Electrification threads and resources index

[Sonik]

The whole point of the presentation is that the Grid Feeders are the really long lead time items so they are planning those now and energizing around those. I would think that energized wires would also reduce theft.

Not sure if it's intentional but it's also a land grab, in terms of any spare grid capacity, as currently exists in many areas of the UK due to de-industrialization.

New connections must pay for needed reinforcement, or to put that another way, existing spare grid capacity is a latent resource; free to whoever claims it first.

Scotland has substantial wind resources; road transport and heating also need to be decarbonised at some point.

 

[The exile]

Still, the thing that puzzles me is the lack of an electrification scheme to finish off the Great Western Mainline Electrification to Bath, Bristol, and points where it is possible.

The schemes to complete to Oxford and Bristol are (I think) still officially only paused. It would be nice to think that the pause mostly reflects the fact that there are major schemes happening which are sensible to do before wiring ( the current refurbishment of Bristol TM must be a lot easier without 25kV wires in the way and the Oxford station area is due a massive remodelling) but that assumes a lot of joined-up thinking at the DfT - something I’ve yet to be convinced of!

 

[59CosG95]

The schemes to complete to Oxford and Bristol are (I think) still officially only paused. It would be nice to think that the pause mostly reflects the fact that there are major schemes happening which are sensible to do before wiring ( the current refurbishment of Bristol TM must be a lot easier without 25kV wires in the way and the Oxford station area is due a massive remodelling) but that assumes a lot of joined-up thinking at the DfT - something I’ve yet to be convinced of!

Most of the piles from Didcot to Oxford are in as far as Kennington Jn - the stretch north from there, however, has nothing. Of course, a re-survey and potential redesign would be required now.

 

[Mikey C]

Most of the piles from Didcot to Oxford are in as far as Kennington Jn - the stretch north from there, however, has nothing. Of course, a re-survey and potential redesign would be required now.

At this rate Leicester will be electrified before Oxford and Bristol...

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Not sure if it's intentional but it's also a land grab, in terms of any spare grid capacity, as currently exists in many areas of the UK due to de-industrialization.

New connections must pay for needed reinforcement, or to put that another way, existing spare grid capacity is a latent resource; free to whoever claims it first.

Scotland has substantial wind resources; road transport and heating also need to be decarbonised at some point.

Some decent load in Scotland would be very welcome to the transmission operators SHE and SP as they are saturated with wind turbine resources which they can't fully exploit due to transmission constraints from Scotland into England. This is also affecting getting outages on the transmission system if the NR feeder station is teed off a 275/400Kv pylon line rather than connected directly to a bulk supply point substation.

 

[Sonik]

Some decent load in Scotland would be very welcome to the transmission operators SHE and SP as they are saturated with wind turbine resources which they can't fully exploit due to transmission constraints from Scotland into England. This is also affecting getting outages on the transmission system if the NR feeder station is teed off a 275/400Kv pylon line rather than connected directly to a bulk supply point substation.

Good point, so basically Scotland has a ton of 'free' electricity that they can't get rid of?

Being in the south east I tend to think in terms of grid issues being load related!

It would be interesting to know how the system flows behave when the wind stops blowing, as it does occasionally.

 

[jonesy3001]

With the upcoming strikes this week, will that also affect the electrification works on the stalybridge and lostock to wigan lines?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Headline page 1 and post 1 of this thread updated.

July -December 2022 Electrification threads

Electrification workstreams

Electrification "workstream"

You quite often see discussed here the idea that electrification costs have increased sharply vs BR days because of the relative drought in new projects between c1995 and 2010, which led to a collapse in skills. All that seems reasonable: but with electrification projects now having been...

www.railforums.co.uk

Borders Line (Scotland) electrification news and updates

Borders line (Scotland) electrification news and updates

From Midlothian View: https://www.midlothianview.com/news/borders-railway-electrification-bid-revealed/ Borders Railway electrification bid revealed Electrifying plans which would lead to a greener future for part of the rail network in the Borders have been disclosed. Network Rail has...

railforums.co.uk

SPECULATIVE IDEAS SECTION
Battery, vs bimode vs electrification

Battery power and bi-mode vs electrification

I apologise if such a thread already exists covering this subject, but upon seeing threads about battery powered trains it prompted me to start a discussion as to whether or not things such as battery-powered trains are worth it in the long term compared to something more simple such as more...

www.railforums.co.uk

Causes of electrification taking ever longer abd what are the solutions

What are the causes of electrification projects taking ever longer, and how could this be rectified

The WCML electrification from Weaver Junc to Glasgow was delivered in just over from 4 years for about 220 miles of railway from announcement to completion. Current projects such as parts TPE electrification seem to be progressing at glacial pace by comparision. What can be done to speed them...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Legolash2o]

I'm updating my maps to show markers on each electrification project with basic information and links (screenshot below). Does anyone know the estimated completion dates for the current schemes please?

• York to Church Fenton (Autumn 2022)
• Manchester to Stalybridge (??)
• Wigan to Bolton (2025?)
• Kettering to Wigston South Jn (??)
• Pontypridd to Aberdare (December 2023?). Also includes Radyr to Pontypridd?
• Glasgow to Barrhead (December 2023)
• Haymarket to Dalmeny (??)
• Levenmouth Branch (2024)

Pretty sure that's everywhere with boots on the ground. Thanks in advance!

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I'm updating my maps to show markers on each electrification project with basic information and links (screenshot below). Does anyone know the estimated completion dates for the current schemes please?

