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MML Electrification: progress updates

Edvid

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In infrastructure news, the Supply site at Braybrooke now has the other side connected to the 400kV pylon and there are wires to the South. The North has all the cantilevers installed but not all the droppers and other gubbins!View attachment 146128

A big milestone in the K2W project, I'd say. Those supergrid transformers were delivered back in November 2021, so it's taken just shy of 2 years to complete those grid connections; in fact the second circuit was still being connected in your picture.

Ironically, the only major construction activity yet to commence in that area is replacement of the very bridge you've taken many a picture from!
 
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59CosG95

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Three Arches Bridge will be demolished, according to this NR MMLe page.
That may be, however Kettering Borough Council (as was) has details on its planning portal for reconstruction. (Of course, it did have a similar entry for Judges bridge, which got left alone in the end!)


The new con-arch and parapets are in at SPC3-7 (Wigston Rd).


And track lowering beneath SPC3-39 (B576 Harborough Rd) & SPC3-28E (Gt Bowden Footbridge) has been done.

Last weekend was a busy one, and I think this coming weekend's going to be very similar!
 
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InTheEastMids

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Three Arches Bridge will be demolished, according to this NR MMLe page.

That may be, however Kettering Borough Council (as was) has details on its planning portal for reconstruction. (Of course, it did have a similar entry for Judges bridge, which got left alone in the end!)

NR have been applying for "prior approval" for bridge reconstructions. This is to demonstrate to the local planning authority that the proposal falls within the powers that NR already have. As noted here, the only application to Kettering for this bridge is NK/2021/0775 (link: https://www.kettering.gov.uk/planningApplication/131258) which is clearly showing modifications to the existing bridge etc.

There can be delays in LPAs getting applications onto their planning portals, which is a possibility of NR have *very recently* changed their minds
Sometimes organisations start work at risk (i.e. before approval is received). Not usually recommended though!

At the next bridge south, the new bridge was constructed before the old one demolished. Is there any evidence that a new bridge is being constructed?
 

Brissle Girl

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The problems with not getting prior approval and starting work are well illustrated by the situation at Quakers Yard, which has been discussed very recently in the South Wales Metro thread.
 

Trainben

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Some pics this afternoon at Great Bowden, looks like there is quite a bit to do still on footbridge, although spikes have been fitted.
 

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Merle Haggard

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Travelling down today I noticed something unusual alongside the Up & Down Slow South of Wigston.
The mast columns being placed on the down side are beyond the line of the security fencing, and it's been moved to one side presumably to allow access from the railway side.
The security fencing is very close to that track; does it mark the boundary (probably as a result of the B.R. Property Board's enthusiasm for maximising land sales) or is there an actual boundary some distance away and the fence is to keep trespassers away rather than to mark it?
It looks a bit odd, with the fence making 4 90 degree turns around each column.

There's a footbridge that crosses all three lines at that point, and it looks like no work's been carried on it, although it's a steel girder span with comparatively low sides.

On another subject; at Braybrook the embankment reinforced with soil nails looks very green already - is it actually artificial grass?
 

londonmidland

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Are there any updates for electrification between Wigston South Jn and Trent Jn?

This is the latest on the substation at Wigston South (not my pic)

IMG_5817.jpeg
 

Flying Phil

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....

On another subject; at Braybrook the embankment reinforced with soil nails looks very green already - is it actually artificial grass?
Yes it is artificial grass - there was a 3 page thread on this landslip and repair project earlier in this forum with this picture posted
DSC03153.JPG
 

Edvid

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Construction works should be done around March/April 2024. As it happens NR have just published a graphic on OLE installation and all the piles are now in place.

We’ve now completed all of the Foundations on the Midland Main Line between Wigston and Kettering! The Mast installation is almost complete and the Booms, SPS (small part steels) and Wire Runs will soon be complete too This brings us closer to an electrified MML!
@splpowerlinesuk

GABqTlhXAAALD8-
 

Merle Haggard

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Yes it is artificial grass - there was a 3 page thread on this landslip and repair project earlier in this forum with this picture posted
View attachment 147262

Thanks. From the train, the 'grass' does look more obviously artificial than in the photo; but I should have guessed as grass doesn't grow that thick in a few days in November!
Presumably provided so that the locals don't have the eyesore of a muddy bank to look at; I wish Northampton Gateway developers were as thoughtful to their's :(
 

76020

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Construction works should be done around March/April 2024. As it happens NR have just published a graphic on OLE installation and all the piles are now in place.



