After an number of years of bustitution, I'm pleased to report that the Liverpool end of the line once again gets a seven days a week late service, starting on Monday 8 September.
Complete details have not yet been loaded on the timetable database, and at this distance everything must be regarded as provisional.
While I'm on the subject of the timetable database, I note that at the time of writing neither my database nor the National Rail journey planner have details of the last two days of the Huyton blockade in July (Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July.). I'm assuming this is just an admin. issue but it is possible that trains will run on those days after all.
Update: The trains on those two days have now been removed, and the buses added.
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Archway Road, Huyton
The bridge over Archway Road in Huyton is scheduled for major works this coming weekend, including replacing the bridge deck. Road and rail closures are required.
The planning permission describes the work as replacement of existing bridge deck with waterproof concrete slab, repair work to elevations and arch, installation of steel fencing to both parapets, and ballast protection.
Archway Road will be closed from 19:00 on Friday 25th until 06:00 on Monday 28th April.
The railway will be closed all day Saturday in addition to the standard Sunday closure.
A touch of damp, and some sizeable weeds, but basically the bridge appears to be in good nick.
Update
I had intended to add "after" pictures for comparison, but there's very little to see from the street. Most of the vaulting brickwork has been repointed, and the weeds on the ledge visible in the middle picture have been cleared.
Also completed over the weekend was the removal of the crossover at Huyton and, I'm told, the completion of the trackwork and signalling at Earlestown.
The planning permission describes the work as replacement of existing bridge deck with waterproof concrete slab, repair work to elevations and arch, installation of steel fencing to both parapets, and ballast protection.
Archway Road will be closed from 19:00 on Friday 25th until 06:00 on Monday 28th April.
The railway will be closed all day Saturday in addition to the standard Sunday closure.
Update
I had intended to add "after" pictures for comparison, but there's very little to see from the street. Most of the vaulting brickwork has been repointed, and the weeds on the ledge visible in the middle picture have been cleared.
Also completed over the weekend was the removal of the crossover at Huyton and, I'm told, the completion of the trackwork and signalling at Earlestown.
Huyton Blockade
Timetable updates have now been released for a nine day blockade at Huyton from Saturday 5th to Sunday 13th July. The blockade will extend to Earlestown on Saturdays and Sundays only, reportedly to permit work on the Sankey Viaduct.
Here is a summary of the altered services, see the National Rail site for full details:
Saturday 5 July
Here is a summary of the altered services, see the National Rail site for full details:
Saturday 5 July
- Buses replace trains Liverpool to Earlestown and Liverpool to St Helens Central.
- Liverpool to Manchester Airport trains are cancelled.
- Liverpool to Warrington Bank Quay trains are cancelled.
- The Liverpool to Newcastle service will run between Manchester Victoria and Newcastle only.
- Buses replace trains Liverpool to Manchester Oxford Road and Liverpool to St Helens Central.
- Liverpool to Manchester Airport trains are diverted via the Warrington Central route.
- The Liverpool to Newcastle service will run between Manchester Victoria and Newcastle only.
- Buses replace trains Liverpool to St Helens Junction and Liverpool to St Helens Central.
- Liverpool - Manchester Airport trains are cancelled.
- The Liverpool to Newcastle service will run between Manchester Victoria and Newcastle only.
- Buses replace trains Liverpool to Earlestown and Liverpool to Wigan North Western.
- Liverpool to Manchester Airport trains are cancelled.
- Liverpool to Warrington Bank Quay trains are cancelled.
- The Liverpool to Newcastle service will run between Manchester Victoria and Newcastle only.
- Buses replace trains Liverpool to Manchester Oxford Road and Liverpool to Wigan North Western.
- Liverpool to Manchester Airport trains are diverted via Warrington Central.
- The Liverpool to Newcastle service will run between Manchester Victoria and Newcastle only.
Friday, 18 April 2014
Huyton Quarry
Work is proceeding at the former site of Huyton Quarry station, where a permanent vehicular access point is being constructed, as well as a sub-station and signalling site.
The roads have been surfaced, and a number of foundations constructed, ready for the sub-station and equipment cabinets.
The roads have been surfaced, and a number of foundations constructed, ready for the sub-station and equipment cabinets.
Thursday, 17 April 2014
Rail Operating Centre at Ashburys
Over in eastern Manchester, construction work is just about finished (They were installing handrails on the footpaths when I was there.) on Network Rail's North West Operating Centre. I'm given to understand that one of its first roles will be to control the signalling at the remodelled Huyton Junction and the new Roby Junction, presumably from mid-July.
Eventually, this centre will control railways all over the North West.
As to the architecture, it's a bit brutal but actually they have cleverly managed to avoid creating a plain ugly cube, so I think I would sum it up as "imposing".
P.S. While travelling to Ashburys I was able to spot an error in the maps on my web site: The eastern access to TPE's Ardwick depot is not electrified.
