Gospel Oak to Barking Line (GOBLIN) electrification

[Railwaysceptic]

There is also the issue of the drivers learning the new trains.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

There is also the issue of the drivers learning the new trains.

Yes we do not neeed another Northern fiasco wrt Blackpool to Manchester

 

[Class 170101]

I understand the South Tottenham chords are still not signed off for use.

 

[snowball]

Are the Crouch Hill bridge works finished?

 

[traji00]

Are the Crouch Hill bridge works finished?

IIRC the bridge was successfully raised, but temporary traffic lights remain until the end of the month.

Edit: the works were completed a week early on 25th May.

 

[Domh245]

I'm sure it will be welcome news that the ORR have now signed off the GOBLIN's knitting

A big well done to the ORR team for collaboration and their professional approach to enable the authorisation of the Gospel Oak to Barking electrification project this last week

 

[superkev]

I'm sure it will be welcome news that the ORR have now signed off the GOBLIN's knitting

Do they have any electric trains to run on it?
K

 

[Mag_seven]

Will the power supply allow electrically hauled freight to use it?

 

[Domh245]

Do they have any electric trains to run on it?
K

Not yet, but the launch of the 710s is supposed to be soon.

Will the power supply allow electrically hauled freight to use it?

I think that freight can use it, but I can't imagine that there will be any services using it.

 

[59CosG95]

I think that freight can use it, but I can't imagine that there will be any services using it.

Not immediately, but I know some of DB's Dagenham-Mossend trains might well want to use the GOBLIN to reach the NLL in the future, especially with the advent of the Lizzie Line making it preferable for freight to avoid the Manor Park connection altogether.
DRS might want to use 88s on the Daventry-Purfleet services once the pathing's been sorted out, and FL would doubtless want another electric route to avoid snarling Stratford up further (assuming it still runs services to Tilbury).

 

[Alfie1014]

No services to Tilbury FLT anymore they all run to London Gateway which isn’t wired and was dropped from the GOB electrification to save money!

 

[59CosG95]

No services to Tilbury FLT anymore they all run to London Gateway which isn’t wired and was dropped from the GOB electrification to save money!

Oh dear. That small detail had slipped my mind.

 

[CdBrux]

IF London Gateway wiring will deliver good returns then what is to stop the freight companies or port owners paying for it to be done?

 

[59CosG95]

IF London Gateway wiring will deliver good returns then what is to stop the freight companies or port owners paying for it to be done?

Indeed - I remember John Smith (MD of GBRf) calling for wider private sector-funded wiring to freight ports, such as Felixstowe, for very similar reasons.
Nothing to that effect has sadly occurred, but Transport Scotland have been remarkably sensible in that regard with the extension of wiring to Grangemouth.
That is neither here nor there for the GOBLIN, so let us return to GOBLIN-discussing and breathe a sigh of relief that the infrastructure is, at last, ready for passenger service.

 

[kaiser62]

According to the latest editing of Rail (page 28) the first class 710 was released from Bombardier on 13th and is pictured on its way south to be delivered. Some further somewhat belated progress.

 

[swt_passenger]

According to the latest editing of Rail (page 28) the first class 710 was released from Bombardier on 13th and is pictured on its way south to be delivered. Some further somewhat belated progress.

Has also been noted in the Class 710 thread on the day:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-710-lo.145774/page-13#post-3505552

 

[Railperf]

GOSPEL OAK TO BARKING FROM 0001 HOURS ON SATURDAY 30 JUNE 2018
The Gospel Oak to Barking Electrification project is substantively complete.
The route infrastructure is available for electric multiple units to run across the route between Gospel Oak and Barking permitting train testing, driver training and route knowledge learning between the following ELR locations:
• Gospel Oak Jn (0m 0ch) – South Tottenham West Jn (5m 65ch) • South Tottenham East Jn (5m 73ch) – Woodgrange Park Jn (11m 79ch) • Barking Station Jn (13m 12ch) – Barking Platform 1 Buffers (13m 62ch) • Woodgrange Park Jn (11m 79ch) – Barking Station Jn (3 12m 12ch).
The OLE on the Tottenham Curve lines and Seven Sisters Chord will also be made available for trains testing, driver training and route knowledge learning and specified electrified services.
The Harringay Curve, namely Harringay Jn (0m 3ch) – Harringay Park Jn (0m 25ch), is to remain blocked to electric trains until the remaining physical works are complete.
The crossover at the South Tottenham station end of South Tottenham Viaduct (76AB points) (6m 5ch - 6m 8ch) is to remain blocked to electric trains until the remaining physical works, are complete.
NR 28.06.18

 

[Class 170101]

Wonder when the rest will be completed and available for more than tsting etc

The OLE on the Tottenham Curve lines and Seven Sisters Chord will also be made available for trains testing, driver training and route knowledge learning and specified electrified services.
The Harringay Curve, namely Harringay Jn (0m 3ch) – Harringay Park Jn (0m 25ch), is to remain blocked to electric trains until the remaining physical works are complete.
The crossover at the South Tottenham station end of South Tottenham Viaduct (76AB points) (6m 5ch - 6m 8ch) is to remain blocked to electric trains until the remaining physical works, are complete.
NR 28.06.18

 

[ScottDarg]

6X77 Dagenham - Mossend was routed via the GOBLIN today and was hauled by 90035. Was this the first electric loco to run under its own power on the route?

Pic from Flickr (not mine): https://flic.kr/p/26dne9h

EDIT: Comment on the linked pic notes that 90035 also hauled 6L35 Mossend to Dagenham via the GOBLIN on Saturday

 

[D365]

No services to Tilbury FLT anymore they all run to London Gateway which isn’t wired and was dropped from the GOB electrification to save money!

Surely then on a medium term contract, the procurement of a number of Class 88 locomotives would be justifiable? Though I imagine that without further incentives the economics of a microfleet might work against this...

 

[Freightmaster]

6X77 Dagenham - Mossend was routed via the GOBLIN today and was hauled by 90035. Was this the first electric loco to run under its own power on the route?

6L35/6X77 were 90 hauled via the GOBLIN last week, too.



MARK

 

[Aictos]

One question I do have and this affects Thameslink operations as well as Freight to a lesser degree but was any thought put in to wire up the very short distance between Carlton Road Junction on the Midland Mainline and Junction Road Junction just west of Upper Holloway as surely that would the quickest route between the Thameslink and Great Northern to access the depots/carriage sidings without having to go into the Core to come back out again?

Especially as the other lines in the locality are all wired up, just seems to make sense that's all.

 

[plcd1]

One question I do have and this affects Thameslink operations as well as Freight to a lesser degree but was any thought put in to wire up the very short distance between Carlton Road Junction on the Midland Mainline and Junction Road Junction just west of Upper Holloway as surely that would the quickest route between the Thameslink and Great Northern to access the depots/carriage sidings without having to go into the Core to come back out again?

Especially as the other lines in the locality are all wired up, just seems to make sense that's all.

Short answer is yes it was planned as was wiring of the freight sidings east of Barking (near where the Barking Riverside flyover will be built). These elements were descoped by Network Rail a few years ago to try to contain costs. I believe it also reflected a change in how depot access for the 700s was going to organised. There was, I think, a view to use the connections from the ECML to the GOBLIN and then down to the MML for ecs workings. That was later replaced by using the Canal Tunnels instead.

Previous iterations of Network Rail's regional investment plans showed how the GOBLIN wiring scope changed. Sadly I doubt any of this remains online - organisations like NR and TfL are quite good at removing traces of how and when things get altered / descoped.

 

[swt_passenger]

The question about the MML connection is raised very early in this thread and someone eventually replies that it has been descoped.

It was probably pulled late 2015, it is still shown as a part of the Gospel Oak to Barking scheme in the June 2015 enhancements delivery plan (EDP) update, then the Sept and Dec 2015 versions never appeared. Jan 2016 was the first post Hendy review EDP update that killed or deferred quite a few items, and the MML connection didn’t appear in that and subsequent quarterly issues.

 

[87015]

Barking platform 1 still not finished, blocked to electric traction UFN in the weekly circular...

 

[Bald Rick]

One question I do have and this affects Thameslink operations as well as Freight to a lesser degree but was any thought put in to wire up the very short distance between Carlton Road Junction on the Midland Mainline and Junction Road Junction just west of Upper Holloway as surely that would the quickest route between the Thameslink and Great Northern to access the depots/carriage sidings without having to go into the Core to come back out again?

Especially as the other lines in the locality are all wired up, just seems to make sense that's all.

It’s an absolute nightmare to do. There isn’t enough clearance in one of the tunnels. For most tunnels the answer there is to dig out the track and lower the invert, which is effective if not cheap. However, AIUI the particular design of the track support system in this particular tunnel makes that extremely difficult and very much more expensive than the usually ‘just’ expensive option. It’s also too long and low speed to do an isolated section.

Therefore very high costs, for very, very little benefit, as at present there would be nothing to use it.

 

[Taunton]

It's getting on for 2 years now since the blockade to do the electrification works "efficiently and all in one go".

As far as the passengers are concerned, Nada result.

 

[geoffk]

Any chance that LO could get hold of some stored 365s to run the GOBLIN service pending the delivery of 710s? Drivers need training of course but Scotrail managed it. It just needs (or needed) forward planning as the delay to the new stock has been known for some time. Apols if this has been discussed elsewhere.

 

[Class 170101]

Any chance that LO could get hold of some stored 365s to run the GOBLIN service pending the delivery of 710s? Drivers need training of course but Scotrail managed it. It just needs (or needed) forward planning as the delay to the new stock has been known for some time. Apols if this has been discussed elsewhere.

Guards required unfortunately - which Scotrail already had and ARL doesn't have. Rolling Stock with DOO Cameras needed. Maybe Class 387s from GN to ARL on loan replaced at GN with Class 265s but thats as close as you will get with Class 365s I am afraid.

 

[MatthewRead]

Guards required unfortunately - which Scotrail already had and ARL doesn't have. Rolling Stock with DOO Cameras needed. Maybe Class 387s from GN to ARL on loan replaced at GN with Class 265s but thats as close as you will get with Class 365s I am afraid.

There's no such thing as a Class 265 unless you mean 365. Besides 4 car 378's are being used instead.