Crow nest Junction and the Atherton line

[strange6]

I have heard a rumour that from Crow Nest Junction at Hindley and all down the Atherton line, the whole signalling system is going to be replaced so the the Picadilly Signalling centre will have complete control over the area. This mean that Crow Nest Junction, Atherton and Walkden signalboxes will be closed? Anybody heard any truth in this rumour? Shame if it's true - Crow nest is quite a famous little signalbox as is Walkden

http://www.walkdenstation.org.uk/signalBoxHistory.shtml

 

[WatcherZero]

Did a quick search and found the reason preventing this from happening previously was the signalling systems in Preston/Warrington and the boxes inbetween were incompatible with Piccadillys train descriptor system. If their replacing them to address this incompability:

How much hardware has to be changed to make them compatible, is this a good opportunity for addressing headway constraints?
I can think of three likely causes, Northern Hub, cost saving and Electrification, any idea which is the cause?

 

[strange6]

Did a quick search and found the reason preventing this from happening previously was the signalling systems in Preston/Warrington and the boxes inbetween were incompatible with Piccadillys train descriptor system. If their replacing them to address this incompability:

How much hardware has to be changed to make them compatible, is this a good opportunity for addressing headway constraints?
I can think of three likely causes, Northern Hub, cost saving and Electrification, any idea which is the cause?

Intersting question that! Hopefully somebody from NR could answer this for us

 

[Johnny Lewis]

As someone who used to live on this line, I can only hope that the rumours are true! Having all signalling controlled from Piccadilly box would hopefully enable a standard 3 or 4 minute headway, which would vastly improve the line's ability to take diverted trains off other routes at times of disruption / engineering work.

While they are at it, hopefully (again) the last remaining lengthy sections of jointed track, between Walkden and Atherton, will finally be replaced, before a Class 142 does, one day, finally leap from the rails due to the shocking ride quality on this section - the only section where trains would, under better circumstances, be able to reach a half-decent line speed.

We live in hope... (Derbyshire or Flintshire, take your pick)...

 

[strange6]

As someone who used to live on this line, I can only hope that the rumours are true! Having all signalling controlled from Piccadilly box would hopefully enable a standard 3 or 4 minute headway, which would vastly improve the line's ability to take diverted trains off other routes at times of disruption / engineering work.

While they are at it, hopefully (again) the last remaining lengthy sections of jointed track, between Walkden and Atherton, will finally be replaced, before a Class 142 does, one day, finally leap from the rails due to the shocking ride quality on this section - the only section where trains would, under better circumstances, be able to reach a half-decent line speed.

We live in hope... (Derbyshire or Flintshire, take your pick)...

LOL They do make quite a racket going over this section, I must admit! There have been quite a few men in Orange on this section of track though during the past few weeks.