Manchester - Liverpool Electrification

[Class 170101]

http://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/p75955891/h21d7fcb2#h33ab4823

They will have fun stringing wires up for that crossover.

 

[snowball]

I don't know whether this was already known, but Tony Miles in Modern Railways (July, page 20) reports that the local council is not objecting to the land take for the fourth track at Huyton and there will be no public inquiry.

Nevertheless it gives winter 2017 as the completion date. I always hate it when they say that - it could mean the first quarter of the year or the last. In my experience they usually mean the last.

But the new version of the CP5 Enhancements Delivery Plan says Feb 2016!

Can't remember what the last one said - the new one has overwritten it.

 

[The Planner]

Feb 16 is correct.

 

[DJH1971]

But the new version of the CP5 Enhancements Delivery Plan says Feb 2016!

Can't remember what the last one said - the new one has overwritten it.

Do you have a direct link of any kind to the latest CP5 Enhancements Delivery Plan?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Do you have a direct link of any kind to the latest CP5 Enhancements Delivery Plan?

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/delivery-plans/control-period-5/cp5-delivery-plan/

 

[DJH1971]

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/delivery-plans/control-period-5/cp5-delivery-plan/

Cheers

 

[LDECRexile]

I did a Lime St-Wigan NW-Huyton-Earlestown-Lime St tour to day and found the following: (new [to me] or changed data in italics.)

Notes: Electrification
There are now 1005 masts up, 206 bases in place and <10 scrapes
Edge Hill to Wavertree only new mbs shown, older masts also exist
Bryn to Wigan NW only new mbs shown, older masts also exist
Ince Moss branch bases visible, but no masts yet
mbs in stations not shown, eg Prescot has two large "arch" masts
The rock 'canyon' N of Eccleston Pk will have side fixings, not mbs
Bases east of Sankey viaduct, both sides of tracks
Bases extend from Earlestown Sth Jct through Platform 3
Lineside equipment installed (signalling?) Edge Hill-Broad Green
Extensive work on northbound platform at Bryn
Lineside equipment installed (signalling?) Bryn-Wigan
Lineside equipment installed (signalling?) Huyton-Whiston
Substantial electrical gear in place at Tuebrook Sidings
Substantial electrical gear in place at Huyton Quarry
Substantial electrical gear in place South of Wigan
Substantial lengths of "Return Wire" hanging nr Garswood and Bryn
Substantial lengths of "Power Wires" hanging nr Garswood and Bryn
Length of wires hanging in Olive Mount cutting, Liverpool
Length of "Return Wire" hanging between Eccleston Pk & Prescot
New signals lying near WTechPk, Collins Green, Whiston & Rainhill
Greaser at Earlestown definitely on back of flange against checkrail
Trackwork and signalling at Earlestown appears complete

Notes: Re-quadrupling Roby Jct-to-be to Huyton Jct
Third line in position from near Roby Jct-to-be to near Huyton Jct
Third line has a major kink round Huton to-be-demolished 'box
Third line includes a temp footbridge with approx 2ft clearance
Extensive platform edging changes at Roby and Huyton
3rd & 4th platform edges largely in place at both Roby & Huyton
Platform 4 lift shaft at Roby, tower up, "ready to instal lift"
Platform 2/3 lift shaft at Roby, tower up, shuttering removed inside
Platform 1 lift shaft at Roby, base installed, lining to be done
Construction staff at Roby confident of progress and prospects
Lift shaft progress at Huyton, all 3 towers up, largely faced with brick
Lift mechanisms being installed at Huyton
Public subway at Huyton open to the public, but steps incomplete
Eastbound platform at Huyton from south involves 150 yd detour
Eastbound platform at Huyton from south now step-free
New building erected immediately west of Roby Stn bridge
Orange Army working en masse at Huyton Station
Awning roof at Roby removed, reason unknown
New signal erected East of Roby between tracks 2 and 3
High speed points assembled in readiness nr Roby Jct-to-be
One base in place between tracks 2 and 3 West of Roby
New signal lying between tracks 2 and 3 just West of Huyton
Lots of pointwork lying on third track just West of Huyton

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The next 10 days should be interesting.
Orange armies at the ready...

 

[hidden]

Hope this is of some help, I live behind the line near to Bryn station and received a letter along the lines of the below from Network Rail.

**

Dear Neighbour

NWE Phase 2: Steel Installation

"Important Works... Efficent Railway... 21st Century... Garswood - Ince Moss ETC ETC"

13th July - 25th July 2014
Sunday - Thursday (23:00 - 05:00)
Saturday - Sunday (23:00 - 06:30)

Equipment in use will include lighting, on track machinery, mobile elevated working platforms (MEWPS) which can cover approximately 5 structural locations per 6 hour shift. We will also have a ground team accompanying staff and on track plant to complete the steel installation process.

ETC ETC
**

If anyone would like a picture of the letter they are welcome to PM. I know some members are following this progress with interest so I hope this gives some future insight and is of interest to some of you or helpful at least.

Cheers!

 

[DJH1971]

Hope this is of some help, I live behind the line near to Bryn station and received a letter along the lines of the below from Network Rail.

**

Dear Neighbour

NWE Phase 2: Steel Installation

"Important Works... Efficent Railway... 21st Century... Garswood - Ince Moss ETC ETC"

13th July - 25th July 2014
Sunday - Thursday (23:00 - 05:00)
Saturday - Sunday (23:00 - 06:30)

Equipment in use will include lighting, on track machinery, mobile elevated working platforms (MEWPS) which can cover approximately 5 structural locations per 6 hour shift. We will also have a ground team accompanying staff and on track plant to complete the steel installation process.

ETC ETC
**

If anyone would like a picture of the letter they are welcome to PM. I know some members are following this progress with interest so I hope this gives some future insight and is of interest to some of you or helpful at least.

Cheers!

It's cranking up a gear!

 

[AntoniC]

The next 10 days should be interesting.
Orange armies at the ready...

Is that the Dutch football fans who are currently in Brazil supporting their team?

 

[DJH1971]

So, I wonder what went on during day 1 of the blockade?

 

[LDECRexile]

So, I wonder what went on during day 1 of the blockade?

This site gives a good idea.

http://nw-sparks.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[DJH1971]

This site gives a good idea.

http://nw-sparks.blogspot.co.uk/

I already look on this site every day countlessly.

 

[nw-sparks]

This site gives a good idea.

http://nw-sparks.blogspot.co.uk/

I aim to please!

No Sunday update, I'm afraid. Someone has to keep the wheels of industry turning, and it's my turn today.

I would guess the rest of the box has gone by now.

 

[Geeves]

Plenty more steel work going up at Victoria again while the west end is closed. Also Deal Street Junction just beyond Salford Central now has its droppers. Woop!

 

[DJH1971]

Plenty more steel work going up at Victoria again while the west end is closed. Also Deal Street Junction just beyond Salford Central now has its droppers. Woop!

Cracking to hear!

Wiring must surely now be immiment.

 

[LDECRexile]

Today I made a car tour to Roby, Huyton, Whiston, Rainhill, Lea Green and St Helens Central stations, plus linesides and overbridges near Whiston, Collins Green and Earlestown.

My synopses are: "hive of activity" and "orange everywhere."

Detailed obseervations below, new things to my reports in italics.

Mast= upright steelwork. An arch counts as two
Base= concrete ground structure on which a mast will be placed
Scrape= preliminary groundwork where a base will be built
mbs= collective term for masts, bases and scrapes

Notes: Electrification
There are now 1005 masts up, 206 bases in place and <10 scrapes (see note 1, below)
Edge Hill to Wavertree only new mbs shown, older masts also exist
Bryn to Wigan NW only new mbs shown, older masts also exist
Ince Moss branch bases visible, but no masts yet
mbs in stations not shown, eg Prescot has two large "arch" masts
The rock 'canyon' N of Eccleston Pk will have side fixings, not mbs
Bases east of Sankey viaduct, both sides of tracks
Bases extend from Earlestown Sth Jct to mid-platform 3
Lineside equipment installed (signalling?) Edge Hill-Broad Green
Extensive work on northbound platform at Bryn
Lineside equipment installed (signalling?) Bryn-Wigan
Lineside equipment installed (signalling?) Huyton-Whiston
Substantial electrical gear in place at Tuebrook Sidings
Substantial electrical gear in place at Huyton Quarry
Substantial electrical gear in place at Sth of Wigan
Substantial lengths of "Return Wire" hanging nr Garswood and Bryn
Substantial lengths of "Power Wires" hanging nr Garswood and Bryn
Length of wires hanging in Olive Mount cutting, Liverpool
Length of "Return Wire" hanging between Eccleston Pk & Prescot
New signals lying near WTechPk, Collins Green, Whiston & Rainhill
Greaser at Earlestown definitely on back of flange against checkrail
Trackwork and signalling at Earlestown appears complete

