Liverpool Lime St remodelling

[ivanhoe]

^^
Yep, Rail House is Lord Nelson Street and not to be confused with the former Mail Sorting Office which was demolished and replaced with Student Accomodation on Copperas Hill. Rail House is platform 1 side and houses Merseyrail HQ and Network Rail.

 

[Will Mitchell]

In an ideal world the Lord Nelson Street entrance, car park, Rail House and Liner Hotel would be completely redeveloped to provide a new concourse and facilities. Maybe one for the future..

 

[driver_m]

^^
Yep, Rail House is Lord Nelson Street and not to be confused with the former Mail Sorting Office which was demolished and replaced with Student Accomodation on Copperas Hill. Rail House is platform 1 side and houses Merseyrail HQ and Network Rail.

Network Rail aren't in Rail House. Not sure where they are now. The signalling side moved to the exchange building years ago when concourse house was demolished but now I have no idea where they are. Guess either square one manchester or poss in a box somewhere Platform staff must be based locally but they're not in rail house. We're in there (VT) along with TPE, (Northern are down on platform one itself) Rail Gourmet have the bottom section, BTP occupy the second floor and the top floors are Merseyrail office staff . There is Student Accommodation also opposite Rail House but the company has gone bust with it nearly finished. The liner appears to do quite well, always seems to have plenty of foreign tourists staying in there .

 

[Elecman]

Network Rail are still in Rail House

 

[driver_m]

Network Rail are still in Rail House

Are they? They're very discreet if they are..

 

[Polarbear]

I note that the NR website is quoting that there'll be an update in March as regards the detailed plans for this summers' work. As we're getting on for half way through March, and Easter is looming at the other end of the month, does anyone have any inkling as to when NR might put some more information into the public domain?

 

[Rail Ranger]

Branch Line News (the journal of the Branch Line Society) is saying that Edge Hill power box is now to be retained after the Lime Street area comes under the control of the Manchester ROC. Also Ditton box is to be retained for now.

 

[driver_m]

Branch Line News (the journal of the Branch Line Society) is saying that Edge Hill power box is now to be retained after the Lime Street area comes under the control of the Manchester ROC. Also Ditton box is to be retained for now.

Is that for S&T usage like in the old Coventry box? Always plenty of NR vans in the adjoining compound so its likely they'll be using it for Mess facilities maybe? Ditton was mentioned as being kept standing a while ago, Runcorn is listed and if Halton is left long enough, it'll probably come down by itself. Be interested to know what they'll do with Speke Jn box. Believe it's one of the biggest traditional boxes left if you don't count the Shrewsbury ones.

 

[nw-sparks]

Is that for S&T usage like in the old Coventry box?

No, they say it is to remain open as a signalbox making an island separate control.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

No, they say it is to remain open as a signalbox making an island separate control.

Seems like an odd decision given Network Rail's commitment to move everything to ROCs in the long-term. Could it be this is a short-term cost-cutting measure?

 

[edwin_m]

Seems like an odd decision given Network Rail's commitment to move everything to ROCs in the long-term. Could it be this is a short-term cost-cutting measure?

Or shortage of signalling resources to do the work?

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Or shortage of signalling resources to do the work?

Or the outcome of serious failings in the supply chain (client included)

 

[8A Rail]

I had been advised that Ditton S.Box is basically been retained in plain simple layman's language, as the 'internet / fibre connection' between our area and Manchester ROC. It is the cheaper option rather than putting in a whole new connection.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Apparently Lime St will be open for Huyton route services for 4 weeks during the long blockade - 11 June - 12 July.
So there will be 3 phases to the work, two complete closures either side a partial closure.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-43418209

As with previous line closures, the majority of services will start and terminate at Liverpool South Parkway for journeys including those connecting London, Birmingham and Manchester Piccadilly.
However, passengers from Preston, Wigan, St Helens and Manchester Victoria will be able to travel in and out of Lime Street station between 11 June and 12 July.
When Preston, Wigan, St Helens and Manchester Victoria services cannot access Lime Street, rail replacement buses will run every 10 minutes between Huyton and the city centre.

 

[snowball]

Here's the NR press release

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds...et-during-major-upgrade-this-summer-revealed/

Some train services will run in and out of Lime Street station for over four weeks of this summer’s upgrade works, being carried out between 2 June and 29 July, as every effort is made to keep passengers moving while the station is transformed.

Some train services will run in and out of Lime Street station for over four weeks of this summer’s upgrade works, being carried out between 2 June and 29 July, as every effort is made to keep passengers moving while the station is transformed.

As with previous line closures for upgrades, the majority of services will start and terminate at Liverpool South Parkway so passengers can travel into the centre of Liverpool on the Merseyrail network – for journeys to/from London, Birmingham and Manchester Piccadilly to name a few.

However, passengers from Preston, Wigan, St Helens and Manchester Victoria will be able to travel in and out of Lime Street station between 11 June and 12 July. When Preston, Wigan, St Helens and Manchester Victoria services can’t access Lime Street, high quality rail replacement buses will run every 10 minutes between Huyton and the city centre.

Lime Street’s transformation is a key part of the £340m railway investment in the Liverpool City Region, which sits within the Great North Rail Project.

Vital upgrades to platforms and signalling will enable an extra three services per hour in and out of Lime Street station, including new direct services to Scotland from 2019. Longer, better managed platforms will accommodate longer trains, helping to provide more space and seats for passengers.

Rail Minister Jo Johnson said: “We are investing in the most significant modernisation of the UK rail network since Victorian times, providing faster, more reliable trains and a greater number of services across the North.

