Ordsall Chord

[GRALISTAIR]

Further to the weathering steel discussion, the wiggly bits (or "cascades") were not yet looking rusty when placed:

https://twitter.com/networkrailnp

You could say that weathering steel is an attempt to make steel act like aluminium, which quickly acquires a coat of oxide when exposed to the air, and that coat then protects it from further corrosion.

Correct and chromium too incidentally

 

[PDG1949]

It doesn't quite seem right with a rusty look

Looks 100% better than the graffiti on the Sankey Viaduct..

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Looks 100% better than the graffiti on the Sankey Viaduct..

Amen to that

 

[Chrisyd]

The second side of the "swoosh" is in place (the side facing the Victoria and Albert Hotel):

by Chris Davis, on Flickr

by Chris Davis, on Flickr

by Chris Davis, on Flickr

 

[deltic08]

The second side of the "swoosh" is in place (the side facing the Victoria and Albert Hotel):

by Chris Davis, on Flickr

by Chris Davis, on Flickr

by Chris Davis, on Flickr

Not a very good fit? Good job it is cosmetic and not structural.

 

[Gathursty]

Looks 100% better than the graffiti on the Sankey Viaduct..

Last time I saw the Sankey Viaduct, I saw my surname in graffiti on the top of it... :roll:

 

[Chrisyd]

Found this article via SSC:

http://confidentials.com/manchester...hord-bridge-nears-completion?id=59938b1eba779

A team effort - Manchester's magnificent £85m Ordsall Chord

As the ribbon-like cascades are lifted into place, lead civil engineer Brian Duguid credits all those behind this fine example of modern British civil engineering

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

All new structures will be clear for at least W10 with OLE*, so no reason why not.

It will have to cope with 26m Hitachi 802s quite soon (and so will all the northern TPE routes).
Might present a few issues elsewhere, perhaps...

 

[Geeves]

The ends of the carriages have a pretty severe taper at their ends. You would hope TPE have done their homework though!

 

[Bletchleyite]

80x are designed to go where 23m stock can.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

80x are designed to go where 23m stock can.

It still needed extra clearance work on GW lines which take 23m HSTs.

 

[edwin_m]

It still needed extra clearance work on GW lines which take 23m HSTs.

Geometry says however much the ends are tapered, there is still a certain radius of curve at which a 26m coach will protrude outside the envelope of a 23m coach. As I believe the bogie centres and the maximum width are the same, this will appear on the outside rather than the inside of the curve.

There is also the question of stepping distance to doors at curved platforms - for a "convex" platform both the extra length and the taper will increase this.

 

[snowball]

Latest picture of the Irwell bridge and builders from user "flange" on SSC. The tennis raquet strings have now been tensioned and the first overhead line supports on the bridge are in place. Originally from BAM Nuttall Twitter.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=142196193&postcount=2775

 

[Unclepete]

Do we have an expected commissioning date for the cord as yet?

 

[lejog]

Do we have an expected commissioning date for the cord as yet?

An off-peak Calder Valley to Oxford Road service is due to start December this year, extended through to the Airport all day from May 18. I'm not sure if there will be any TPE services before May 2018.

 

[QueensCurve]

It still needed extra clearance work on GW lines which take 23m HSTs.

The platforms were rebuilt at Bath Spa. Is that part of the work?

 

[swt_passenger]

The platforms were rebuilt at Bath Spa. Is that part of the work?

Not necessarily. AIUI they needed to gain electrification clearances between OHLE and canopies, but decided to achieve it without altering the canopies - so by moving the track away. They also needed to extend the length of the platforms.

I don't think there have been significant numbers of places on GW where an SET wouldn't physically pass the platform edge. As has been said, they are basically supposed to go wherever HSTs can already go. Platform length increases for the longer trains are probably the majority of the work.