Eventually, this centre will control railways all over the North West.
As to the architecture, it's a bit brutal but actually they have cleverly managed to avoid creating a plain ugly cube, so I think I would sum it up as "imposing".
P.S. While travelling to Ashburys I was able to spot an error in the maps on my web site: The eastern access to TPE's Ardwick depot is not electrified.
Wednesday, 2 April 2014
Progress Report
One or two people have recently mentioned to me the lack of progress reports in this blog. Basically it's been a case of "no news is good news", as the work on phase two moves on steadily without any individual exciting events.
However, I took a trip to Manchester yesterday so I think an update is in order:
Edge Hill
I've no idea if this has anything to do with the electrification, but a spare piece of railway land on the north side of the line near Bootle Branch Junction has recently been levelled and a fenced-off compound has been created, with concrete foundations inside. Could this be the beginning of a sub-station or switching site?
Roby and Huyton Additional Tracks
Construction work on new platforms is proceeding. The public subway at Huyton is partially closed and the section to be moved has been demolished. Piling work is under way next to the telephone exchange.
I've not seen an official announcement yet, but it has been reported that there will be a nine day closure commencing 5 July for the reconstruction of Huyton Junction and work on Sankey Viaduct.
Huyton Quarry Substation and Vehicular Access
Work continues slowly. The foundation for the sub-station is in place and the roadways are currently hardcore, awaiting the tarmac.
Huyton Quarry to Earlestown
Almost all mast bases are in place, and many of them have masts and contact arms. The only exception is Sankey Viaduct where I didn't spot any indications of work.
Earlestown
Track panels, including switches, are stacked beside the loop, suggesting that work on the track may be about to resume. The crossover from the Down Chat Moss into the loop is still disconnected. On the signalling front, some new signals are still bagged, and I observed some signalling engineers delivering a new relay panel.
Astley
Work on the equipment here continues.
Victoria
Lots of gantries are up between Victoria and Ordsall Lane. Victoria itself is very much a building site, with the tram stop closed at the moment.
What Next?
It can't be long until the first wires go up, can it?
However, I took a trip to Manchester yesterday so I think an update is in order:
Edge Hill
I've no idea if this has anything to do with the electrification, but a spare piece of railway land on the north side of the line near Bootle Branch Junction has recently been levelled and a fenced-off compound has been created, with concrete foundations inside. Could this be the beginning of a sub-station or switching site?
Roby and Huyton Additional Tracks
Construction work on new platforms is proceeding. The public subway at Huyton is partially closed and the section to be moved has been demolished. Piling work is under way next to the telephone exchange.
I've not seen an official announcement yet, but it has been reported that there will be a nine day closure commencing 5 July for the reconstruction of Huyton Junction and work on Sankey Viaduct.
Huyton Quarry Substation and Vehicular Access
Work continues slowly. The foundation for the sub-station is in place and the roadways are currently hardcore, awaiting the tarmac.
Huyton Quarry to Earlestown
Almost all mast bases are in place, and many of them have masts and contact arms. The only exception is Sankey Viaduct where I didn't spot any indications of work.
Earlestown
Track panels, including switches, are stacked beside the loop, suggesting that work on the track may be about to resume. The crossover from the Down Chat Moss into the loop is still disconnected. On the signalling front, some new signals are still bagged, and I observed some signalling engineers delivering a new relay panel.
Astley
Work on the equipment here continues.
Victoria
Lots of gantries are up between Victoria and Ordsall Lane. Victoria itself is very much a building site, with the tram stop closed at the moment.
What Next?
It can't be long until the first wires go up, can it?
New Trains Announced
No sooner had I published a whinge on the subject of rolling stock than the Government comes up with an announcement. You can read the release here, but in summary, two four car electric trains will be operating between Liverpool and Manchester from December 2014. The two diesel units released will be used to run a service on the new Todmorden curve and to strengthen services through Bolton. The announcement goes on to say that by the end of 2015, forty carriages will be in service.
It is intriguing to consider what the two units will do in December:
Nowhere does the release identify what the units will be nor does the word "refurbish" appear.
It is intriguing to consider what the two units will do in December:
- Current stopping trains between Lime Street and Victoria take 62-64 minutes. Could the improved acceleration and higher top speed of electric trains get this far enough below 60 so that the two trains could provide the entire hourly service? Maybe, but I doubt it.
- Option two would be to keep basically the same service as now, and replace some but not all trains with electric units.
- More radically, how about an hourly electric limited stop service in addition to the existing hourly stopper. This sounds good, but doesn't release any diesels.
- [Update] Ah, I've missed another option: Perhaps the units will be deployed on the hourly Liverpool to Manchester Airport services, replacing two of the three diesels required to run this.
Nowhere does the release identify what the units will be nor does the word "refurbish" appear.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)