Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[Revaulx]

Completely agree. I was angry at first when Grayling announced bimodes. I have since changed my mind. As long as bimodes are part of a strategy to have a rolling program of electrification, they are very useful.

Indeed. Without the possibly of using bimodes at some point, the case for wiring even the core of the Cross Country network would be pretty weak.

 

[hwl]

Indeed. Without the possibly of using bimodes at some point, the case for wiring even the core of the Cross Country network would be pretty weak.

And having cross country units as bi-modes would improves business cases on some shared routes e.g MML Derby-Sheffield

 

[59CosG95]

And having cross country units as bi-modes would improves business cases on some shared routes e.g MML Derby-Sheffield

Indeed. Less incentive if the units lack pantographs...

 

[WAO]

Bi-modes cut two ways of course; they can maximise electric running on the existing network but also enable an investment averse government or railway administration to avoid extending the wires. They are expensive, though.

(p s, I did say c16.5kN, c = about)

WAO

 

[Class 170101]

Bi-modes cut two ways of course; they can maximise electric running on the existing network but also enable an investment averse government or railway administration to avoid extending the wires. They are expensive, though.

WAO

Of course now that the government is paying the costs of the railway including diesel fuel and more expensive DMUs is there now any more of an incentive to change from DMUs to EMUs?

 

[yorkie]

Just a gentle reminder this thread is to discuss updates regarding the Transpennine route upgrade.

Feel free to create a new thread (if there isn't one already) if you wish to discuss anything else

 

[jonesy3001]

Back on the subject of the TRU, what is the progress during the blockade?

 

[snowball]

Back on the subject of the TRU, what is the progress during the blockade?

Some pictures of a huge crawler crane being assembled have been posted on LinkedIn and Skyscrapercity.

Manchester Railways

I have started a new thread rather than post this on the Airport thread because I know that some people dislike discussions about trains on there! Because I know only a little about railway operations I am posing this as a question rather than a strict opinion. I would welcome comment and...

www.skyscrapercity.com

 

[59CosG95]

Back on the subject of the TRU, what is the progress during the blockade?

Day 1: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tru-...losure-31st-activity-6827220758851313664-XUHo
Day 2: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tru-...losure-31st-activity-6827657071530455040-JwXu

The Rochdale Slows' bridge deck at Dantzic St has been removed, as has the parapet of Queens Rd at Miles Platting. Bromley St subway beneath the Rochdale Slows has been strengthened. Signal heads east of Man Vic have also been replaced.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2021 ==

Elsewhere, I've learnt that the first of 6 weekends of track renewals on the Normanton lines in the Burton Salmon area has just gone; this is presumably to facilitate the route via Castleford, Normanton & Healey Mills being used as a diversionary route in the not-so-distant future. NR have also set up a compound in the Burton Salmon area for this (although I can't find it on google maps)

 

[Ploughman]

The track access point at Burton Salmon was for many yars the old Station site where the A162 crosses the 4 tracks.
Restricted access was possible to the North side of the Normantons.
A further access to the Ferrybridge lines only was about 1/2 mile South at a farm crossing.
The 4 track LC at Betteras Hill could also be used for any track access.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Day 4

Day 4 of the 16-day railway closure (31st July – 15th August) between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge stations. This work is crucial to enable us to run more trains and faster trains as part of… | T C

Day 4 of the 16-day railway closure (31st July – 15th August) between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge stations. This work is crucial to enable us to run more trains and faster trains as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) programme. In the photo’s you can see: (1) New track being...

www.linkedin.com

 

[Chrisyd]

SOmeone has posted on SkyScraperCity, Manchester Railways page, with updates. Interestingly he says he is part of the OLE team.

Manchester Railways

I have started a new thread rather than post this on the Airport thread because I know that some people dislike discussions about trains on there! Because I know only a little about railway operations I am posing this as a question rather than a strict opinion. I would welcome comment and...

www.skyscrapercity.com

 

[CrickUK]

There is a drilling rig undertaking SI in the carpark at Garforth, drilling is taking place in the disabled bays alongside the track and could either be investigation for electrification mast piles or for DDA improvements in the form of a new footbridge. Does anyone know what is going on?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

SOmeone has posted on SkyScraperCity, Manchester Railways page, with updates. Interestingly he says he is part of the OLE team.

Manchester Railways

I have started a new thread rather than post this on the Airport thread because I know that some people dislike discussions about trains on there! Because I know only a little about railway operations I am posing this as a question rather than a strict opinion. I would welcome comment and...

www.skyscrapercity.com

So is that new signal heads on an existing gantry (pic 4)?
Presumably near the current Bromley St wiring boundary.

 

[hwl]

So is that new signal heads on an existing gantry (pic 4)?
Presumably near the current Bromley St wiring boundary.

Possibly but physically the only look large enough to be 3 aspect so are they something else?

 

[Meerkat]

Possibly but physically the only look large enough to be 3 aspect so are they something else?

I was wondering about them - don’t signals normally have elaborate cages around them now so they can be maintained safely?

 

[zwk500]

Possibly but physically the only look large enough to be 3 aspect so are they something else?

I was wondering about them - don’t signals normally have elaborate cages around them now so they can be maintained safely?

The signals look quite similar to lightweight LED ones installed on the WCML among other places: https://crown-international.co.uk/gantry-pole/

Presumably they can be raised up to the gantry for work to take place, and the LED means they only need 2 heads to show the full 4 Aspects.

