MML Electrification: progress updates

[Killingworth]

Taken from the Growth Fund thread
Item 95 Midland Main line phase 3

Says in the intro that aim is to have all the projects started by end 2023

Electrifying Midland Mainline to Nottingham and Sheffield

The growth plan 2022: transport infrastructure projects identified for acceleration - GOV.UK

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

The page you’re looking for is no longer here!​

Try; https://assets.publishing.service.g...Autumn_Statement_2022_BOOK_Web_Accessible.pdf

 

[snowball]

The page you’re looking for is no longer here!​

Try; https://assets.publishing.service.g...Autumn_Statement_2022_BOOK_Web_Accessible.pdf

That's lacking the slight extra details of individual schemes that were in the .csv file when it was up.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

How is this?

 

[snowball]

Seems to be the same info in the second field of the spreadsheet.

 

[PJM]

Today at Market Harborough station cantilevers fitted - please correct if wrong. Electrification experts what is that in pic. 4 attached to the portal?

 

[59CosG95]

Today at Market Harborough station cantilevers fitted - please correct if wrong. Electrification experts what is that in pic. 4 attached to the portal?
View attachment 121828View attachment 121829View attachment 121830View attachment 121831

Pic no.4 - the portal is an MPA (Mid-Point Anchor), so the catenary will be fixed to the boom. The contact, however, is still registered.

Engineering Work Update:

• 30 October - early morning IC services terminate at Bedford. https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co....ervices-between-bedford-and-london-st-pancras
• 5/6 November - all line closure between Luton & Cricklewood/West Hampstead T'link. Assumed for Brent Cross, but could also be works at Napsbury/East Hyde. https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co....ce-trains-in-the-luton-area-on-saturday-5-and
• 12/13 November - Fast lines (presumably) closed between Luton & St Pancras all weekend. https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co....vices-between-bedford-and-london-st-pancras-0

 

[Bald Rick]

Pic no.4 - the portal is an MPA (Mid-Point Anchor), so the catenary will be fixed to the boom. The contact, however, is still registered.

Engineering Work Update:

• 30 October - early morning IC services terminate at Bedford. https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co....ervices-between-bedford-and-london-st-pancras
• 5/6 November - all line closure between Luton & Cricklewood/West Hampstead T'link. Assumed for Brent Cross, but could also be works at Napsbury/East Hyde. https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co....ce-trains-in-the-luton-area-on-saturday-5-and
• 12/13 November - Fast lines (presumably) closed between Luton & St Pancras all weekend. https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co....vices-between-bedford-and-london-st-pancras-0

No service at all West Hampstead to Luton on 5/6 or 12/13 Nov (The latter not yet reflected in journey planners, as it is the work rescheduled from the weeeknd prior to the Queen’s funeral).

Work is predominantly for Brent Cross and St Albans footbridge.

 

[59CosG95]

No service at all West Hampstead to Luton on 5/6 or 12/13 Nov (The latter not yet reflected in journey planners, as it is the work rescheduled from the weeeknd prior to the Queen’s funeral).

Work is predominantly for Brent Cross and St Albans footbridge.

Ah yes, that would make sense. Any major change to the feeding arrangements would probably mean nothing south of Bedford!

 

[Flying Phil]

To the South of MH station there are now some wires up between the masts, but not on the insulated "droppers"( Stove pipes?) from the cantilevers. Are these earth wires? (Sorry no pictures as I was driving under the bridge!). I now see that this can just be made out on PJM's last picture.

 

[59CosG95]

To the South of MH station there are now some wires up between the masts, but not on the insulated "droppers"( Stove pipes?) from the cantilevers. Are these earth wires? (Sorry no pictures as I was driving under the bridge!). I now see that this can just be made out on PJM's last picture.

Those would indeed be the Earth Wires. I suspect the Earthing & Bonding design provides a decent-enough reason as to why there are two on the Up side just south of the station.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Written Question from Jane Hunt MP Loughborough

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-10-10/60176

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of when the full electrification of the Midland Mainline will be complete.

Kevin Foster MP Minister response

18 October 2022

The Integrated Rail Plan published in November 2021, set out the electrification of the Midland Mainline is planned to be completed around 2030 (subject to business case approvals)

This could end up being one of the longest running threads on the forum. Hope NR is extolling the virtues of keeping the teams working towards Syston will be the most economical efficient way of delivering it.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Written Question from Jane Hunt MP Loughborough

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-10-10/60176



Kevin Foster MP Minister response


This could end up being one of the longest running threads on the forum. Hope NR is extolling the virtues of keeping the teams working towards Syston will be the most economical efficient way of delivering it.

Meanwhile Jeremy Hunt, the latest chancellor of the exchequer, might bring hard times upon that aspiration.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Meanwhile Jeremy Hunt, the latest chancellor of the exchequer, might bring hard times upon that aspiration.

Thats clearly a possibility but might play to its advantage being a slow burn scheme that just plods along with the 810's progressively getting further on the juice.

 

[Kneedown]

Not sure if this has been mentioned before, but pilings starting to go in the ground. Great Bowden area, towards East Langton.

 

[Flying Phil]

Certainly there is more activity at the Langton compound, with more vegetation clearance - and a big bonfire being built there!

