Vegetation clearance at Roby?

[DavidL]

Hi all,

I have noticed that the extensive vegetation on/around the old out-of-use platforms at Roby has really been significantly cut back recently.

Given that and the quantity of road/rail machinery at Huyton, I was wondering if anyone in-the-know knows if it's connected to the potential (re) 4-tracking that may* be scheduled to occur in the area?

-David

* - I know it's appeared in the RUS, etc, but several sources say Broad Green-Huyton, some say Roby-Huyton, and I think one optimistic source even said Liverpool to Huyton. As such, I'm not entirely sure whether it's a definite, and where it's happening between.

 

[First class]

It is for survey work connected with Electrification and 4-tracking.

It will be 4-track Roby-Huyton.

Edge Hill to Broad Green will still be 2-track.

 

[DavidL]

Cheers FC, good to know!

Sorry for what may seem like a dim question, but do we know roughly whereabouts between Broad Green and Roby the 4 track is planned to start? I only ask as envisaging it starting just outside Roby doesn't give an awfully long bit of 4-tracking to use

Thanks again for the prompt response!
-David

 

[First class]

Don't think even Network Rail know where it is going yet.

The 4 track isn't really a capacity upgrade, more to allow fast trains to overtake.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Never thought Roby would regain four platforms. Just a shame that the old Victorian waiting room complete with gas lamps (and steam trains drifting through) that used to be on the middle platform won't be rebuilt. Would imagine an identikit Merseytravel anti-vandal affair will be installed.

 

[First class]

Never thought Roby would regain four platforms. Just a shame that the old Victorian waiting room complete with gas lamps (and steam trains drifting through) that used to be on the middle platform won't be rebuilt. Would imagine an identikit Merseytravel anti-vandal affair will be installed.

I don't think Roby will get more platforms.

I was under the impression it would be more:

(crudely drawn, but get the idea)

 

[Mutant Lemming]

That would involve demolishing the ticket office and the only remaining vestiges of the original station.

 

[Nym]

If it's to be fast and slow lines I'd be under the impression that they will run pared by use rather than by direction, as most 'fast' services will be running to Earlstown, on the southern two tracks... And slower services to Wigan via St Helens Central

 

[Chapeltom]

A daft question but what are fast & slow lines? I regularly travel to Mossley Hill - also in Merseyside. I've only ever seen Platform's 1 and 2 used by Oxford Road to Lime Street stoppers which I think are the fast lines, the TPE, EMT, LM and VT express services that pass through also use them, so Platforms 3 and 4 are the 'slow lines' never get used and serve little purpose when no trains use them!

 

[Johnny Lewis]

A number of Oxford Road to Liverpool stopping trains DO cross to the Down Slow line at Liverpool South Parkway to allow "faster" TPE or EMT services to overtake them between there and Lime Street.

The newly extended Blackpool North - Liverpool South Parkway services also use the Slow Lines in both directions and, AFAIK, are the only scheduled services to use platform 4 at [stn]LPY[/STN].

 

[DavidL]

Thanks for all the info, FC.

I'm of the same opinion as Mutant & Nym - certainly based on the layout of the two stations (i.e. Roby and Huyton), it would seem to make most sense (and be least disruptive) to effectively restore the original station layouts - i.e. a "new" northern platform, the existing northern-most platform becoming an island again - to make up the 4 platforms.

Excuse formatting:
--New platform------
================
================
-Existing platform 2--
================
================
-Existing platform 1--
--Ticket Office----

A quick look on Google maps combined with local knowledge shows that there isn't too much in the way (I think there are some electrical cabinets around Roby station, and around Huyton by the bus station - and I seem to remember that the bridge carrying Bridge Rd has been (partly) bricked-up?).

In fact, I think the trackbed remaining clear extends westwards as far as just before Broad Green, where an over-road bridge has very clearly been reduced to two-tracks.

One of the reasons I mentioned the vegetation clearance at Roby is that it's really shown up how the station must have looked in "happier" times. The old trackbed (and indeed old platform faces) for the northern set of tracks is very clear now (the particularly tree-based area north of Roby on Google Maps).

