afternoon:

4L87 - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H64627/2021-11-29/detailed
4L08 - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:H15028/2021-11-29/detailed

(all other 'up' freight services are GBRf intermodals which are booked to call at Peterborough yard)




MARK

AIUI, GBRf are moving to March specifically for increased use of the dive-under.

 

[buz33]

4L28 has used the up line today

.

 

[Bald Rick]

Power supply was one of the reasons given in the press when the recast was shelved, along with Azuma-related issues. Is that not the true story?

It was true then, but it’s been sorted.

 

[59CosG95]

It was true then, but it’s been sorted.

The Azuma issues, or the power supply at Grantham/Retford, or both?

 

[GB]

AIUI, GBRf are moving to March specifically for increased use of the dive-under.

GBRf already have a presence at March but doubtful they will move all operation there, they have just spent a lot of money on upgrading and increasing stabling facilities at Peterborough. March also cannot handle full size intermodals and its maintenance facility would soon be over run.

 

[Bald Rick]

The Azuma issues, or the power supply at Grantham/Retford, or both?

The latter.

 

[helpstonjctn]

I enjoyed watching 66221 on 4L45 being 'overpassed' by 1E09 and 1A28 on the DF and UF lines just after 1pm today.

A seemingly knowledgeable local chap told me that an OTP went through the dive under in the very early hours of Sunday to make final checks, and then apparently the first real action was a freight sometime on Sunday morning.

Not sure how accurate this claim is, but looking at RTT the only candidate appears to be 6Y70 Biggleswade-Belmont Down Yard:

Realtime Trains - 693L 0900 Biggleswade to Belmont Down Yard

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

However, this posts a time for Werrington Jctn as usual, so perhaps not?

Shame the entry into service has been quite so unceremonious.

 

[norbitonflyer]

4L28 has used the up line today

.View attachment 106328

That's interesting. If the passenger service, 2K10, also used the diveunder a crossing movement would have been avoided

 

[zwk500]

That's interesting. If the passenger service, 2K10, also used the diveunder a crossing movement would have been avoided

According to Realtimetrains, it departed from platform 2 so to use the diveunder would have involved crossing 3 lines on the ECML instead of 1 line on the GNGE.

Realtime Trains - 2K10 1028 Peterborough to Doncaster

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[norbitonflyer]

According to Realtimetrains, it departed from platform 2 so to use the diveunder would have involved crossing 3 lines on the ECML instead of 1 line on the GNGE.

Realtime Trains - 2K10 1028 Peterborough to Doncaster

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Ah, of course. I forgot the Spalding services use the easternmost line between Peterborough and Werrington Junction, so a crossing movement was unavoidable whether or not the freight used the diveunder.

 

[RichE]

I enjoyed watching 66221 on 4L45 being 'overpassed' by 1E09 and 1A28 on the DF and UF lines just after 1pm today.

A seemingly knowledgeable local chap told me that an OTP went through the dive under in the very early hours of Sunday to make final checks, and then apparently the first real action was a freight sometime on Sunday morning.

Not sure how accurate this claim is, but looking at RTT the only candidate appears to be 6Y70 Biggleswade-Belmont Down Yard:

Realtime Trains - 693L 0900 Biggleswade to Belmont Down Yard

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

However, this posts a time for Werrington Jctn as usual, so perhaps not?

Shame the entry into service has been quite so unceremonious.

Sources tell me there is to be an official/ceremonial opening, not sure of the date but I suspect it may be next week.

 

[DelW]

Sources tell me there is to be an official/ceremonial opening, not sure of the date but I suspect it may be next week.

Possibly including a day out for sundry politicians, who will be photographed wearing spotless hi-vis and entirely superfluous hard hats?

 

[norbitonflyer]

Possibly including a day out for sundry politicians, who will be photographed wearing spotless hi-vis and entirely superfluous hard hats?

And no doubt trumpeting how much cheaper this upgrade was than the HS2's extension of HS2 to Yorkshire they canned last month. (But not mentioning that it provides a far smaller improvement in capacity)
The editorial in this week's RAIL makes interesting reading

 

[adamedwards]

Curious to see if the use of the diveunder will result in improved performance by the passenger trains as just fewer trains in the way?

 

[TheHSRailFan]

Curious to see if the use of the diveunder will result in improved performance by the passenger trains as just fewer trains in the way?

Basically, yeah. Its purpose is so freight coming from Anglia way don't block the mainline causing delays.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I understand that additional upgrades, particularly to power supply, are needed before the train frequency can be increased.

It was true then, but it’s been sorted.

I was going to say - I thought south of Bawtry all was done on ECML PSU1?

 

[59CosG95]

I was going to say - I thought south of Bawtry all was done on ECML PSU1?

The bare minimum to allow enough Azumas to run (AT between Welwyn & Hitchin, Boosterless Classic from Wood Green to Bawtry (exc. Hertford Loop), new feeder at Essendine) has been completed. Most of the bog-standard TSCs/MPTSCs have been upgraded; only the feeders remain ongoing. These are at:

• Wood Green (London, adj to Bounds Green Depot)
• Little Barford (Beds/Cambs border);
• Nene & Bretton (Peterborough; the work at Bretton hasn't even started yet due to land ownership hurdles. Nene's supply will be diverted to Bretton, with Nene removed);
• Bytham (Lincs, between Essendine & Stoke Tunnel; the existing building was planned for re-use but a new one is supposedly replacing the old)
• Grantham North (Lincs, just south of Peascliff Tunnel; this is one of the 'power problem' sites);
• Retford (Notts, north of the station; this is the other 'power problem' site).

Additionally, Biggleswade MPTSC is not quite finished (NR are still decidong whether or not to keep the neutral section), and Tallington TSC is yet to be removed (which requires Bretton FS to be conpleted first).

 

[TheBigD]

Can anyone confirm whether today's (05/12/21) Hull Trains 1H03 1418 Peterborough to Hull used the dive under please?
It would appear so from watching it on traksy as it appeared to use the down Stamford before appearing on the Spalding line. Confirmation that it was the first in passenger train through the dive under would be appreciated.

 

[Shwam3]

Can anyone confirm whether today's (05/12/21) Hull Trains 1H03 1418 Peterborough to Hull used the dive under please?
It would appear so from watching it on traksy as it appeared to use the down Stamford before appearing on the Spalding line. Confirmation that it was the first in passenger train through the dive under would be appreciated.

Yes, 1H03 used it at 14:44 today.

From my train describer logs, PB0499 is the diveunder signal:

[05/12/21 14:41:09] CA 1H03 PB0471 PB0475
[05/12/21 14:42:06] CA 1H03 PB0475 PB0485
[05/12/21 14:42:46] CA 1H03 PB0485 PB0499
[05/12/21 14:44:32] CA 1H03 PB0499 PB7007
[05/12/21 14:45:26] CA 1H03 PB7007 PB7009

 

[TheBigD]

Yes, 1H03 used it at 14:44 today.

Cheers!

 

[swt_passenger]

Can anyone confirm whether today's (05/12/21) Hull Trains 1H03 1418 Peterborough to Hull used the dive under please?
It would appear so from watching it on traksy as it appeared to use the down Stamford before appearing on the Spalding line. Confirmation that it was the first in passenger train through the dive under would be appreciated.

In addition to the earlier explanation taken from the signalling logs, you can also see it on RTT as with the initial freights a few days ago. The thing to look for, as well as the down Stamford line use, is “no report” at Werrington Junction.