Walsall Area Improvements

[Batman]

Any news on whats heppening with the Walsall area and Chase Line re-signalling project. I'm interested becuase this is my local rail service and I don't yet have full details of exactly what improvements the project will consist of, what the outcomes will be, when work is due to start, how long it will last for and what the likely disruption to passengers will be.

 

[The Planner]

2013, closure of Walsall, Bloxwich, Hednesford and Brereton boxes. No more block signalling, lower headways on the Sutton Park in conjunction with Water Orton. Headshunt on the old Dudley line so no need to run to Bescot for run-rounds. Connection put back in at Walsall so P3 is no longer a bay.

 

[Whistler40145]

If the Chase line is being re-signalled, will any improvements be made to track & sleepers?

 

[duffman82]

Why are they changing P3 back from a bay to a through platform? No services go beyond it anyway

 

[The Planner]

Flexibilty, means you can terminate in different platforms. Chase line speeds are a seperate project.

 

[BrummyBoy]

but i thought that only P3 was electrified

 

[Batman]

There is no need to extend the line through P3. Track 4 is surplus to requirement and could be lifted. SAouthbound freight trains can use P2.

To be fair, if the Aldridge extension is built and the Chase Line has gone back to a half hourly weekday off peak service (i.e. so no trains are starting or terminating at Walsall) they could reduce the line through Walsall to just two tracks. The tracks would need to be realigned and part of the island platform rebuilt to remove an S bend at the far end of platform 3 (thus increasing line speed for through freight trains). platform one would be closed, platform 2 would be used for all northbound services and platfrom 3 for all southbound services.

Although alternativly platforms one and two could be electrified as part of the Aldrdige electrification project, tract 4 could be lifted, platform 3 could be retained for early morning and late evening services that may start or terminate at Walsall and one train per hour on weekdays if the Chase Line frequency remains unchanged. Also, 45mph cross overs would be desirable south of Walsall so that through trains can cross to/from platform 1 and 2, to/from the Bescot lines whilst keeping to the 45 mph line speed. I think this will be the more likely option if the Aldrdige extension is built.
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2013, closure of Walsall, Bloxwich, Hednesford and Brereton boxes. No more block signalling, lower headways on the Sutton Park in conjunction with Water Orton. Headshunt on the old Dudley line so no need to run to Bescot for run-rounds. Connection put back in at Walsall so P3 is no longer a bay.

Wouldn't the freight turnaround be abstructing the South Staffs line? Whats the new target date for reopening that?

 

[The Planner]

but i thought that only P3 was electrified

It is, but doesnt mean that everything will be a 323 though.
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There is no need to extend the line through P3. Track 4 is surplus to requirement and could be lifted. SAouthbound freight trains can use P2.

If you do that you can't have parallel moves off Darlaston Jn through Walsall. Also how do you get into the freight terminal if you remove the line through 4 ??

You said earlier you wanted Walsall to Ryecroft as 4 track, now your decimating it ??

Also, 45mph cross overs would be desirable south of Walsall so that through trains can cross to/from platform 1 and 2, to/from the Bescot lines whilst keeping to the 45 mph line speed. I think this will be the more likely option if the Aldrdige extension is built.

The curve at Bescot is only 30mph if I recall and a freight couldn't accelerate that quickly and it would be pointless for passenger trains as they will all stop.

Wouldn't the freight turnaround be abstructing the South Staffs line? Whats the new target date for reopening that?

There isn't one, and I doubt it would be before CP6 which is 2019 onwards.

 

[thewolf]

Are there a few new signals going in at the moment?

I went the slow way up to Stoke last week, and whilst changing at Tame Bridge it seemed there was a new signal (still covered up,etc) not far beyond the end of the Birmingham-bound platform and something similar looking around Bescot.


Has there also been some work done on the bridge over the River Tame between Hamstead and Perry Barr? There had been a little worksite there with (I'm sure) Network Rail signs up. It all seemed to disappeared when I went past today though.

Also:

Not sure if anyone would know, but are they sticking a TVM in at Hamstead? (or anywhere else, for that matter).

The old Permit to Travel machine was in bits a couple of weeks back, then completely removed last week. Today when I got back from Norwich there were some workmen doing some sort of ground work near where the permit machine was.

 

[Batman]

Are there a few new signals going in at the moment?

I went the slow way up to Stoke last week, and whilst changing at Tame Bridge it seemed there was a new signal (still covered up,etc) not far beyond the end of the Birmingham-bound platform and something similar looking around Bescot.


Has there also been some work done on the bridge over the River Tame between Hamstead and Perry Barr? There had been a little worksite there with (I'm sure) Network Rail signs up. It all seemed to disappeared when I went past today though.

Also:

Not sure if anyone would know, but are they sticking a TVM in at Hamstead? (or anywhere else, for that matter).

The old Permit to Travel machine was in bits a couple of weeks back, then completely removed last week. Today when I got back from Norwich there were some workmen doing some sort of ground work near where the permit machine was.

I'm not sure, that might be part of the work the doing for the Sunday closures which will last till the end of this month.

I was on the 16:07 New Street to Rugeley train the other day and I noticed the track at Springhill sidings had been lifted. Those sidings have got to have been out of use for at least 15 years?

 

[IanPooleTrains]

I was on the 16:07 New Street to Rugeley train the other day and I noticed the track at Springhill sidings had been lifted. Those sidings have got to have been out of use for at least 15 years?

