Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[CdBrux]

So in your estimation it's the Edinburgh-Glasgow programme that's driving all the costs?

If pedantry could be harnessed then the levels seen on these forums could provide the whole thing virtually free of charge and very quickly

 

[takno]

If pedantry could be harnessed then the levels seen on these forums could provide the whole thing virtually free of charge and very quickly

It's not really pedantry. I actually think OP was making a valid point about capacity and picking a few specific projects to work on, as well as on developing experience. It's just that in doing so he also seemed to have decided what the projects we should be working on are. I suspect things would be going smoother if some of the work in the Northwest had waited until EGIP was complete, and then the later stages of Scottish electrification had gone in behind that.

 

[CdBrux]

It's not really pedantry. I actually think OP was making a valid point about capacity and picking a few specific projects to work on, as well as on developing experience. It's just that in doing so he also seemed to have decided what the projects we should be working on are. I suspect things would be going smoother if some of the work in the Northwest had waited until EGIP was complete, and then the later stages of Scottish electrification had gone in behind that.

Yes he made a valid general point, albeit in a specific way. A pedantic comment made something rather too much of the specific part to the detriment of the general point. IMO.

 

[snowball]

Press release on Bolton - not much new?

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/major-transport-investment-in-bolton-continues

Network Rail, Northern and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) are working together to deliver major upgrades in and around Bolton railway station.

The railway line between Manchester and Preston is being upgraded to allow more frequent train services to run which will mean better journeys for customers in Bolton. The station itself is being improved and will be directly linked to Bolton’s bus network, creating an interchange for bus, train and cyclists – making it easier to leave the car at home and travel door to door on public transport.

Work is well underway on a new transport interchange, adjacent to the station, that will replace the current bus station on Moor Lane and, once complete, will provide public transport users with a seamless link between bus and rail services via a fully enclosed Skylink bridge.

When complete, in mid-2017, the interchange – a £48m scheme in conjunction with Bolton Council – will provide a modern, high quality facility for bus passengers, enhanced connectivity between bus and rail services, as well as creating an attractive gateway to the town centre.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the TfGM Committee, said: “We’re really looking forward to opening Bolton’s new interchange next year. I’m sure passengers will be extremely impressed by the modern, spacious waiting area which will include electronic passenger information, a café, retail facilities, accessible public toilets and a cash machine. By offering these enhanced facilities, we hope more people will choose public transport for their journeys - and bring their bikes as the interchange will also have a brand new cycle hub.”

To complement this work, Network Rail is delivering major improvement work at Bolton station is a vital part of its upgrade of the railway between Manchester and Preston. The scheme is being delivered as part of a £1bn+ investment across the north of England and will allow faster, more frequent electric trains to run through the station. Work will include a link to the bus interchange via a new Skylink bridge, allow for more services and reinstate a platform that was taken out of use in the early 1990s.

Once complete the extra platform, together with other improvements to the railway in the region, will enable faster, more frequent train services to run.

Terry Strickland, area director for Network Rail said: “We are investing heavily in Bolton as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan to provide passengers with the railway that will meet their needs for many decades to come and help boost the economy across the north of England.

“This upgrade work will mean a better, more reliable railway for passengers. To deliver it, significant engineering is required to improve the track layout, rebuild platforms and make space for new equipment to power electric trains in Bolton. We are also reinstating platform 5 to allow more trains to run between Manchester and Preston.”

“To bring platform 5 back in to use, we need to rebuild the platform and reinstate the track on land that is currently used for car parking. The additional platform is vital to our Railway Upgrade Plan on this route and will help to create better journeys for passengers in Bolton.”

This development work will go hand-in-hand with ambitious multi-million pound plans to modernise Northern’s rail services in Greater Manchester. Northern is refurbishing all the trains and carriages on its network and, in a move that will see all Pacers removed by 2020, is introducing 281 new, purpose built carriages.

Northern also has plans to modernise Bolton railway station itself and has begun this programme with the introduction of automated gatelines which help to improve security and encourage all customers to hold a valid ticket before they board trains. In the coming weeks and months there will be further work at the station to improve lighting, refresh paintwork and make the general environment more welcoming.

Liam Sumpter, Regional Director for Northern, said: “We made a commitment to improve rail services for all customers, and the proposed improvements at Bolton – which are already taking shape following the introduction of the gatelines – are just one way in which we are delivering on that commitment.

“Of course, there is more work to be done and we are improving the carriages on our network, introducing new carriages and developing stations as part of a modernisation scheme that will, when complete, deliver a railway fit for the 21st Century.

“But this work cannot be done in isolation and we are delighted to be working closely with Network Rail, TfGM and Bolton Council to provide customers in Bolton with a full integrated public transport system.”

Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Cliff Morris, said: “The interchange will provide an up-to-date modern facility, and commuters and residents will really feel the benefit, together with all of the other transport improvements taking place. The interchange along with the Bolton Central office development and the investment in Newport Street will transform the south of the town centre.”

The next phase of the ambitious multi-agency plans will see the closure of the current unofficial car park off Orlando Street. The permanent closure, which will come into effect from Tuesday, 24 January, is necessary to allow work to take place on the reinstatement of platform five.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Press release on Bolton - not much new?

The fly-through seems to show the current siding approaching Bolton from the south as electrified and running into the new P5, with the two links from the Down line forming a useful loop.
I didn't see a date for P5, but presumably the end of 2017 is intended.

 

[LDECRexile]

Wrinkley has kindly sent three shots of progress east of Ladybridge.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157654034635234

and to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157661069863633

Thank you Wrinkley.

