Atherton Line Works

[WatcherZero]

Theres work on at the moment closing several signal boxes and putting the signals under Wallgate and Piccadilly and replacing all the track with continous welded rail, they are then raising the line speed back up to 60mph from 50mph.

Few questions:

1. Whens the finish date/line speed raise date, does it coincide with the strengthening of morning peak services to 4 car (which I think is coming in this winter timetable change)
2. Will they retime the services or keep the current timetable, its important because at the moment the longer Bolton route is actually a few minutes faster and if two services are departing at roughly the same time I always prefer Bolton service.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The Sunday service was put on to evaluate matters. Will this be made a permanent timetable feature?

 

[WatcherZero]

It was renewed after the trial with the inclusion of the Ince stop, TFGM are trying to make it a core service when Northerns refranchised but are funding it in the interim.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Theres work on at the moment closing several signal boxes and putting the signals under Wallgate and Piccadilly and replacing all the track with continous welded rail, they are then raising the line speed back up to 60mph from 50mph.

In the existing rail access plans for the North-West region as a whole, how is this particular line viewed in terms of rail provision by the railway strategic planners, as it does have quite a number of stations upon it.

 

[Rl1]

Does anyone know why the Atherton and Westhoughton lines are disrupted between 22nd and 29th October?

 

[strange6]

In what way is the Wigan Wallgate box going to get extra jurisdication in that area? The area between it and Crow Nest junction (the box at Hindley that controls the Westhoughton line and Atherton line Junction) is controlled by Warrington power box (which includes Ince station)

 

[Bevan Price]

Does anyone know why the Atherton and Westhoughton lines are disrupted between 22nd and 29th October?

A58 Bolton Road bridge, near Atherton station is being rebuilt /replaced.
(A58 is closed for 3 months, with very long diversion route for buses that normally cross the bridge)

Bevan

 

[WatcherZero]

Walkden signal box? or has it already closed? All I know is the article said they were transferring more control to Wallgate signal box.

 

[mullin]

Does anyone know why the Atherton and Westhoughton lines are disrupted between 22nd and 29th October?

I do, have a flyer about it from staff at Wallgate, track renewal work, new junctions being fitted at Wigan I think it said. Buses from Kirkby/ Southport to bolton our somewhere else. Timetables for these aren't yet finalised. I'll post more when I can find the flyer...

 

[strange6]

Walkden signal box? or has it already closed? All I know is the article said they were transferring more control to Wallgate signal box.

Walkden box is still alive and kicking. I can't see how Wigan Wallgate box can get more involved without massive and costly resignalling; that's why Warrington Power box more or less controls the area immediately outside of Wigan Wallgate station limits from the Wigan North Western Side of the station

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

A58 Bolton Road bridge, near Atherton station is being rebuilt /replaced.
(A58 is closed for 3 months, with very long diversion route for buses that normally cross the bridge)

Bevan

The changes are to the bus routes 581, 582 and 592. TfGM have made an entry on their media board section on 8th September, that gives full information on the bus diversions caused by the bridge works.

 

[WatcherZero]

Walkden box is still alive and kicking. I can't see how Wigan Wallgate box can get more involved without massive and costly resignalling; that's why Warrington Power box more or less controls the area immediately outside of Wigan Wallgate station limits from the Wigan North Western Side of the station

Warringtons controlling the throat because its the WCML, I dobnt Wallgate would ever control that but controlling the relativley simple Atherton line formally Walkden whose only complication is a goods line spur wouldnt be hard there arent many signals on that line and massive headways.

 

[Tomnick]

It'd be an unusual situation, but it wouldn't be the only place where the area controlled by one signalbox is split into two by a short section worked from elsewhere - Dumfries being another example. Presumably Crow Nest Jn, Walkden and any other boxes (Atherton - is there a box there that's often switched out?) would go onto Wallgate instead - perhaps there isn't space in Warrington?

 

[strange6]

Warringtons controlling the throat because its the WCML, I dobnt Wallgate would ever control that but controlling the relativley simple Atherton line formally Walkden whose only complication is a goods line spur wouldnt be hard there arent many signals on that line and massive headways.

That would be an unusual situation. Are there any boxes that have a middle patch in their jurisdiction that is out of their control? That would be the case if Wallgate controlled from Hindley up to Picadillys area at just past Moorside. It would also have to control through Westhoughton as well, up to Lostock.


EDIT: Just seen your post, Tomnick! It would be a very unusual situation indeed. I believe Atherton box is not switched out as yet.

 

[Tomnick]

I believe Atherton box is not switched out as yet.

Just looked it up. The Rules of the Plan document for 2011 (on Network Rail's website) shows Atherton opening 0700 - 2100 Mon to Fri, but switched out at all other times including all day Sat and Sun.