Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[LNW-GW Joint]

So it looks like this work will start to coincide with Blackpool North blockade. Still it seems it is cutting it tight to be all ready for May 2018. When I was there with Dave over xmas there were Orangeman swarming all over and they said 18 months of work. So something seems contradictory to me.

I suspect the press release is just for the station works, affecting access and facilities.
The remodelling/resignalling will probably be done in stages.
It takes ages to dig new cable routes and to install things like drainage upgrades or embankment strengthening.
I think they've already started on the new lineside fencing.
At some point the Kirkham avoiding lines are going to have to be removed or realigned so that they can build the new P3.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I suspect the press release is just for the station works, affecting access and facilities.
The remodelling/resignalling will probably be done in stages.
It takes ages to dig new cable routes and to install things like drainage upgrades or embankment strengthening.
I think they've already started on the new lineside fencing.
At some point the Kirkham avoiding lines are going to have to be removed or realigned so that they can build the new P3.

Thanks for that. It makes sense - you are almost certainly correct.

 

[LDECRexile]

Paul and I went Wigan-Bolton-Deansgate-walk to Salford Central via MOSI and Water St - Salford Crescent-Bolton-Wigan today.

A day of three parts, all good.

Part 2 was exploring Ordsall Chord works, including Paul's brilliant idea of including going to MOSI right to the far end, all entirely legit and safe. The whole bang shoot was seriously impressive. Wonderful though coverage has been on t'internet, there's nowt like seeing it in the flesh and meeting Orangemen clearly proud of what they've achieved.

Parts 1 and 3 were the trips Lostock-Deansgate and Salford Central-Lostock. Once again, reports by LNW and others have been superb, but there's nowt like seeing rows of bases, eg 38 from Bullfield West to Beaumont Road on one side of the tracks (and lots on t'other) and lines of scrapes between Agecroft and Clifton.

In a sense we mishandled the day by trying to ride too many horses on the journeys, when we attempted to take out-of-the-window shots, very few of which are any good, the light, the dirty windows, the speed of travel and our incompetence militated against success, but hey, we can go again and do careful counts.

Things which worried us?

-no signs of impending action in the foot crossings either side of the M60 bridge near Dixon Fold
-no signs of impending action on the electric cables crossing the route between Clifton and Kearsley

Things to feel good about?
-first portal over "our" line at Salford Central, another to go up next weekend
-ballast being laid in the centre tracks at Salford Central, target Easter for joining up
-bases sprouting north of the junction north of Salford Crescent
-loads of scrapes (exploratory earthworks) Agecroft to Clifton
-some scrapes Clifton to M60
-some scrapes near Moses Gate (I think)
-hard standing worksite being laid at Burnden
-lots of bases Bullfield West-Beaumont Rd, plus some scrapes

-stunning progress at Ordsall Chord, Orangemen with their tails up
-next big lift early Feb when the bowstring "hoops" should be craned in
-success at Ordsall Lane Junction

-Middlewood Locks' first building reaching for the sky

-three and four carriage trains nicely loaded and on time
-guards making timely announcements, checking tickets and engaging with passengers
-stations and trains busy, civilised and clean inside

-plenty of Orange on show

Photos tomorrow.

Dave

 

[edwin_m]

Good news indeed. I imagine the success of this project, not only in terms of progress but also on the less visible issue of cost, will be critical to Network Rail in demonstrating that it can deliver electrification after the GWR palaver. Hence it could be pivotal to the approval of future schemes.

So if you see any kitchen sinks on your future travels, it's highly likely there will also be a ballista nearby, being prepared to throw them at the project.

 

[Mollman]

Yes indeed, but more importantly should mean things like axle counters, bi-di capability, automatic route setting and direct driver-signaller communication.
But the semaphores are for the scrapheap - especially the one propped up by scaffolding at Blackpool!
This is for the whole line not just Kirkham.

Thanks, hopefully we will get a track diagram at some point to see how the 3 platform layout will work. At first I was expecting 4 platforms with the current bypass lines becoming the main route for North with the current platform lines being used mainly for South with the odd North calling when need for capacity (overtaking) arose. Guessing now that the new platform will be mainly for Up trains from North but how the other two are used I don't know.

 

[driver9000]

Thanks, hopefully we will get a track diagram at some point to see how the 3 platform layout will work. At first I was expecting 4 platforms with the current bypass lines becoming the main route for North with the current platform lines being used mainly for South with the odd North calling when need for capacity (overtaking) arose. Guessing now that the new platform will be mainly for Up trains from North but how the other two are used I don't know.

The current down platform should become a dedicated Blackpool South platform while the current up & down platform remains in its current use. Network Rail released a short video a few months ago which gives a few clues to how Kirkham will look post remodelling.

https://youtu.be/1Ger__jpB18

 

[snowball]

Good news indeed. I imagine the success of this project, not only in terms of progress but also on the less visible issue of cost, will be critical to Network Rail in demonstrating that it can deliver electrification after the GWR palaver. Hence it could be pivotal to the approval of future schemes.

Do we know how northern electrification is going in cost terms?

 

[Geeves]

The diagram was posted on here but you have 245 pages worth of scanning through to find it unfortunately!

 

[swt_passenger]

The diagram was posted on here but you have 245 pages worth of scanning through to find it unfortunately!

This might be it, on page 11: http://www.travelwatch-northwest.org.uk/NWelectrification_0616.pdf

 

[Geeves]

Brilliant thankyou!

 

[Mollman]

Cheers

 

[LDECRexile]

Paul and I travelled the southern third of "our" line and toured the Ordsall Cord works yesterday.

