Third platform at Salford Crescent: project updates

[Skyblue67]

Story in the Manchester Evening News

Network Rail has submitted plans to build a third platform at Salford Crescent train station.

The proposed new platform is aimed at increasing the station's capacity, reducing crowding on existing platforms, and reducing instances of multiple trains arriving at the same time and having to wait.

 

[snowball]

Salford planning application ref PA/2024/0770

Public Register

Link is to Salford planning portal

 

[Johnny Lewis]

When I worked for Railtrack in Manchester in 1998, we were talking about this then, as the station, with its narrow island platform, already struggled to cope with the number of passengers using it. So only 26 years to finally get a business case approved!

 

[scrapy]

Given the currently layout, the new platform will be closest to platform 1 (generally used towards Manchester) and platform 2 furthest away (generally towards Bolton/Atherton) will the new platform be platform 0? As numbering it as platform 3 would be out of sequence.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Given the currently layout, the new platform will be closest to platform 1 (generally used towards Manchester) and platform 2 furthest away (generally towards Bolton/Atherton) will the new platform be platform 0? As numbering it as platform 3 would be out of sequence.

That will depend on planners' views on the likelihood of Salford Crescent ever becoming a 4-platform station. As such anything is possible!

 

[Meerkat]

How is it going to be used - only in one direction or a sort of peak flow concept?

 

[snowball]

That will depend on planners' views on the likelihood of Salford Crescent ever becoming a 4-platform station. As such anything is possible!

Many years ago Joseph_Locke posted a plan of a possible fourth platform, on the west side of the station.

 

[Geeves]

How is it going to be used - only in one direction or a sort of peak flow concept?

Platform 1 already gets used quite often for northerly moves which of course means southern direction trains have to wait outside the station (if they are to stop there). You can imagine once trains are able to stop at the new platform over taking moves will be able to happen in both directions closely on 1. Maybe they will alter the layout so that all platforms become bi directional.

 

[Topological]

It is off topic (a little) but at some point a decision will need to be taken on what happens to the Atherton line. If that is going to tram-train then the set up at Salford Crescent gets simplified greatly.

The new platform will still be useful, but the need for a fourth platform will be reduced if the Atherton line is converted.

 

[Geeves]

I would say it's another decade (maybe more) away at least before the tram trains, the route to the Crescent needs to be built first to get the tram trains there, then you are going to need to build and test said tram train. They will need to look at signals on the Atherton line itself as there's some very long sections.

Presumably as well you would also have the freights, two trains an hour through Southport down there too plus peak extras.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

How is it going to be used - only in one direction or a sort of peak flow concept?

Salford Crescent is already quite a confusing layout, I think any platform can go any direction except Platform 1 can't send trains towards Atherton (no way to get them on the correct side until Walkden).
Platform 0 would probably only be able to handle traffic from Bolton, I don't think it'd be able to do Northbound because there's no crossover until Agecroft South Jn.
I'd imagine it'd be possible to make some changes and save some time, trains from the Atherton line usually wait a couple minutes before being able to enter because of the service towards Blackburn/Clitheroe, and any delays cause more delays there.

 

[The Planner]

Salford Crescent is already quite a confusing layout, I think any platform can go any direction except Platform 1 can't send trains towards Atherton (no way to get them on the correct side until Walkden).
Platform 0 would probably only be able to handle traffic from Bolton, I don't think it'd be able to do Northbound because there's no crossover until Agecroft South Jn.
I'd imagine it'd be possible to make some changes and save some time, trains from the Atherton line usually wait a couple minutes before being able to enter because of the service towards Blackburn/Clitheroe, and any delays cause more delays there.

This is all it will do, allow moves from both lines into the station. It still causes a conflict at the south end.

 

[AMD]

Also you cannot access platform 2 from the Bolton direction.
The biggest benefit from P3 will be able to bring two trains in at once, from Bolton & Atherton, instead of the current situation of holding at MP560 & MP510. This is a theme that came out of the report that looked into the Castlefield corridor post May 18, in terms of being able to manage inbound services better - having two trains at platforms at Crescent concurrently will speed throughput at the station when something is out of path.

 

[The Planner]

Also you cannot access platform 2 from the Bolton direction.
The biggest benefit from P3 will be able to bring two trains in at once, from Bolton & Atherton, instead of the current situation of holding at MP560 & MP510. This is a theme that came out of the report that looked into the Castlefield corridor post May 18, in terms of being able to manage inbound services better - having two trains at platforms at Crescent concurrently will speed throughput at the station when something is out of path.

Is the benefit that big? All very well having two trains in the station, but you are still waiting for the first one to go.

 

[AM9]

Is the benefit that big? All very well having two trains in the station, but you are still waiting for the first one to go.

Waiting at a platform whilst the train in front departs from the oother platform and clears the section is more time efficient than holding them before the station and then stopping again in the station.

 

[WibbleWobble]

Is the benefit that big? All very well having two trains in the station, but you are still waiting for the first one to go.

If they sorted the track layout south of the station, then potentially two could depart at once.

The current issue is that when heading towards Deansgate, the track from Platform 1 requires a movement onto the current fast up line, then swings across the slow up line in order onto the Windsor Link. Put in a loop from Platform 1 onto the Link, then two trains could depart together, if one is going to Piccadilly and the other to Victoria.

 

[The Planner]

Waiting at a platform whilst the train in front departs from the oother platform and clears the section is more time efficient than holding them before the station and then stopping again in the station.