Notes: Re-quadrupling Roby Jct-to-be to Huyton Jct
Third line in position from near Roby Jct-to-be to near Huyton Jct
Points splitting 3rd line east of Huyton in place
Third line has a major kink round Huyton partly-demolished 'box
Third line temp footbridge in Huyton Stn removed
Extensive platform edging changes at Roby and Huyton* see note 2
3rd & 4th platform edges largely in place at both Roby & Huyton
Platform 4 lift shaft at Roby, tower up, "ready to instal lift"
Platform 2/3 lift shaft at Roby, tower up, shuttering removed inside
Platform 1 lift shaft at Roby, base installed, lining to be done
Huyton plat 4 electonic display, nameboard and noticeboard erected
Construction staff at Huyton confident of progress and prospects
Lift shaft progress at Huyton, all 3 towers up, largely faced with brick
Lift mechanisms being installed at Huyton
Public subway at Huyton open to the public, but steps incomplete
Eastbound platform at Huyton from south involves 150 yd detour
Eastbound platform at Huyton from south now step-free
Public subway under new tracks much better lit than under old
New building erected west of Roby Stn bridge now heavily fenced
Orange Army working en masse at Huyton & Roby Stations
Orange Army working en masse on signalling at many places
Awning roof at Roby removed, reason unknown
New signal erected East of Roby between tracks 2 and 3
High speed points assembled in readiness nr Roby Jct-to-be
One base in place between tracks 2 and 3 West of Roby
New signal lying between tracks 2 and 3 just West of Huyton

Blockade Passenger Trains, Wigan Branch
Wigan-Liverpool trains terminate and return at St Helens Central
Northbound trains traverse the trailing crossover signalled by Dolly
Facing points on the crossover are manually locked and unlocked each train
Bustitution St Helens Central-Lime St

Blockade Passenger Trains, Chat Moss Main Line
Manchester-Wigan-Scotland and Manchester-N Wales normal
Manch-Lime St trains terminate and return at St Helens Junction
Trains run single-line to and from Earlestown, with Pilotman
Bustitution St Helens Junction-Lime St

Note 1. Actually now at least 1006 masts up, as the one at the western end of the Chat Moss bridge over the M57 is now visible!

Note 2. The platform edging now going in place solves a mystery. For some time I have been puzzled by the fact that the altered platform edges at both Boby and Huyton were worse for passengers than before, in that a) whilst they were a couple of bricks higher they still weren't at carriage height and b) the edges were further from the trains, not nearer, leaving a Size 11 gap which someone would put a leg or bag or body down sooner or later. I had been told by a guard that the track would be relaid to fit, which I took on trust. The edging now appears to be being completed by adding a row of substantial edging stones on top of and protruding from the edges which have been established since the New Year. The upper surface will therefore be much closer to if not at the carriage height and the outer edge will greatly close the gap between platform edge and train. I look forward to testing it with a grandchild's pushchair!

 

[PDG1949]

T
Note 2. The platform edging now going in place solves a mystery. For some time I have been puzzled by the fact that the altered platform edges at both Boby and Huyton were worse for passengers than before, in that a) whilst they were a couple of bricks higher they still weren't at carriage height and b) the edges were further from the trains, not nearer, leaving a Size 11 gap which someone would put a leg or bag or body down sooner or later. I had been told by a guard that the track would be relaid to fit, which I took on trust. The edging now appears to be being completed by adding a row of substantial edging stones on top of and protruding from the edges which have been established since the New Year. The upper surface will therefore be much closer to if not at the carriage height and the outer edge will greatly close the gap between platform edge and train. I look forward to testing it with a grandchild's pushchair! [/I]

Maybe the firm responsible ought to put in bids to SNCF - NOW !!