 

[londonmidland]

How far into South Wigston will the electrification reach? I assume short of Blaby road (which is a very busy road in and out of South Wigston), as that may require a rebuild and certainly a higher wall on top?

 

[Bald Rick]

How far into South Wigston will the electrification reach? I assume short of Blaby road (which is a very busy road in and out of South Wigston), as that may require a rebuild and certainly a higher wall on top?

That would more likely be a track lower, nevertheless I believe this stage finishes just south of there.

 

[WAO]

From the Wigan planning docs, the minimum height, rail top to soffit is 5.16m. Arched bridges might meet this at the centre but not towards the sides. If you can enlarge the picture and count the brick courses you could possibly tell whether this steel bridge needs raising!

WAO

 

[59CosG95]

From the Wigan planning docs, the minimum height, rail top to soffit is 5.16m. Arched bridges might meet this at the centre but not towards the sides. If you can enlarge the picture and count the brick courses you could possibly tell whether this steel bridge needs raising!

WAO

And with steel decks such as that one, jacking the deck up might well be an option.

 

[Nottingham59]

That bridge was identified as "requiring works" in the previous electrification scheme, according to slide 10 in here:

https://politics.leics.gov.uk/documents/s119769/Appendix%20C%20-%20Midland%20Mainline%20Electrification%20Programme.pdf

"Location of bridges and junctions affected by the Midland Main Line Electrification programme"
But, as you say, this could mean just raising the parapet.

Beyond the bridge involves junctions and (discussions over) new track layouts. I'm sure whoever decided the limits of work for the current phase would have avoided those.

The Network Rail presentation Midland Main Line Programme June 2022:
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Midland-Main-Line-presentation.pdf
does show a map going beyond the bridge, but I think that is because they will be using the land north of the bridge as a works yard.

 

[59CosG95]

That bridge was identified as "requiring works" in the previous electrification scheme, according to slide 10 in here:

https://politics.leics.gov.uk/documents/s119769/Appendix%20C%20-%20Midland%20Mainline%20Electrification%20Programme.pdf

"Location of bridges and junctions affected by the Midland Main Line Electrification programme"
But, as you say, this could mean just raising the parapet.

Beyond the bridge involves junctions and (discussions over) new track layouts. I'm sure whoever decided the limits of work for the current phase would have avoided those.

The Network Rail presentation Midland Main Line Programme June 2022:
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Midland-Main-Line-presentation.pdf
does show a map going beyond the bridge, but I think that is because they will be using the land north of the bridge as a works yard.

@Kneedown - are these piles on the "new" or existing alignment shown in Slides 5 & 6?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

That bridge was identified as "requiring works" in the previous electrification scheme, according to slide 10 in here:

https://politics.leics.gov.uk/documents/s119769/Appendix%20C%20-%20Midland%20Mainline%20Electrification%20Programme.pdf

"Location of bridges and junctions affected by the Midland Main Line Electrification programme"

The Network Rail presentation Midland Main Line Programme June 2022:
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Midland-Main-Line-presentation.pdf
does show a map going beyond the bridge, but I think that is because they will be using the land north of the bridge as a works yard.

Thanks for posting these. Really useful information.

 

[edwin_m]

And with steel decks such as that one, jacking the deck up might well be an option.

Or insulating paint plus surge arrestors.

 

[WAO]

@Kneedown - are these piles on the "new" or existing alignment shown in Slides 5 & 6?

Very good point!

Slides 5&6 are of the "Pony Paddock" reinstatement of the original gentle curve, away from the curved fly-over and would give perhaps 2 more miles of full 110mph, rather than the 85mph at present.


WAO

 

[snowball]

Very good point!

Slides 5&6 are of the "Pony Paddock" reinstatement of the original gentle curve, away from the curved fly-over and would give perhaps 2 more miles of full 110mph, rather than the 85mph at present.


WAO

I thought that proposal was dropped when the realignment through MH station went ahead?

 

[WAO]

I think that it was dropped from that immediate scheme, which was then terminated at the North end of the station. It would have also shortened the route by a chain or two and avoided doubtful ground conditions over the embankment.

Whether it is ever reinstated, is the question.

WAO

 

[edwin_m]

From discussion on here at the time, given that trains still have to slow down for the remaining restriction south of the station, removing the one further north didn't make much difference to journey times.

 

[Nottingham59]

Thanks for posting these. Really useful information.

You're welcome. I found them by doing a Google search for "MML Wigston", and looking through the found images. You might be able to find similar material for other electrification schemes the same way.

 

[Kneedown]

@Kneedown - are these piles on the "new" or existing alignment shown in Slides 5 & 6?

They follow the existing track layout in the area of the A6 overbridge. Most are fully in but I did notice one with about 6ft protruding. I'll be driving the route on Sat and Sun so will try and narrow the full extent down a bit further.

 

[59CosG95]

The NR Website for the Midland Main Line Upgrade now has a map! https://www.networkrail.co.uk/runni...utes/east-midlands/midland-main-line-upgrade/
It gives everything in current and high detail, right down to the mileage, chainage and yardage.

Screenshot of an example below: