Selby swing bridge works

[snowball]

A press release has appeared on the NR site. I assume this is the works that were postponed last year because of the Stainforth colliery slip.

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/News-Releases/Swing-bridge-works-underway-in-Selby-1fed.aspx

The most significant refurbishment of the rail swing bridge since it was built in 1889 is getting underway in Selby.

Engineers will refurbish the structure itself and the hydraulics on the swing span during the project.

Phil Verster, Route Managing Director for Network Rail, said: “Selby swing bridge has given many years of excellent service but the structure and the hydraulics are due significant refurbishment.

“We’re investing £8m on steelwork repairs, work to the hydraulics on the swing span, waybeam replacements and wholesale grit blasting and painting of the entire structure. Once the work is completed the structure should be maintenance free for 25 years and we will be able to run trains at line speed, removing a speed restriction.

“I thank passengers for their patience while we complete these essential works.”

Enabling works have already begun and the project will be completed by the end of November. Train services will be affected from 2300 Saturday 26 July to the start of service on Monday 8 September. During that time:

First TransPennine Express:

- Trains will not run between Selby and Hull

- On Sundays buses will replace all FTPE services between Leeds and Hull

Northern Rail:

- Trains will operate between York - Selby

- Buses will operate between Selby – Hull with a combination of stopper and express services on offer to customers

First Hull Trains:

- Trains between Hull and London King’s Cross will divert via Goole. Buses will operate from Howden and Selby and will connect to/from services at Goole

In addition to the above, no trains will call at Selby station from 2300 Saturday 6 September to 0525 Monday 8 September 2014 to allow the signalling system to be commissioned.

 

[34D]

This is the work that was planned for last summer and deferred due to the slag heap

 

[PhilipW]

I hope it is all OHLE compatible.

 

[34D]

I hope it is all OHLE compatible.

This sounds a challenge for a structure like this..... though we must bear in mind that electrification Selby-Hull isn't on any political agenda at present....

 

[IanXC]

This sounds a challenge for a structure like this..... though we must bear in mind that electrification Selby-Hull isn't on any political agenda at present....

Selby Swing bridge was prepared for electrification during the main ECML project, the Selby diversion meant thhe wires didn't go up.

 

[snowball]

though we must bear in mind that electrification Selby-Hull isn't on any political agenda at present....

It's one of the eight lines in the north that were listed in December's press release as to be studied to decide what will be electrified next.


--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Selby Swing bridge was prepared for electrification during the main ECML project

Do you know what this preparation involved?

the Selby diversion meant thhe wires didn't go up.

To be pedantic it surely won't be wires on the bridge itself and immediate approaches but a rigid overhead conductor bar as at Trowse. Or rather two of them.

 

[edwin_m]

I believe the conductor bars overlap to avoid having a gap. At Trowse there is only one track, but at Selby one part of the conductor bar for one track must pass by part of the conductor bar for the other track as the bridge swings. I'm not sure if that can be done by staggering the joins or having them at different heights, or whether there needs to be some extra mechanism to move part of the conductor bar out of the way before swinging the bridge.

 

[GB]

Trowse lifts up slightly before it swings IIRC..at least that is what someone told me yonks ago, no reason Selby couldn't do something similar to gain ole clearance.

 

[snowball]

Yes, I think Trowse does lift up, so that the weight of the bridge isn't carried on its rotational bearings when it's open to trains, and so that the weight of trains is never carried on those bearings. Incidentally I think the 10-year-old road swing bridge on the A63 Selby bypass does the same.

I imagine it would be extremely expensive to modify the Selby rail swing bridge to do the same. But I don't think it's necessary to do that in order to achieve double track electrification. You just have to have the conductor bar on one track higher than the other. There's surely plenty of room for that within the usual range of permissible heights for overhead wire.

Edit: or you may be able to do it by staggering them longitudinally, as edwin m also says.

 

[westv]

Seeing as HTservices will be going via Goole does that mean the journey time Hull-Doncaster will reduce?

 

[Ploughman]

What are the odds of Goole bridge being out of action at some point?

 

[IanXC]

Do you know what this preparation involved?

I understand it to have been ensuring there was sufficient clearance between the railhead and the structure above.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Seeing as HTservices will be going via Goole does that mean the journey time Hull-Doncaster will reduce?

Booked times have always remained the same in the past. Its a little more direct, but the line speeds are lower - nothing much in it one route to the other.

 

[westv]

Ok.
Curious to know what the max lines speeds are for Selby to Hull compared to Doncastet to Hull via Goole.