New Timetable (from 17 May)

I've noticed a few comments at other places on the internet about "Electric services from May", so it might be timely to point out that we are now twelve weeks away from the timetable change and currently the new timetable is pretty much exactly the same as the old one.

So, while we can expect to have electric trains soon (My guess is March for Liverpool to Manchester Airport, April/May for Manchester Victoria, and Wigan at the same time or soon after.), they are probably going to be gradually phased in, running in diesel timings for a good few months, perhaps until December.

Of course, all this is guesswork.  I am not privy to the internal planning processes of the railway, and a new electric timetable could appear at any moment to prove me wrong, but I doubt it.

Wiring at Huyton Junction

I nipped up to Huyton this morning to see the wiring team in action, a rare opportunity to observe these nocturnal creatures in daylight.

As you can see, we still have just catenary on the Down Fast and Down Slow, but since Friday's picture droppers have been added. An earth wire has also been added through Huyton Station.

Hand-cranking the points prior to moving one of the cherrypickers:

By 13:30 the down slow had gained a contact wire, suspended from the droppers and some temporary pulleys, and two cherrypickers were engaged in adjusting the positioning of the arms and wires.

Progress at Huyton

At last, some overhead wires have appeared at Huyton.  To be specific, catenary wire has been strung over the Down Fast and Down Slow lines for the length of the platforms and beyond.

As you can see, the catenary has not been fixed to the supports in all places yet.

Timetable Chaos

I'm writing this early on Friday afternoon, and I don't know what the train service at Huyton will be tomorrow.

As of 13:20 today, my timetable database, National Rail's web site, Open Train Times and Real Time Trains all agree that we have a normal Saturday service tomorrow.

On the other hand, Northern Rail's web site and Northern Rail posters on Huyton Station show that there are no trains via St Helens Central with an hourly bus service running between Huyton and Wigan.  Liverpool to Blackpool trains are diverted via Newton.

To me, the replacement timetable looks like a Sunday one, so my guess is that someone at Northern has misread their calendar, but who knows?  Even if it is just a minor error on the date, what if Northern have rostered their staff accordingly?

Actually, on further examination, the replacement timetable looks very much like the plan for this coming Sunday before the decision was announced last Friday to close the line to Earlestown as well as to Wigan.

Hopefully, I'll be able to update this report with solid confirmation before too long...

Update: 14:35 Northern Rail's Twitter team initially confirmed buses but, when I questioned them a little harder, apologised and said trains as normal.  I await a web site update and the removal of the posters at Huyton without much hope.  My first ever tweets!

I think that's about as solid a confirmation as we're going to get, until the 05:32 Liverpool to Wigan turns left at Huyton Junction tomorrow morning.  Or doesn't.

Update: Sunday  For the historical record, I travelled on a 'normal service' train to Wigan via St Helens Central on Saturday morning.

First Service Sweepstake

Way back in November I commented on the delays to phase two and suggested the week commencing 9 February for the first electric services, to coincide with the reopening of Manchester Airport.

As time has moved on I have thought this less and less likely, but today's news that the fourth and last portal has been erected on Sankey Viaduct, coupled with the very short notice closure this Sunday, means I can't quite rule it out yet.

There are three weekends left, could that possibly enough?  I suggest we will need to see wires up at Huyton this weekend, and probably further Sunday closures, if there is to be any chance.

Edit:  Well, it didn't take long for those comments to go out of date!  Network Rail have confirmed Sunday and Friday evening closures up until 1 March so I think we can be pretty confident there won't be an electric service until after then.