GABqTlhXAAALD8-
I do not want to be negative or cynical here but will Wigston South become the MML equivalent of Langley Burrell which is just east of Chippenham on the GWML as regards the limit of Electrification. With the current work all being completed in around four months time the current teams will obviously have to be disbanded, let's hope for some good news soon.
 

GRALISTAIR

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I do not want to be negative or cynical here but will Wigston South become the MML equivalent of Langley Burrell which is just east of Chippenham on the GWML as regards the limit of Electrification. With the current work all being completed in around four months time the current teams will obviously have to be disbanded, let's hope for some good news soon.
Agreed. At least with Transpennine there seems to be a pipeline of work. Not so much as far as I can see with MML.
 

Flying Phil

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I thought that I saw some veg clearance work around Syston, so maybe they are missing Leicester (for the time being!) and getting OLE further North???
 

edwin_m

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It's one of the rather depressing facts about procurement that you have to ensure a level playing field for bidders. If the contract is extended beyond its original scope as single option work for the incumbent, then there's a risk of challenge from others that might want the work, or the perception that the public sector isn't getting best value. To be hoped the scoring criteria in the new tender put a lot of weight on successful track record so it doesn't go to someone who bids low but has little experience.
 

GRALISTAIR

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It's one of the rather depressing facts about procurement that you have to ensure a level playing field for bidders. If the contract is extended beyond its original scope as single option work for the incumbent, then there's a risk of challenge from others that might want the work, or the perception that the public sector isn't getting best value. To be hoped the scoring criteria in the new tender put a lot of weight on successful track record so it doesn't go to someone who bids low but has little experience.
Let’s hope commonse prevails.
 

Laketop

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A lot has happened since the original post in 2015 and it's rather hard to keep up.

From my understanding, wasn't electrification beyond Kettering cancelled in 2017 by Chris Grayling then Sec. State for Transport, what's the current situation north of Kettering regarding electrification?
 

Bald Rick

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what's the current situation north of Kettering regarding electrification?

Betwen Kettering and Wigston South Junction it’s almost finished, see 8 posts above yours.


North of Wigston South Junction, lots of prep works behind the scenes, but no official word on implementation.
 

swt_passenger

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A lot has happened since the original post in 2015 and it's rather hard to keep up.

From my understanding, wasn't electrification beyond Kettering cancelled in 2017 by Chris Grayling then Sec. State for Transport, what's the current situation north of Kettering regarding electrification?
Kettering to Market Harborough was reinstated towards the end of 2021, IIRC. Further extension to South Wigston was added a fairly short time afterwards.
 

Killingworth

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I may be repeating what has already been posted but notice regarding forthcoming tenders for the work to Nottingham and Sheffield appeared last month, see; https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2023/W41/808321396

10 years to 2033?

Network Rail Eastern Midland Main Line Electrification Partnership Framework​

A Contract Addendum Notice
by NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LTD​

SourceFind a TenderTypeContract (Works)Duration10 year (est.)Value___
SectorCONSTRUCTIONPublished09 Oct 2023DeliveryTo 09 Oct 2033 (est.)Deadlinen/a

Concepts​

Location​

London

Geochart for 1 buyers and 0 suppliers
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Network Rail Infrastructure
+
Leaflet | Map tiles by Stamen Design, under CC BY 3.0. Data by OpenStreetMap, under ODbL.

