Cross-City Electrification from Barnt Green to Bromsgrove

[Class172]

Worcester will soldier on for a good while yet, we cannot afford to resignal it. It will probably be the last thing to be shoe horned into the WMSCC as its nearly full.

Given that the area is unlikely to be resignalled any time soon, would it not be wise perhaps to look at adding in a couple more signals in order to allow trains to leave sooner? I note that there is an intermediate block on the up, however there doesn't appear to be the equivalent on the down (see diagram) - would the installation of this (or perhaps other additional locations) alleviate the bottlenecks given earlier that are currently preventing an increased frequency?

I have made a quick diagram roughly to scale of what I understand the current layout is - I hope it's fairly accurate.

 

[deltic08]

There's a good set of pics on flickr here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lickeybanker/30100300583/in/photostream/

...showing amongst other things all the track realignment taking place at the moment.

In particular the photo I've linked to directly, taken yesterday, shows how the down main through platform 4 gets the fast alignment south of the station, with the platform 3 line and the entry to the down loop clearly being the diverging routes.

Do we know if there is to be an increase in line speed above the current 80 mph?

 

[The Planner]

Up the hill? Not that I recall no.

 

[Orchid]

The linespeed will change from 80 to a new speed of 90 where the current crossover is near the bottom of the bank. So the linespeed on the down and up Gloucester through Bromsgrove will be 90.

 

[wfrank]

Thanks. hope you are right its 90mph. I am sick & tired of Network Rail being so skinflint, whilst spending a fortune. Look at half baked jobs like Redhill extra platform & the disappointment at Rochdale & Bolton where we could have had new through platforms.

 

[The Planner]

Saltley PSB closed last night as part of the Bromsgrove works. 1969-2016 in service.

 

[59CosG95]

Saltley PSB closed last night as part of the Bromsgrove works. 1969-2016 in service.

RIP Saltley. 47 years certainly isn't bad. :cry:

 

[deltic08]

The linespeed will change from 80 to a new speed of 90 where the current crossover is near the bottom of the bank. So the linespeed on the down and up Gloucester through Bromsgrove will be 90.

So that should save a minute Bromsgrove to Barnt Green.

 

[The Planner]

Won't save anything. The bank still stays at 80.

 

[D869]

There's a good set of pics on flickr here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lickeybanker/30100300583/in/photostream/

...showing amongst other things all the track realignment taking place at the moment.

In particular the photo I've linked to directly, taken yesterday, shows how the down main through platform 4 gets the fast alignment south of the station, with the platform 3 line and the entry to the down loop clearly being the diverging routes.

Sadly you haven't linked to the photo directly.

Some time ago Flickr decided to stop supporting my browser which cannot be upgraded but is perfectly capable of displaying a Flickr image when given the direct xxxxxxxx.jpg URL.

 

[The Planner]

I note that there is an intermediate block on the up, however there doesn't appear to be the equivalent on the down (see diagram) - would the installation of this (or perhaps other additional locations) alleviate the bottlenecks given earlier that are currently preventing an increased frequency?

An IB on the up would make a bit of a difference yes as would some LSI to clear the sections a bit quicker, but placement of it would be important.

 

[swt_passenger]

Sadly you haven't linked to the photo directly.

Some time ago Flickr decided to stop supporting my browser which cannot be upgraded but is perfectly capable of displaying a Flickr image when given the direct xxxxxxxx.jpg URL.

I have linked to the photo rather than inserting it as an image here, because the Flickt user has expressly asked in his notes that it mustn't be copied elsewhere.

 

[deltic08]

Won't save anything. The bank still stays at 80.

Why spend £millions on raising the line speed through Bromsgrove to 90mph then if the bank remains at 80mph a few hundred yards beyond? I don't know the rate of deceleration on 1 in 37 but it would be logical to extend 90 mph line speed on the bank to where a balancing speed of 80 mph occurs at full throttle.

 

[The Planner]

The millions were not spent for a line speed increase, it was for an enhancement to allow the Cross City to be extended to Bromsgrove, the small increase in line speed was probably a very low cost by product of the overall scheme.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

There was a CP4/5 Birmingham-Bristol journey time improvement project for XC, fairly recently completed.
I think all the line speed improvements for that were south of Bromsgrove.
On the Lickey, there may be some limits imposed by the vertical curvature at the top/bottom of the bank.

 

[edwin_m]

Is any line speed improvement going to happen on the bank itself with electrification, for example if the vertical profile is adjusted in connection with wiring?

 

[ChrisHogan]

Is any line speed improvement going to happen on the bank itself with electrification, for example if the vertical profile is adjusted in connection with wiring?

I doubt whether the 323s starting from rest will be able to reach the existing speed up the incline!!

 

[adrock1976]

I doubt whether the 323s starting from rest will be able to reach the existing speed up the incline!!

That's if the motors don't burn out.

