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Network Rail connections to tramways

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L&Y Robert

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Coming into Manchester Victoria from Bury recently I thought I saw that Metrolink has a connection to the rail network, a little distance outside the station. I was not sure, it is not easy to keep a tab on just where adjacent tracks have come from and are going to, especially when viewed from a well-loaded tram. If there is such a thing, what is it used for? Are any of the other developing tramways connected?
 
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Xenophon PCDGS

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Coming into Manchester Victoria from Bury recently I thought I saw that Metrolink has a connection to the rail network, a little distance outside the station. I was not sure, it is not easy to keep a tab on just where adjacent tracks have come from and are going to, especially when viewed from a well-loaded tram. If there is such a thing, what is it used for? Are any of the other developing tramways connected?

The line nearer to Bury was that of the original Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway line leading to Bury Bolton Street railway station.

The line nearer to Manchester Victoria railway station was just part of the existing heavy-rail track layout.
 
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talltim

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There will, hopefully, sometime soon be a link at Meadowhall in Sheffield
 

Rail Ranger

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There isn't a connection at Rochdale. I think that a plan to install one using the previous Oldham line from Rochdale East Junction was later dropped. There is a connection just north of the Dean Lane waste transfer depot. There is also one just north of Altrincham although here Metrolink is actually running on Network Rail lines.
 

yorksrob

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Last time I went through, the connection between Metrolink and NR at Victoria appeared to have been severed. Don't know whether this is still the case.
 

The Planner

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Did it get dropped out of the Rochdale re-sig then? The sectional appendix shows a connection.
 

martin2345uk

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Was that original line not totally severed near to the original approach from the Oldham Loop Line junction whilst the Metrolink line climbs over the new overbridge over the heavy-rail running lines from a new approach connection.

Yes indeed good Sir.
 

SpacePhoenix

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Looking on Google Earth at Wimbledon, looks like there might possibly be a connection there to the Croydon Tramlink
 

jopsuk

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There isn't a link to Tramlink at Wimbledon. Or anywhere else
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Did it get dropped out of the Rochdale re-sig then? The sectional appendix shows a connection.

As you go over the Metrolink overbridge, looking towards Rochdale station in the Manchester-bound direction, there is still an unconnected line stub that I think has former wooden sleepers placed over the end of it.

Are there any plans to completely lift all such disconnected track in the Rochdale station area?
 

matt

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The Metrolink also has a connection to the network via the East Lancs Railway. Engineering works a few years ago made use of it with locos from the ELR being used.
 

edwin_m

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Did it get dropped out of the Rochdale re-sig then? The sectional appendix shows a connection.

It was never in the signalling, just a connection off the end of the reversing siding for use under possession only (as are the other NR-Metrolink connections). Not sure why but I think it was dropped before completion.
 

507 001

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It was never in the signalling, just a connection off the end of the reversing siding for use under possession only (as are the other NR-Metrolink connections). Not sure why but I think it was dropped before completion.

Dean lane is signalled using 'stop await instructions' boards in both directions. It also has de-railers hooked up to hydraulic point machines. None of the equipment has ever been commissioned however.....

The 'stop await instructions' boards are in place at Rochdale, as are a pair of catch/trap points however the track has never been connected and the line is actually blocked a few meters UP of the first trap.
 

yorksrob

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Dean lane is signalled using 'stop await instructions' boards in both directions. It also has de-railers hooked up to hydraulic point machines. None of the equipment has ever been commissioned however.....

The 'stop await instructions' boards are in place at Rochdale, as are a pair of catch/trap points however the track has never been connected and the line is actually blocked a few meters UP of the first trap.

I was under the impression that the line from NR at Rochdale was still required for freight. Is this no longer the case?
 

GrimsbyPacer

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Sheffield will have a connection in the near future for the Supertram-trains to Rotherham. In the past, the last tramway in England to close, The Grimsby & Immingham Electric Railway (owned by BR) was connected. There's also a proposal for Blackpool trams to run to Preston along the South Flyde line.
 

duffield

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Nottingham NET seems to have an NR connection at Bulwell to the Robin Hood Line.

Pretty sure NET's completely isolated from NR.
If that's what you were looking at, the cross-over just South of Bulwell station/tram stop is between the (double track) tram lines, the single track rail line is on the Eastern side of the solum.
 

