MML Electrification: progress updates

[InTheEastMids]

There are wooden pegs at Leicester station, took a photo of one between platforms 2 & 3 at the London Road bridge end

Unlike stuff like pegging out,

I happened to have about 20 minutes at Leicester today so got a coffee and went for a walk around the station.
As far I could see, there are about 4 or 5 pegs between P2 and P3, nothing on P1/4

They've set up a similar compound at Loughborough, west of the Platform 1 access gate.

Also planned traffic management planned from July 14th-18th on the A6006 Rempstone Road adjacent to the overbridge.
NR plan to create a compound here to enable bridge replacement (as well as potentially supporting other MMLE activities), so the dates seem to indicate when construction of that compound will start.

 

[londonmidland]

It’s probably not a matter of if but when piling appears on ground, then that’s pretty much a sure indicator of imminent electrification, for the gantries to be put up.

 

[QSK19]

A low profile, low expectation rolling programme of electrification is exactly what we need. Not unrealistic expectations being dashed against the hard rocks of reality.

Agreed. That is very pertinent to the MML specifically given what it has gone through in terms of electrification over the past 10-15 years - Grayling’s cancellation being a particular scar.

Get on with it quietly and then announce it once spades are in the ground and hence it’s definitely happening.

 

[Trainbike46]

Agreed. That is very pertinent to the MML specifically given what it has gone through in terms of electrification over the past 10-15 years - Grayling’s cancellation being a particular scar.

Get on with it quietly and then announce it once spades are in the ground and hence it’s definitely happening.

or even better (or at least funnier) announce it when it is complete

 

[CdBrux]

I would imagine a great way of being allowed to get on with it with minimal interference is to execute well: to time, to budget and avoid causing local controversies

 

[Class 170101]

Also here to coroborate

Crucial track work near Loughborough affecting London journeys this weekend - Rail UK

Crucial track work near Loughborough affecting London journeys this weekend - General Interest

railuk.com

Network Rail teams will be carrying out essential track lowering work near Loughborough this weekend as part of wider multi-million-pound Midland Main Line improvements.

Passengers are being urged to check before they travel while teams work on Saturday 22 March and Sunday 23 March to lower the track at a railway bridge in Barrow Upon Soar to install overhead line equipment, which power trains, in the future.

 

[Hophead]

Suspect Network Rail have been given assurances that electrification of the next stretch or two will be approved once the Government finally gets round to publishing their national infrastructure strategy. With all this prep work going on, I would expect to see Keir Starmer in an orange jacket and hard hat standing next to a newly erected gantry telling us how they're getting things done, in a few months from now.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I also really appreciate that a decent amount of surveying work seems to be getting done prior to a decision being made. Then the actual costs should be more predictable before a decision is made.

 

[londonmidland]

Do we know where about the track lowering is taking place? Network Rail state ‘near Loughborough’ but is an exact location(s) known for this work?

 

[Mr. SW]

Do we know where about the track lowering is taking place? Network Rail state ‘near Loughborough’ but is an exact location(s) known for this work?

Here you are

Crucial track work near Loughborough affecting London journeys this weekend

Network Rail teams will be carrying out essential track lowering work near Loughborough this weekend as part of wider multi-million-pound Midland Main Line improvements.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Barrow upon Soar

 

[PJM]

Pictures of track lowering at Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire and Rutland Railways page.

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[tram21]

Pictures of track lowering at Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire and Rutland Railways page.

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Link doesn't seem to work?

 

[PJM]

Link doesn't seem to work?

Maybe you have to be a member?


1 of 12 pics by Kian Hughes

 

[Topological]

Are they lowering one track at a time?

Just trying to make sense of what the picture shows.

 

[PJM]

Are they lowering one track at a time?

Just trying to make sense of what the picture shows.

From the other pics it looks as though it is the U and D Main

 

[Topological]

From the other pics it looks as though it is the U and D Main

With the picture there showing the D main being new track at a seemingly lower height than the U main?

 

[PJM]

This is clearer

 

[Nottingham59]

If that's Barrow on Soar station in the background, then the track is being lowered under the High Street bridge.

High Street is quite a steep hill, leading up from the river. Judging from the shop frontages on Streetview, I'd say about 1 in 15. The road doesn't seem to level out to go over the railway, so my guess is that the bridge arch is lower on the South East side, which is over the main lines.

EDIT:
As shown in this Streetview image of High St Bridge from the Melton Road bridge

 

[Topological]

Thanks @PJM

Having the station there shows everything much clearer. The station is on the slows, being part of the Ivanhoe line to Burton

It was exciting when they opened the Ivanhoe line, just never quite got finished hehe.

It is just good to see them working on the electrification. As long as this is work where the benefits are fully seen (unlike the Ivanhoe connection of Barrow and Coalville)

 

[edwin_m]

If that's Barrow on Soar station in the background, then the track is being lowered under the High Street bridge.

