Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[LNW-GW Joint]

Airport to Blackpools diverted via Chat Moss, Airport to Southports diverted via Atherton. Others delayed.

Aiirport to Blackpool/Barrow turns up on time at Preston, after diversion via Golborne.
Then has to wait 30 mins waiting for crew to come via Bolton.

 

[WatcherZero]

1. Farnworth tunnel (could be fully kitted out with danglies for all I know)
2. the tunnel and bridges immediately north of Bolton
3. Chorley tunnel and approach cuttings
4. Broughton Rd bridge to Agecroft N Jct
5. Agecroft Road bridge and approaches from N and S
6. Yarrow viaduct
7. Farnworth Stn to Squeeze Belly Entry bridge
8. Bolton Platform 5
9. Burnden, West side
10. Several stations

Bolton Blockade for platform reinstatement and junction realignment is 12th to 27th August so likely work will be done then.

 

[LDECRexile]

Bolton Blockade for platform reinstatement and junction realignment is 12th to 27th August so likely work will be done then.

Hope so, but please see post #4709 on previous page.

 

[Norb]

Ooh ooh is this a sweepstake? Can I have 18 May 2018 please?

Can I have 20 May 2018 then

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I did a run round today, but can't add anything significant to the recent detailed reports.
There are now more masts up (c40) between Kirkham and Poulton than there are between Fylde Jn and Salwick (c30), and there are plenty more at the lineside on both stretches, ready to go up.
I am only guessing, but I suspect the Blackpool line will not be fitted out for autotransformer operation (the masts don't look right).
Big machinery working on the ballast of the old avoiding lines at Kirkham.
Plenty of added components throughout the Bolton route (ATF kit, autotensioners etc), but very hard to judge progress.
Certainly more concrete bases Farnworth-Agecroft, and more masts/cantilevers Bolton-Lostock.
Good to see most of the steelwork up at Salford Crescent.
Some masts/reg gear going up on the Ordsall Chord too.
It was a slow-motion run between Bolton and Clifton with signalling problems reported, some trains diverted via Golborne.

Not directly on the route, but I was surprised to see all the work on the WCML between Springs Branch and Euxton Jn for the new AT feed.
This has required some new masts in places and a lot of new "gubbins".
The AT wire (2 runs in places) is not quite continuous, but most of it is up.
I don't know if the two projects are linked, but they are certainly using similar skills and components.

 

[LDECRexile]

Wrinkley has kindly sent a batch of photos he took in today's sunshine at Lostock.

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.

 

[Elecman]

As Preston Blackpool won't have a Track Section cabin other than the existing one at Fylde Junction there won't be a need for an AT Feeder, same with Windermere if it ever get wired

 

[Whistler40145]

Will there be any Neutral Sections between Preston Fylde Junction and Blackpool North?

 

[Greybeard33]

Aiirport to Blackpool/Barrow turns up on time at Preston, after diversion via Golborne.
Then has to wait 30 mins waiting for crew to come via Bolton.

Someone mentioned on another thread that the ex-TPE Blackpool crews don't sign the Chat Moss, while the original Northern crews don't sign the 185s. And it's only 15 months since the franchise remapping! :roll:

 

[CAF397]

Someone mentioned on another thread that the ex-TPE Blackpool crews don't sign the Chat Moss, while the original Northern crews don't sign the 185s. And it's only 15 months since the franchise remapping! :roll:

Northern (ex-TPE) Blackpool & Barrow crews DO sign Chat Moss, and Wigan-Westhoughton-Bolton. They don't sign via Atherton.

Northern (original) Blackpool crews don't sign Chat Moss, nor I believe Westhoughton or Atherton. Wigan and Victoria crews I reckon sign everything.

Further compounded, as you state, by Northern (original) crews not signing 185s. Plus Northern drivers can not cross cover each other's work (e.g. Ex-TPE driver can not drive an original Northern working, nor can a Northern originial driver drive an ex-TPE train even if they sign the traction.

The guards have an agreement that they can crosscover, but Northern (original) crews do not sign 185s.

This is all pending harmonisation.

 

[Whistler40145]

I'm not sure if it's just Saturdays, but the 03:37 Blackpool North to Manchester Airport is booked via Wigan North Western and Bolton

 

[Greybeard33]

Northern (ex-TPE) Blackpool & Barrow crews DO sign Chat Moss, and Wigan-Westhoughton-Bolton. They don't sign via Atherton.

Northern (original) Blackpool crews don't sign Chat Moss, nor I believe Westhoughton or Atherton. Wigan and Victoria crews I reckon sign everything.

Further compounded, as you state, by Northern (original) crews not signing 185s. Plus Northern drivers can not cross cover each other's work (e.g. Ex-TPE driver can not drive an original Northern working, nor can a Northern originial driver drive an ex-TPE train even if they sign the traction.

The guards have an agreement that they can crosscover, but Northern (original) crews do not sign 185s.

This is all pending harmonisation.

Yes, my bad. I mis-remembered this post by Scrapy.

 

[snowball]

Will there be any Neutral Sections between Preston Fylde Junction and Blackpool North?

Seems unlikely, as Elecman said in the post above yours that there won't be a track sectioning cabin.

 

[Whistler40145]

Does this mean that e.g. there's a power outage or routine maintenance that the whole line is isolated?

