Rail improvements announcements from the Budget

[shinkansen1966]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10374475.stm

specifically: The upgrade of the Tyne and Wear Metro, extension of the Manchester Metrolink, redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station and improvements to the rail lines to Sheffield and between Liverpool and Leeds will go ahead.

What's the T & W upgrade ?

extension of the Manchester....is that the same extension which gets mentioned every year ?

improvements to the rail lines to Sheffield....details please !

between Liverpool and Leeds will go ahead....more details please !

 

[gordonthemoron]

Tyneside Metro has been farmed out to DB who are upgrading the trains, stations etc.

Metrolink is currently being extended in various directions

Sheffield may (or may not) mean the doubling of track at Dore

 

[WatcherZero]

I couldnt tell whether the 'Between Liverpool and Leeds' refers to electrification or the Northern Hub. If its the latter will be very pleased.

 

[PhilipW]

Liverpool - Leeds improvements currently proposed are:
-- Liverpool to Manchester electrification via Chat Moss
-- 4 tracking from Edgehill to Huyton Junction
-- 4 tracking through Stanedge tunnels (in Northern Hub document)
-- westbound through loop at Dewsbury

Improvements around Sheffield include
-- 2 tracking through Dore Junction (north to west side)
-- above will need restoration of 2nd pltaform at Dore
-- 2 freight passing loops in Hope Valley (one at Grindleford, I've forgotten where the other one was)

The general statement this afternoon was just that 'general' but it could mean all of the above. I am not aware of any other improvements proposed or planned on those lines.

We will wait the detail.

 

[Ploughman]

Is there space for a west bound loop at Dewsbury or will it entail major platform work?

 

[PhilipW]

I don't know Dewsbury but my understanding is that there used to be 4 lines through the station. So this plan would just re-instate one of them.

 

[142094]

Aye there is, although it may require the removal of a signal.

 

[Dewedin]

I don't know Dewsbury but my understanding is that there used to be 4 lines through the station. So this plan would just re-instate one of them.

Well right now the Eastbound loop encroaches far too close to the Westbound line to fit another in.

 

[swt_passenger]

Improvements to 'the rail lines TO Sheffield' could well be the already committed line speed improvements to the MML. That's how the Sheffield papers are covering it as far as I can see...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I couldnt tell whether the 'Between Liverpool and Leeds' refers to electrification or the Northern Hub. If its the latter will be very pleased.

The Northern Hub is a CP5 project, ie beyond 2014, so it's very unlikely to be that...

 

[WatcherZero]

CP5 budget settlement is presently being set, also remember HS2 wouldnt start until well into CP5. Half the electrification if approved wont be done until 2016 either. The budget is set for 5 year intervals, usually several years before the Control Period even starts.

 

[daccer]

I think the era of the mega project may be over. CP5 might have HS2 in it but I wouldn't hold my breath - i would actually prefer to see a raft of much smaller incremental improvements - some redoublings and small re-openings along with better rolling stock procurement policies to run in conjunction with the infrastructure improvements. we are in for a barren patch anyway on new rolling stock and there will be the need to buy stock for Crossrail and Thameslink at some stage so I think the rest of the country might be waiting awhile.

 

[shinkansen1966]

I think the era of the mega project may be over.

Agreed. In any case, smaller projects scattered across the country spread the benefits. For instance think of these gems from the past 10 years:

Chiltern upgrades - half hourly service in Birmingham, faster from 2011
Axminster redoubling - hourly service on the West of England line
Leeds station makeover and additional capacity

 

[gordonthemoron]

Leeds station makeover and additional capacity

Not again

 

[142094]

I don't really think it needs another makeover, but capacity is getting an issue. The east end of the station would be a b*****d to sort out.

 

[gordonthemoron]

wouldn't it be an idea to not have platform 8 occupied by a terminating EC train ? or is platform occupany not an issue

 

[sheff'd victoria]

Improvements around Sheffield include
-- 2 tracking through Dore Junction (north to west side)
-- above will need restoration of 2nd pltaform at Dore

This was going to happen anyway in 2014

Gutted our tram network is not getting its new lines

 

[NightatLaira]

wouldn't it be an idea to not have platform 8 occupied by a terminating EC train ? or is platform occupany not an issue

I have often thought of this... Seemed daft to me from the outset to use a 'through platform' as a terminator.

LOGICAL CHEAP SOLUTIONS TO ME WOULD SEEM:

1. Announce Leeds terminating services that use platform 8 as 'all change here' and then drive the train to a stabling point at Neville Hill for cleaning and restock before returning as a 'through arrival' on platform 8 on the next southbound departure.

2. Electrify Colton to Neville Hill and have terminating Leeds services 'continue on' to York and northbound destinations like Newcastle/Edinburgh/etc, in a Euston to Birmingham via Northampton manner where the ultimate destination is only displayed at stations further down the line... in this case Wakefield Westgate onwards the train would cease announcing Leeds as its ultimate destination and start announcing it as a mere calling point.

OR (more expensive)

3. Build a new long bay 'platform 0' on the northern edge of the station and get rid of a bit of carpark.


Think I'd rather go for option 1 or 2

 

[GingerSte]

I have often thought of this... Seemed daft to me from the outset to use a 'through platform' as a terminator.

LOGICAL CHEAP SOLUTIONS TO ME WOULD SEEM:

1. Announce Leeds terminating services that use platform 8 as 'all change here' and then drive the train to a stabling point at Neville Hill for cleaning and restock before returning as a 'through arrival' on platform 8 on the next southbound departure.

2. Electrify Colton to Neville Hill and have terminating Leeds services 'continue on' to York and northbound destinations like Newcastle/Edinburgh/etc, in a Euston to Birmingham via Northampton manner where the ultimate destination is only displayed at stations further down the line... in this case Wakefield Westgate onwards the train would cease announcing Leeds as its ultimate destination and start announcing it as a mere calling point.

OR (more expensive)

3. Build a new long bay 'platform 0' on the northern edge of the station and get rid of a bit of carpark.


Think I'd rather go for option 1 or 2

1. I think carrying the train onto Neville Hill would cause more problems than it solves. The viaduct between Leeds and NH is only two track and is expected to carry trains to Hull, York and the North / Scotland. It would also restrict the time for Rail Gormless Gourmet to unload and reload the trains.

2. This would also bring up the possibility of an EC Leeds to Edinburgh/Glasgow service.

3. I like this idea, but I would tweak it slightly. I would try and extend the existing platform 5 to make suitable for Mark 4's. I would then extend the line from Bradford Interchange so that it meets with the line from Skipton without impacting on the line from Wakefield (a few hundred metres of double track and an underbridge). This line could then terminate in platforms 3 and 4. After that I would put in an extra pair of lines from the same junction to Leeds station (I'm guessing 500-1000 metres of embankment) so that the Skipton/Harrogate services aren't impacted. Add two or three platforms to the North of the existing platform 1 and you've got a massive capacity improvement. One solution to the car parking issue might be to put in a multi-storey above these new platforms or possibly extend the existing one.

 

[Aictos]

I prefer option 3 as explained by GingerSte but also consider electrifying Leeds to York and that route that the East Coast diversions used a few months ago as well.

Have a proper designated waiting car park on the site of the old Royal Mail sorting office by Peterborough station using the site's own road access would help reduce the traffic issues which currently exist, problems like people parking on yellow lines waiting to pick up someone which makes it harder for buses to serve the station such as the X1 for example.
They could also build a multi story car park on the car park between the station and ASDA besides Bourges Boulevard which is sorely needed.