1 buyer​

Description​

Network Rail (NR) intends to select suppliers to the Midland Main Line Electrification (MMLE) Partnership Framework for an initial term of 5 years with the option to extend in yearly increments up to a further 5 years. The MMLE programme will extend electric operation on the MML through to Nottingham and Sheffield. To help realise early electrification benefits, Route Section 1 (between Market Harborough to Wigston South) has been delivered separately from the remaining route sections as a continuation of the existing programme. The scope of this procurement is for the next stage of the electrification between Wigston and Nottingham out to Sheffield. One key MMLE objective is 'delivery on spend per single track kilometre (£/STK) target'. The recently commissioned London to Corby electrification was delivered at a rate of £3.7m per STK with the application of SPEED principles. The next stage of electrification is committed to achieving a rate of £2.5m per STK through collective delivery of the MMLE objectives, using of the partnering arrangements. The Framework shall be split into the 4 work disciplines across the following delivery lots: Lot 1 - Power & Distribution; Lot 2 - Structures & Civils; Lot 3 - OLE & Integration; Lot 4 - Signalling & Telecoms. There will be 1 Partner plus up to 2 pre-qualified reserve suppliers appointed to Lots 1, 2, 3 & 4. Reserve suppliers have been included to achieve appropriate resilience in delivery and to ensure business contingency. It is intended that reserve suppliers are not awarded a framework in the first instance, but should a framework supplier become insolvent, fall below required performance levels or other such event, then a reserve supplier would be engaged. The detail of this process will be confirmed at the ITT stage of the procurement. Tenderers may bid for any number of lots, and be awarded on a maximum of 2 different lots. The Partnership Framework includes a performance-based incentive mechanism to achieve the target STK rate and other MMLE objectives, including health and safety, decarbonisation and social value. Partners will be incentivised both individually and collectively.

Ammendments to Previous Notice​

2. II.2.6 2​

Value excluding VAT: £3,400,000,000 £250,000,000

3. II.2.6 3​

Value excluding VAT: £450,000,000 £425,000,000

4. II.2.6 4​

Value excluding VAT: £100,000,000 £80,000,000

5. II.1.4​

Network Rail (NR) intends to select suppliers to the Midland Main Line Electrification (MMLE) Partnership Framework for an initial term of 5 years with the option to extend in yearly increments up to a further 5 years. The MMLE programme will extend electric operation on the MML through to Nottingham and Sheffield. To help realise early electrification benefits benefits, Route Section 1 (between Market Harborough to Wigston South) has been delivered separately from the remaining route sections as a continuation of the existing programme. The scope of this procurement is for the next stage of the electrification between Wigston and Nottingham out to Sheffield. The values for each Lot are estimates only. As such, they are not guaranteed and do not act as a minimum or maximum work value for the programme nor a guarantee as to volume. One key MMLE objective is ‘delivery 'delivery on spend per single track kilometre (£/STK) target’. target'. The recently commissioned London to Corby electrification was delivered at a rate of £3.7m per STK with the application of SPEED principles. The next stage of electrification is targeted committed to deliver achieving a rate of £2.5m per STK. This programme focuses on challenging and driving down the STK rate. Details through collective delivery of all the MMLE objectives can be found in objectives, using of the Strategic Brief. partnering arrangements. The Framework shall be split into the 4 work disciplines across the following delivery lots: Lot 1 – - Power & Distribution; Lot 2 – - Structures & Civils; Lot 3 – - OLE & Integration; Lot 4 – - Signalling & Telecoms. The values for each Lot are estimates only. As such, they are not guaranteed and do not act as a minimum or maximum work value for the programme nor a guarantee as to volume. There will be 1 Partner plus up to 2 pre-qualified reserve suppliers appointed to Lots 1, 2, 3 & 4 on the framework. 4. Reserve suppliers have been included to achieve appropriate resilience in delivery and to ensure business contingency. It is intended that reserve suppliers are not awarded a framework in the first instance, but should a framework supplier become insolvent, fall below required performance levels or other such event, then a reserve supplier would be engaged. The detail of this process will be confirmed at the ITT stage of the procurement. Tenderers may bid for any number of lots, and be awarded on a maximum of 2 different lots. The Partnership Framework includes a performance-based incentive mechanism to drive achieve the target STK rate and achieve the other MMLE objectives, including health and safety, decarbonisation and social value. Partners will be incentivised both individually and collectively. There will be an opportunity to comment on the contractual documentation. documentation at the ITT stage of the procurement. NR will determine which, if any, changes should result in revisions to the Framework based on the objective merit of the proposed changes. Further detail is set out in the Instructions to Participants. The contractual documentation will not be subject to negotiation. The Any negotiations will relate to the price element only. Participants will have an opportunity to update their tenders following negotiations. Initial Tenders will be evaluated but feedback will not be shared with participants. Only feedback on Final Tenders will be shared. Please note, that the value ranges of each Lot and total estimated value included in the Instructions to Participants this contract notice are indicative only. Similarly, whilst Despite the Contract Notice states a Framework value cap of £1.2bn, £1.2 billion figure included in section II.1.5, NR currently has internal governance approval for a Framework framework value of £950 million (associated with the main elements of the MMLE works as currently envisaged). The higher value included in the Contract Notice this contract notice is not an absolute cap but is indicative of the potential level to which the original budget could increase if additional works and services to that which is currently envisaged, are required. All values are estimates only, and the final values will depend on the precise works and services required to be delivered, the means of delivery, the way in which projects and project risks materialise, the actual rates of inflation up to completion of the programme, and other factors. As such, they are not guaranteed and do not act as a minimum or maximum work value for the programme nor a guarantee as to volume.

