Third platform at Salford Crescent: project updates

[GRALISTAIR]

I took some photographs outside Salford Crescent station to give a different perspective of work being undertaken. IMHO, it seems from these photos there is a bit more work that needs doing than I originally thought from inside the station.

 

[sefyllian]

I've still not used the bypass track, once it opens as Platform 0 (or 3), I'll probably try to both arrive and leave from it.

It will definitely be Platform 3 for what it's worth, as it now has signs up saying so, in the new Rail Alphabet style.

I wonder if they are going to leave the current platforms as they are, in which case they’ll be in the wrong order (2, 1, 3), or if the rest of the station will get the new signs too, with 1 and 2 swapped as they do so.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I wonder if they are going to leave the current platforms as they are, in which case they’ll be in the wrong order (2, 1, 3), or if the rest of the station will get the new signs too, with 1 and 2 swapped as they do so.

I was wondering that myself. Hopefully, the platforms will be numbered more logically.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Has it never occurred to "the powers-that-be" that it would have been an opportune time for the workforce on the third platform to finally put a roof on the footbridge that leads to platforms 1 and 2.

 

[duffield]

I was wondering that myself. Hopefully, the platforms will be numbered more logically.

I think I'll have to disagree. With platforms 1 & 2 on a separate island together and platform 3 off by itself, I don't think the "order" of P1/P2 has any real importance or significance and so spending what could be a significant amount renumbering them would be very wasteful (apparently it's surprisingly expensive not due to signage etc. but due to IT system and related changes).

I'd only agree it was worthwhile if it can be shown to be done at no or nominal cost.

 

[cool110]

(apparently it's surprisingly expensive not due to signage etc. but due to IT system and related changes).

But all of those systems (mainly signalling) need to be updated anyway to add P3, so the marginal cost will be mostly signage.

It's why when platforms do get renumbered it's usually when the rest of the area is due for resignalling

 

[The Planner]

Has it never occurred to "the powers-that-be" that it would have been an opportune time for the workforce on the third platform to finally put a roof on the footbridge that leads to platforms 1 and 2.

Not if its not a remitted part of the scheme, no. Way things are.

 

[duffield]

But all of those systems (mainly signalling) need to be updated anyway to add P3, so the marginal cost will be mostly signage.

It's why when platforms do get renumbered it's usually when the rest of the area is due for resignalling

I'm not convinced. Adding an extra platform can be done to any IT system, at leisure, at any time before the platform comes into use, with no need to coordinate the changes. Swapping platforms 1 and 2 needs to be done at a very specific time to all relevant IT systems simultaneously to avoid chaos. The latter type of change would typically be much more expensive due to the amount of coordination and bureaucracy involved, particularly when these IT systems are being run by a multitude of different companies. I've dealt with similar situations in my 35 year IT career and getting a coordinated simultaneous change to a number of IT systems belonging to different companies is typically a nightmare.

 

[Chrisyd]

A few photos from yesterday (02 February) including the platform ends and the Platform 3 sign hanging from the shelter roof.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

That looks like fantastic progress. Looks like everything is on schedule.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

When's it due to open?

 

[zwk500]

When's it due to open?

"Autumn 2026", in time for the Dec26 timetable change, according to NR's press release:

Railway upgrades in Salford - Network Rail

We’re building an additional platform at Salford Crescent station, and working with Transport for Greater Manchester to upgrade Salford Central

www.networkrail.co.uk

Salford Crescent​

We arrived on site over Christmas 2024 and the work began in March 2025. We will complete construction of the third platform in January 2026 and the lift to access the third platform in May 2026.

Once construction work is completed, the third platform and new gate line will enter into service and open to the public in Autumn 2026.

Trains will start to make scheduled stops at Salford Crescent’s third platform following the December 2026 National Rail timetable change.

