Great Eastern Overhead Line Renewal Programme
In mid 2009, the Department for Transport (DfT) published Britain’s Transport Infrastructure: Rail Electrification.
The report confirmed government support for a programme of Electrification, including Liverpool to Manchester railway, with the Lancashire Triangle (i.e. Huyton Junction to Springs Bank Junction and Manchester to Euxton Junction railway) added later in the year to form what has become known as North West Electrification Programme (NWEP).
The DfT subsequently reconfirmed support for NWEP in November 2010 following a Comprehensive Spending Review. It added additional railway routes (Trans Pennine) following a further spending review in November 2011.
Great Eastern Overhead Line Renewal Programme
This complex renewal requires:
- development of a new auto tension overhead line system;
- installation of 1,000 new structures
- installation of 200km of contact wire and catenary wire
- renewal of all system components, including switches and feeds.
All this has proceeded with low impact on the travelling public and in particular avoiding disruption to peak travel.
Great Eastern Overhead Line Renewal Programme
The main objective of the project is to provide an overhead line system that:
- is simpler with higher reliability
- is easier to install / maintain
- removes the requirement for heat-related temporary speed restrictions in summer, caused by the current system design
- has lighter loading on structures, to reduce structural repairs
- makes maintenance and repair simpler and more cost effective
- facilitates the seven day railway requirements for Overhead Line Equipment maintenance.
Great Eastern Overhead Line Renewal Programme
Client: UK Department for Transport
Location: London, UK
Start date: 2007
End date: 2017
Duration: 120 months
Contract value: £250m
Services provided: Asset management plan development, electrification & power supply, whole life evaluation