Headbolt Lane progress updates

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Wallgate as a road carries quite an amount of through traffic with many bus services using it to and from the bus station and I suppose traffic coming from the Wigan Pier direction could use the following as a diversionary route:-
Queen Street
Chapel Lane
King Street

 

[yorkie]

This is an infrastructure thread to discuss Headbolt Lane work.

To discuss any other topic, please use/create a separate thread.

Actual timetabling changes belong in the timetabling section, while any posts of a speculative nature belong in Speculative Discussion please.

Many thanks.

 

[Skie]

Back to updates. Rail Focus have (has?) posted a video on youtube showing the present state of Kirkby station and Headbolt Lane.

 

[M28361M]

Not sure if it's been mentioned already, but the station now appears on Realtime Trains with a code of HBL.

Realtime Trains | Live Departures from Headbolt Lane

Live train information at Headbolt Lane. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Just seen this on Twitter from a guard (giving an amazing view)

The building seems to be well in progress and the track extension seems to be going well.

 

[Geeves]

When I have covered stations on the Manchester side a lot passengers were going to the hospital at Fazakerley or stations north of Liverpool to avoid having to go into Manchester and then swapping at Lime St.

They look to be building a big old carpark at Headbolt lane so presumably any passengers for the Manchester side would just drive there.

 

[Bletchleyite]

When I have covered stations on the Manchester side a lot passengers were going to the hospital at Fazakerley or stations north of Liverpool to avoid having to go into Manchester and then swapping at Lime St.

They look to be building a big old carpark at Headbolt lane so presumably any passengers for the Manchester side would just drive there.

And in terms of inbound commuting (if there is any) Headbolt isn't really any further from the actual centre than Kirkby station is, neither is in the centre, it's away from the railway.

 

[mcnw35282]

Does anyone know what will happen to the Wigan platform at Kirkby station once the points and 2nd track are fully installed? Will they obliterate it completely like Garston, or leave it as is? I'm assuming the walkway under the sandstone bridge will be completely removed to allow the extension of the track under the bridge...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Mar 2023 ==

According to RTT, buses replace trains between Rainford and Kirkby from Friday 7th to Friday 28h April. Buses will also replace trains between Kirkby and Moorfields from Friday 28th April to Friday 5th May.

 

[M28361M]

Realtime Trains is showing Northern services at Headbolt Lane from 24th July. No sign of Merseyrail services in the system yet, but is that the date we can expect the station to open? https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...23-07-24/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

 

[AMD]

Realtime Trains is showing Northern services at Headbolt Lane from 24th July.

Definately no.
No fixed date yet but looking like late autumn now. There has been noise problems at the site that has upset the neighbours.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Mar 2023 ==

Been a while since I was last down to Kirkby so things have moved on, but still quite a bit to do till it can be signed off as fit for passengers

 

[mcnw35282]

So, it looks like the 19:39 arrival from Wigan this coming Thursday (6th April) will be the final Wigan train to terminate at Kirkby station...with buses replacing trains from Friday, 7th April until July 2023 (when I'm guessing Headbolt Lane is due to open). There is a poster at Kirkby explaining the bustitution situation with an asterisk next to “July 2023” saying “Headbolt Lane station opening date to be confirmed”

 

[Geeves]

I might have missed something but at one point the station was to be three platforms next to each other? Now it looks like from AMD's photo the Manchester trains will terminate on their own separate platform built out over the old up line to Wigan? I am assuming the connection will be broken again like at Kirkby? From the look of the third photo it looks as solidly built as the other two platforms which isnt great news for the extension anywhere east.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I might have missed something but at one point the station was to be three platforms next to each other? Now it looks like from AMD's photo the Manchester trains will terminate on their own separate platform built out over the old up line to Wigan? I am assuming the connection will be broken again like at Kirkby? From the look of the third photo it looks as solidly built as the other two platforms which isnt great news for the extension anywhere east.

Here's a rough sketch of what the platform structure will look like.

 

[WAO]

We have been assured that the new platform is easily removeable. It's probably cheaper overall than track alterations.

WAO

 

[alf]

We have been assured that the new platform is easily removeable. It's probably cheaper overall than track alterations.