Remember, the Class 323s were built in a rush back in 1993, and soon after, the manufacturer Hunslet of Leeds soon went into liquidation afterwards.

I don't think there was ever a prototype built so as to iron out any potential problems. When it became apparent that there were a range of problems with the 323s and with Hunslet having already gone into liquidation, it was left to Metro-Cammell to sort out the mess.

 

[The Planner]

Is any line speed improvement going to happen on the bank itself with electrification, for example if the vertical profile is adjusted in connection with wiring?

Passive for 90 IIRC.

 

[D869]

I have linked to the photo rather than inserting it as an image here, because the Flickt user has expressly asked in his notes that it mustn't be copied elsewhere.

Sadly you haven't linked to the photo. Here's an example, with no copying:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3437/3285233395_568aa9e51a_z.jpg

.

 

[the sniper]

I doubt whether the 323s starting from rest will be able to reach the existing speed up the incline!!

That's if the motors don't burn out.

Remember, the Class 323s were built in a rush back in 1993, and soon after, the manufacturer Hunslet of Leeds soon went into liquidation afterwards.

I don't think there was ever a prototype built so as to iron out any potential problems. When it became apparent that there were a range of problems with the 323s and with Hunslet having already gone into liquidation, it was left to Metro-Cammell to sort out the mess.

323s are decent, fast units in the dry. What the bank will be like in leaf fall is another question, as 323s are notoriously bad when it gets the slightest bit slippery. There are places on the Chase line that could be even more interesting though...

 

[deltic08]

An IB on the up would make a bit of a difference yes as would some LSI to clear the sections a bit quicker, but placement of it would be important.

Is that Local Speed Increases?

 

[The Planner]

Line Speed Increase

Signalling signed in at 0325, possession handed back early at 0451, first train 0B00 at 0503. Sounds like a success.

 

[ChrisHogan]

That's if the motors don't burn out.

Remember, the Class 323s were built in a rush back in 1993, and soon after, the manufacturer Hunslet of Leeds soon went into liquidation afterwards.

I don't think there was ever a prototype built so as to iron out any potential problems. When it became apparent that there were a range of problems with the 323s and with Hunslet having already gone into liquidation, it was left to Metro-Cammell to sort out the mess.

Not quite. 323201 was built and delivered in 1992 as the prototype. When we tested it, it suffered from severe vibration from the transmission (gearbox springs to mind but it was 24 years ago) and it went back to the manufacturer to be sorted out. No further units were delivered until that problem was resolved and we had to use those awful 308s from LT&S on the CrossCity line instead.

The other issues with the 323s such as shutting down on icy overheads didn't manifest themselves until they were in service.

 

[LDECRexile]

Line Speed Increase

Signalling signed in at 0325, possession handed back early at 0451, first train 0B00 at 0503. Sounds like a success.

Great, well done all concerned.

 

[59CosG95]

Line Speed Increase

Signalling signed in at 0325, possession handed back early at 0451, first train 0B00 at 0503. Sounds like a success.

Agree with LDECRExile on this, top job by all involved. Hearty congrats from me!

 

[D1009]

Signalling signed in at 0325, possession handed back early at 0451, first train 0B00 at 0503. Sounds like a success.

I thought 0B00 was used for buses.

 

[jfollows]

I went to the new station today, and although it was generally "functional" I was displeased that it appears to have been planned with little or no consideration for pedestrians. Maybe this is the new way of things?

I had a meeting at the nice Stroke Association centre in Bromsgrove Town Centre and since walking is my main exercise these days I decided to take advantage of time and a sunny day to get my exercise by walking there.

Firstly, I was unable to get out of the station without crossing roads multiple times. Someone seems to have decided that a pavement only needs to be provided on one side of the road, and that swapping from side to side is acceptable. Fortunately there was little traffic.

Secondly, someone has gone to the bother of putting a big "no right turn" sign at the end of the exit road, but there are no signs at all directing you to Bromsgrove Town Centre. Given that it's Bromsgrove station, I'd have thought this would have been sensible.

After a false start, because of course my printed OS map showed the OLD station, I went the right way and got to my meeting.

When I came back, there is no sign back to the station from the "main" road, and the station isn't visible from the road either, so it was only because I remembered my track from a few hours earlier that I knew to turn left to the station.

On the station, the platforms and the information were fine.

Next time, if I have to go, of course I won't have the same problems, but it seems to me a lack of thought or consideration of what someone wanting to walk from the station might need has been missed. It's not as if the station only opened today either, is it?

 

[Class172]

Lack of signage to and from the station is probably an issue to be sorted with the local council, rather than any railway related company. It may well be something that is yet to be done.

 

[deltic08]

Line Speed Increase

Signalling signed in at 0325, possession handed back early at 0451, first train 0B00 at 0503. Sounds like a success.

and I assume within budget? It all looked good on a quick visit on Friday on my way north. New sleepers, rail, ballast and signals always looks good. A pity it has to get dirty.

Next target electrification, but when?