 

[snowball]

Does this mean that e.g. there's a power outage or routine maintenance that the whole line is isolated?

Yes, I can't see any reason why that would be a bad thing. I think the average distance between track sectioning cabins etc on the WCML is about 14 miles; Fylde Junction to Blackpool North is only a little more than that.

 

[LDECRexile]

Reg has kindly sent a shot of trackwork progress at Burnden.

I've added it to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157671732263863

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Reg.

PS: Can anyone get down there with camera tonight or tomorrow?

PPS: Has the new footbridge at Bradshaw Fields, Adlington opened yet?

 

[Geeves]

They certainly aren't messing around as those sleepers were only delivered last night, as I observed the two trains around 22:00 and 22:20 passing the Crescent.

 

[Whistler40145]

Hopefully, we'll see some progress.

 

[Trackman]

Sweepstake, playing safe, May 2018, everything in all one go.

Thanks Reg for the photos from Bolton.
Anyone know where the crossover will be for P5 at Bolton?

 

[jonesy3001]

I think both blackpool and bolton line projects will open more or less at the same time, i`m going for the may 2018 timetable change.

 

[LDECRexile]

Reg has kindly sent more shots of trackwork progress at Bolton.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157671732263863

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Reg.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I think both blackpool and bolton line projects will open more or less at the same time, i`m going for the may 2018 timetable change.

The Blackpool line reopens in March after the remodelling/electrification work.
Supposedly it will be diesel-worked until the May timetable change.
I think you would need to have some electric running from the March date to be able to go all-electric in May (on wired routes).
Presumably the same applies to the Salford-Euxton route too.
The rate of introduction of class 319s out of Liverpool in 2015 was painfully slow, even though the wires to Manchester/Wigan/Warrington were up and ready.
It took 12 months before some diesel diagrams were replaced (and even then the times were still based on Pacer performance - basically they still are).

 

[jonesy3001]

The Blackpool line reopens in March after the remodelling/electrification work.
Supposedly it will be diesel-worked until the May timetable change.
I think you would need to have some electric running from the March date to be able to go all-electric in May (on wired routes).
Presumably the same applies to the Salford-Euxton route too.
The rate of introduction of class 319s out of Liverpool in 2015 was painfully slow, even though the wires to Manchester/Wigan/Warrington were up and ready.
It took 12 months before some diesel diagrams were replaced (and even then the times were still based on Pacer performance - basically they still are).

That's my prediction out of the window going for the may 2019 timetable change for the blackpool line and December 2018 for the preston to manchester via Bolton line.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Anecdotal and other sources STRONGLY say Preston- Blackpool will comfortably be ready for May 2018 timetable change/electric services/driver training etc.

I think I speak for many of us when I say Euxton Jct - Manchester by Dec 2017 is the more challenging deadline - which is why I say May 2018 timetable but electric running/testing/driver training etc. before then. If some enterprising organization were to run a coaches top and tailed by a class 92 Manchester area to Blackpool excursion in that time period, I would pay good money to be on it.

 

[Elecman]

Not sure how much drivervtraining on 319s/Pendos will be required after energisation, but some refamiliarisation will be required for all drivers surely after a 4 month total closure and remodelling/resignalling

 

[DJH1971]

Anecdotal and other sources STRONGLY say Preston- Blackpool will comfortably be ready for May 2018 timetable change/electric services/driver training etc.

I think I speak for many of us when I say Euxton Jct - Manchester by Dec 2017 is the more challenging deadline - which is why I say May 2018 timetable but electric running/testing/driver training etc. before then. If some enterprising organization were to run a coaches top and tailed by a class 92 Manchester area to Blackpool excursion in that time period, I would pay good money to be on it.

That's why I'm thinking around the February/March ballpark

 

[BMIFlyer]

Not sure how much drivervtraining on 319s/Pendos will be required after energisation, but some refamiliarisation will be required for all drivers surely after a 4 month total closure and remodelling/resignalling

Some but not much.

Main changes on the Blackpool line are obviously OHLE, new signalling, higher speeds, plus the new layout of 3 platforms (currently 2) at Kirkham along with platform 1 and 2 at that station being bi-directional.

Northern Blackpool drivers start class 319 training shortly I believe.

 

[driver9000]

Some but not much.

Main changes on the Blackpool line are obviously OHLE, new signalling, higher speeds, plus the new layout of 3 platforms (currently 2) at Kirkham along with platform 1 and 2 at that station being bi-directional.

Northern Blackpool drivers start class 319 training shortly I believe.

Blackpool Drivers are mostly (if not all) trained on 319s now and a start has been made on the ex-TPE Drivers recently.

 

[Whistler40145]

Some but not much.

Main changes on the Blackpool line are obviously OHLE, new signalling, higher speeds, plus the new layout of 3 platforms (currently 2) at Kirkham along with platform 1 and 2 at that station being bi-directional.

Northern Blackpool drivers start class 319 training shortly I believe.

Presumably, Northern Blackpool drivers will utilise the 319s that stable at Preston?

 

[BMIFlyer]

Blackpool Drivers are mostly (if not all) trained on 319s now and a start has been made on the ex-TPE Drivers recently.

Yep, sorry I meant ex TPE of course.