High Street is quite a steep hill, leading up from the river. Judging from the shop frontages on Streetview, I'd say about 1 in 15. The road doesn't seem to level out to go over the railway, so my guess is that the bridge arch is lower on the South East side, which is over the main lines.

EDIT:
As shown in this Streetview image of High St Bridge from the Melton Road bridge

View attachment 177011

This gradient would probably also make it more difficult to raise the bridge, as it would most likely make part of the road steeper. There is also a side road one end of the bridge and a roundabout just beyond it, and on the other side of the railway some shops are quite near. All of these could be affected by raising. The unusual design of bridge also suggests that clearances were close to minimum when the Midland Railway built it, although it doesn't appear to be a listed structure.

Thus there are several reasons to lower the track instead of trying to raise the road, but I have no idea why they would be doing it now. As someone suggested above, it does indicate there is funding for rather more than putting pegs into the ground.

 

[Peter Sarf]

This gradient would probably also make it more difficult to raise the bridge, as it would most likely make part of the road steeper. There is also a side road one end of the bridge and a roundabout just beyond it, and on the other side of the railway some shops are quite near. All of these could be affected by raising. The unusual design of bridge also suggests that clearances were close to minimum when the Midland Railway built it, although it doesn't appear to be a listed structure.

Thus there are several reasons to lower the track instead of trying to raise the road, but I have no idea why they would be doing it now. As someone suggested above, it does indicate there is funding for rather more than putting pegs into the ground.

Maybe the track was due for renewal now and so this was a good time to lower it ?.
Or some other relevent (?) work due now.

 

[PJM]

Maybe the track was due for renewal now and so this was a good time to lower it ?.
Or some other relevent (?) work due now.

The Network Rail release definitely refers to electrification.

`Passengers are being urged to check before they travel while teams work on Saturday 22 March and Sunday 23 March to lower the track at a railway bridge in Barrow Upon Soar to install overhead line equipment, which power trains, in the future.

Track lowering involves reducing the level of the railway track under bridges, which will create the necessary clearance and allow enabling work to begin for the future installation of overhead wires.

This method is significantly less disruptive than the alternative of rebuilding bridges, which would require long road closures and create more noise and disruption to local communities.

This work is part of a programme of improvements to the Midland Main Line which will allow for the installation of overhead line equipment in the future leading to more reliable journeys.`

 

[WAO]

The route north of Leicester is a mix of three - and four - track.

It would be interesting to know whether the "pegs" that are appearing include the slow lines, i.e are on both sides of the trackbed.

WAO

 

[Trainman40083]

The route north of Leicester is a mix of three - and four - track.

It would be interesting to know whether the "pegs" that are appearing include the slow lines, i.e are on both sides of the trackbed.

WAO

I do wonder if they will revert to four tracks between Syston and Leicester that might allow for additional container traffic that will continue to grow ....or at least do nothing that would stop it being done in the future

 

[HurdyGurdy]

I do wonder if they will revert to four tracks between Syston and Leicester that might allow for additional container traffic that will continue to grow ....or at least do nothing that would stop it being done in the future

When the former Goods lines were singled between Syston and Leicester it was done by removing whichever of Up or Down track was in worst state, then slewing to join up. Means the Up and Down Slow now weaves from one side to the other of the former track bed and various bits of equipment, signal bases, etc installed after the singling will already be in the way of putting the fourth track back.

 

[John Webb]

Two photos taken by St Albans South signal box; the first on the 16th February:

There were two lorries, one each end of the line of the 4 platforms.

And taken today (23rd March '25):

There were eight platforms in this line-up. They were having a shift change as we arrived to open the box for this afternoon's Open Afternoon. The platforms headed north on the Down Main to somewhere north of the City station after the crew change-over.

 

[Bald Rick]

Two photos taken by St Albans South signal box; the first on the 16th February:
View attachment 177034
There were two lorries, one each end of the line of the 4 platforms.

And taken today (23rd March '24):
View attachment 177035
There were eight platforms in this line-up. They were having a shift change as we arrived to open the box for this afternoon's Open Afternoon. The platforms headed north on the Down Main to somewhere north of the City station after the crew change-over.

En route to Harpenden today, they were strung along the DF in the countryside between St Albans and Harpenden.

 

[WAO]

Are RRV's really more efficient and cheaper than the old ex-501 car wiring train? (Yes I know it was short of guard rails etc..)

WAO

 

[Bald Rick]

Are RRV's really more efficient and cheaper than the old ex-501 car wiring train? (Yes I know it was short of guard rails etc..)

WAO

Certainly is, they can work independently on multiple headspan assemblies concurrently, over the best part of half a mile. Not all of the work was on adjacent headspans, those that I saw today were spread over a couple of miles.

 

[WAO]

OK., and there's no one working off a 6m ladder!

WAO