 

[edwin_m]

I was wondering about them - don’t signals normally have elaborate cages around them now so they can be maintained safely?

Some of the newer post signals fold down for access. I think there are now some gantries without access arrangements - I presume maintenance of LEDs is considered to be rare enough (and these days probably needs a possession anyway) that it can be done from a road-rail platform of some type. This also avoids the need to maintain the accesses themselves.

 

[hwl]

I was wondering about them - don’t signals normally have elaborate cages around them now so they can be maintained safely?

Not new fit and forget LED ones that don't need bulbs changing!
This then reduces reduces the size (and cost of the) gantry. (Access with RRV and OHLE isolated)

Also see new (2 person) fold down ground mounted lightweight types.

 

[Revaulx]

Not new fit and forget LED ones that don't need bulbs changing!
This then reduces reduces the size (and cost of the) gantry. (Access with RRV and OHLE isolated)

Also see new (2 person) fold down ground mounted lightweight types.

Can one buy these for domestic use? LEDs seem to last barely longer than incandescent bulbs in my house.

 

[Mollman]

There is a drilling rig undertaking SI in the carpark at Garforth, drilling is taking place in the disabled bays alongside the track and could either be investigation for electrification mast piles or for DDA improvements in the form of a new footbridge. Does anyone know what is going on?

I'd go for footbridge as Garforth was on the 2019 list for step free access (actually differed from CP5):
https://www.gov.uk/government/speec...ations-set-to-benefit-from-additional-funding

The stations deferred from Control Period 5, which will now be progressed are:

• Alfreton (Parkway)
• Barnes
• Barry (Town)
• Battersea Park
• Cathays
• Chatham
• Garforth
• Grays
• Hither Green
• Liverpool Central
• Llanelli
• Luton
• Market Harborough
• Northallerton
• Peckham Rye
• Petts Wood
• Queen’s Park
• Seven Sisters
• Southend East
• St Mary Cray
• Streatham
• Theale
• Trefforest
• Walton-on-Thames
• Warwick
• Weston-Super-Mare
• Worcester Shrub Hill

All work at the stations is due to be completed by the end of March 2024.

 

[matacaster]

Can one buy these for domestic use? LEDs seem to last barely longer than incandescent bulbs in my house.

LEDs will last a very long time if constantly on (which is how they are able to make the excessive claims for longevity). Turning them on and off shortens their life considerably. At least they give a decent light which those horrible fluorescent bulbs didn't. The halogens were a miss-step too, making Chinese electrical manufactures ecstatic.

 

[Revaulx]

LEDs will last a very long time if constantly on (which is how they are able to make the excessive claims for longevity). Turning them on and off shortens their life considerably. At least they give a decent light which those horrible fluorescent bulbs didn't. The halogens were a miss-step too, making Chinese electrical manufactures ecstatic.

Ah that makes sense. It’ll be why the motion detecting floodlight in my back yard only lasts a few months. I’d assumed it was related to the awful Pennine weather

 

[InOban]

Ah that makes sense. It’ll be why the motion detecting floodlight in my back yard only lasts a few months. I’d assumed it was related to the awful Pennine weather

It's probably the electronics in the base that fails - transformer/rectifier to create low voltage dc.

 

[hwl]

Ah that makes sense. It’ll be why the motion detecting floodlight in my back yard only lasts a few months. I’d assumed it was related to the awful Pennine weather

It's probably the electronics in the base that fails - transformer/rectifier to create low voltage dc.

Plenty of cheap stuff LED stuff fails for a whole variety of reasons mostly not the LEDs themselves!

I gave up buying cheap LED stuff, pay a bit more and it seems to last well

 

[matacaster]

Ah that makes sense. It’ll be why the motion detecting floodlight in my back yard only lasts a few months. I’d assumed it was related to the awful Pennine weather

Oops, done a little research. I am wrong! it's the electronic components rather than led that die on cheaper LEDs. Apologies for misleading you.

 

[Revaulx]

Oops, done a little research. I am wrong! it's the electronic components rather than led that die on cheaper LEDs. Apologies for misleading you.

That’s quite all right! I’ll try a more expensive one next time.

 

[59CosG95]

Day 5: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tru-...day-railway-activity-6828937066122940416-KRUV

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Aug 2021 ==

Network Rail have also updated their page relating to the closure of Lady Anne Level Crossing in Batley: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/runni...nnine-route-upgrade/lady-anne-level-crossing/

Having completed a consultation period and revising the designs of the footbridge following detailed feedback, we will be hosting information events to talk with the local community about the designs and answer any questions they might have. We invited local residents to an information event on Thursday 29 July, and we will be hosting a virtual event on Tuesday 03 August for anyone that couldn’t make it.

With these designs shared, our next steps will be to submit a planning application so that we can start to get a better idea of exactly when we will be working in the area. Once we know this, we will be getting back in touch with local residents, to make sure they are up to date with the project.

Lady Anne proposed footbridge sketches

The footbridge is more or less a foregone conclusion now, and some artists' impressions have been shared. It looks like part of the abutment of the old Birstall branch will have to be demolished to make way for the new footpath.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

And an update from the GNRP on Twitter
The GNRP on Twitter: "Progress picture from our #TranspennineRouteUpgrade team working at Dantzic Street, preparing to install the new beams ️ ✅ This work will help to make journeys more reliable Our work continues until 15 Aug, so please check before you travel https://t.co/vWtXQIlW9K" / Twitter

 

[snowball]

The phrase "keyhole surgery" springs to mind.