(The Enhancements Delivery Plan has it as part of a wider set of projects so gives Dec-26 for Entry into service)

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CP7-Enhancements-Delivery-Plan-December-2025.pdf

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

"Autumn 2026", in time for the Dec26 timetable change, according to NR's press release:

Railway upgrades in Salford - Network Rail

We’re building an additional platform at Salford Crescent station, and working with Transport for Greater Manchester to upgrade Salford Central

www.networkrail.co.uk

(The Enhancements Delivery Plan has it as part of a wider set of projects so gives Dec-26 for Entry into service)
View attachment 197305

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CP7-Enhancements-Delivery-Plan-December-2025.pdf

That seems rather late considering how close to completion it looks. I'll be passing over it on the bus in less than three minutes time. I wonder if it may open ahead of schedule?
That plan, as you acknowledged, includes further projects such as turnbacks and sidings, so it may well be that the platform opens in Spring or Summer and then the full list of projects there is done by the date of Dec 26.

 

[zwk500]

That seems rather late considering how close to completion it looks. I'll be passing over it on the bus in less than three minutes time. I wonder if it may open ahead of schedule?
That plan, as you acknowledged, includes further projects such as turnbacks and sidings, so it may well be that the platform opens in Spring or Summer and then the full list of projects there is done by the date of Dec 26.

The press release is quite clear that the platform as a standalone element is scheduled to open in Autumn, so I'd be flabbergasted if NR opened the platform in Spring, although very late summer is possible.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

That seems rather late considering how close to completion it looks.

Yes I must admit I had assumed May but looks like I am wrong.

 

[zwk500]

Yes I must admit I had assumed May but looks like I am wrong.

it would be nice in these sort of project if NR could be a lot more transparent on it's project page about what it is planning to do when. It doesn't need to be the line-item project plan, just 'physical construction works will be complete by X, then we will be installing the internal wiring and electrics until y, then we will be testing and commissioning ready for the opening approval by z.'

It would help calm some of the criticisms of 'how can it take that long to finish' (or, indeed, allow those questions to be appropriately raised!) as well as general nosiness, but also accountability for how the public money is being spent and the public service is being provided.

Not least because the EDP already lists a 1-year delay to the scheme!

 

[The Planner]

it would be nice in these sort of project if NR could be a lot more transparent on it's project page about what it is planning to do when. It doesn't need to be the line-item project plan, just 'physical construction works will be complete by X, then we will be installing the internal wiring and electrics until y, then we will be testing and commissioning ready for the opening approval by z.'

It would help calm some of the criticisms of 'how can it take that long to finish' (or, indeed, allow those questions to be appropriately raised!) as well as general nosiness, but also accountability for how the public money is being spent and the public service is being provided.

Not least because the EDP already lists a 1-year delay to the scheme!

As you say, that also starts the comments of "has that bit been done yet, or why is it late", when it the grand scheme of things its noise and doesn't matter. Opening it on time to facilitate whatever its meant to is more important.

 

[TheGoodDoctor]

Hello all, this is my first post here after visiting for about a month or so! I wanted to share some recent photos of the new platform from the old footbridge. I am a student at the university so get to check on progress often!

It seems like the progress is now with the stairs and security fencing, plus rebuilding the wall behind the platform and on University Road West under the Windsor bridge. I have an older photo of the new ticket barrier/gateline next to the refurb entrance. I'd be curious if it will be "dynamic" during peak times to be entrance/exit only, as it perfectly aligns with the new platform but crosses the current flow of passengers.

I wanted to ask what this building below is for? There seems to be a path being made to the footpath next to University Road roundabout.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I wanted to ask what this building below is for? There seems to be a path being made to the footpath next to University Road roundabout.

Just a guess, but currently on Platform 1 and 2 there is a small building the dispatchers sit in when there's no train, may be this could be the same (but a bit bigger) on platform 3? It only has 1 simple door at the front with no windows or similar so I doubt it's a public room.

 

[BeijingDave]

A few photos from yesterday (02 February) including the platform ends and the Platform 3 sign hanging from the shelter roof.


View attachment 197300View attachment 197301View attachment 197302View attachment 197303

Why have a long 'Platform 3' sign instead of a square '3' sign? Is that the preferred style now?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I went by today and it honestly looked complete to me.

