East Kilbride/Barrhead electrification updates

[hexagon789]

Apparently the Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop was on the train for a photo op and soundbite

May well have been, but I didn't notice her.

 

[InOban]

https://twitter.com/transcotland/status/1732436058271334615?t=M3_L-AbMBED1KSNm2x3DbQ&s=19

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailSCOT/status/1732455775405011111?t=5gAApghQUvKSe037Q3w_sw&s=19

Tweets etc from NR Scotland and Transport Scotland

 

[OB23Gone]

Must apologize if I spoiled anyone's shots today for the First test run through Pollokshaws West this morning . I was the culprit at the Glasgow end of platform 1 with the High Viz. Didn't look as though there was anyone there for the occasion. Must echo praise of FJ's photo. Some from today

 

[hexagon789]

Must apologize if I spoiled anyone's shots today for the First test run through Pollokshaws West this morning . I was the culprit at the Glasgow end of platform 1 with the High Viz. Didn't look as though there was anyone there for the occasion. Must echo praise of FJ's photo. Some from today

As I mentioned above my mate and I were present at Pollokshaws West for both of 380114's runs earlier today; I think we saw @Frankton Junct but I'm afraid I didn't notice yourself unless your high vis caused you to blend into the Network Rail crowd doing some pruning over on 1.

My own efforts from today:

Face off in the Shaws

156502 + 156439 call at Pollokshaws West with 2J31 the 1128 East Kilbride - Glasgow Central, facing off the impending newcomer to the line on Barrhead terminators - here represented by 380114 - which will eventually see off Sprinters on the EK services too.

flic.kr

I desire a Desiro?

Four-car ScotRail class 380, 380114, passes slowly through Pollokshaws West on 2A98 the 1141 Glasgow Central to Barrhead test run. With wiring complete between Muirhouse and Barrhead, the hourly Barrhead terminator is set to be taken over by a four-car Class 380 electric from the winter...

flic.kr

Rounding the bend

380114 rounds the curve into Pollokshaws West with the return daytime test run to Barrhead and back - 2A99 1212 Barrhead - Glasgow Central. Electric operation of the Barrhead terminators commences on Sunday 10th December with the winter timetable change, though actual operation begins on Monday...

flic.kr

Buzzing through

380114 drifts gently through Pollokshaws West with the return daytime test run to Barrhead and back - 2A99 1212 Barrhead - Glasgow Central running under caution behind 2J11. Electric operation of the Barrhead terminators commences on Sunday 10th December with the winter timetable change, though...

flic.kr

Desiro drift

Passing cautiously through Pollokshaws West on a simgle yellow, 380114 runs on to the White Cart Water viaduct with the return daytime test run to Barrhead and back - 2A99 1212 Barrhead - Glasgow Central. Electric operation of the Barrhead terminators commences on Sunday 10th December with the...

flic.kr

(At least those I was happy enough with to post on my Flickr account.)

 

[snowball]

Press release

Transport Minister takes first electric passenger train on Glasgow-Barrhead line

Scotland’s Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, has today travelled on the first electric passenger service from Glasgow Central to Barrhead.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Scotland’s Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, has today travelled on the first electric passenger service from Glasgow Central to Barrhead.

The minister joined railway colleagues to travel on a ScotRail Class 380 in a final test of the new infrastructure ahead of the start of public passenger services from Monday, December 11.

The Glasgow-Barrhead Electrification Project is a £63m investment by the Scottish Government and is the latest phase of the rolling programme to decarbonise Scotland’s Railway passenger services.

Ms Hyslop said: “It’s fantastic to join industry partners today as we celebrate the first electric passenger train between Glasgow and Barrhead.

“This latest milestone in our rolling programme of electrification demonstrates this Scottish Government’s commitment to greener public transport as we work towards our low carbon economy and Net Zero goals.

“I’d also like to thank everyone involved in delivering this project and the investment it represents.”

Alex Hynes, managing director of Scotland’s Railway, said: “It’s a privilege to be able to welcome the Minister to travel on the first electric passenger train from Glasgow to Barrhead. We are incredibly proud to be delivering this project on behalf of the Scottish Government.

“Electric trains are faster and greener, offering a better travelling experience and they’re more reliable too. They encourage people to switch from road to rail and help us build on the railway’s reputation as one of the greenest forms of public transport.

