ECML Power Supply Upgrade

[Richard123]

The planned ECML South upgrade to autotransformer feeding was (almost) entirely descoped to boosterless classic feeding. The requirement for insulated ATF runs because of possession arrangements with respect to the ECML's non-bidi paired-by-direction configuration may have been a factor in that.

There are some videos online on this.

The ECML south was planned to be fed by just two feeder stations, Corey's Mill and Essendine. AT was planned to carry this power all the way from Wood Green in London to Bawtry near Doncaster.

As planned timetables became more demanding they could not be supported by the original design, and the cost and impact were also becoming apparent. The strategy changed from two feeder stations supplying this area to seven. AT works around Corey's Mill were already started in the first phase from 2014 as this was the first area started to support Thameslink upgrade. That is the Welwyn to Hitchin section mentioned.

North of Bawtry was a separate power supply upgrade started in 2020, to a still more demanding timetable requirement.

Three interventions enabled the additional capacity:
Bawtry to near Durham was delivered by Hambleton Jn SFC, with existing feeding areas adjusted using the new power.
Just south of Durham to just north of Newcastle there was to be a second transformer at Benton FS.
Just north of Newcastle to Edinburgh was to be delivered by Marshall Meadows SFC, with feeding areas adjusted using the new power.

Of these Hambleton Jn SFC, and Benton FS are both in service, but work on Marshall Meadows stopped during Covid.