Our local line is to be electrified. Will they have to replace the footbridges? Not much clearance.?

Question

They look a bit like this one....

http://www.maybole.org/news/2005/June/MayboleStation_small.jpg

Answer 1

Possibly, although in some cases, the catenery can be lowered slightly through tunnels or under bridges.

You should, perhaps, write to Network Rail to ask whether it will be replaced.

Answer 2

nope, they`l just dig away the ballast to lower the tracks ! Much cheaper option.

Answer 3

I assume that you mean overhead electrification. In that case the station footbridges will be replaced if they're like the one in the picture.

This is to provide at least 30cm clearance between the wire and the bridge for safety. Also, many of these old iron bridges are probably due for replacement anyway.

You may find that the new bridge has more than enough clearance. This happened at Langley (GW main line near Slough). The new bridge actually has headroom for OHW and double deck trains. This is on a diesel only line too.

If your local line doesn't have too many tight clearances for tunnels etc. it's possible that a more generous loading guage will be provided as part of the works. This will be more for freight benefit than for double deck trains.

Check the Network Rail website and see if your route is one of those listed for guage enhancement.

Additional.

Some people say that they'll just lower the track. This can not happen in stations so obviously they haven't looked at your photo. Where is it?

Answer 4

In addition to the clearance problems amply covered in other answers, the practise appears now to be to provide covered footbridges, or at least ones with enclosed sides, not open work ones as in your picture. This is to stop the hooligan element trying to kill themselves by poking things through the gaps.  - or potential suicides from trying to jump on on to the overhead.

Answer 5

I guess that will be part of the project.

Answer 6

Hi Hibee

As part of the project this would have been scoped.

One of the requirments to have a min of 9ft between OHLE (overhead line equipment) and you!. so if any bridges fall too close they have two options, to either raise the bridge or apply for a permit to run OHLE but with some safety steelwork, so you cant come into contact with the OHLE.

But this will be part of the safety case and NR, will review closely, It will also be checked by the OHLE team and them to sign off too.

hope this helps...

Answer 7

There is a minimum clearance needed between trackbed and bridge to allow the the power lines to be installed, with sufficent space for the pantograph (on top of the train) to pass beneath the bridge.

In exceptional cases, such as at Easterhouse station (between Glasgow and Coatbridge), there is insufficent for power lines to be installed and energised. In such cases, a dead section is installed beneath the bridge. This is rare because of the difficulty that can arise from a train stalling at just that locus - it has happened at least once in my knowledge at Easterhouse.

Metal bridges cause additional problems because they require additional measures to prevent power leakage from the power lines to the footbridge (electrocution of passengers is not a good way of attracting customers to the railway!)

So, unless the bridge is a listed structure, then replacement is often the cheapest option if there is insufficent clearance.

The footbridge in your photograph is at Maybole station, but it no longer exists, having been replaced in 2006 (I know because I live not far from it). Had the line been considered for electrification, then replacement would have been necessary. The new bridge can accommodate the additional infrastructure that would be needed for electrification.

Answer 8

Is that where you are? The bridges may be replaced if the clearance is too small.