Flood Damage Near Polmont - 12/08/2020

[najaB]

Shotts line closed due to landslip. Only two routes to and fro Edinburgh now.

Say it together everyone: Oh, for flips sake!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Two alternative Glasgow - Edinburgh routes still possible if the Bathgate and Carstairs/Midcalder routes also fall over.

Via Perth and via Hexham.

 

[najaB]

Network Rail Scotland have Tweeted an image:

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailSCOT/status/1297489213147971584?s=20

 

[Mathieu]

Surely they could run Shotts services non stop via Carstairs for all the Glasgow-Edinburgh passengers. Surely it’s busy enough with all the Queen St. traffic also coming through that way

 

[route101]

Surely they could run Shotts services non stop via Carstairs for all the Glasgow-Edinburgh passengers. Surely it’s busy enough with all the Queen St. traffic also coming through that way

Is there paths for that?

They are directing passengers onto the low level route.

 

[Scotrail314209]

Is there paths for that?

They are directing passengers onto the low level route.

The 20:26 from Edinburgh seems to be doing that tonight. According to Scotrail it isn't calling at Livingston South, West Calder, Addiewell, Briech, Fauldhouse, Shotts, Hartwood, Cleland and Carfin.

 

[najaB]

Shotts line closed due to landslip. Only two routes to and fro Edinburgh now.

Network Rail have tweeted that they expect the line to be closed until midday tomorrow (Monday 24th).

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailSCOT/status/1297560355128975360?s=20

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Shotts line closed due to landslip. Only two routes to and from Edinburgh now.

Wow Scotland can’t catch a break at the moment. Carstairs route still open I assume?

 

[najaB]

Wow Scotland can’t catch a break at the moment. Carstairs route still open I assume?

Yes, it is.

 

[Crossover]

The 20:26 from Edinburgh seems to be doing that tonight. According to Scotrail it isn't calling at Livingston South, West Calder, Addiewell, Briech, Fauldhouse, Shotts, Hartwood, Cleland and Carfin.

Realtime Trains - 2Y65 2026 Edinburgh to Glasgow Central

Realtime Trains provides live realtime running information for the Great British railway network using open data.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

It appears it did run and avoided the line via Shotts (and kept to time, too)

 

[najaB]

Network Rail have tweeted that they expect the line to be closed until midday tomorrow (Monday 24th).

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailSCOT/status/1297560355128975360?s=20

The line was open for start of service today.

 

[Alanko]

More heavy rain in Linlithgow today with flash flooding in places. Hopefully this won't hamper any work on the line.

I spotted a 385 in Linlithgow station earlier, presumably on an Edinburgh service?

 

[najaB]

Has there been any word on a potential reopening date?

 

[InOban]

None that I have seen. I'm surprised that there haven't been any update pictures.

 

[sng7]

There has been a video update by network rail scotland on twitter showing the repairs in progress. It can be seen here.

We are working round-the-clock to repair around a kilometre of track near Polmont washed away in flooding on August 12. We're making good progress - thousands of tonnes of material have already been replaced as we rebuild the railway as quickly as possible for you.

 

[InOban]

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailSCOT/status/1302611865525252097?s=09

We've been working tirelessly to repair damage on Scotland's flagship route after the Union Canal breach caused severe damage. Cabinet Secretary @MathesonMichael & @ScotRail MD @AlexHynes visited us on site to view progress of the work being undertaken to safely reopen the line.

Update on progress, but no date. Since the OHLE was washed away to its foundations, I would guess that reinstalling that will be quite a job.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailSCOT/status/1302611865525252097?s=09

Update on progress, but no date. Since the OHLE was washed away to its foundations, I would guess that reinstalling that will be quite a job.

Nah, couple of days work at most - if the line was still open, that level of OLE damage would just about be fixable under a normal rules of the route possession, particularly as the de-wiring is already sorted out and all the spares needed will be on-site ready to fit.

 

[InOban]

Did you look at the original pics? With the uprights lying at crazy angles because the ground was washed away right down to the piles? Surely they will need to drive much deeper piles before they can attach the steelwork. Seems like more than couple if shifts.

 

[pdeaves]

Did you look at the original pics? With the uprights lying at crazy angles because the ground was washed away right down to the piles? Surely they will need to drive much deeper piles before they can attach the steelwork. Seems like more than couple if shifts.

And build up the ground into which the piles are driven, that will initially be soft.

 

[59CosG95]

And build up the ground into which the piles are driven, that will initially be soft.

Indeed - it also makes sense to have the P-Way installed before you put the OLE back, otherwise ensuring your heights and staggers are correct is nigh-on impossible.

 

[Class 170101]

And build up the ground into which the piles are driven, that will initially be soft.

Would Piling be enough or would something far more substanial be needed now?

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Would Piling be enough or would something far more substanial be needed now?

I'm sure some of the esteemed piling experts in the thread above will be able to confirm.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Would Piling be enough or would something far more substanial be needed now?

You mean pile and then backfill with concrete slurry? a la Preston to Manchester electrification scheme in certain places.

 

[Class 170101]

I'm sure some of the esteemed piling experts in the thread above will be able to confirm.

You mean pile and then backfill with concrete slurry? a la Preston to Manchester elec scheme in certain places.

Perhaps yes but is there actually anything to pile into? Seems like some of the land is missing too, previously, briefly, some days ago looking at shots, so my memory may have failed me.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Perhaps yes but is there actually anything to pile into?

No. There's nothing to pile into. I've got a team working on supporting masts with hot air balloons. I don't know how the permanent way team are intending to float the track in mid air.

 

[najaB]

Perhaps yes but is there actually anything to pile into?

They are rebuilding the formation using thousands (?) of tons of what looks to me like granite. It will provide a very firm base for both the permanent way and the knitting poles.

You mean pile and then backfill with concrete slurry? a la Preston to Manchester electrification scheme in certain places.

That might be needed in places depending on how well compacted the fill is.

 

[mcmad]

The formations repairs as shown in the video are completed now so it'll be the time to reinstate the track over the kilometre that needs replaced on both line, reinstate the OLE and signalling.

Would expect a couple of weeks yet.

 

[InOban]

It occurred to me that since the major damage to the formation was caused by the torrent leaving it on its way downhill, it might be easier to install TTCs reaching over from the less-affected South side?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

It occurred to me that since the major damage to the formation was caused by the torrent leaving it on its way downhill, it might be easier to install TTCs reaching over from the less-affected South side?

TTC... Trying To Conceive what that stands for.

Twin Track Cantilever?

 

[najaB]

Twin Track Cantilever?

Indeed. Though, to the point being made, the whole formation looks to have been rebuilt so it won't make much difference either way.