Wigan-Bolton electrification. Construction updates only please

[Gricer99]

So if they electrify it at the end of the year, when will the electric service start?

 

[themiller]

Construction, energisation, commissioning, training then into service. Each of these stages have hold points to ensure that nothing’s been missed so in part you need to clarify which part of the electrification process you mean. I don’t know the programme but it’s the same process across industries.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Construction, energisation, commissioning, training then into service. Each of these stages have hold points to ensure that nothing’s been missed so in part you need to clarify which part of the electrification process you mean. I don’t know the programme but it’s the same process across industries.

I assume that it must mean the construction phase and even then there might be some minor snagging such as bridge parapets etc.

 

[themiller]

The likes of bridge parapets may be put on a reservations list but I feel that, because they’re a safety item, they may have to be complete before energisation.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The likes of bridge parapets may be put on a reservations list but I feel that, because they’re a safety item, they may have to be complete before energisation.

Yes you are probably correct thinking about it more carefully.

 

[td97]

So if they electrify it at the end of the year, when will the electric service start?

As demonstrated by Stalybridge OLE, day 1 of entry into service will be dependent on signage installed for manual 769 power changeover. Presumably at Hindley or Ince.
As for when the timetable will be recast for EMU operation, that is a different matter.

 

[Dspatula]

As demonstrated by Stalybridge OLE, day 1 of entry into service will be dependent on signage installed for manual 769 power changeover. Presumably at Hindley or Ince.
As for when the timetable will be recast for EMU operation, that is a different matter.

I'd be surprised if anyone was willing to risk moving the power change over away from Bolton.
Making a guess based off Stalybridge I wouldn't have thought they'd be used before May 2025 timetable change.
There is a small chance it might end up being a 2051 or 2151 Wigan North Western terminator if testing is done before May. (Won't be the last service of the day as that's always a 158 when it runs.)
The Monday to Thursday night time closures still seem to be in place till the end of February on RTT at the moment.

 

[GhostManDN91]

Any idea if anything is happening to the road bridge at Westhoughton station (church street)? Last time I seen it looks like the bridge needs raising for the overhead wires but haven't heard anything on it.

 

[desiro350]

Any idea if anything is happening to the road bridge at Westhoughton station (church street)? Last time I seen it looks like the bridge needs raising for the overhead wires but haven't heard anything on it.

There's enough clearance already as it's quite a high bridge so nothing needs doing to it. They've already put a post in the centre of the arch to carry the wires

 

[GhostManDN91]

There's enough clearance already as it's quite a high bridge so nothing needs doing to it. They've already put a post in the centre of the arch to carry the wires

Ah ok. When I went through on the train it looked like it needed raising but good to know it doesn't need modifying.

 

[snowball]

Post #352 from last year refers to work on Church Street bridge, to repair and raise the parapets. They wouldn't have done that if they were going to raise the bridge itself.

 

[EastMidlander]

I noticed this morning that wires are up under the M61 bridge.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I noticed this morning that wires are up under the M61 bridge.

Wow - now that is progress!

 

[stan claire]

How long is this line closure for again (is it the 9 or 3 day closure) and how will they get the rest of the wires up after the closures? Assuming it'll be overnight and during weekend closures?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

How long is this line closure for again (is it the 9 or 3 day closure) and how will they get the rest of the wires up after the closures? Assuming it'll be overnight and during weekend closures?

Tie ins at both ends will mean work on the WCML and of course at Lostock Junction will result in power switched off.

 

[EastMidlander]

The line is closed until next Sunday. Post #709 contains a link to a newsletter with the planned date of works.

 

[stan claire]

Tie ins at both ends will mean work on the WCML and of course at Lostock Junction will result in power switched off.

Is that also the reason for the Bolton - Preston closures on Sundays recently and the odd late-night Manchester - Blackpool service replaced by a bus? I don't understand why they couldn't run services between Windermere/Barrow or Blackpool, Preston and Blackrod (as there's a crossover north of the station I believe) or even run them to Buckshaw and then using the crossover to the south of the station shunt to go back northbound but it seems like Northern don't try hard enough to run trains where they can anymore and would rather bus replace throughout and divert others. Similarly, Atherton line services could've ran Manchester to Walkden as there is a crossover there and previously there were a couple weekends in 2022 where they ran Kirkby to Walkden because of (I believe) track replacement works at Salford Crescent

 

[EastMidlander]

Tie ins at both ends will mean work on the WCML and of course at Lostock Junction will result in power switched off.

The tie-in at the Wigan end was completed in May - Post #641 refers.

 

[stan claire]

Would of thought the run off would be on the atherton line incase of future projects.

Don't they want to put trams on the Atherton line anyway?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The tie-in at the Wigan end was completed in May - Post #641 refers.

Thanks for that reminder.

 

[CAF397]

Tie ins at both ends will mean work on the WCML and of course at Lostock Junction will result in power switched off.

By the looks of the OLE at Lostock Jn, there's fresh copper on the Westhoughton lines just after a new isolating section just after the junction That must've been installed in the past week or so. Previously the OLE just continued until it terminated several stanchions away.

It's also not live, with one of those flashing blue light things.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Incredibly proud of the team. At 0014 on Tuesday 7th May seen the SPL Team succesfully Section Proved the OLE Tie in at Wigan on the Wigan to Bolton Electrification scheme. 3no Contact/Catenary… | Mark Cowgill | 20 comments

Incredibly proud of the team. At 0014 on Tuesday 7th May seen the SPL Team succesfully Section Proved the OLE Tie in at Wigan on the Wigan to Bolton Electrification scheme. 3no Contact/Catenary runs, 5no PES’s, 2no SI’s and associated works, all works completed on time and most importantly no...

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The Tie-In area near Wigan NW has been installed and section-proved.

So basically, marrying 1973 vintage WCML north of Weaver Junction electrification to the Wigan-Bolton section even though that is not complete just yet.

So bumping to the top to remind silly me what has and has not been done!

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Tie ins at both ends will mean work on the WCML and of course at Lostock Junction will result in power switched off.

Theres a lot of new steelwork and wires at Wigan Sth Jcn is that not part of works on WCML?

 

[AMD]

A few photos of the work that has been done over the past week - the bridge at Ince is in, wires have been run out from Lostock junction to the approach of Crow Nest junction and the ramp up to the iron bridge at Hindley has been removed ahead of its lifting.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

A few photos of the work that has been done over the past week - the bridge at Ince is in, wires have been run out from Lostock junction to the approach of Crow Nest junction and the ramp up to the iron bridge at Hindley has been removed ahead of its lifting.

Really good progress. Great to see. Thanks for posting.

 

[Ploughman]

Will the RRAP remain in place after the works are completed?

 

[Trainbike46]

A few photos of the work that has been done over the past week - the bridge at Ince is in, wires have been run out from Lostock junction to the approach of Crow Nest junction and the ramp up to the iron bridge at Hindley has been removed ahead of its lifting.

any idea why there are two bridges that close together?

 

[CAF397]

The furthest one away carries the road across the railway, the nearer one is the access to the island station platform.

You can see why in the first photo.

 

[Trainbike46]

The furthest one away carries the road across the railway, the nearer one is the access to the island station platform.

Thank you!

 

[Meerkat]

The furthest one away carries the road across the railway, the nearer one is the access to the island station platform.

You can see why in the first photo.

Bit surprised they weren’t forced to make the station accessible if they were replacing the bridge.