 

[swt_passenger]

The edging now appears to be being completed by adding a row of substantial edging stones on top of and protruding from the edges which have been established since the New Year. The upper surface will therefore be much closer to if not at the carriage height and the outer edge will greatly close the gap between platform edge and train...

That seems a standard sequence for recent platform edges done with block work. I've a number of photos of exactly the same stages with the new platforms at Reading. The wall goes up 'vertical', and then they use this to retain the backfill while they do all the service trenches and stuff. Then they add what are known as 'oversail blocks' and finally the coping slabs. Some areas at Reading went through a phase of a few weeks with the oversail blocks in place, but without the coping slabs, and a temporary fence in position - I assume the copers are the final thing that affects gauge clearance so usually get fitted at the last possible opportunity, especially if alongside an operational track. A standard design always using the same components achieves the required safety space under the platform - (IIRC theoretically there is room for someone to avoid passing bogies if they roll out the way and press themselves up against the wall).

 

[76020]

Seeing that Preston-Blackpool will now not go live until Spring 2017, will phase 4 be done now before phase 3?, if so they have got a nice long closure coming up where lots can be done.

 

[Dunc108]

Plenty more steel work going up at Victoria again while the west end is closed. Also Deal Street Junction just beyond Salford Central now has its droppers. Woop!

I've noticed from a pic someone put on Skyscraper City Forum that the old Exchange station footbridge is now history - possibly the final remnant of Exchange to be demolished..

 

[snowball]

Seeing that Preston-Blackpool will now not go live until Spring 2017, will phase 4 be done now before phase 3?, if so they have got a nice long closure coming up where lots can be done.

I imagine there was always going to be a good deal of overlap in time between the work on the different phases. Phases 4 and 5 are still due to be finished in Dec 2016 and Phase 3 is now expected in Feb 2017, according to the June 30 update of the Enhancements Delivery Plan. (5 is Vic-Stalybridge.)


Edit: Some mast bases have appeared on phase 4!! See the Blackpool-Manchester thread.

 

[Wavertreelad]

With Huyton blockade in full swing, can anybody explain why the replacement bus and coach service is not using Wavertree Boulevard to set down passengers for Wavertree Tech Station in the Liverpool direction and the wider stretch of Rathbone Road for to pick up eastbound passengers? Instead they continue to stop on the narrowest part of Rathbone Road and on a busy junction which in the past has suffered several fatal crashes. Apart from blocking Rathbone Road passengers are having to cross an already busy road to gain access to the coach. It's an accident waiting to happen, so come on Network Rail get this sorted.

 

[The Planner]

Nothing to do with NR, bus replacement is TOC territory, we just fork out for the compensation.

 

[hidden]

Some seriously heavy machinery flying down from Bryn tonight behind my house, unable to catch a glance but it sounds long and heavy!

 

[DJH1971]

Some seriously heavy machinery flying down from Bryn tonight behind my house, unable to catch a glance but it sounds long and heavy!

And a good sign that more work on OHL is taking place!

 

[Wavertreelad]

Nothing to do with NR, bus replacement is TOC territory, we just fork out for the compensation.

In that case, Merseytravel and Northern need to sort the problem, and NR needs to dust of the insurance policies just in case. Prevention being far better and cheaper than cure.

 

[The Planner]

I don't understand why NR need to do anything here, we don't decide on where replacement buses go and where they stop. The compensation we pay is for blocking the railway, how the TOC deals with that is up to them.

 

[Wavertreelad]

I don't understand why NR need to do anything here, we don't decide on where replacement buses go and where they stop. The compensation we pay is for blocking the railway, how the TOC deals with that is up to them.

Without wishing to fall out over this, the fact that the blockage is in place is in this case the route source of the problem. It's all very well for NR to repudiate liability because they don't organise the replacement bus service, but NR could also have a duty of care responsibility for the safety of passengers using the railway at all times and in this case other road users.