If you were on that train, you might have seen first hand at what a load of (bleep!) LM are with that area of the wood at the moment.

The Chase Line needs a hell of a lot more that just resginalling, it needs a whole list of improvements! So many that I don't know where to start!

And no before someone starts, I am not talking about staffing stations, this goes way beyond that!

 

[thewolf]

After going up that way again today, it would appear that all the Walsall signals (with the exception of the one on the platform at Hamstead) have got a replacement fairly near to them. Most of them are within a few yards of the existing one, but the first one after Tame Bridge in the New St direction (WL 3 maybe?) is a good few hundred yards closer to Tame Bridge.

This isn't particularly related to any improvement work (I don't think), but I noticed in the Walsall direction, not far before Tame Bridge, there is a 50 mph PSR for what can't be more than 100 yards before going back to 75. Seems a bit odd, but presume there must be a reason for it.

 

[Batman]

If you were on that train, you might have seen first hand at what a load of (bleep!) LM are with that area of the wood at the moment.

The Chase Line needs a hell of a lot more that just resginalling, it needs a whole list of improvements! So many that I don't know where to start!

And no before someone starts, I am not talking about staffing stations, this goes way beyond that!

I could spend all day listing the faults on the Chase line, but then again there are faults on the corss - city line which I also use reguarly.

But it's also a functional service that is well used by local people.

I think most of it's faults origionate back to the fact that less than 25 years ago, this was a minneral railway with no passenger services. No it's primary purpose is as a commuter line which is battling against infrastructure that isn't suited for it. But there have been evolutionary improvements over the years, just like there have been on the cross city line.

 

[Whistler40145]

Does the Chase line still have jointed track?

 

[IanPooleTrains]

I could spend all day listing the faults on the Chase line, but then again there are faults on the corss - city line which I also use reguarly.

I'd much prefer travelling on the CCL

 

[Batman]

Does the Chase line still have jointed track?

Most of the jointed track was removed years ago, I think it was in about 2001.

The last section of joinet track was removed last year in the Bescot area.

There is still a very short section of jointed track on the Handsworth loop near to Soho junction. That's a section of track used by Chase Line trains.
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I'd much prefer travelling on the CCL

The main faults of the Cross City Line (north of Birmingham) in my opinion are;

1) Peak time over crowding.

2) Outdated stations. Sutton Coldfield springs to mind with its lack of disabled access.

3) Inability to extend platforms at Lichfield City, Four Oaks, Aston and Duddeston.

4) Irregular service frequency north of Four Oaks.

5) Low line speeds north of Blake Street.

6) Lack of semi-fast services. It would be nice if the 2tph Birmingham - Nottingham service could run New Street - Sutton Coldfield - Lichfield City - Burton - Derby - Nottingham. But I doubt that will ever happen.

Siggnificantly fewer faults than the Chase Line of course, but no line is perfect.

 

[tbtc]

6) Lack of semi-fast services. It would be nice if the 2tph Birmingham - Nottingham service could run New Street - Sutton Coldfield - Lichfield City - Burton - Derby - Nottingham. But I doubt that will ever happen

I appreciate that limited stop services are going to be hard to organise when there's such a frequent stopping service, but I'd be interested to see what the time difference of running New Street - Lichfield - Derby would be.

 

[Whistler40145]

How much if any part of the former Walsall to Lichfield City line has been built upon or whether it is a future project for reopening?

 

[Batman]

How much if any part of the former Walsall to Lichfield City line has been built upon or whether it is a future project for reopening?

The trackbed is still intact in most places.

Two new bridges have been built since the line closed to freight trains in 1984 because the line is still officially a mothballed route. One was built for the M6 toll and one for the Lichfield Western By-pass.

The track hasn't been lifted between Brownhills and Lichfeild and the trackbed in the Palsall area is now a cycle path.

A level crossing has been removed in the Rushall area and is now just a road. You'd hardly notice a railway was ever there is you drive over where the level crossing used to be and you don't know the area.

Also, some trees were planted on the trackbed close to Ryecroft Junction in about 1990ish as part of the Black Country urban forrest. These would need to be felled if the line were to be re-oppened.

I hope that is of hlep to you.

 

[Whistler40145]

Thanks Batman

 

[Batman]

Thanks Batman

As far as re-opening is concerend, don't build your hopes up.

The target date for re-opening the Stourbridge to Walsall Line to freigt trains has now been put back from 2012 to 2019 and even when it re-opens, South West - North East freight trains will need to use the Sutton Park Line to access the main line at Water Orton. The Sutton Park Line is due to be re-signalled in 2013, and it will always be seen as a cheaper option to have trains run via Water Orton than to re-open the Walsall - Lichfield line.

Re-opening to passenger trains is even more unlikely.

Centro are planning a new station at Aldrdige and the incusion of the Palsall and Brownhills areas in the catchment area from the new station is vital for the business case. Aldridge on its own is a village of just 18,000 people, but the wider Aldrdige - Brownhills distirct has a population of more like 70,000.

 

[GingerSte]

The main faults of the Cross City Line (north of Birmingham) in my opinion are;

2) Outdated stations. Sutton Coldfield springs to mind with its lack of disabled access.

Just to answer this, works are in progress to replace the footbridge. The new one will (does) have lifts on either platform. I assume that Sutton Coldfield will have full disabled access when this project is complete.