Presumably, if (re)modelled in the suggested manner, the northbound two tracks could then continue to Prescot (i.e. effectively moving the St Helens line junction from just east of Huyton to just west of Roby?).

However, it will be very interesting to see exactly how it ends up!
-David

 

[185]

I don't think Roby will get more platforms.
I was under the impression it would be more:
(crudely drawn, but get the idea)

I think Roby will probably have to get two new platforms, if they go ahead and reopen those two dead tracks for Prescot services. There is absolutely no chance of rails going in either side of the current platforms, as there are loads of private houses in the way on the Liverpool bound side. The only option is to clear the vegitation and re-lay the two disused tracks at the back of the Manchester platform.

 

[DavidL]

The only option is to clear the vegitation and re-lay the two disused tracks at the back of the Manchester platform.

Hi 185,

It's my noticing them having done precisely that operation that led me to start the thread - if you should have the opportunity to pass by, you should take a look at the old platforms now it has all been cleared!

As FC says, it is for survey & investigation only at this stage, but it gives a good preview of how it may look. It would certainly be nice to see it done & dusted!

David

 

[Mutant Lemming]

There used to be a two enamel signs with a clock face and hands one for 'Next Train to Manchester' and the other for 'Next Train to Wigan' that the staion staff used to set to show the time of the next departure. Think they also had them at Huyton. Can't think of anywhere else that had them. Am wondering whether they will dig out the rest of the subway at Roby & Huyton or they would go for a cheaper option like filling the subway in and building a footbridge.

 

[Tim B]

There used to be a two enamel signs with a clock face and hands one for 'Next Train to Manchester' and the other for 'Next Train to Wigan' that the staion staff used to set to show the time of the next departure. Think they also had them at Huyton. Can't think of anywhere else that had them. Am wondering whether they will dig out the rest of the subway at Roby & Huyton or they would go for a cheaper option like filling the subway in and building a footbridge.

In the event of a major refurbishment like this, wouldn't new pro-disability legislation require a new footbridge with lifts ? Or lifts down to the underpass (a la huddersfield) ? In either event minimum 3 new lifts .....

 

[Nym]

You could proberbly have a footbridge with stupidly long ramps a'la East Didsbury, the manufacture of witch should be getting cheaper. (Or they could just use good-ol carbon neutral wood)

 

[Leslie Fletcher]

I have some questions about the project to restore some of the four-tracking in the Roby/Huyton area. It seems from earlier posts in this thread that any new four-track section with be quite short - a matter of 2 - 3 miles. In general terms, what is the shortest piece of four-track which is actually useful for capacity or resilience &c? Regarding this particular project, is the proposal solely to move the Wigan line junction further west or will there be crossovers east of Huyton station? It appears that the original four tracking continued some distance toward Earlestown beyond the Wigan line junction. Google maps shows that the bridge over Sawpit Lane is wide enough for four tracks and, looking from the train, the formation appears wide enough almost as far as the site of the former Huyton Quarry station. Where will the eastern end of the new four track section be?

 

[Mr C]

What about kirkham north jct to kirkham south jct?

 

[507 001]

I have some questions about the project to restore some of the four-tracking in the Roby/Huyton area. It seems from earlier posts in this thread that any new four-track section with be quite short - a matter of 2 - 3 miles. In general terms, what is the shortest piece of four-track which is actually useful for capacity or resilience &c? Regarding this particular project, is the proposal solely to move the Wigan line junction further west or will there be crossovers east of Huyton station? It appears that the original four tracking continued some distance toward Earlestown beyond the Wigan line junction. Google maps shows that the bridge over Sawpit Lane is wide enough for four tracks and, looking from the train, the formation appears wide enough almost as far as the site of the former Huyton Quarry station. Where will the eastern end of the new four track section be?

Apologies for bumping an oldish thread.
I don't believe the four track continued further on as such, there was however extensive sidings for the quarry on along that stretch.