“We look forward to welcoming the communities along the Barrhead line onto our electric network and will continue to further expand our decarbonisation of Scotland’s Railway in the years ahead.”

Over the last two years, Network Rail engineers have electrified over six miles of the railway and renewed 130 metres of track.

Major modifications have been carried out to bridges along the route, including the replacement of Nithsdale Road bridge at Strathbungo and the removal of the old lattice footbridge at Nitshill station.

Bridge sidewalls were raised in height at Kennishead and Priesthill and Darnley stations to make them compliant for an electrified railway.

----------------------------------------------

Curses! This will be automerged.

But rejoice, some info at last about bridgeworks on the EK line! Press release with video.

Engineers begin bridge enhancement works on East Kilbride railway line

Work begins this month to three railway bridges in Hairmyres as part of the East Kilbride enhancement project.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Work begins this month to three railway bridges in Hairmyres as part of the East Kilbride enhancement project.

This activity marks the start of the wider engineering works on the £139.8m electrification project as part of a Scottish Government investment to decarbonise passenger services.

Two bridges must be raised and re-decked to create the room required to run overhead powerlines beneath the structures.

Engineers will replace a bridge at Thornton Road from 11 December until 9 April 2024, with the structure closing to traffic and a diversionary route in place during this time.

Work to a footbridge close to Hairmyres station and neighbouring Eaglesham Court takes place from 11 December, with a footpath diversion in place until 21 February.

A third bridge near Thornton Farm which has been out of use for a number of years will be demolished.

Key elements of the works will take place over the Christmas and New Year holiday period during 29-hour periods of continuous working:

Removal and replacement of bridge at Thornton Road from 22:00hrs on 24 December until 07:00hrs on 26 December.
Removal and replacement of footbridge at Eaglesham Court from 22:00hrs on 24 December until 07:00hrs on 26 December.
Demolition of bridge near Thornton Farm from 22:00hrs on 31 December until 07:00hrs on 02 January.

*Works up to the morning of 26 December will completed ahead of Boxing Day train services. Please to check www.scotrail.co.uk for service information.

Gerry McQuade, Network Rail capital delivery director, said “The bridge works are the starting point for our two-year programme to deliver the East Kilbride enhancement project.

“After several months of planning, along with our contractor Story, the team’s excited to be on the ground as the bridge works get underway.

“The three bridges are the first of several structures we’ll be replacing or modifying along the line of route. This will allow the installation of the new overhead equipment that will power a greener and more reliable railway for our passengers and lineside neighbours.

“Given the scale of the engineering being delivered over the Christmas and New Year period, and the road closure and footpath diversion in place, we fully appreciate the patience and support of the community during this time.”

The East Kilbride enhancement project follows on from the recent electrification of the Glasgow - Barrhead line, with electric Class 380 trains being introduced on to this route from 11 December.

If you have any questions about the works, you can contact Network Rail’s 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41. For the latest information and progress updates follow on Twitter @NetworkRailScot or visit www.scotlandsrailway.com

 

[Southsider]

Press release

Transport Minister takes first electric passenger train on Glasgow-Barrhead line

Scotland’s Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, has today travelled on the first electric passenger service from Glasgow Central to Barrhead.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

----------------------------------------------

Curses! This will be automerged.

But rejoice, some info at last about bridgeworks on the EK line! Press release with video.

Engineers begin bridge enhancement works on East Kilbride railway line

Work begins this month to three railway bridges in Hairmyres as part of the East Kilbride enhancement project.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

It will be interesting to see what they do with these bridges as they are the same design as several others on the route including the two at Clarkston.

 

[Frankton Junct]

The first advertised service, 2A36, 0652 Glasgow Central to Barrhead, ran this morning.

 

[H&I]

I was on the first electric train in public service from Glasgow Central to Barrhead and back! The destination was not set on the train and there were no announcements whatsoever.

 

[Falcon1200]

Press release

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.c

[QUOTE="snowball, post: 6530340, m...senger-train-on-glasgow-barrhead-line[/QUOTE]

I wonder whether anyone thought to ask the Scotrail bigwigs 'why, having spent all this money, will only one electric train per hour actually run to Barrhead?'