CPV Codes​

  • 45000000 - Construction work

Other Information​

There will be an opportunity to comment on the contractual documentation at the ITT stage of the procurement. NR will determine which, if any, changes should result in revisions to the Framework based on the objective merit of the proposed changes. The contractual documentation will not be subject to negotiation. Any negotiations will relate to the price element only. Participants will have an opportunity to update their tenders following negotiations. Please note, that the value ranges of each Lot and total estimated value included in this contract notice are indicative only. Despite the £1.2 billion figure included in section II.1.5, NR currently has internal governance approval for a framework value of £950 million (associated with the main elements of the MMLE works as currently envisaged). The higher value included in this contract notice is not an absolute cap but is indicative of the potential level to which the original budget could increase if additional works and services to that which is currently envisaged, are required. All values are estimates only, and the final values will depend on the precise works and services required to be delivered, the means of delivery, the way in which projects and project risks materialise, the actual rates of inflation up to completion of the programme, and other factors. As such, they are not guaranteed and do not act as a minimum or maximum work value for the programme nor a guarantee as to volume. The short description and values for the Lots in the contract notice published on 6th October 2023 have been updated in this corrigendum to align with the figures included in the PQQ Instructions. The value included for Lot 2 in the contract notice contained an additional 0 by mistake. This typo has been corrected and interested organisations should be guided by the estimated Lot values in this Corrigendum (as reflected in the procurement documents) rather than the Contract Notice published on 6th October 2023. If interested organisations have any queries, they should follow the clarification process set out in the Instructions available at https://www.networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/.

Reference​

  • FTS 029689-2023
 

gingertom

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what about the grid supply points? These are the long lead time items, plus was one of them to be shared with HS2 eastern leg?
 

snowball

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I may be repeating what has already been posted but notice regarding forthcoming tenders for the work to Nottingham and Sheffield appeared last month, see; https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2023/W41/808321396

10 years to 2033?
Is this the same set of documents that was posted in #6682 and discussed over the next few pages, or has it been updated?

I seem to remember an item in a recent issue of RAIL magazine putting a pessimistic interpretation on what this implied for likely start dates between Wigston and Sheffield, with a substantial period on no active works after South Wigston goes live.
 

edwin_m

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Is this the same set of documents that was posted in #6682 and discussed over the next few pages, or has it been updated?

I seem to remember an item in a recent issue of RAIL magazine putting a pessimistic interpretation on what this implied for likely start dates between Wigston and Sheffield, with a substantial period on no active works after South Wigston goes live.
#6864 mentions prep work behind the scenes. This doesn't mean that no electrification-related work can be done until the contract is let - NR can commission things under their existing framework or even let a separate contract for enabling works. Typically these will be fairly small jobs that need to be done early so that the bulk of the work can get started sooner, such as surveys and utility works.
 

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