WAO

We were assured five years ago that the new third track & platform at Tottenham Hale would have “passive provision” for a fourth line.

Look at it now.
Not even a 15” gauge Romney Hythe & Dymchurch track could be squeezed in as the fourth track at Tottenham Hale.

My point is that once built the Headbolt layout will headlock the operation to two tracks just as the Tottenham Hale work freezes the area to three tracks forever & thus sub standard timings on Cambridge & Stanstead trains.

 

[Geeves]

Beautiful work there Mr Pokemon, much appreciated!

 

[mcnw35282]

I think these blocks will form the Wigan platform and the walkway between the two Liverpool platforms… (there are quite a few on site)

 

[childwallblues]

I would have thought that a through platform was a must just to get stock movements and engineering trains access to Kirkdale Depot instead of the current complicated reversals involving four HST power cars.

 

[Liverpool 507]

I think these blocks will form the Wigan platform and the walkway between the two Liverpool platforms… (there are quite a few on site)

I would have thought that a through platform was a must just to get stock movements and engineering trains access to Kirkdale Depot instead of the current complicated reversals involving four HST power cars.

It looks to me as if the track is staying in situ as the blocks to me look like they have grooves to go over the rail head. A good future proving method.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

We have been assured that the new platform is easily removeable. It's probably cheaper overall than track alterations.

WAO

The only words I have seen are that the pedestrian connection between the platforms (which prevents through running) can be removed (easily or not depends on your definition). Other than this thread/forum I have not seen anything which says an entire platform will be removed.

 

[WAO]

#6

Potential Merseyrail expansion beyond Headbolt Lane and/or timetable improvements

I heard somewhere the Wigan platform at Headbolt Lane has been designed to be less substantial than the two Liverpool ones to make it easily removable should extension to Skem or Wigan be approved in the future.

www.railforums.co.uk

WAO

 

[Baxenden Bank]

#6

Potential Merseyrail expansion beyond Headbolt Lane and/or timetable improvements

I heard somewhere the Wigan platform at Headbolt Lane has been designed to be less substantial than the two Liverpool ones to make it easily removable should extension to Skem or Wigan be approved in the future.

www.railforums.co.uk

WAO

He heard somewhere.

Was the statement ever supported by a quote from a source?

We have already referred to an article in the July 2022 edition of Modern Railways, that is the one that referred to the walkway, not the platform.

 

[InOban]

The only words I have seen are that the pedestrian connection between the platforms (which prevents through running) can be removed (easily or not depends on your definition). Other than this thread/forum I have not seen anything which says an entire platform will be removed.

It is normal nowadays for the buffer stops to be fixed to rails which continue under, for example, a walkway which covers say, polystyrene blocks to form a crumple zone.

 

[Parjon]

Regardless of whether the platform is removable, there is little incentive for the LCR to progress further extension. Headbolt was supposed to be enabling works for Skelmersdale. The government slammed the door shut on the Skem extension.

It's lucky Headbolt is useful as a test for battery train operation, else it would have been a complete waste of the city region's cash, rather than mostly one.

 

[WAO]

He heard somewhere.

Was the statement ever supported by a quote from a source?

Read #6 as suggested and ask the author. He is usually spot on.

WAO

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Regardless of whether the platform is removable, there is little incentive for the LCR to progress further extension. Headbolt was supposed to be enabling works for Skelmersdale. The government slammed the door shut on the Skem extension.

It's lucky Headbolt is useful as a test for battery train operation, else it would have been a complete waste of the city region's cash, rather than mostly one.

They have quoted a want to expand many times, and the 777s batteries are known to have more than enough battery to go to Wigan and back, so that's a possible route beyond.

 

[mcnw35282]

Not hanging about on the Wigan side at Kirkby station…last train only departed just before 8pm last night!

 

[D821]

How much will the new station increase the length of the Merseyrail side of the line by?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

How much will the new station increase the length of the Merseyrail side of the line by?

By drawing a line on google maps, about 1.32km (4317ft) based on the fact that in the CGI flythrough the freight train buffers are at the end of the Northern platform.

 

[D821]

By drawing a line on google maps, about 1.32km (4317ft) based on the fact that in the CGI flythrough the freight train buffers are at the end of the Northern platform.

Thanks