The first advertised service, 2A36, 0652 Glasgow Central to Barrhead, ran this morning.

380107. However, it looks like that to provide a 4-car set for Barrhead, one of the three off-peak Neilston diagrams, formerly all 4-car Class 380, has been reduced to a 3-car, 380001 working the route today. Thanks Scotrail!

 

[Frankton Junct]

I wonder whether anyone thought to ask the Scotrail bigwigs 'why, having spent all this money, will only one electric train per hour actually run to Barrhead?'

There were two Barrhead stoppers per hour in the pre-Covid timetable. The post-Covid timetable has one limited stop and one all stations Kilmarnock per hour, which makes one of the Kilmarnock services uncompetitive with the bus.

380107. However, it looks like that to provide a 4-car set for Barrhead, one of the three off-peak Neilston diagrams, formerly all 4-car Class 380, has been reduced to a 3-car, 380001 working the route today. Thanks Scotrail!

The new timetable hasn't restored the two trains per hour evening frequency to East Kilbride, still only one train per hour, which really isn't frequent enough. Neighbours of mine used to use the train for day trips to Edinburgh. Now they drive because they don't want to wait 30+ minutes in Glasgow Central for their return train. The last time they used the train, they waited 20 mins in Glasgow for a bus (cancelled), another 20 minutes for a bus (boarding denied due to over crowding) and then another 20 mins for a bus they could board. Hanging around in the city centre at night is not the best experience.

 

[380101]

I was on the first electric train in public service from Glasgow Central to Barrhead and back! The destination was not set on the train and there were no announcements whatsoever.

I think they still have to do individual uploads on the 380s for new routes, so possible that the unit used this morning hadn't been done yet.

Conductors would normally do additional manual pa announcements on the Barrheads, but on 380s the manual pa announcement comes through on the speaker in the drivers cab if using a handset anywhere else on the train, and most drivers find it distracting - especially when the conductor drones on repeating what the auto announcements have just said!

 

[Southsider]

All that time and money for an underwhelming service - East Kilbride should have been done first (to suit me !!)

 

[Trainbike46]

http://

I wonder whether anyone thought to ask the Scotrail bigwigs 'why, having spent all this money, will only one electric train per hour actually run to Barrhead?']

I've seen this asked on social media several times. While I clearly don't speak for ScotGov, I do think it is fair to point out this is only the initial electric service, and more will come:
- A lot of the Barrhead track will be used for the East Kilbride services when that electrification project also finishes
- Hopefully they will return to pre-covid frequencies (2 tph to Barrhead, both electric) in the future
- When things progress with the Scotrail new trains order, the new trains will use the electrification on services that extend beyond Barrhead

The key point is that the infrastructure wasn't build just for the service today, but to last many years, hopefully with an improved service

 

[Falcon1200]

A lot of the Barrhead track will be used for the East Kilbride services when that electrification project also finishes

True of course.

Hopefully they will return to pre-covid frequencies (2 tph to Barrhead, both electric) in the future

I hope so too, although IMHO the start of electric services would have been the ideal time to also re-introduce the pre-covid TT (even if it meant pinching another 4-car 380 from the Neilston line....)

 

[hux385]

Could someone tell me what the pre-covid timetable was? Was it 2tph Barrhead terminators plus 1tph Kilmarnock?

 

[hexagon789]

Could someone tell me what the pre-covid timetable was? Was it 2tph Barrhead terminators plus 1tph Kilmarnock?

Two of each with both Kilmarnocks semi-fast.

 

[Kite159]

Two of each with both Kilmarnocks semi-fast.

From memory 1tph was fast to Dunlop with the other fast to Barrhead.
-----
Hopefully at some point Barrhead will go back to the pre covid timetable to allow the Kilmarnock train which currently calls at all stations to Barrhead to go back to being non-stop to Barrhead to improve end to end speed.

I think they still have to do individual uploads on the 380s for new routes, so possible that the unit used this morning hadn't been done yet.

Conductors would normally do additional manual pa announcements on the Barrheads, but on 380s the manual pa announcement comes through on the speaker in the drivers cab if using a handset anywhere else on the train, and most drivers find it distracting - especially when the conductor drones on repeating what the auto announcements have just said!

