Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[LDECRexile]

Wrinkley has been out and about. He's sent a batch of shots accompanied by this note:

"Nothing happening around Lostock apart from five Orangemen digging a hole by the station boundary fence, so I had a look at Bolton and Farnworth. The only visible Orangemen were working on the road bridge at Moses Gate, still a big hole there.

There must have been some work going on during the nights and weekends, quite a few completed bases north of Bolton station, one is so new that the concrete is still wet. Also two more bases being prepared.

Between Moses Gate and Rawson Street all the masts that were erected previously now have cantilevers, but no new masts or bases to be seen. Still nothing between Rawson Street and Farnworth Station."

I've added Wrinkley's photos 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.

 

[deltic08]

Carrilion Rail by all accounts is one of the only profitable bits. So hopefully it will get sold off quick in the advent of administration with work effectively uninterrupted.

Network Rail must be paying too much for their services then.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

the latest nodrog YouTube is up - and definitely shows good progress Preston- Blackpool

 

[YorkshireBear]

Carrillion have now entered liquidation.

Note this should only be discussed in this thread if it it likely to cause problems on this scheme. There is a general discussion in General discussion.

 

[DJH1971]

Carrillion have now entered liquidation.

Note this should only be discussed in this thread if it it likely to cause problems on this scheme. There is a general discussion in General discussion.

It will be interesting to see who will now take over.

 

[CarillionSq]

Carillion going bust is good news for phase 4.

Ground conditions are a minor reason phase 4 is delayed, Carillion, Amey and Buckingham mis-management has not been held to account.

Network rail allowing carillion to not address the poor quality of the Balfour Beatty installed piles has not been held to account.

Carillion bad planning, possession management and possession under usage has not been held to account.

 

[LDECRexile]

I have been asked by Network Rail if they may use images from the Combined Volume from time to time, giving due credit to the contributor. No money will change hands in either direction.

I'm perfectly OK with this for the images I've contributed, but I can't speak for others who have so kindly sent their material. This message is a blanket request to all contributors - please may NR use selected images you have sent to the Manchester-Liverpool and Blackpool-Manchester Combined Volumes, so long as they give you due credit in the time-honoured style?

I will take no answer by 12:00 Monday next, 22nd Jan 2018 to mean "of course!"

 

[ALX400]

I have been asked by Network Rail if they may use images from the Combined Volume from time to time, giving due credit to the contributor. No money will change hands in either direction.

I'm perfectly OK with this for the images I've contributed, but I can't speak for others who have so kindly sent their material. This message is a blanket request to all contributors - please may NR use selected images you have sent to the Manchester-Liverpool and Blackpool-Manchester Combined Volumes, so long as they give you due credit in the time-honoured style?

I will take no answer by 12:00 Monday next, 22nd Jan 2018 to mean "of course!"

Fine by me

 

[nw-sparks]

I will take no answer by 12:00 Monday next, 22nd Jan 2018 to mean "of course!"

Of course.

 

[wrinkley]

I have been asked by Network Rail if they may use images from the Combined Volume from time to time, giving due credit to the contributor. No money will change hands in either direction.

I'm perfectly OK with this for the images I've contributed, but I can't speak for others who have so kindly sent their material. This message is a blanket request to all contributors - please may NR use selected images you have sent to the Manchester-Liverpool and Blackpool-Manchester Combined Volumes, so long as they give you due credit in the time-honoured style?

I will take no answer by 12:00 Monday next, 22nd Jan 2018 to mean "of course!"

No problem.

 

[reg]

no problem.

 

[PDG1949]

Great ! By all means

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

No problem either, for my tiny contribution.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

No problem either, for my tiny contribution.

But good news!
Wiring has appeared at Buckshaw and Horwich.
Earth and some autotransformer wires are in place either side of Buckshaw Parkway, and between the M61 and Horwich Pkwy.
The cutting either side of Chorley Tunnel has gained concrete lintels/plinths on top of the stone wall, complete with mast fixings.
What we don't know is whether all this is down to Carillion, and what any impact there might be from their insolvency.

 

[snowball]

Are these the first wires between Salford and Euxton except little bits at each end?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

No problem either, for my tiny contribution.

No problem in fact I would be delighted

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Are these the first wires between Salford and Euxton except little bits at each end?

Yes indeed it is.
All together it's 3 runs of about 400m each.
Down line viewed, presumably similar on the Up.
Still plenty of lineside work going on today.

 

[LDECRexile]

But good news!
Wiring has appeared at Buckshaw and Horwich.
Earth and some autotransformer wires are in place either side of Buckshaw Parkway, and between the M61 and Horwich Pkwy.
The cutting either side of Chorley Tunnel has gained concrete lintels/plinths on top of the stone wall, complete with mast fixings.
What we don't know is whether all this is down to Carillion, and what any impact there might be from their insolvency.

Yippee!

Could you see any signs of progress on:

1. Salford Crescent Platform 2
2. The stretch between Broughton Rd and Cock Robin bridge. southbound side
3. The stretch for approx. 300yds north of Agecroft Rd bridge, southbound side
4. Any more than 2 (one each side) masts between Kearsley and Farnworth tunnel.
5. The stretch north of Rawson St bridge, Farnworth

1, 2, 3 & 5 appear to my lay eyes to be problem areas.
4 appears to be an indicator of erecting team activity.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Yippee!