I have added Paul's photos to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157649792560381

and added our combined efforts to the Combined Volume here:

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

 

[wrinkley]

The Sunday trains have now gone, it seems.

Just been to Bolton, no activity around the station or on the sites set up at Burnden Junction or Bullfield West. No trains to Chorley or Wigan, but Blackburn -Manchester service is running. I can't see any work between Bolton and Lostock. If the blockade is for Anderton Lane crossing, what is stopping the Bolton - Wigan service.

 

[Class 170101]

Could be a TOC decision due to lack of traincrew / units to not supply a Bolton to Wigan service.

 

[WatcherZero]

Isnt the Blackburn line a separate route from Bolton with no crossovers from the platforms on the other side of the station.

 

[Howardh]

Isnt the Blackburn line a separate route from Bolton with no crossovers from the platforms on the other side of the station.

Almost. AFAIK you can get onto the Blackburn line from platform 3, but generally it's a straight ride from platform 1.

Can anyone confirm this, especially if you have arrived and alighted from Manchester on platform 3??

 

[SodTheDrummer]

Almost. AFAIK you can get onto the Blackburn line from platform 3, but generally it's a straight ride from platform 1.

Can anyone confirm this, especially if you have arrived and alighted from Manchester on platform 3??

Yes, I got off a Clitheroe bound train on P3 the other week. Rare though as you say...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The Blackburn line is accessible from 1 or 3, though AFAIK nothing is booked to do the latter. It is generally used when one (or both) of the services are late-running, necessitating that they cross at Bolton station. It's not incredibly rare from my experience, I've seen p3 done in both directions to and from Blackburn on a few occasions.

 

[wrinkley]

Could be a TOC decision due to lack of traincrew / units to not supply a Bolton to Wigan service.

I don't think there is a crew shortage, the airport - southport service is running via walkden.

 

[PDG1949]

I don't think there is a crew shortage, the airport - southport service is running via walkden.

Maybe it's a Keaw Yed problem at Westhoughton ?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/boltonmuseums/3084979432

 

[LDECRexile]

1. Bill Morton has sent his first photos of 2017, showing reballasting at Anderton Hall foot crossing north of Blackrod.

I've added them to Bill's album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157650900509369

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Bill.

2. Don't forget to keep an eye on the links to other people's albums from the "Comments" associated with the very first image in the Combined Volume.

3. A contributor has kindly sent me a fine and very welcome shot on "One Drive". Someone else did the same recently. Alas, though I can see them beautifully, I can't wang 'em onto flickr. Please send photos destined for the Combined Volume as attachments to emails.

If you are mulling sending something for the first time and don't know my email address please send me a Private Message via this site and I'll send you my email address.

 

[42626]

3. A contributor has kindly sent me a fine and very welcome shot on "One Drive". Someone else did the same recently. Alas, though I can see them beautifully, I can't wang 'em onto flickr. Please send photos destined for the Combined Volume as attachments to emails.

There should be a download link top left between "Play Slideshow" and "View Original" when someone does that. (just tested it myself to check)

 

[Trackman]

Yes, I got off a Clitheroe bound train on P3 the other week. Rare though as you say...

Years ago, P3 was always used for up line and P1 for the down line

 

[wrinkley]

Maybe it's a Keaw Yed problem at Westhoughton ?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/boltonmuseums/3084979432

Interesting sepia photo of the earlier Bolton station two along from the Keaw Yeds. It shows the Blackburn line platform extended round the curve and the bridge being built for the old station buildings. I have seen some photos of the original station taken from where the new bus station now is, l will try to find them.

 

[LDECRexile]

Codville has kindly sent a shot of the junction at Poulton which I imagine will greatly change in coming months.

ALX400 has been and had appendages in peril of being frozen off at Anderton Hall foot crossing, where track relaying has continued apace.

I've added Codville's image to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157676830624615

I've added ALX's shots to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157651121057352

and all of them to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thanks to both of you.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

There should be a download link top left between "Play Slideshow" and "View Original" when someone does that. (just tested it myself to check)

Thank you.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I don't know the Fylde line well, but it seemed to me today that the long-disused eastern end of the island platform at Poulton has recently been removed.

At Salford Central it is now possible to see how the Chat Moss lines will be routed through the disused platforms.
The viaduct widening to slew the lines to the north is taking shape.
More mast bases are in just west of Central, and it's now obvious why some of them were built at a strange angle - they will be parallel to
the new Chat Moss route.

 

[snowball]

At Salford Central it is now possible to see how the Chat Moss lines will be routed through the disused platforms.
The viaduct widening to slew the lines to the north is taking shape.
More mast bases are in just west of Central, and it's now obvious why some of them were built at a strange angle - they will be parallel to
the new Chat Moss route.

As I predicted here:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2204236&postcount=5007

 

[Codville]

I don't know the Fylde line well, but it seemed to me today that the long-disused eastern end of the island platform at Poulton has recently been removed.

The far far end of the platform? It was removed a few years back and will probably be rebuilt again at some point if longer trains start calling at Poulton.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The far far end of the platform? It was removed a few years back and will probably be rebuilt again at some point if longer trains start calling at Poulton.

Hmm. I was persuaded that it had been freshly removed, with digger access further to the east, guarding the spoil.
Maybe I imagined it.
Signs of engineering activity anyway.

At Salwick, the siding area has been cleared for a work site but was still under construction from what I could see.
The stub connection to the main line from the east was still in situ though.

 

[Elecman]

Theve been doing drainage works on the upside this weekend at Poulton. The car park is closed for about 6 weeks