I still dont think there is a lot in it, the second train is coming in on a yelow with a red at the end, so if its a timetabled move you're adding an adjustment in. I will have to look at the signalling plan as there must be a reduced overlap on the second move too.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

If they sorted the track layout south of the station, then potentially two could depart at once.

All services (2 per hour) from Atherton go towards Victoria, from Bolton, 5 per hour go to Castlefield (and 3 per hour go to Vic).
They're going to need to cross over somewhere.

 

[WibbleWobble]

All services (2 per hour) from Atherton go towards Victoria, from Bolton, 5 per hour go to Castlefield (and 3 per hour go to Vic).
They're going to need to cross over somewhere.

What I'm saying is that trains could occupy both platforms, which would allow for a shorter delay for whichever has to be held before entering the station. This is instead of the current scenario where a train is held for a fair bit (and I've been on trains held for near enough 10 minutes), to allow one on the other route to come through and spend however long on the platform.

It could also reduce lateness for anything running late behind another train. If one train is running late, you could have two trains within a couple of minutes from Bolton - this would avoid the scenario of one train being further delayed by being held whilst the first one is on the platform.

The loop south of the station could allow for trains to head towards Piccadilly from the Atherton line. I know all services from there go to Victoria, but it could allow for a future change (once Wigan - Lostock electrification is complete) allowing an Atherton service to head to Oxford Road, Piccadilly or the Airport, or allow any freight movements to shoot through.

The other option would be to build a loop from the up Atherton line across onto the up fast, which would allow for those services to tuck behind the service from Bolton, should that occupy Platform 1 (and heading to Piccadilly).

I'm probably vastly over-thinking it!

 

[snowball]

Part of the justification for the abandoned scheme at Oxford Road and Piccadilly was that the capacity of two platforms in each direction would be a good match for the capacity of one track in each direction between stations. This is a slightly similar situation.

 

[The Planner]

Part of the justification for the abandoned scheme at Oxford Road and Piccadilly was that the capacity of two platforms in each direction would be a good match for the capacity of one track in each direction between stations. This is a slightly similar situation.

Oxford Rd is getting remodelled though.

 

[td97]

Northern are starting the station will be closed next spring for the third platform works.

Salford Crescent will also be closed on some weekends between 1 March and 18 May 2025 (more details to follow on this work)

May Timetable Changes

Northern | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times

www.northernrailway.co.uk

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Of course, the OHLE will have to be switched off for tie in etc eventually.

 

[plugwash]

When I worked for Railtrack in Manchester in 1998, we were talking about this then, as the station, with its narrow island platform, already struggled to cope with the number of passengers using it.

In the early 2010s, the station was reworked freeing up a bunch of space on the platform (though making connections to the University less convenient). Access used to be from a ramp leading to footbridge in the university campus and the ticket office was on the platform. There is still a footbridge in the university campus but it no longer serves the station.

Instead access is via a new ticket office at main road level outside the tracks. This is connected to the station via a new footbridge.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Sep 2024 ==

Of course, the OHLE will have to be switched off for tie in etc eventually.

Are they actually planning to build any new tracks? or are they just putting a platform on the track that doesn't currently have one?

 

[Oxfordblues]

I was a student at Salford University 1971-74 at which time there was of course no station at Windsor Bridge. When I suggested it might be a good location for a new station to serve the University and Polytechnic my idea was rubbished: there was no room for platforms and both Pendleton and Pendleton Broad Street stations were just round the corner. In any case there were frequent buses on the A6 and hardly anyone travelled by train any more.

Ironically I was studying Transport Administration. It was the only academic transport course in the UK and there were only eight of us that year. Which tells you something about the state of transport planning in the 1970s!

 

[Trackman]

I can't make head nor tails of the planning permission applications. Where exactly will this platform go, please?

 

[plugwash]

I can't make head nor tails of the planning permission applications. Where exactly will this platform go, please?

The "proposed station site plan" ( https://salfordcitycouncil.my.site.com/pr/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/068Sq000005rRIcIAM ) shows the new platform down the east side of the station, serving the track that does not currently have a platform.

 

[Trackman]

The "proposed station site plan" ( https://salfordcitycouncil.my.site.com/pr/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/068Sq000005rRIcIAM ) shows the new platform down the east side of the station, serving the track that does not currently have a platform.

That makes sense now as I see they mention the defunct Manchester North signalling centre, suppose they still need the buildings for relays and stuff, like the temporary Bolton PSB still buried behind the trees.
---
So, it's just going to only serve the up Bolton line?
From the MEN from the original link:

A report supporting the application states: "The new platform will service the Up Bolton line and is designed to allow standage for 6 x 24m long carriage trains.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

So, it's just going to only serve the up Bolton line?

The bypass track can only be reached by trains coming from Bolton, trains from Atherton can't reach that line, so won't be able to reach the platform.

 

[td97]

The first weekend possession has seen civils work with the installation of precast platform riser walls.
Images in the links below

Things are taking shape at Salford Crescent station! Here are some pictures from our £21m project being delivered by Kier Group to build a third platform at Salford Crescent station. We're closing… | Network Rail North West & Central | 13 comments

Things are taking shape at Salford Crescent station! Here are some pictures from our £21m project being delivered by Kier Group to build a third platform at Salford Crescent station. We're closing the route to trains over a number of weekends this spring as we lift in pre-cast concrete...

www.linkedin.com

https://x.com/NetworkRailMAN/status/1899131463255069161