Farnworth Tunnel Electrification.

[Darren R]

The platforms at Darwen have been extended by a metre or so and can now (just) accommodate 4x156 carriages. Blackburn and Entwistle can easily accommodate longer. The remainder are no longer than 3x156 cars, and (so far ad I am aware) there are no immediate plans to rectify this. However, this is set to change in the medium term, but not before the Farnworth Tunnel works begin.

 

[Llama]

Entwistle is definitely no longer than about 48-50 metres in usable length, despite what the sectional appendix might say (shows 119m).

 

[snowball]

The video linked in post #29 says that the before the larger bore at Farnworth is enlarged, the smaller bore will be re-lined with concrete to protect it during the main works.

Yet if they were about to do this, wouldn't the temporary crossovers be initially the other way round, to direct trains through the larger bore?

So has this proposal been dropped or has it already been done?

 

[ironstone11]

The video linked in post #29 says that the before the larger bore at Farnworth is enlarged, the smaller bore will be re-lined with concrete to protect it during the main works.

Yet if they were about to do this, wouldn't the temporary crossovers be initially the other way round, to direct trains through the larger bore?

So has this proposal been dropped or has it already been done?

My thoughts entirely. I would guess that the track will be slewed across to the larger tunnel while the concrete lining of the smaller tunnel is done and then slewed back to the smaller bore.

We don't know what form the lining of the smaller bore will take, but if it's shotcrete, then I guess that can be done quite quickly.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

My thoughts entirely. I would guess that the track will be slewed across to the larger tunnel while the concrete lining of the smaller tunnel is done and then slewed back to the smaller bore.

We don't know what form the lining of the smaller bore will take, but if it's shotcrete, then I guess that can be done quite quickly.

Its shotcrete, applied on nights and at weekends, and its already started ...

the crossovers are exactly the right way round, trust us!

 

[fgwrich]

Its shotcrete, applied on nights and at weekends, and its already started ...

the crossovers are exactly the right round, trust us!

Indeed - I presume it's using the RRV / Trolley set up Network Rail used in Whiteball tunnel and a few others down in Devon last year.

 

[snowball]

It appears from this press release that strengthening the narrower bore is a major purpose of the 99-hour Easter closure:

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...ade-work-in-and-around-manchester-over-easter

 

[northwichcat]

Network Rail have unveiled their boring machine:

https://twitter.com/networkrailPR

 

[snowball]

It seems there's a northern programme Twitter feed with more pictures here:

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailNP

 

[Trackman]

First edition of the 'Farnworth Flyer' is out.
Not an apt name me thinks
link is from Network rail, nothing dodgy.
http://t.co/H3NEgcT1ra

 

[LeylandLen]

Will Network Rail be producing a time-lapse video of the work being done at Farnworth as they have done for other works on the network ?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Will Network Rail be producing a time-lapse video of the work being done at Farnworth as they have done for other works on the network ?

If I was a betting man I would say definitely.