Liar (anag.)

The current edition of Rail magazine includes an article on the Northwest electrification which marks a disappointing return to the low level of accuracy that earned it the nick-name "Liar" in the 1980s.

I was particularly startled to read that the four tracking at Huyton is in the last stages of resignalling, testing and installation.  In fact, the fourth track is isolated at both ends, has no signals, and no overhead equipment.

A map of the electrification shows the Manchester to Wigan via Walkden line as AC electrified.

Another paragraph states that twenty 319 units will be used but a further ten should move north this year, which I'm fairly sure is also wrong.

TransPennine Electrification Postponed

It has emerged today that Network Rail have postponed the project to electrify the route from Manchester to York.  No new completion date has been set.

The DfT says Network Rail has discovered more work will be needed than was originally proposed.

What effect this will have on the Northwest Sparks area is not clear, but I would guess that Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge and Guide Bridge to Stalybridge are probably under threat.  And perhaps also the fourth track through Roby and Huyton.

Current 319 Rosters

I have received a number of emails from people enquiring as to which services are 319 worked, or reporting a particular train as diesel operated, so I thought it might be useful to create a list.  I was just beginning the process of doing so when a correspondent kindly pointed me to this page on the Rail website, where they have the complete rostered workings for the 319s, thus saving me a job!

Hello Electric (2)

The first Monday of the new timetable didn't start well.

319386's first duty was 5F53 05:25 Preston Carriage Sidings to Wigan North Western, an ECS move prior to it working 2F53 06:03 Wigan North Western to Liverpool Lime Street High Level.  However, it only got as far as Boar's Head before failing, blocking the up WCML for an hour until another 319 rescued it.

This resulted in the 06.03 and 06.33 departures from Wigan being cancelled, along with a number of subsequent workings.

After this inauspicious start things improved, and by the time I went out to collect a few pictures the service was back to normal, although there was quite a lot of late running.  Here's a selection of pictures:

 Anyone hoping we've got rid of the 142s was in for a disappointment, here's 142046 leaving Huyton on 2N80 10:28 Liverpool Lime Street High Level to Blackpool North.  (One of the Warrington Bank Quay workings was also a 142.)

319363 at Huyton working 2F50 10:32 Liverpool Lime Street to Wigan North Western.

At Lime Street we see 319365 about to work 1H47 11:16 Liverpool Lime Street High Level to Manchester Airport, and 319361 which has just arrived on 2F21 10:02 Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street.

319369 arrives at Earlestown on 2F29 12:02 Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street.

Later, in improved weather, 319371 calls at Huyton while working 2F53 13:03 Wigan North Western to Liverpool Lime Street.

319361 on 2F33 13:02 Manchester Victoria to Liverpool Lime Street pulls away from Edge Hill.

Across the platform at Edge Hill, here's 319371 on 2F64 14:00 Liverpool Lime Street to Wigan North Western.

At Prescot, 319364 departs on 2F59 14:03 Wigan North Western to Liverpool Lime Street.

And finally, two 319s meet at Huyton's middle platform.

P.S.  I understand the only planned working north of Wigan is 2N74 18:00 Liverpool Lime Street to Preston.  Here it is at Huyton with 319371.  I believe the stock then stables overnight at Preston, so let's hope 371 has better luck in the morning than 386 did today!

Hello Electric

Well, sort of.  The Sunday trains at Huyton consist of an hourly Blackpool service and an hourly Manchester Airport service.  In the new timetable, which starts today, the latter are to be electric, albeit still on diesel timings.

Here's 319361 calling at Huyton while working 2A08 11:15 Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport.