Manchester - Liverpool Electrification

[AE]

I noticed plenty mast bases in situ between Bryn and Garswood last weekend.

 

[76020]

This is on the Network Rail website posted 9th Aug 2013

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...chester-Stalybridge-electrification-1e3f.aspx

 

[Eagle]

This work marks the start of work to electrify the key Transpennine route from Manchester through Huddersfield to Leeds.

Not strictly speaking true; Manchester to Stalybridge electrification was actually originally announced as part of the North West electrification.

 

[YorkshireBear]

No Longer Relevant.

 

[Eagle]

Sorry, quoted the wrong bit. Fixed now.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Sorry, quoted the wrong bit. Fixed now.

It still is part of the North West..... Yeah definitely wrong! They are probably just using spin to say this is the first part of the route. Because it is technically the first part...

 

[snowball]

It's definitely not between Manchester and Liverpool, though, so from a thread point of view it would perhaps be better in a TP electrification thread (do we have one?) than this thread.

 

[76020]

It's definitely not between Manchester and Liverpool, though, so from a thread point of view it would perhaps be better in a TP electrification thread (do we have one?) than this thread.



Well it could be but according to Network Rail is it Phase 5 of the The North West electrification programme.



1.The North West electrification programme is being delivered in five phases between December 2013 and December 2016 which will see 352 track km electrified at a cost of £400 million:
•Phase 1: Between Castlefield Junction and Newton Le Willows by December 2013
•Phase 2a: Between Liverpool and Newton Le Willows
•Phase 2b: Between Huyton and Wigan
•Phase 2c: Between Ordsall Lane and Manchester Victoria, all by December 2014
•Phase 3: Preston to Blackpool, by May 2016
•Phase 4: Manchester Victoria to Preston (Euxton Junction), by December 2016
•Phase 5: Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge, Guide Bridge to Stalybridge, December 2016

Perhaps you could call it "Transpennine" east of Stalybridge

 

[YorkshireBear]

Yeah the official projects within network rail have Transpennine as East of Stalybridge and West of Stalybridge all been NW electrification, even the bit to guide bridge. So it is just spin i reckon.

 

[Viscount702]

It is part of Transpennine and is called Transpennine West. It has however been tagged onto Northwest as phase 5 for delivery. This is all in one of the NR documents but I can't remeber which but it could have been CP4 update.

 

[WatcherZero]

Electrification was originally to Victoria, Victoria to Stalybridge is part of TPE electrification but put into the Lancashire electrification delivery program for obvious reasons.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Importantly, the TP project proper east of Stalybridge is out to tender by LNE Route (at least I have not heard that a contract has been awarded), whereas the NW scheme has Balfour Beatty as prime contractor to LNW Route.
A different contractor might mean different construction methods and plant.
Network Rail has some big decisions to make over the number of teams working simultaneously on different electrification projects.
Route clearance works in advance of electrification are a bit different, using a different set of less-specialised contractors.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Importantly, the TP project proper east of Stalybridge is out to tender by LNE Route (at least I have not heard that a contract has been awarded), whereas the NW scheme has Balfour Beatty as prime contractor to LNW Route.
A different contractor might mean different construction methods and plant.
Network Rail has some big decisions to make over the number of teams working simultaneously on different electrification projects.
Route clearance works in advance of electrification are a bit different, using a different set of less-specialised contractors.

That is more what i meant... LNE East of Stalybridge LNW West of it.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Since Monday 5th, wiring appears to have been completed around Ordsall Lane, at least on the Down.
No change on the other two gaps further west.

 

[DJH1971]

Since Monday 5th, wiring appears to have been completed around Ordsall Lane, at least on the Down.
No change on the other two gaps further west.

At least it's a bit more progress.

 

[ainsworth74]

I've moved a few posts that were referring to the Windermere wiring to this thread. If we could try and stay on topic here that would be appreciated

 

[GRALISTAIR]

It's definitely not between Manchester and Liverpool, though, so from a thread point of view it would perhaps be better in a TP electrification thread (do we have one?) than this thread.

I started one. I will post the link. Thanks to Ainsworth74 for cleaning up the thread

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=88054

 

[DJH1971]

I started one. I will post the link. Thanks to Ainsworth74 for cleaning up the thread

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=88054

Well, it certainly proves that after a long period in the wilderness that electrification is truly back on the agenda.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

About a dozen OHLE masts, complete with cantilever arms, have gone up on the Down line just south of Prescot on the Huyton-Wigan branch.
Foundation work continues with bases now on both sides of the Pilkington embankment.

On the Chat Moss route the short wiring gap at Parkside has now been fully wired, so old and new wires are properly linked at the western end.
However the longer gap at Ordsall Lane, which I noted was wired on the Down line on Saturday, is still incomplete on the Up.
No change on the big gap at Glazebury, which extends for over a mile.

 

[DJH1971]

About a dozen OHLE masts, complete with cantilever arms, have gone up on the Down line just south of Prescot on the Huyton-Wigan branch.
Foundation work continues with bases now on both sides of the Pilkington embankment.

On the Chat Moss route the short wiring gap at Parkside has now been fully wired, so old and new wires are properly linked at the western end.
However the longer gap at Ordsall Lane, which I noted was wired on the Down line on Saturday, is still incomplete on the Up.
No change on the big gap at Glazebury, which extends for over a mile.

Nice to hear about that at Prescot.

They need to get a wiggle on at Glazebury though.

 

[DavidL]

About a dozen OHLE masts, complete with cantilever arms, have gone up on the Down line just south of Prescot on the Huyton-Wigan branch.

Excellent spot - did not see them this morning with the poor weather and steamed up windows. Noticed the first (that I've seen!) of several platform-located mast bases appeared at Prescot, Eccleston Park and Thatto Heath over the last week too.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Excellent spot - did not see them this morning with the poor weather and steamed up windows. Noticed the first (that I've seen!) of several platform-located mast bases appeared at Prescot, Eccleston Park and Thatto Heath over the last week too.

There were several more masts lying under the road bridge at Prescot, and another load on the construction train at Edge Hill, so it looks like they are getting busy on this stretch.

At Huyton and Roby I had time to notice the letters "OHL" painted in yellow on the Down platform face, with an arrow and a yellow "X" on the platform.
No doubt this is where the platform masts will go.
It then became clear that the yellow sticks in the cess at intervals on this stretch actually mark the intended position of masts.
I really must get a life...

 

[DJH1971]

Excellent spot - did not see them this morning with the poor weather and steamed up windows. Noticed the first (that I've seen!) of several platform-located mast bases appeared at Prescot, Eccleston Park and Thatto Heath over the last week too.

Sounds like work on the Huyton to Wigan stretch has really gone into overdrive.

Any more news of mast bases between Bryn to Springs Branch Junction?

 

[DavidL]

A bit more mast / gantry progress at Prescot. A few have appeared on the St Helens side of the station, by Warrington Rd (I think!) bridge, but only alongside the St Helens direction. They do look amusing with the arms swung over away from the running line.
Significantly, the site of the old signal box is now full of mast sections so it looks like they have shipped in a load from Edge Hill and it really looks to be cracking on. No evidence of a work team so guess it all takes place in the wee hours.

Sorry, no info from me on Bryn onwards; it'll probably be a month or so before I travel that way.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Any more news of mast bases between Bryn to Springs Branch Junction?

No, nothing obvious.
They seem to be filling the gaps further west at the moment.
I'd say overall the foundations are about 50% done, maybe a bit more.
The first half-mile east of Huyton Jn is blank too (before the Whiston Lane bridge).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Any more news of mast bases between Bryn to Springs Branch Junction?

On an associated railway infrastructural matter, what is the current postion with the bridge work in the Bryn area ?

 

[DJH1971]

On an associated railway infrastructural matter, what is the current postion with the bridge work in the Bryn area ?

From what I last heard, the road the bridge crosses is set to reopen early next month.

Trains are still running normally.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Went into Manchester today and coming back, it appears the mast majority of catenary is now in place, with the small number of gaps now getting shorter and the Castlefield Viaduct is now also fully wired up.

 

[Bevan Price]

Sorry, no info from me on Bryn onwards; it'll probably be a month or so before I travel that way.

Some mast bases were in place on the Wigan-bound track for about ½ mile beyond Bryn last week. Was sat on the wrong side of the train to see any masts on the other track..

 

[DavidL]

Thanks for the info near Bryn, Bevan.

Mast numbers are gradually increasing - there has been a spurt between Eccleston Park and Thatto Heath. Most of those stored at Prescot signal box site have now gone. I suspect if you want any photos of Ravenhead/St Helens without masts, now would be the time to do it

 

[DJH1971]

Thanks for the info near Bryn, Bevan.

Mast numbers are gradually increasing - there has been a spurt between Eccleston Park and Thatto Heath. Most of those stored at Prescot signal box site have now gone. I suspect if you want any photos of Ravenhead/St Helens without masts, now would be the time to do it

I take it they're getting even closer to St Helens Central station then.

It's going to change the landscape a bit near where the line is near the shoppers car parks.