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:

1. 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.
2. Option two would be to keep basically the same service as now, and replace some but not all trains with electric units. 
3. 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.
4. [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.

"New" Trains

It was as long ago as June 2011 that I first commented in this blog about the plan to use class 319 units no longer required on Thameslink to run the electrified services here in the northwest.  At the time I suggested that these trains were unlikely to be available in sufficient numbers for the scheduled start of services in December 2014.

Since then I have mentioned my concerns a couple more times, and also corresponded with the DfT.

Now, here we are just eight months from the supposed start of electric services on the phase two routes, and what is the latest news on our new electric trains?  This month's Modern Railways, in an editorial which is highly critical of Government Ministers' and the DfT's handling of this matter, reports that Northern may receive - wait for it - three un-refurbished 319s this year.  So it would seem we will be riding under our shiny new wires in the same old diesel units for some time.

This certainly makes my comment in January about the "last diesel timetable" look somewhat premature!

Complaints in St Helens

This article in the St Helens Star reports that a number of residents near the line are complaining about the masts installed near their homes.

Complaints include spoilt views, close proximity of the masts to properties, and a leaky gas main that will be dangerous when the power is turned on.

The more cynical amongst us might suspect that this is an attempt to get compensation, and indeed the majority of the comments on the web page seem to be of that opinion.

Newsflashes

Correspondents have provided the following updates: 

• Work is once again under way on the skew bridge at Rainhill, attempting to put right the problems with the previous attempt which I reported here.
• Some mast bases have been installed on the Ince Moss Junction to Bamfurlong Junction curve.  This would seem to confirm that this line will be included in the electrification.  Update:  Since typing this I have seen an email from Network Rail also confirming the curve is to be electrified.
• Masts have been erected around Broad Green station, the first on this section of the route.

Many thanks to all those who email me with reports.

Huyton and Roby Update

Work is proceeding apace on the extra tracks through Huyton and Roby.  My thanks go to David Hull for a very comprehensive report and the following pictures.

See my previous blog post for a plan of the track layouts.

Two lengths of track on the third line have been laid, one west of Roby and one between Roby and Huyton.  Here's a shot looking west from Roby.








The piling work west of Roby continues, it would appear that the embankment needs widening to make room for four tracks.  Apparently the LNWR's parsimonious track spacing does not comply with modern standards.



Roby

Brickwork is being laid for platform extensions.

The explanation for the props under the canopy is that the work to gut the station building and install a lift shaft will remove the counterbalancing in the building's structure.  When the work is complete the props can be removed.

The joint I complained about in the subway continues to seep water, but the fact that the subway is not full after the recent wet weather is a tremendous improvement on previous years.

Huyton

A different access route for platform two is in use, leaving the platform west of the shelter and running along the new formation to join the access ramp half way down.  This is because the east-most end of the platform is closed to allow constructiuon of a lift shaft.

Platform edging for platform 4 is well under way.

Lift shaft construction is progressing, with the one on platform 4 complete to ground level.











The western ends of the existing platforms are closed off with these rustic-looking gates.

Typographical nit-pickers will note that the S is upside down!  Surprisingly the sign at the other end of the station is correct.