Platform looks structurally complete. Still cones in place and orangemen around. But substantially complete.

 

[td97]

In the same entry as the Salford Crescent new platform on the enhancements pipeline register, there has been some fascinating recent content about the new Salford Central sidings.

What looks like a simple area of infilled foam concrete was actually a massive achievement for the Kier Infrastructure Oldfield Road team this weekend! We had uncovered a buried arch bridge that… | Thomas Highton | 11 comments

What looks like a simple area of infilled foam concrete was actually a massive achievement for the Kier Infrastructure Oldfield Road team this weekend! We had uncovered a buried arch bridge that spanned directly beneath the proposed tracks for the new sidings lines. The arch was circa 150...

www.linkedin.com

What looks like a simple area of infilled foam concrete was actually a massive achievement for the Kier Infrastructure Oldfield Road team this weekend!

We had uncovered a buried arch bridge that spanned directly beneath the proposed tracks for the new sidings lines. The arch was circa 150 years old and had already been compromised. Therefore whilst an arch is an inherently strong structure we could no longer rely on it to support the new track.

The structure was in between two existing tracks and in the vicinity of an OLE structure. This meant excavations required for surveys were very difficult to undertake safely and we could not ascertaine the details and the condition of the structure in any great detail.

We explored a vast number of options to undertake these works but most of them were not suitable as we could not safely mitigate risks such as confined spaces, working at height and operation of the existing railway infrastructure.

The final design solution comprised a Geobear Global gepolymer grout injection with foam concrete slab on top. We had very weak fill on the internal faces of the arch and we were conerenced tha the increased active pressure from the new trains would cause the walls of the arch to collapse. The Geobear Global technical team worked fantastically to assure us that their product could provide the required bearing capacity to support the new loading.

Mainly photos

Had a great opportunity last week to see the work being undertaken at Oldfueld Road by KIER INFRASTRUCTURE AND OVERSEAS LIMITED last week. Thank you to the project team and Carl Plowden for showing… | Nicola Uijen

Had a great opportunity last week to see the work being undertaken at Oldfueld Road by KIER INFRASTRUCTURE AND OVERSEAS LIMITED last week. Thank you to the project team and Carl Plowden for showing me round. We had some good discussion about effectively planning through the use of risk...

www.linkedin.com

 

[TheGoodDoctor]

Just a guess, but currently on Platform 1 and 2 there is a small building the dispatchers sit in when there's no train, may be this could be the same (but a bit bigger) on platform 3? It only has 1 simple door at the front with no windows or similar so I doubt it's a public room.

That would make sense. From old photos of SLD that staff building used to be the public waiting room.

 

[cle]

Will it be able to turn services from the Bolton or Atherton direction? It might also be useful for any peak additional shuttles - although they'd just feed existing services so maybe counter-productive. Other than the uni, Crescent is not a huge commuting destination.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Will it be able to turn services from the Bolton or Atherton direction?

No, although in theory you can already turn a train from Bolton in Platform 1 (the middle one) or from Atherton in Platform 2.
I've seen a TPE 397 arrive from Castlefield into Platform 2, and then turn around and go back during an issue, but no Northerns.

 

[bengley]

Will it be able to turn services from the Bolton or Atherton direction? It might also be useful for any peak additional shuttles - although they'd just feed existing services so maybe counter-productive. Other than the uni, Crescent is not a huge commuting destination.

The signal at the north end of the new platform is a fixed red and can't be cleared.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Went through twice today and tbh I could not see much progress. Loads of blue and white cones and some orangemen. There must be progress but it does not seem visible.

 

[sefyllian]

One thing I noticed the other day is that the matching Rail Alphabet signs are being installed all around the station, including on platforms 1 & 2, which now have what look like new platform signs that are currently blanked out / covered over. I’m guessing that’s because the numbering of 1 & 2 will be swapped once 3 opens.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I’m guessing that’s because the numbering of 1 & 2 will be swapped once 3 opens.

That would imho make sense and be logical.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Do we know if the Barrow/Windermere services will call at Salford Crescent when the new platform has been commissioned?