That sounds like a design fault with PA announcements playing in the cab.

 

[snookertam]

http://

I wonder whether anyone thought to ask the Scotrail bigwigs 'why, having spent all this money, will only one electric train per hour actually run to Barrhead?'



380107. However, it looks like that to provide a 4-car set for Barrhead, one of the three off-peak Neilston diagrams, formerly all 4-car Class 380, has been reduced to a 3-car, 380001 working the route today. Thanks Scotrail!

No that’s not the case. The Barrhead unit has been accounted for since May.

 

[route101]

Hopefully see the East Kilbride every 30 minute frequency restored. Services can be very busy, is it down to lack of staff ?

 

[hexagon789]

From memory 1tph was fast to Dunlop with the other fast to Barrhead.

Yes.

XX:13 fast to Dunlop
XX:43 fast to Barrhead

Hopefully see the East Kilbride every 30 minute frequency restored.

Presumably you mean in the evening?

It is every 30 mins through the day until evening (1920), then hourly 1947 until 2247 finishing with a 2317.

 

[route101]

Yes.

XX:13 fast to Dunlop
XX:43 fast to Barrhead



Presumably you mean in the evening?

It is every 30 mins through the day until evening (1920), then hourly 1947 until 2247 finishing with a 2317.

Yes evening frequency. Must be really busy on Friday and Saturday nights.

 

[hexagon789]

Yes evening frequency. Must be really busy on Friday and Saturday nights.

Possibly, but I live close to the line and I frequently see evening trains (post-1800) running as four or six quite empty coaches. The busy period seems to be more 1400-1800 away from Glasgow.

It would probably be much busier late if an event was on, a concert or something for example.

 

[Falcon1200]

No that’s not the case. The Barrhead unit has been accounted for since May.

Fair enough. So the Neilston diagram being 3 v 4 today must have been for another reason.

 

[Frankton Junct]

Possibly, but I live close to the line and I frequently see evening trains (post-1800) running as four or six quite empty coaches. The busy period seems to be more 1400-1800 away from Glasgow.

It would probably be much busier late if an event was on, a concert or something for example.

The evening service has been hourly long enough now for former passengers to make different arrangements and establish new habits. It will be hard to change these new habits, especially if the service remains hourly.

We should congratulate Network Rail and their contractors for the successful delivery of the Barrhead electrification project. It seems that the Scottish Government has confidence to continue the programme of electrification, given their decision to fund the East Kilbride electrification project.

 

[hexagon789]

The evening service has been hourly long enough now for former passengers to make different arrangements and establish new habits. It will be hard to change these new habits, especially if the service remains hourly.

I suppose that is the crux of it - reduce the service, that puts off passengers and in turn that reduces the perceived need to increase it again. A self-perpetuting cycle.

 

[380101]

That sounds like a design fault with PA announcements playing in the cab.

This only happens when a handset anywhere else in the unit is used to make manual announcements. Given that the vast majority of the services 380s work are DOO, it is a minor issue, but annoying all the same if the conductor rambles on for ages!

The auto announcements don't come through the speaker in the active cab thankfully.

 

[Falcon1200]

No that’s not the case. The Barrhead unit has been accounted for since May.

I note one of the three off-peak Neilston diagrams has been a 3-car set again today. I will continue monitoring this week.....

 

[Mag_seven]

Just a gentle reminder that this thread is an Infrastructure section thread to discuss East Kilbride/Barrhead electrification updates.

If anyone wants to discuss anything else then they are welcome to start a new thread elsewhere.

For ideas about how the relevant EMU fleet should be diagrammed now that Barrhead is electrified then please see this thread:

Now that Barrhead is electrified how should the Ayrshire and Barrhead EMU fleet be diagrammed?

Moderator note - split from: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/east-kilbride-barrhead-electrification-updates.205349/ I note one of the three off-peak Neilston diagrams has been a 3-car set again today. I will continue monitoring this week..... Do we really need 7 car diagrams on the...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[och aye]

Video from Network Rail Scotland announcing the beginning of electrification works:

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailSCOT/status/1737472671560937975

 

[snowball]

Video from Network Rail Scotland announcing the beginning of electrification works:

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailSCOT/status/1737472671560937975

Same video as in the second press release in #1775.