Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[thealexweb]

?

The only VT service that currently does not stop at Wigan is the 1630 Euston-Glasgow afaik.

After looking at RTT I guess I was wrong. Several times now I have seen 221s pass through Wigan North West without stopping and I assumed it was all the Glasgow to Birminghams, maybe I was always at the station at that specific time.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

But Wigan may lose some of its Scottish services if they ever proceed with the sometimes suggested idea of running some Euston - Glasgow services non-stop between London Euston & Preston.

They used to do this in my time in the days of BR. Non-stops Preston-Euston not even stopping at Watford Jct

 

[ALX400]

There's currently some engineering works happening during the night from 22.00 untill 05.00 all week between Bolton and Preston the line is closed completley, does anyone have any info on whats being done if its avail, i was working late when it started last Monday and noticed some major bits of Stobart Rail equipment on the tracks slowly passing thru Chorley looked like a nifty bit of kit

 

[abbo1234]

There's currently some engineering works happening during the night from 22.00 untill 05.00 all week between Bolton and Preston the line is closed completley, does anyone have any info on whats being done if its avail, i was working late when it started last Monday and noticed some major bits of Stobart Rail equipment on the tracks slowly passing thru Chorley looked like a nifty bit of kit

They are rebuilding Harpers Lane Bridge just south if Chorley station ready for electrification,and from next week,Railway Road bridge in Adlington.

 

[ALX400]

They are rebuilding Harpers Lane Bridge just south if Chorley station ready for electrification,and from next week,Railway Road bridge in Adlington.

Yeah knew about both those, at the mo that just consists of moving the utilities onto the temporary structures over the bridge, i work in the Bus Industry and that work is affecting what we do, Skew Bridge and Rawlinson Lane are both due to be closed in January, I think these overnighters are to do with track and ballast, i've just checked the Real Time Trains info and theres 2 indicated trailing loads of 800 odd tones, one terminating at Chorley and the other at Adlington.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

How is the work progressing on the large road overbridge near to Poulton le Fylde railway station ?

 

[ashworth]

Sorry if this has already been brought up but haven't the time to read through so many pages of postings.

I notice that during late July and through August the line through Chorley is closed and Blackpool to Manchester Airport trains are being diverted via Wigan. This means that there will be one train less each hour between Blackpool and Preston because the Manchester Victoria trains are not running during this time.

I just wondered if any trains between Blackpool and Preston are likely to be strengthened as I can't see TPE having the stock to do this. Just asking because I will be staying in Blackpool for a week during this time and travelling to/from there each day to various destinations using a 7 Day North West Rover.
I've just noticed that the number of trains between Blackpool North and Preston seem very sparse in the mornings at the time when I would normally be travelling out. There does not appear to even be the usual train to Manchester Airport train at 0943 meaning no trains from Blackpool between 0908 and 1003. This seems very strange at such a busy time. Just the time when I would really be wanting to set out. From previous experience trains from Blackpool at that time are extremely busy even with a normal full timetable.

 

[Dunc108]

Sorry if this has already been brought up but haven't the time to read through so many pages of postings.

I notice that during late July and through August the line through Chorley is closed and Blackpool to Manchester Airport trains are being diverted via Wigan. This means that there will be one train less each hour between Blackpool and Preston because the Manchester Victoria trains are not running during this time.

I just wondered if any trains between Blackpool and Preston are likely to be strengthened as I can't see TPE having the stock to do this. Just asking because I will be staying in Blackpool for a week during this time and travelling to/from there each day to various destinations using a 7 Day North West Rover.
I've just noticed that the number of trains between Blackpool North and Preston seem very sparse in the mornings at the time when I would normally be travelling out. There does not appear to even be the usual train to Manchester Airport train at 0943 meaning no trains from Blackpool between 0908 and 1003. This seems very strange at such a busy time. Just the time when I would really be wanting to set out. From previous experience trains from Blackpool at that time are extremely busy even with a normal full timetable.

Won't they be starting a shuttle between Chorley and Manchester or is Chorley station closed aswell? It all sounds very dicey if you're planning a journey during this time. I notice the Windermere & Barrow services are all terminating at Preston and you would have thought they'd run extra shuttles between Blackpool North and Preston at least..

 

[Sheepy1209]

I live in Blackpool and wasn't aware of this - it does look like we'll be going down to three trains an hour with only one an hour from Manchester. It may well be the right time for Bolton as it's during the school holidays, but it's Blackpool's peak season.

There's information about there being no trains through Chorley, but most people won't realise that affects Blackpool. The nationalrail website refers to buses between Preston and Bolton, but makes no mention of an effect on Blackpool, other than that Manchester Airport services will go via Wigan.

