Britain


the route suffered 17,000 delay minutes per year with only 16% of trains arriving on time.


Network Rail estimated the cost of electrification at £20-28m, but cost- benefit analysis suggested a positive business case could only be achieved if the price tag was below £12.2m. This was a perfect opportunity to test the viability of alliance working between the franchise operator and the infrastructure manager, a key part of the industry’s cost-reduction strategy introduced in the wake of Sir Roy McNulty’s value for money review (IRJ June 2011 p22).


The partners studied a variety of options with the objective of carrying out the bare minimum of works required to support a half-hourly service operated by emus. Neutral sections were extended under overhead structures which avoided the need to raise bridges, while the track was lowered at certain points to maintain clearances for freight trains and dmus. The use of a rail-mounted crane to install overhead line equipment piles reduced noise and allowed 200 piles to be installed in a residential area at night without disturbing residents. Grisewood says ScotRail negotiated with a local bus company to allow train tickets to be used on buses during line closures, which were largely restricted to evenings and weekends. The electrification contract was


awarded in June 2012 and electric services began operating just six months later. “All routes have different characteristics but the experience of Paisley Canal sets the standard for future projects across the country, and not just electrification projects,” says Grisewood. “Novel ways of doing things can deliver major savings, and through the alliance the disruption to passengers was minimised and the project was delivered quickly. Clearly there’s potential for innovation and substantial efficiencies from alliancing, particularly around a more coordinated approach to managing disruption. Culture is as important as structure when it comes to making these alliances a success.”


In addition to EGIP, a number of other infrastructure enhancements are included in HLOS for implementation between 2014 and 2019. These include the first phase of the upgrade of the Aberdeen - Inverness line, which will improve commuter services into both cities with new stations at Kintore and Dalcross. The long-term aim is to provide an hourly service between


28


Central Scotland Electrified


Being electrified Planned electrification Non-electrified Under construction


Stirling Falkirk Grahamston Grangemouth Milngavie


Paisley to Ayr


Neilston to Kilmarnock Glasgow East


Falkirk High Cumbernauld


Airdrie Whifflet


Shotts Motherwell 0 Kilbride Larkhall Lanark


Inverness and Aberdeen with an average journey time of around 2 hours. The second phase of the Highland Main Line upgrade will support the introduction of hourly services between Inverness and Perth, extending alternately to Edinburgh or Glasgow with an average journey time reduction of 10 minutes. Transport Scotland says the improvements will also make freight operations more efficient. Further south, civil works are underway on what is hailed as Britain’s largest railway reopening project. The £294m Borders Railway involves rebuilding a 48km section of the former Edinburgh - Carlisle Waverley Route between Newcraighall and Tweedbank with seven new stations. The line is due to be completed in mid-2015, although Grisewood says Network Rail and contractor BAM Nuttall could hand the


Carstairs to Carlisle to Tweedbank


line over by the end of 2014. Network Rail says the £53m


remodelling of the junction at Carstairs and electrification of the Edinburgh Suburban line will also be necessary to deliver the outputs specified in HLOS.


New franchises


Another important development for Scotland’s railways is the tendering of the new ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper franchises.


The main ScotRail franchise will be a maximum of 10 years with a break option after five years. The franchisee will be expected to improve train performance, introduce contactless fare collection and enhanced passenger communication facilities, including onboard Wi-Fi, and manage the procurement of new rolling stock.


IRJ km 25 Bathgate


Edinburgh Gateway


N Firth of Forth Edinburgh Newcastle to to Perth Dunblane Alloa Kirkcaldy Dunfermline North Berwick to Dundee


The Edinburgh - Glasgow electrification will allow the redeployment of dmus to provide additonal capacity on non-electrified routes. Photo: Robin Ralston


IRJ April 2013


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56