Headbolt Lane progress updates

[mcnw35282]

Progress Report 09/07/22

So, ahead of the 5 week closure of the line between Kirkby and Rainford, preparatory work seems to have started on the current bridge(s) over County Road. Some demolition work has begun on the middle pier supporting the current single track bridge deck(s)...I believe the middle pier is being removed completely and a new deck will span the entire gap with a view to "assisting with any future plans to widen County Road". Time will tell I guess.

The footpaths leading to the former underpass have now been fully filled in on the Southcroft Drive side of the site and new footpaths are being laid level with Headbolt Lane. I'm guessing they'll be doing the same on the station side of the site.

Foundations fully dug and concrete laid for ticket office platform. Still nothing on Northwood side platform.

 

[yorksrob]

Great project, but lunacy that the third rail isn't just being extended.

 

[mcnw35282]

I agree...but isn't there some kind of prohibition about 3rd rail electrification these days? Even so...you think they wouldn't be that bothered about a mile or so of additional rail...and they're beefing up the feeders for the new trains anyway!

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I agree...but isn't there some kind of prohibition about 3rd rail electrification these days? Even so...you think they wouldn't be that bothered about a mile or so of additional rail...and they're beefing up the feeders for the new trains anyway!

ORR dead against it but RSSB have a project to look at how it could be designed to and still be compliant with modern legislation. MerseyRail have ordered 7 units with batteries although for a mile seems a bit of over complication.

 

[507020]

ORR dead against it but RSSB have a project to look at how it could be designed to and still be compliant with modern legislation. MerseyRail have ordered 7 units with batteries although for a mile seems a bit of over complication.

It isn’t just about a mile. Headbolt Lane and the 7 Stadler ‘IPEMUs’ serves as a test bed for the potential of the battery technology for many extensions to the Merseyrail network, with Preston, Wigan, Warrington, Birchwood, Helsby, Runcorn East, Shotton, Wrexham and Crewe all destinations which could benefit with no or minimal work required, before you have to get into the more significant infrastructure intervention to provide the Burscough Curves, Skelmersdale, Gateacre or the North Mersey/Canada Dock branches as unelectrified routes well in excess of a mile.

 

[Mordac]

Those units are going to be a nightmare to diagram, and especially to manage at times of disruption. One of the best features of Merseyrail as it is is that the same units can go anywhere on the route. This is going to be lost.

 

[Basil Jet]

Those units are going to be a nightmare to diagram, and especially to manage at times of disruption. One of the best features of Merseyrail as it is is that the same units can go anywhere on the route. This is going to be lost.

Presumably if the test is a success, all units will be fitted with batteries.

 

[alf]

Presumably if the test is a success, all units will be fitted with batteries.

and add to the cost, complexity, unreliability, & weight of the new units all for the sake of saving two kilometres of third rail in a Merseyside network that already operates sixty times that length of third rail safely; And has safely for years.

 

[urbophile]

Presumably if the test is a success, all units will be fitted with batteries.

I understand that you can either have dual-voltage third rail/overhead units, or either of those with batteries. Not all three together, and the aim of Merseyrail was to take over City Line services which will need the former. Unless that ambition has been quietly dropped. Of course we are not exactly Red Wall territory hence will be last in the queue for any levelling up under whatever shambles of a Tory government emerges from the current confusion.

 

[snowball]

I would have thought it more likely that the number of units to which batteries will be fitted will depend on how many routes start to be operated that need batteries.

 

[Brian1947]

According to my family contacts in Skem the proposed link to the town has been cancelled. An irate MP Rosie Cooper confirmed this earlier today on BBC 1’s regional politics programme. It looks like the extension to Headbolt Lane will extend no further.

By its design you have to assume an extension to Skem was never really on the cards.

 

[snowball]

According to my family contacts in Skem the proposed link to the town has been cancelled. An irate MP Rosie Cooper confirmed this earlier today on BBC 1’s regional politics programme. It looks like the extension to Headbolt Lane will extend no further.

This has been under discussion for a few days here:

Skelmersdale station proposals & suggestions

Thanks @yorkie The government have rejected the new station today and Lancashire County Council will be looking at alternatives https://news.lancashire.gov.uk/news/new-direction-to-be-taken-for-skelmersdale-transport-plans New direction to be taken for Skelmersdale transport plans Lancashire...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Bletchleyite]

According to my family contacts in Skem the proposed link to the town has been cancelled. An irate MP Rosie Cooper confirmed this earlier today on BBC 1’s regional politics programme. It looks like the extension to Headbolt Lane will extend no further.

By its design you have to assume an extension to Skem was never really on the cards.

Wigan could be though.