I note that it looks like York trains will be calling at Kirkham & Wesham, which they usually don't do.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Won't they be starting a shuttle between Chorley and Manchester or is Chorley station closed aswell?

Hourly Northern all stations IIRC. Has very late start and very early end times though!

 

[ashworth]

I live in Blackpool and wasn't aware of this - it does look like we'll be going down to three trains an hour with only one an hour from Manchester. It may well be the right time for Bolton as it's during the school holidays, but it's Blackpool's peak season.

There's information about there being no trains through Chorley, but most people won't realise that affects Blackpool. The nationalrail website refers to buses between Preston and Bolton, but makes no mention of an effect on Blackpool, other than that Manchester Airport services will go via Wigan.

I note that it looks like York trains will be calling at Kirkham & Wesham, which they usually don't do.

It's what seems to be a huge gap in departures from Blackpool North between the 0908 to York and the 1003 to Liverpool that bothers me. The 0943 to Manchester Airport, the train I usually use most frequently to Preston and sometimes beyond, does not appear to be running and that surely will mean large crowds waiting for the 1003 especially around the weekend.

 

[Sheepy1209]

Oh heck - it's worse than I thought!

My point really is there seems to be little or no awareness of this imminent cut in services in what is still, despite rumours to the contrary, a seaside town with a peak season during the school holidays. We already get overcrowding when there's a gap in services (caused by the timetable bunching I've referred to earlier), this will only get worse.

I can see that some thought has gone into it, e.g. the extra Kirkham stops, but the impact on capacity could be an issue especially at weekends.

I'm fully aware this is necessary and it's to allow major investment in the railway, but publicity seems to be oriented to Chorley / Preston / Bolton. I'm basing that on what's online, it might be different at stations.

 

[edwin_m]

Is there any intention to lengthen the trains using the units that would otherwise be spare because they can't run the other services?

 

[thealexweb]

Is there any intention to lengthen the trains using the units that would otherwise be spare because they can't run the other services?

This. All Chorley to Manchester Victoria services should run four car (min).

 

[Whistler40145]

Now that Blackpool North to Preston is now moving down the order for electrification, I presume that Preston to Manchester will be completed by 2016?

 

[ianhr]

Now that Blackpool North to Preston is now moving down the order for electrification, I presume that Preston to Manchester will be completed by 2016?

AFAIK they have not even signed a wiring contract yet, only preliminary work being done and that is well under way on MML which I had thought was much farther down the queue.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Now that Blackpool North to Preston is now moving down the order for electrification, I presume that Preston to Manchester will be completed by 2016?

That's the current plan, contracts in place or not.

 

[edwin_m]

How many electric trains will be able to use Preston-Manchester before Blackpool is done? Preston isn't well suited for turning back lots of trains, especially on the slow side.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

How many electric trains will be able to use Preston-Manchester before Blackpool is done? Preston isn't well suited for turning back lots of trains, especially on the slow side.

Just the hourly Hazel Grove-Preston in the current timetable.
Anything else would have to be split at Preston (Victoria/Airport-Blackpool).
The same applies to the Liverpool-Blackpool from this December.
Virgin and TPE could work through services/ECS over the line.

 

[ALX400]

It seems things are progressing well on the Bolton Line, there's been a few engineering trains out and about at night doing various things, went down to Adlington last night as i noticed on RTT a schedule from Crewe Bas Hall SSM which terminated at Adlington, at 22.00 when the line was closed to Passenger service, lots of Babcock workers etc milling about.

At Skew Bridge just outside Chorley towards Horwich work is underway to create either a working area or Substation feeder, that bridge is due to close in January for 5 months.

The blockade from the 19th July is going to involve a load of work at Chorley Tunnel, infact im told that once done the only thing that will require doing will be putting the wires up so they dont have to close the line again, also that they are progressivly going to start masts and bases shortly, this i found rather odd as the Blackpool to Preston section has no masts on at at all at present, its as thought there is no organisation and that there are work sites all over the place lol, sure they know what they are doing thought, its amazing just whats goes on at night time on the railway, unsung hero's really.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

---- this i found rather odd as the Blackpool to Preston section has no masts on at at all at present, its as thought there is no organisation and that there are work sites all over the place lol, sure they know what they are doing thought, its amazing just whats goes on at night time on the railway, unsung hero's really.

They are going to re-signal first I believe.

 

[snowball]

As recently discussed (possibly on the Liverpool-Manchester thread) the target date for completing the Preston-Blackpool electrification has slipped in recent months from spring 2016 to spring 2017 because of the works to be done before the wiring starts, while the date for Manchester-Preston (and Victoria-Stalybridge) has held at December 2016.