 

[LDECRexile]

The final para of the press release gives us a definite start date:

The next phase of the ambitious multi-agency plans will see the closure of the current unofficial car park off Orlando Street. The permanent closure, which will come into effect from Tuesday, 24 January, is necessary to allow work to take place on the reinstatement of platform five.

 

[SodTheDrummer]

Wrinkley has kindly sent three shots of progress east of Ladybridge.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157654034635234

and to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157661069863633

Thank you Wrinkley.

I have a few pics of Bolton Interchange skybridge prep work taken last week if they're of any interest?

 

[LDECRexile]

I have a few pics of Bolton Interchange skybridge prep work taken last week if they're of any interest?

Very interested indeed, I've sent you a Private Message on how we might proceed.

Thank you.

Dave

 

[SodTheDrummer]

Very interested indeed, I've sent you a Private Message on how we might proceed.

Thank you.

Dave

Cheers Dave, have now sent across. Don't know if you are aware, but we now have a coffee bar and ticket gates! Civilisation comes to Bolton! I've already spent several dozen minutes on the outside watching pax being completely baffled by the barriers..

 

[M60lad]

I may have asked this before but do we know when the Skylink bridge from the new Bus Interchange to the Station is actually going in?

 

[LDECRexile]

True to his word, Sod the Drummer has kindly sent shots of work on the Skylink Bridge. I've created an album for him here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157674289208123

and added his shots to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157661069863633

Thank you Mr Drummer, welcome aboard.

 

[LDECRexile]

Cheers Dave, have now sent across. Don't know if you are aware, but we now have a coffee bar and ticket gates! Civilisation comes to Bolton! I've already spent several dozen minutes on the outside watching pax being completely baffled by the barriers..

Very glad to hear the coffee bar is up and running. I look forward to sampling it in the New Year. Do they sell Tunnock's teacakes, I wonder?

 

[Geeves]

Two very large sets of foundations going in just west of Salford Central station where the cross over is. First signs of OHLE work Ive seen on the Salford lines for a while!

 

[LDECRexile]

Two very large sets of foundations going in just west of Salford Central station where the cross over is. First signs of OHLE work Ive seen on the Salford lines for a while!

Yippee!

Any photos anyone?

 

[SodTheDrummer]

Very glad to hear the coffee bar is up and running. I look forward to sampling it in the New Year. Do they sell Tunnock's teacakes, I wonder?

Not sure, (one would hope so though!) but I should mention it's in the ticket office part (presumably where the skylink entrance will be, so it might only be temporary), not in the unit on platforms 1/3 - that is still empty.. :-?

 

[MarkLong]

Is the introduction of Bi-mode Class 319 for Northern means Manchester-Blackpool electrification will not not finished on time?

 

[Elecman]

Is the introduction of Bi-mode Class 319 for Northern means Manchester-Blackpool electrification will not not finished on time?

No it's for the non electrification of the Windermere branch

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Is the introduction of Bi-mode Class 319 for Northern means Manchester-Blackpool electrification will not not finished on time?

It's only a fantasy thing at the moment.
Nobody has committed to produce any such train.

Edit: Well it wasn't until about an hour ago!
At least it is now on the drawing board.

 

[childwallblues]

It's only a fantasy thing at the moment.
Nobody has committed to produce any such train.

Edit: Well it wasn't until about an hour ago!
At least it is now on the drawing board.

Porterbrook have issued a statement confirming that the project is going forward with the first unit available in Spring 2018.

 

[LDECRexile]

We haven't heard form John Evans during 2016 - until now.

He's sent 30 great shots of great progress on the Ordsall Chord works.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157651706566841

and to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157661069863633

Welcome back John, thank you

 

[PDG1949]

We haven't heard form John Evans during 2016 - until now.

He's sent 30 great shots of great progress on the Ordsall Chord works.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157651706566841

and to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157661069863633

Welcome back John, thank you

Great set of up-to-the-minute shots, John, thank you.

 

[PDG1949]

We haven't heard form John Evans during 2016 - until now.

He's sent 30 great shots of great progress on the Ordsall Chord works.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157651706566841

and to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157661069863633

Welcome back John, thank you

Great set of up-to-the-minute shots, John, thank you.

 

[Viscount702]

In addition to the Ordsall Chord works it was my understanding that the remodeling of Ordsall Lane Junction was to take place over Christmas/New Year.

I have seen no reports whatsoever on this. Is it happening.

The Northern Programme twitter account seems more interested in work elsewhere than anything around Manchester.

 

[Elecman]

Yes Ordsall Lane junction was remodelled

 

[Viscount702]

Yes Ordsall Lane junction was remodelled

Thanks.

Surprised that nothing has been said by NR specifically about this

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Thanks.
Surprised that nothing has been said by NR specifically about this

It doesn't finish till January 3 does it?
It's being done in parallel with the Castlefield viaduct works (and resignalling into the ROC).
No trains over any of the legs from Ordsall Lane Jn till then.

 

[PDG1949]

Great set of up-to-the-minute shots, John, thank you.

More excellent bridge progress pics on this

https://mobile.twitter.com/hashtag/ordsallchord

and on SSC

 

[PDG1949]

A delightful Christmas Carol from the Orange Army......

https://youtu.be/5_3qArx1zaM

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Article on Bolton station improvements: http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/network-rail-plans-bolton-station-expansion.html
It doesn't quite say P5 will be ready by December 2017, but that's the impression given.
Just single track cantilevers for the OHLE, apparently, in the gap between the main platforms so no masses of steelwork through the station.
No doubt some further blockades will be necessary to put the new junctions in for P5.
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/major-transport-investment-in-bolton-continues