 

[childwallblues]

Those units are going to be a nightmare to diagram, and especially to manage at times of disruption. One of the best features of Merseyrail as it is is that the same units can go anywhere on the route. This is going to be lost.

Almost certainly they will never work on the Wirral Lines but odd one are likely to appear on Southport and Ormskirk services.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

It isn’t just about a mile. Headbolt Lane and the 7 Stadler ‘IPEMUs’ serves as a test bed for the potential of the battery technology for many extensions to the Merseyrail network, with Preston, Wigan, Warrington, Birchwood, Helsby, Runcorn East, Shotton, Wrexham and Crewe all destinations which could benefit with no or minimal work required, before you have to get into the more significant infrastructure intervention to provide the Burscough Curves, Skelmersdale, Gateacre or the North Mersey/Canada Dock branches as unelectrified routes well in excess of a mile.

Modern traction battery technology is proven in several overseas administrations fleets already just need to get on and deploy it. Never get our obsession to need to reinvent the wheel in this country.

 

[507020]

Modern traction battery technology is proven in several overseas administrations fleets already just need to get on and deploy it. Never get our obsession to need to reinvent the wheel in this country.

The Stadler traction batteries aren’t a reinvention for this country, they’ve been imported from Switzerland. Since it’s a proven technology and we can expect to see a massive expansion of battery traction, especially around areas of existing electrification, given the need to decarbonise our railway and the rapidly approaching obsolescence of 1980s Diesel Sprinters which can be found on many lines surrounding Merseyrail. Procurement of additional battery 777s reduces the burden of Sprinter replacement in a few years, so it really is vital that it succeeds. Where better to start with than Headbolt Lane?

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

The Stadler traction batteries aren’t a reinvention for this country, they’ve been imported from Switzerland. Since it’s a proven technology and we can expect to see a massive expansion of battery traction, especially around areas of existing electrification, given the need to decarbonise our railway and the rapidly approaching obsolescence of 1980s Diesel Sprinters which can be found on many lines surrounding Merseyrail. Procurement of additional battery 777s reduces the burden of Sprinter replacement in a few years, so it really is vital that it succeeds. Where better to start with than Headbolt Lane?

Im all for it my point was it doesn't need to be trialled its proven just need to get on with fleet deployment.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Im all for it my point was it doesn't need to be trialled its proven just need to get on with fleet deployment.

It needs trialling in this setting - e.g. is the battery life good enough, is the charging regime adequate etc. Not trialling in that way is asking for stranded units.

 

[D821]

The Echo are reporting road closures for the next 5 weeks:

Knowsley Council is reminding motorists that County Road in Kirkby will be closed from tomorrow, July 23, up until August 30 to enable Network Rail to carry out the works, but access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained at all times.

The road will be closed between the junction with St Kevins Drive and the junction of Boyes Brow/Headbolt Lane to replace the existing bridge over County Road. This will enable Network Rail to install an additional railway track approaching the new station.

From:

Major road set to close for five weeks

Access will be maintained for pedestrians and cyclists

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[najaB]

Im all for it my point was it doesn't need to be trialled its proven just need to get on with fleet deployment.

It needs trialling in as much as getting UK TOCs used to dealing with them, and testing the infrastructure.

 

[mcnw35282]

I see the NIMBYs are off on one.

"I'm gonna buy this house backing directly onto a active railway, then complain when there's work done on said railway!"

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see the NIMBYs are off on one.

"I'm gonna buy this house backing directly onto a active railway, then complain when there's work done on said railway!"

Perhaps if a solicitor worth his salt acting on behalf of his clients in the standard matter of land searches had revealed the facts to the clients, then any normal purchaser would have not proceeded with the house purchase.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

It needs trialling in as much as getting UK TOCs used to dealing with them, and testing the infrastructure.

If you mean training and familiarisation of course. What i mean though is the need to spend years evaluating it like it was a prototype thats been done by plenty of railway administrations around the world already.

 

[LPJOHN]

I was out for a walk this afternoon and I noticed the bridge that spanned “County Road“ has been removed. The bridge was still in place yesterday morning.

The picture was taken from the original “County Road”.

 

[Efini92]

When headbolt lane opens will then northern services terminate there instead of Kirkby?

 

[Bletchleyite]

When headbolt lane opens will then northern services terminate there instead of Kirkby?

Yes.

 

[Efini92]

Yes.

Thanks. I thought it was just an additional station.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thanks. I thought it was just an additional station.

It is effectively moving Merseyrail along a mile or so.

 

[Efini92]

It is effectively moving Merseyrail along a mile or so.

They should let them run all the way to Wigan

 

[Bletchleyite]

They should let them run all the way to Wigan

I very much hope, now Skem is off the agenda, that they do exactly that using some of the battery units. Won't be straight away, but the batteries make it easier to do it in the future.