Could you see any signs of progress on:

1. Salford Crescent Platform 2
2. The stretch between Broughton Rd and Cock Robin bridge. southbound side
3. The stretch for approx. 300yds north of Agecroft Rd bridge, southbound side
4. Any more than 2 (one each side) masts between Kearsley and Farnworth tunnel.
5. The stretch north of Rawson St bridge, Farnworth

1, 2, 3 & 5 appear to my lay eyes to be problem areas.
4 appears to be an indicator of erecting team activity.

I can't say I saw anything new south of Lostock, but I've lost the detailed plot on that stretch!
Nothing new at Salford Cres P2 anyhow.
I did wonder if the "lintel on top of wall" approach might be used there for the "bases".

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Well the twitter feed and the nodrog video together show great progress these last few days Preston - Blackpool.

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP

I recognize the railway bridge that goes over Lea Rd and the small housing complex on what once was the Cotty Brook pub. Multiple wires. So the question then becomes" Has the gap between the start of Tom Benson Way and the UCLAN complex been filled?" Anyone know?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Domh245 has just posted this on the Carillion Liquidation thread:

From Tony Miles (of Modern Railways Magazine), at least in the context of Manchester - Preston electrification
Please find a statement re: Carillion.
Network Rail’s Manchester-Preston railway upgrade, a key part of the Great North Rail Project, is continuing despite today’s news on its principal contractor Carillion.
Martin Frobisher, managing director for Network Rail’s London North Western route, said: “While the full impacts of Carillion going into administration will become clear in the coming weeks, Network Rail has committed to work closely with the official receiver as we continue our work to upgrade the Manchester-Bolton-Preston line.”

Re: work on the route: “Shifts to be worked this week by Carillion staff will temporarily be suspended while new arrangements are made.”
Re: any other Carillion projects, Manchester to Stalybridge. Again, we will know more in the coming weeks.
Re: completion dates, too early to say but obviously we will work with the receiver to continue the work

So Carillion's work on the project has been suspended at least temporarily.
Hopefully the impact will be slight.

 

[Malay States]

There is a big Ainscough crane east of the road bridge at Kirkham station, with a man in the cab not doing much at 12.30 today - maybe lunch time or too windy. The bits of footbridge are on trailers immediately east of the crane ready for it to swing round and get them.

 

[LDECRexile]

There is a big Ainscough crane east of the road bridge at Kirkham station, with a man in the cab not doing much at 12.30 today - maybe lunch time or too windy. The bits of footbridge are on trailers immediately east of the crane ready for it to swing round and get them.

Were you able to take any photos?

 

[snowball]

The Twitter feed has pictures of Kirkham:

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/953274249745223680

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/953210418289369088

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/953182904712081408

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/952915580453048320

It also has advice on securing trampolies (they tend to blow onto the line in high winds).

 

[Malay States]

Were you able to take any photos?

No, I didn't have my phone with me, sadly. The situation at K&W at 1500 today was the same - man in crane, lots of orange around the bridge base, so it could go in at any time.

 

[wrinkley]

Went Bolton to Victoria today, orangemen still active on the line, de-veging in various places and more importantly a batch of cantilevers being delivered at the Burnden worksite.

 

[LDECRexile]

ALX400 and I went out and about today, quite independently.

ALX's mission was to record the new wires near Horwich which LNW-GW reported yesterday.

I've added his shots to his album here:

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

I had an appointment I feared could take all day, but I escaped with honour at 11:30, so I celebrated with an impromptu visit to the Fylde.

I've added all our shots to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you ALX. It was good to talk to you, it's been too long.

 

[LDECRexile]

Reg has kindly sent shots of 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.

 

[Chrisyd]

Unfortunately the Bolton News is carrying an article saying the collapse of Carrilion will affect electrification, but they do not know by how much yet (possibly into next year!):

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news...ectrification_project__transport_chief_warns/

THE collapse of construction giant Carillion will ‘certainly have some impact’ on electrification of the rail line through Bolton, the borough’s transport chief has warned.

The firm is Network Rail’s principal contractor on the Great North Project to upgrade the track between Manchester and Preston.

Work is continuing on the much-delayed scheme in the immediate aftermath of Carillion going into liquidation.

Network Rail bosses say they will be working closely with the official receiver, but that the full impact of Carillion’s meltdown would only become clear over the coming weeks.

The uncertainty has led to concerns that it could now be later next year before the first electric trains run through Bolton.

Cllr David Chadwick, Bolton Council’s cabinet member for special projects, transport and skills said: “Of course I’m concerned. While I realise there have been some problems with foundations, the potential that this could further impact on the rail electrification project appals me.

“It’s almost like the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

The collapse of Carillion, which only had £29m in the bank when it collapsed under a £1.5bn debt pile, raises the prospect that the benefits of electrification could be delayed for passengers and businesses.

And those living along the line, including residents at Moses Gate, could be waiting even longer for an end to disruption.

Cllr Chadwick, who also sits on the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, added: “I sincerely hope that’s not the case, but everything is up in the air at the moment.

“The outcome is still not clear from the government what the situation is, but obviously the whole thing is in the melting pot, being reviewed and discussed.

“Until Network Rail comes out with a definitive answer, we don’t know what the implication might be, but there will certainly be some impact on electrification.”

Carillion replaced former principal contractor Balfour Beattie 2016, but Cllr Chadwick refused to condemn Network Rail for the decision.......

 

[DJH1971]

Unfortunately the Bolton News is carrying an article saying the collapse of Carrilion will affect electrification, but they do not know by how much yet (possibly into next year!):

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news...ectrification_project__transport_chief_warns/

Wonder how this will affect the Preston to Blackpool work as these have been progressing exceptionally well?

As I have said previously, looks like Manchester to Blackpool services may have to go via Chat Moss.