Bridge Works at Roby

The work to raise the Bridge Road bridge at Roby station is well under way, with the brick-faced concrete parapet being craned in to position when I visited.

Gantries Up!

The first new overhead electrification structures, located on the Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester, have been erected.

Scotland Trains Ordered

The new class 350/3 Desiro units for the Manchester / Scotland services have at last been ordered, the order for ten four-car units from Siemens specifies delivery "no earlier than December 2013", whatever that means.

The contract includes a further ten units for London Midland and the electrification and upgrading of Ardwick depot.

More Network Rail Exhibitions

Network Rail has scheduled some more exhibitions of their plans for the rail network in the region:

Thursday 3 November, St Helens Central station, 15:00 – 19:00
Tuesday 8 November, Huyton station, 15:00 – 19:00
Friday 11 November, Lime Street station, 07:00 – 09:30, 15:00 – 19:00
Saturday 12 November, Lime Street station, 10:00 – 17:00

Scotland Trains Still Missing

A few months ago we were told the new trains to run electric Manchester - Scotland services in 2013 would need to be ordered by September 2011 at the latest. The latest report is that an order might be placed "by early 2012."

This will leave Siemens with very tight timings if they are to deliver the trains on time.