Third platform at Salford Crescent: project updates

[ananaspenguin]

Unfortunately, they are vertical scanners. But, they did get my QR code first time, rather than aeons of repositioning like at Victoria!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Unfortunately, they are vertical scanners. But, they did get my QR code first time, rather than aeons of repositioning like at Victoria!

Welcome to the forum. Your first post I see.

 

[TrainzBK]

It is due to open at the December timetable change, supposedly with booked calls. Delay is apparently down to Northern attempting to make the platform self dispatch, but instead they have been made to recruit extra dispatch staff.

 

[John R]

It is due to open at the December timetable change, supposedly with booked calls. Delay is apparently down to Northern attempting to make the platform self dispatch, but instead they have been made to recruit extra dispatch staff.

Made by whom?

 

[TrainzBK]

Made by whom?

RMT and Network Rail I presume.

 

[The Planner]

RMT and Network Rail I presume.

Doubt NR would care.

 

[Geeves]

We also have ASLEF drivers refusing to use the new platform despite the signalling not actually being altered just to fend off the RMT bashing.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

We also have ASLEF drivers refusing to use the new platform despite the signalling not actually being altered just to fend off the RMT bashing.

Any reason specifically? Or are they aligned on saying there needs to be a dispatched for a completely straight flat platform that probably won't be that busy?

 

[D9006]

Changed train there today, by looking across from island platform you would think it was in use, amazed at how muchwider the platfor looks compared to when it was being constructed. Also not an S car stop board at northern end of platform, do they plan on using it as a terminating platform then

 

[plugwash]

do they plan on using it as a terminating platform then

Probablly not as part of normal service patterns, but I could see it getting used in disruption or perhaps for stabling. IIRC the signalling was already there so may as well have the stop board to go with it.

 

[D9006]

Probablly not as part of normal service patterns, but I could see it getting used in disruption or perhaps for stabling. IIRC the signalling was already there so may as well have the stop board to go with it.

Was there talk of the current Leeds to Wigan service terminating there at one point, obviously then would need a local service to cover Manchester-Atherton-Wigan service

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Also not an S car stop board at northern end of platform, do they plan on using it as a terminating platform then

It is impossible to go North from Platform 3, you can reverse from either Manchester route, but not go towards Bolton from it.
The signal at the North end is a permanent red signal.


Trains can go towards Atherton from P2, and arrive from Atherton in P1 or P2
Trains can go towards Bolton from P1 or P2, and arrive from Bolton in P1 or P3.
Any platform can be used to/from Manchester.

 

[Geeves]

Was there talk of the current Leeds to Wigan service terminating there at one point, obviously then would need a local service to cover Manchester-Atherton-Wigan service

The plan for the Leeds to Wigan trains is to use the new turn backs at Salford Central Vs Salford Crescent. Remember as well to leave the platform at the Crescent it has to rejoin the regular mainline first so without alterations at the South you can't have simultaneous departures from 1 and 3.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

With mention being made of the utilisation of the new third platform in case of emergencies, a friend with whom I had been discussing the new platform with is of the matter of land area, separated by the bifurcation of the Atherton and Bolton lines, that he said once had storage tracks could have been used as terminal platforms for services, in the way that both Stalybridge and Rochdale are utilised. Access could be made from the main station complex by the type of covered overbridge that links the rail and bus stations in Bolton.

He did not like my jestful response that made mention of the time that the footbridge from the booking office to platform 1 and 2 was still without a roof....

 

[cle]

Salford Central will go live for the Leeds service (Dec? May?) - soon enough, so would the Atherton be a Piccadilly service? Similar to the Southport?

As Wigan-Bolton-Stalybridge is the (newly) EMU plan, correct?

 

[scrapy]

Salford Central will go live for the Leeds service (Dec? May?) - soon enough, so would the Atherton be a Piccadilly service? Similar to the Southport?

As Wigan-Bolton-Stalybridge is the (newly) EMU plan, correct?

Atherton probably won't be a Piccadilly service, a Southport to Oxford Road service via Atherton has been mooted, however this may not start until after 2031 due to the remodling of Oxford Rd.

 

[The Planner]

Atherton probably won't be a Piccadilly service, a Southport to Oxford Road service via Atherton has been mooted, however this may not start until after 2031 due to the remodling of Oxford Rd.

Oxford Road isnt getting done by then.

 

[GhostManDN91]

From what I've heard at the May 2027 timetable change. It will be Southport to Oxford Road via Bolton (769), Southport to Victoria via Atherton (15x), Headbolt Lane to Victoria via Atherton (15x) and Wigan North Western to Stalybridge via Bolton (EMU).

 

[Geeves]

It seems that thankfully the days of connecting what are supposed to local trains to places 70 miles away are coming to an end. That can only be a good thing.