• York to Church Fenton (Autumn 2022)

will it really be livened up by then?

 

[Legolash2o]

Going by their leaflet, it says October 2022 is the completion date. Another webpage said Autumn 2022.

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/York-to-Church-Fenton-Information-leaflet.pdf

 

[snowball]

According to Modern Railways for this month, summarised by me in post #5646 of the TRU thread,

Wiring on Colton to Church Fenton is due to end in October. Two Christmas closures will be neeed to connect it to the existing ECML wiring. I first thought this meant two closures around Christmas 2022, but it means two successive Christmases, so it will not go live until March 2024!! "with the full scheme including a linespeed increase due for completion by December 2024"!!

So it all depends what you mean by completion.

 

[Legolash2o]

Damn, how strange that it's two Christmas's! I suppose complete is when trains can use it, so March 2024 for that section is it then

 

[snowball]

I'm updating my maps to show markers on each electrification project with basic information and links (screenshot below). Does anyone know the estimated completion dates for the current schemes please?

• Manchester to Stalybridge (??)
• Wigan to Bolton (2025?)
• Kettering to Wigston South Jn (??)
• Pontypridd to Aberdare (December 2023?). Also includes Radyr to Pontypridd?
• Glasgow to Barrhead (December 2023)
• Haymarket to Dalmeny (??)
• Levenmouth Branch (2024)

Pretty sure that's everywhere with boots on the ground. Thanks in advance!

Kettering to Wigston S Junc, Jan 2024 (see #5521 here)
Levenmouth spring 2024 (may not be live at first; diesel operated until battery train deliveries start 2027)
Manchester to Stalybridge and Haymarket to Dalmeny, both Dec 2024
Wigan-Bolton seems to be described as 2024-5

 

[Legolash2o]

Thank you for providing the dates.

 

[73128]

Kettering to Wigston S Junc, Jan 2024 (see #5521 here)
Levenmouth spring 2024 (may not be live at first; diesel operated until battery train deliveries start 2027)
Manchester to Stalybridge and Haymarket to Dalmeny, both Dec 2024
Wigan-Bolton seems to be described as 2024-5

I'm sure that it will be live when completed even if not used regularly to power trains as otherwise parts tend to disappear overnight..

 

[snowball]

I'm sure that it will be live when completed even if not used regularly to power trains as otherwise parts tend to disappear overnight..

(This was in reference to the Levenmouth branch.) Let's hope the feeder station is in place in time.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Found this document when looking for something else. Its only engineering guidance but does describe various configurations adopted by NG to provide 25kV traction supplies and may help with interpreting what we are seeing at the likes of Braybrooke as its being constructed..

NATIONAL SAFETY INSTRUCTION and Guidance NSI 26 RAILWAY CONNECTION CIRCUITS

Specific FS covered

 

[fandroid]

The summary of electrification completed omits Reading to Newbury

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The summary of electrification completed omits Reading to Newbury

Now corrected thank you.

 

[73128]

Kettering to Wigston S Junc, Jan 2024 (see #5521 here)
Levenmouth spring 2024 (may not be live at first; diesel operated until battery train deliveries start 2027)
Manchester to Stalybridge and Haymarket to Dalmeny, both Dec 2024
Wigan-Bolton seems to be described as 2024-5

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

This one amused me

Electrification Germany not fast enough, virtually nothing happened

 

[snowball]

Piling for OLE is about to start on the Levenmouth branch (see the scheme-specific thread).

 

[59CosG95]

The RIA have published a list of Top 10 Routes for electrification in the North of England, alongside a wider map of Decarbonisation Priorities (below0.


Their Top 10 Routes (for the North) are:

• Sheffield - Swinton - Doncaster/Moorthorpe
• Manchester Victoria - Leeds via Bradford Interchange (Calder Valley)
• Northallerton - Eaglescliffe - Middlesbrough - Saltburn
• Manchester - Sheffield (Hope Valley)
• Leeds - Hull
• Carlisle - Newcastle (Tyne Valley)
• Doncaster - Scunthorpe - Barnetby - Immingham
• Wakefield Kirkgate - Drax/Leeds
• Sheffield - Worksop - Retford LL - Lincoln - Sleaford - Werrington Jn
• Leeds - Harrogate - York

Note that some routes may overlap with other regions (e.g. East Midlands).
Article here: https://riagb.org.uk/RIA/Newsroom/P...or a green railway in the North unveiled.aspx

 

[snowball]

"Committed electrification" on that map seems to omit Guide Bridge to Stalybridge.

 

[jonesy3001]

"Committed electrification" on that map seems to omit Guide Bridge to Stalybridge.

Priority 1 looking at the map, same as the CLC via warrington.

 

[snowball]

Yes but my point was that it should have been shown as committed, given that it appears to be going ahead as part of the current scheme.

Though they can be forgiven for overlooking it in view of the absence of clear public statements by Network Rail and the government.

 

[SouthEastBuses]

I'm surprised that the Settle Carlisle line has been nominated as top priority for electrification considering it's a least used railway line.

 

[Sonik]

"Committed electrification" on that map seems to omit Guide Bridge to Stalybridge.

And Ashburys branch, both are in TPRU IIRC, bridges done already.

 

[snowball]

And Ashburys branch, both are in TPRU IIRC, bridges done already.

Was in several years ago when Stalybridge was phase 5 of the NW electrification programme, but I haven't heard anything in recent years to suggest that it's still in?