L&Y Robert

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The line nearer to Bury was that of the original Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway line leading to Bury Bolton Street railway station.

The line nearer to Manchester Victoria railway station was just part of the existing heavy-rail track layout.

Yes Paul, I know only too well! It was my commute-route into Manchester from Burnley. Car to Accrington, steam (2-6-4 tank) to Bury and then on via Clifton Jn. to Victoria (platform 14 as a rule). Sometimes Rawtenstall to Bury, change onto the electric (and here I'm talking about the old - very old - L&Y electrics) to Victoria. Strewth! I'm older than I thought!
 

snowball

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I was under the impression that the line from NR at Rochdale was still required for freight. Is this no longer the case?

Sorry, I don't understand. What freight movement to, from or via Metrolink metals did you think took place over the (non-existent) link?
 
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L&Y Robert

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The Metrolink also has a connection to the network via the East Lancs Railway. Engineering works a few years ago made use of it with locos from the ELR being used.

Yes, I remember that. There were some pictures of a ballast train at Bury, destined, I think, for Metrolink lines. I haven't found the pictures - not enough time. But all that begs the next question - is East Lancs connected to the rail network? After some relaxation of some NR rules, I suppose, "Heritage" lines are being connected (or re-connected - North Norfolk at Sheringham - splendid job).
 
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DarloRich

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is East Lancs connected to the rail network? After some relaxation of some NR rules, I suppose, "Heritage" lines are being connected (or re-connected - North Norfolk at Sheringham - splendid job).

Yes, surely at Castleton? Not sure what you mean by the rest of the post. Heritage lines have always been connected to NR
 

snowball

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I thought the ELR frequently received visits from preserved stock from around the country.
 

L&Y Robert

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Yes, surely at Castleton? Not sure what you mean by the rest of the post. Heritage lines have always been connected to NR

No they haven't. North Norfolk was deliberately severed by BR at the level crossing in Sheringham, and the level crossing grubbed out - abolished, gone. That meant that the residual train service to Sheringham could no longer access the splenid station building - other side of the crossing! - so they built a simple platform instead on the BR side of the crossing site - can't remember if there was even a shelter on it. It's still in use, I think. A buffer stop was erected on the stub end of BR's line, and another on on the stub end (a headshunt actually) of NN's line. Then, after years of this stalemate, and a huge erffort both administratively and practically on the ground, the back-to-back buffers were removed and the level crossing was re-instated. It's a while ago, but the work was well documented and videos made, they are on U-tube. The whole town turned out to see the inorgural train pass through. I was very impressed, and of course delighted but I've yet to get over there to see it.
 

DarloRich

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No they haven't. North Norfolk was deliberately severed by BR at the level crossing in Sheringham, and the level crossing grubbed out - abolished, gone. That meant that the residual train service to Sheringham could no longer access the splenid station building - other side of the crossing! - so they built a simple platform instead on the BR side of the crossing site - can't remember if there was even a shelter on it. It's still in use, I think. A buffer stop was erected on the stub end of BR's line, and another on on the stub end (a headshunt actually) of NN's line. Then, after years of this stalemate, and a huge erffort both administratively and practically on the ground, the back-to-back buffers were removed and the level crossing was re-instated. It's a while ago, but the work was well documented and videos made, they are on U-tube. The whole town turned out to see the inorgural train pass through. I was very impressed, and of course delighted but I've yet to get over there to see it.

great (well aware of the Sheringham situation having lived in Norfolk for a few years. Yes there was a shelter) - but lots of other heritage lines always have been connected to the network. Not sure why all the froth was generated about this one.
 

yorksrob

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Sorry, I don't understand. What freight movement to, from or via Metrolink metals did you think took place over the (non-existent) link?

I was under the impression that there was some sort of a freight service (bin train perhaps) that used the line after it had closed to passengers.
 

thenorthern

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Pretty sure NET's completely isolated from NR.
If that's what you were looking at, the cross-over just South of Bulwell station/tram stop is between the (double track) tram lines, the single track rail line is on the Eastern side of the solum.

It is isolated from the NR network yes although you are right it does look confusing because of the cross-overs.

The Midland Metro may have a connection somewhere but I am not sure.
 
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