 

[Leylandlad]

Looked very much like concrete foundations have appeared between Adlington and Lostock.

Just come back from Manchester...lots of them in on the down line (couldn't see the up line from where I was sitting )

They were covered with a blue cover (to stop water getting in?)

Prelim works ongoing near Chorley Tunnel/Flying Arches ahead of the possession from 19th July.

Line closed again this weekend between Lostock and Euxton Jnc...so expecting to see a few more bases going in.

 

[DJH1971]

Looked very much like concrete foundations have appeared between Adlington and Lostock.

Just come back from Manchester...lots of them in on the down line (couldn't see the up line from where I was sitting )

They were covered with a blue cover (to stop water getting in?)

Prelim works ongoing near Chorley Tunnel/Flying Arches ahead of the possession from 19th July.

Line closed again this weekend between Lostock and Euxton Jnc...so expecting to see a few more bases going in.

For mast bases, I take it?

 

[Leylandlad]

For mast bases, I take it?

Yes.

The concrete block in the ground that the steel pylon gets attached to.

Can't think of a more technical term really

Good to see things moving along though!

 

[DJH1971]

Yes.

The concrete block in the ground that the steel pylon gets attached to.

Can't think of a more technical term really

Good to see things moving along though!

These must be the first mast bases in place for phase 4.

 

[CAF397]

Yes.

The concrete block in the ground that the steel pylon gets attached to.

Can't think of a more technical term really

Good to see things moving along though!

Don't get too excited! This is just drainage work that has been carried out over the last month or so. There was a Temporary Speed Restriction in place while the work was underway. The blue grid is purely there to stop debris falling into the drain.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Don't get too excited! This is just drainage work that has been carried out over the last month or so. There was a Temporary Speed Restriction in place while the work was underway. The blue grid is purely there to stop debris falling into the drain.

Show us the bolts for the masts! That's the tell-tale sign (plus the discarded circular "toilet seat" panel they use as a template).
Even then it might be a new signal post (smaller bolts, square base).
The mast base sites usually have a marker stick for a while before they are bored, and there might be a structure number painted up somewhere with an arrow (through stations, cuttings etc).

 

[ALX400]

Show us the bolts for the masts! That's the tell-tale sign (plus the discarded circular "toilet seat" panel they use as a template).
Even then it might be a new signal post (smaller bolts, square base).
The mast base sites usually have a marker stick for a while before they are bored, and there might be a structure number painted up somewhere with an arrow (through stations, cuttings etc).

Hummm, i live near to Blackrod station and over the weekend whilst the lines were closed i went down to have a nosy and noticed paint tubs everywhere on the track, they were marking the rails with blue lines on the side i'd say every 2 meters or so, it was near to the bridge which is due for closing in Jan for 6 months, there was other weird and ancient markings going on all over the place trackside lol i'm sure it means something to someone

I did speak to a NR bod who said that they were progressively starting to do the bases and put masts up as they go along, they are expecting to do quite a lot during the closure from 19th July, he mentioned 24/7 working as the bridges get done aswell, Story are doing Raliway Road in Adlington not sure about the others yet, think Stobart are doing Harpers Lane in Chorley
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Work is moving afoot along the Line between Bolton and Chorley, as i type its 00.08 i've just finished work and the old walk bridge that follows the road bridge to be demolished and widened in Jan on Station Road at Blackrod is being replaced and moved further to the right, as the origional is narrow Bolton Council in conjunction with NR agreed to fund it to be built wider which i must say definatley needed to happen.

All that painting the weeknd before on the tracks and embankment makes sense to the orange army

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Looked very much like concrete foundations have appeared between Adlington and Lostock.
Just come back from Manchester...lots of them in on the down line (couldn't see the up line from where I was sitting )
They were covered with a blue cover (to stop water getting in?)
Prelim works ongoing near Chorley Tunnel/Flying Arches ahead of the possession from 19th July.
Line closed again this weekend between Lostock and Euxton Jnc...so expecting to see a few more bases going in.

I did a run from Manchester to Preston today, and there is no sign of any electrification activity, at least on the Up (Manchester-bound) line.
The only activity seems to be bridge rebuilding and preparation for the Chorley blockade, none of it involving mast bases.

All there is to see is the work around Salford Central, where Balfour Beatty have their local depot.
This includes stockpiles of the big concrete slabs that go to make up the pancake-type mast foundations on the viaducts west of Victoria.
I think they look particularly ugly, especially the 5-high ones used for mast stays (the masts themselves use slightly less obtrusive 2-high sets of slabs).