“Liverpool Lime Street is one of the best examples of the great Victorian railway stations and stands as a testament to the engineers, architects and builders of the era. Essential upgrade work must be carried out over the summer so that we can keep passengers moving through this historic station. This is just part of our ambitious Great North Rail Project, which will also see all of Northern and TransPennine Express trains being new or refurbished by 2020.

“I am grateful for the patience of passengers while this work is completed.”

Martin Frobisher, Network Rail’s London North Western route managing director, said: “We’ve been working with our colleagues across the industry for the past two years to build a solid plan to keep passengers moving during our major transformation of Lime Street station.

“Our main aim has been to keep passengers on trains where possible. Running trains in and out of the station for over four weeks during the upgrade, while work continues, is testament to our vow keep Liverpool open for business.

“Once complete in October this year, passengers will be able to enjoy a newly remodelled concourse, with new, longer, more spacious platforms with more room for passengers. This is a vital part of our Great North Rail project to transform train travel across the North.”

Sharon Keith, Northern’s regional director, said: “The transformation of Liverpool Lime Street will help to significantly improve journeys for our customers and will complement our own modernisation plans. We can’t wait to see our brand new trains pulling into the upgraded platforms at Lime Street.

“In the meantime, we have been working in partnership with colleagues across the rail industry to provide the best possible service for customers whilst the upgrade work takes place.”

Frank Rogers, chief executive at Merseytravel, said: “2018 is set to be a landmark year for transport projects in the Liverpool City Region; by 2043 passenger numbers travelling at peak times through the station will more than double – this work is vital if we are to future proof rail services in and around the region for generations to come.

“As the upgrade gets nearer we encourage passengers to plan ahead and check operators websites before they travel, including those passengers who use Merseyrail services which stop at the lower level of Lime Street, to understand how their journeys may be different during these essential works.”

Passengers as far afield as London, Birmingham, Preston, Leeds and Newcastle will be impacted by the upgrade works. Passengers are also reminded that work will take place on Sunday 8 April with no trains running in or out of Lime Street station.

Passengers are advised to check www.networkrail.co.uk/lcr for more information. In a small number of instances, passengers will not be able to book tickets until less than the usual 12 weeks before travel from 20 May. Passengers are advised to plan their journey ahead but also to check times closer to the day of travel. More information can be found at www.nationalrail.co.uk/timetablechange.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

They don't seem to be taking the option of routeing some London/Birmingham services via Warrington and Huyton.
Maybe the long platforms will be inaccessible.

 

[Nean]

They don't seem to be taking the option of routeing some London/Birmingham services via Warrington and Huyton.
Maybe the long platforms will be inaccessible.

Well they're only saying that people will be able to get in from Chat Moss on the 11th & 12th- do any LNWR (or whatever LM is now) and VT drivers sign the necessary routes? I don't recall seeing any diversions that way in my recent memory...

I'd also imagine that the time to get to the central triangle (Lime st, Moorfields, Central) is quicker changing at Parkway than going "the long way round"

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Well they're only saying that people will be able to get in from Chat Moss on the 11th & 12th- do any LNWR (or whatever LM is now) and VT drivers sign the necessary routes? I don't recall seeing any diversions that way in my recent memory...

VT certainly have diverted that way during disruption in the last year, though LNW/LM have never done it, generally bustituting from Crewe.
The Huyton route will be open for 4.5 weeks - 11 June-12 July, not just 2 days.

 

[driver_m]

We sign the Chat Moss but LNWR don't .LSP has always been the plan though, the fasts must be inaccessible and pl7&9 .

 

[edwin_m]

If they kept access to the high-numbered platforms during the blockade then there'd be hardly any track they could close.

 

[Railman]

So are we saying that from July trains leaving Lime street will travel under the control of the ROC, then Edge Hill then the ROC, then Ditton then back to the ROC upto Weaver junc (Winsford)?

 

[Joseph_Locke]

So are we saying that from July trains leaving Lime street will travel under the control of the ROC, then Edge Hill then the ROC, then Ditton then back to the ROC upto Weaver junc (Winsford)?

Not sure that way, but from Lime Street they go ROC - Edge Hill - ROC on their way to Huyton ... how we are laughing.

 

[e30ftw]

so they are keeping edge hill and lime street and also ditton but getting rid of halton, runcorn and speeke?

The original plan was everything from weaver onwards to be from Manc ROC? This can only be due to spiraling costs due to the complexity and expertise needed to do such a large changer over of remote controle to the ROC

 

[Joseph_Locke]

No, Lime Street station is on the ROC

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Not very "digital railway", is it?
Hopefully it just pushes the deferred bits into CP6 (at the expense of something else).
It probably doesn't matter to the public unless they defer the Halton Jn reinstatement.

 

[e30ftw]

i have seen bits of "digital railway" implamented, its not exactly world class, or any where near where it should be in my opinion but a lot of money has been sunk in to it.

 

[Railman]

It seems to me Lime Street SB had to be replaced as it will be a new layout and all new equipment hence new workstation (signal box) therefore put in the ROC, Halton junction SB new layout and equipment hence new workstation (signalbox) so into the ROC but Speke Junction? and Allerton ? and Runcorn? are there any major layout changes going on there, or is it a case of gone to far to stop it??

 

[driver_m]

Runcorn is going at the same time as Halton. There's already replacement signalling in place.

Speke and Allerton are supposed to be going in a separate phase of the Resignalling.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Passed Halton Jn today, and the first part of the branch towards Frodsham was dismantled.
Presumably ready for the new layout.
Some new OHLE masts up as well.

 

[driver_m]

Whatever had been done to Allerton-Garston track, (it appeared to have been pulled up) it's been put back and appears to be in its previously unused state again. Still only single track. OLE still in situ for both tracks. Also a lot of new signals in place between Weaver and Halton now.