Did they change anything significantly to allow IEPs through curved platforms at places such as York and Newcastle?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Not necessarily. AIUI they needed to gain electrification clearances between OHLE and canopies, but decided to achieve it without altering the canopies - so by moving the track away. They also needed to extend the length of the platforms.

I don't think there have been significant numbers of places on GW where an SET wouldn't physically pass the platform edge. As has been said, they are basically supposed to go wherever HSTs can already go. Platform length increases for the longer trains are probably the majority of the work.

Did they change anything significantly to allow IEPs through curved platforms at places such as York and Newcastle?

Is the issue of Worcester-Hereford (through Malvern/Ledbury tunnels) resolved?

 

[swt_passenger]

Is the issue of Worcester-Hereford (through Malvern/Ledbury tunnels) resolved?

Can't comment - it's not something I've heard or read anything about.

 

[Whistler40145]

Are there any trains that won't be cleared for the Ordsall Chord?

 

[notlob.divad]

Are there any trains that won't be cleared for the Ordsall Chord?

Pacers?

(One can only hope)

 

[Geeves]

142s will be no doubt be cleared as a job lot with all the other DMUs that are currently cleared for the area. They are still going to be with us for a while yet. Infact the first Northern service could well be a 142!

I wouldn't imagine class 373s (Eurostar) or class 395s either.

 

[Whistler40145]

142s will be no doubt be cleared as a job lot with all the other DMUs. They are still going to be with us for a while yet. Infact the first Northern service could well be a 142!

I wouldn't imagine class 373s (Eurostar) class 395s either.

Any third rail emu? [emoji38]

I was wondering if for any reason that a Pendolino had to reverse at Manchester Victoria, would they be route cleared?

 

[Elecman]

I was wondering if for any reason that a Pendolino had to reverse at Manchester Victoria, would they be route cleared?

Why wouldn't they be?

 

[Elecman]

Are there any trains that won't be cleared for the Ordsall Chord?

9Fs presumably wouldn't be?

 

[Whistler40145]

I just wondered if they'd fit around the Curve.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I just wondered if they'd fit around the Curve.

I'd be surprised if they wouldn't fit: presumably TPE Hitachi sets will be cleared surely, as will 23+m stock such as 158s and 185s. Presumably no need to fit TASS balises for such a short and slow section so they'd just run with tilt deactivated.

Whether the likelihood of such a move is considered high enough to bother to do the paperwork is probably a bigger question.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

I'd be surprised if they wouldn't fit: presumably TPE Hitachi sets will be cleared surely, as will 23+m stock such as 158s and 185s. Presumably no need to fit TASS balises for such a short and slow section so they'd just run with tilt deactivated.

Whether the likelihood of such a move is considered high enough to bother to do the paperwork is probably a bigger question.

UK tilt is inhibited below 40mph anyway.

 

[edwin_m]

As has been said, they are basically supposed to go wherever HSTs can already go.

The tighter the radius the further the ends stick out on the outside of the curve, so beyond a certain radius they will stick out further than Mk3 ends despite having a greater chamfer. I have no idea what this radius is, although it could be worked out from the respective end widths, total widths and bogie centres. I believe the bogie centres on the 80x and the Mk3 are the same, so if the width is also the same there is no such issue on the inside of curves. Pembroke Dock is one place HSTs can go that 80x can't.

Not necessarily. AIUI they needed to gain electrification clearances between OHLE and canopies, but decided to achieve it without altering the canopies - so by moving the track away. They also needed to extend the length of the platforms.

I believe they have also eased the curvature of the platforms but I don't know if this was essential or just a good thing to do when they had to rebuild them anyway. The 80x will have a greater stepping distance than a Mk3 on a convex platform, because the coach ends are both narrower and further from the bogies.

 

[55z]

Dont understand as to why Bath station is getting mixed up with the Ordsall Curve discussion I didn't think they were close by !!!
Ordsall Curve, Salford wires are being engergised at the beginning of October as is the down slow between Roby and Huyton.