As always with these things even if the platform opens there are other things that are delayed like the Brewery turnback. They are all needing to be in operation for Salford Crescent to be useful

 

[M60lad]

If the above is the case from timetable change then I have a few questions:

1> What's going to happen to the current Headbolt Lane-Blackburn via Todmorden services will they just be cut back to operate Victoria-Blackburn via Todmorden?

2> Will 158s still operate to/from Wigan from Leeds?

 

[Peter A]

If the above is the case from timetable change then I have a few questions:

1> What's going to happen to the current Headbolt Lane-Blackburn via Todmorden services will they just be cut back to operate Victoria-Blackburn via Todmorden?

2> Will 158s still operate to/from Wigan from Leeds?

I think there's an assumption that the Headbolt Lane service will continue east of Victoria, but if the timetable re-write requires it then I assume the two would be split - hence why when documented it's just described as Headbolt Lane to Victoria so that if it does need splitting they can't be accused of breaking a promise that the through service would be retained.

The Leeds to Wigan service on the other hand will definitely be split. The Wigan to Victoria section is being extended to Southport replacing the Southport-Wigan section of the current Southport to Stalybridge service (so that the latter can go electric). It will terminate at Victoria and use the new turnback sidings. The Leeds to Victoria section will continue through to Salford Crescent P3 (alongside the Leeds to Victoria service which currently terminates in P1 so it no longer has to cross across the lines for P3 and 4)

 

[Geeves]

If the above is the case from timetable change then I have a few questions:

1> What's going to happen to the current Headbolt Lane-Blackburn via Todmorden services will they just be cut back to operate Victoria-Blackburn via Todmorden?

2> Will 158s still operate to/from Wigan from Leeds?

The Blackburn portion of the Headbolt Lane is another that will turn back at Salford Central. . No Leeds trains to Salford Crescent in the current plans.

Stalybridge to Vic shuttle has been postponed

Initially the Wigan Bolton Vic trains as a EMU won't be able to use the new turn back at Brewery Junction as it's complete but has no wires unfortunately

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Why are the turnbacks even necessary, compared to just using A/B ends at Victoria?
Is Victoria just too busy for it now, I remember it happening a lot in the 201Xs, but now very rarely see A/B end trains.

 

[Geeves]

Why are the turnbacks even necessary, compared to just using A/B ends at Victoria?
Is Victoria just too busy for it now, I remember it happening a lot in the 201Xs, but now very rarely see A/B end trains.

Exactly that there's not the capacity to have anything standing for anything more than 10 mins really. You'll soon have trains backed up on both sides!

A and B is used a fair bit but like you say it's so common and the passengers are still just as confused!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Stalybridge to Vic shuttle has been postponed

When that occurs, how many trains each hour will call at Ashton-under Lyne and what services will they be?

 

[scrapy]

The Blackburn portion of the Headbolt Lane is another that will turn back at Salford Central. . No Leeds trains to Salford Crescent in the current plans.

Stalybridge to Vic shuttle has been postponed

Initially the Wigan Bolton Vic trains as a EMU won't be able to use the new turn back at Brewery Junction as it's complete but has no wires unfortunately

From what i'd head is the same service pattern GhostManDN91 had posted. The Stalybridge service would be an EMU to from Wigan via Bolton rather than a shuttle. They would not need to use the Brewery Junction turnback as its a through service.

There would also (once Golborne station opens) be a second hourly EMU Northern service to and from Stalybridge which would continue to Preston (Calling at Ashton, Victoria, Eccles, Patricroft, Golborne, Wigan NW, Euxton and Leyland). Which in turn would see most Patricroft calls and some Eccles calls dropped from Liverpool to Manchester Airport services.

It was looked at extending the peak only Liverpool to Victoria services or Wigan to Victoria via Eccles to Stalybridge as a stop gap to give 2tph peak times until.the all day Golbourne service starts rather than a shuttle but this idea has been shelved.

In the end Ashton Under Lyne should see the restoration of 2tph all day although.these will not necessarily be clockface half hourly.

 

[TrainzBK]

From the December timetable change the following services will be booked to call at P3 @ Salford Crescent
2OXX services from Southport to Manchester Oxford Road
2JXX services from Blackburn to Rochdale
2JXX services from Clitheroe to Rochdale

 

[M60lad]

From the timetable change are there any services that will pass through (not stop) at Salford Crescent? As before Platform 3 was built or even thought of that was what the current track was actually used for

 

[pokemonsuper9]

From the timetable change are there any services that will pass through (not stop) at Salford Crescent? As before Platform 3 was built or even thought of that was what the current track was actually used for

The Northern Airport - Cumbria (Windermere/Barrow/Corkickle), and the TPE Airport - Scotland (Edinburgh/Glasgow) will continue to not stop.