Blackpool Line Update

My thanks to Graham for some pictures and updates from the Blackpool line:

At Salwick work is just about complete.  The rebuilt bridge has unusual metal parapets.

 At Kirkham and Wesham the main bridge span has been rebuilt and the road has re-opened.  I'm not sure what the plan is for the bridge span over the down platform track.

 

First Time!

Yesterday, amongst the train service disruption notices I spotted this:

Overhead wire problems are causing disruption at Eccles. 
Because of this, trains between Manchester and Liverpool Lime Street / Warrington Bank Quay via Earlestown may be delayed by up to 40 minutes. These delays will continue until further notice. 

Oh dear.  It didn't take long to go pear shaped did it!

Eccleston Park Works

A reader kindly provided these pictures of work at Eccleston Park, taken last year.  Thanks, Dave.

 Two shots of the raising of the bridge.

The remains of the old up platform can be seen beyond the end of the current one.

(Up is towards Wigan.)

Phase One "Nearly There"

I notice that the late evening services between Manchester and Chester which have been buses on Mondays to Thursdays, are to be trains again from September 9th.

So work on Phase One - Manchester to Newton-le-Willows and to Lowton Junction - is presumably expected to be mostly completed by then.

Progress Reports

A number of correspondents have provided progress updates:

• A work site, currently empty, has appeared just west of Huyton Junction on the north side of the line at the site of Huyton Quarry station.
• Mast bases have started appearing between Huyton and Eccleston Park.
• Lots of new cable troughing and new rails in the Newton/Earlestown area.
• The switching/substation site at Newton-le-Willows appears externally complete.
• Wiring also appears complete on the Parkside Junction to Lowton Junction curve.
• The length of catenary going east from Parkside Junction is getting a lot longer.
• New cable troughing is being laid east of Eccles.

My thanks to all who took the trouble to email me.