Wrexham redouble

[Welshman]

Planned bustitution this coming Saturday and Sunday between Rhyl and Chester, so, presumably there is also still work to be done on signalling the Chester/Saltney Junction section.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Planned bustitution this coming Saturday and Sunday between Rhyl and Chester, so, presumably there is also still work to be done on signalling the Chester/Saltney Junction section.

Two weekends in fact, with Wrexham-Chester closed for the week in between.
If the work has been "put back" it will be interesting what kind of railway emerges on 16 November.

The associated NR press item is written in a peculiar way.
Why do they say "closed between Wrexham and Rhyl" and not mention the line between Chester and Rhyl (which carries more trains)?
It must be the view of the world from Cardiff.
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...h-wales-means-changes-to-journeys-in-november

•The railway will be closed between Wrexham and Rhyl, with rail replacement bus services operating on the weekends of 7/8 November and 14/15 November.
•The railway will be closed between Wrexham and Chester, with rail replacement bus services operating between Monday 9 and Friday 13 November

 

[Requeststop]

If I had a ticket bought in advance for a rail journey from Wrexham to Chester, would I be entitled to insist on a journey by rail from Wrexham to Chester up to Bidston, across to Hamilton Square and then down to Chester. Ok the time it would take would be way over the top and the distance just plain silly, but could I insist on travelling by rail instead of by road.

 

[QueensCurve]

Great. I wonder what "revised scheme" means...?

Remaining single where the dual carriageway overbridge only gives clearance for a single track?

 

[PHILIPE]

Planned bustitution this coming Saturday and Sunday between Rhyl and Chester, so, presumably there is also still work to be done on signalling the Chester/Saltney Junction section.

There have also been occupations for several weekends now but just late Saturday nights and affecting just early trains in the Sunday.

 

[po8crg]

If I had a ticket bought in advance for a rail journey from Wrexham to Chester, would I be entitled to insist on a journey by rail from Wrexham to Chester up to Bidston, across to Hamilton Square and then down to Chester. Ok the time it would take would be way over the top and the distance just plain silly, but could I insist on travelling by rail instead of by road.

There's a quicker route with only one change via Shrewsbury.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Remaining single where the dual carriageway overbridge only gives clearance for a single track?

There's two tracks under there.

 

[D1009]

If I had a ticket bought in advance for a rail journey from Wrexham to Chester, would I be entitled to insist on a journey by rail from Wrexham to Chester up to Bidston, across to Hamilton Square and then down to Chester. Ok the time it would take would be way over the top and the distance just plain silly, but could I insist on travelling by rail instead of by road.

The short answer to your question is no.

 

[Gareth Marston]

The short answer to your question is no.

The Anytime Day a Return from Wrexham to Liverpool is valid via Bisdton and Chester for £11.40 you can do Wrexham to Chester using that.

 

[Rydon]

Looking the section yesterday there seems an enormous amount of work still to be done at the level crossings. And I think they said at their drop in meetings handed over by 23rd Novmber. Now that will be very interesting to see.

 

[Rhydgaled]

Remaining single where the dual carriageway overbridge only gives clearance for a single track?

There's two tracks under there.

There's still to be a single-line section though isn't there, it isn't a full redouble? I assume the remaining single bits will be due to unfortunately narrow bridges.

 

[craigybagel]

There's still to be a single-line section though isn't there, it isn't a full redouble? I assume the remaining single bits will be due to unfortunately narrow bridges.

It's only about the first four miles from Saltney Junction that's being doubled, the rest remains single all the way to Wrexham. The original plan extended the double track north of Wrexham as well, just leaving single track for the most difficult few miles, which include a bridge over the dual carriageway that was only built wide enough for single track. Those plans were however watered down.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

There's still to be a single-line section though isn't there, it isn't a full redouble? I assume the remaining single bits will be due to unfortunately narrow bridges.

The single track bridge over the A483 at Gresford is the obvious stumbling block, but it seems the job of redoubling from Rossett up Gresford bank would also have been a big job to meet current standards.
It would also have required signalling changes at the Wrexham end, which are not required in the present scheme.
The track under the A483 further north at Balderton has already been doubled and is just waiting for its signalling in the next week or so.

 

[Gareth Marston]

The single track bridge over the A483 at Gresford is the obvious stumbling block, but it seems the job of redoubling from Rossett up Gresford bank would also have been a big job to meet current standards.
It would also have required signalling changes at the Wrexham end, which are not required in the present scheme.
The track under the A483 further north at Balderton has already been doubled and is just waiting for its signalling in the next week or so.

All to save a mere £400K on the A483 dual carriageway of course the A483 and A55 achieved the promise of their promoters and turned North Wales into the economic land of milk and honey as can be seen by the fact that north wales has the highest number of millionaires per square mile in the UK..........oh might be mistaken there it's the highest number of whiners per square mile about the shortcomings of the A55 and the crashes on it.

 

[Rhydgaled]

It's only about the first four miles from Saltney Junction that's being doubled, the rest remains single all the way to Wrexham. The original plan extended the double track north of Wrexham as well, just leaving single track for the most difficult few miles, which include a bridge over the dual carriageway that was only built wide enough for single track. Those plans were however watered down.

The single track bridge over the A483 at Gresford is the obvious stumbling block, but it seems the job of redoubling from Rossett up Gresford bank would also have been a big job to meet current standards.
It would also have required signalling changes at the Wrexham end, which are not required in the present scheme.
The track under the A483 further north at Balderton has already been doubled and is just waiting for its signalling in the next week or so.

Thank you both for the clarification. A shame that the bridge over the A483 was only single-track even though the A483 bridge over the railway apparently allowed for double-track underneath.

 

[Sox]

Thank you both for the clarification. A shame that the bridge over the A483 was only single-track even though the A483 bridge over the railway apparently allowed for double-track underneath.

Air is cheaper than concrete

... but it's this kind of short-termism that makes my blood boil

 

[Rydon]

So the press now report the work may be delayed until the spring. How can it be just last month it was announced it was to be completed by the end of November and suddenly it's another 6 months????

 

[The Planner]

Depends on whats gone pear shaped. The biggest problem is getting agreed access for another long wheels free block and the resource, it isnt as though you can just go up to ATW etc and say "we are going to close it again in a fortnight, you are ok with that yeah?"

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I had a run round by road today along the route.
Work was going on at at least 2 of the 4 level crossings, with a road-railer on the track at Balderton.
Green Lane and Pulford LCs are closed for the week, Balderton is open (didn't see Broad Oak).
There was a lot of activity at the Rossett work site, diggers at work etc.
It looked as though the new signalling at the Saltney end was switched on, but at Rossett it was still bagged up.
I still don't know what work is being done on the main line last/next weekend.
Saltney Jn itself was relaid last year, with the new Wrexham turnout installed.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The 2nd track between Rossett and Saltney Jn is still not in use, despite the 9-day blockade.
All trains are still using the western track.
Although the eastern track looks finished, none of the new signalling is in use.
As predicted, the 2 miles of the western track between Balderton and Green Lane crossings is still ancient jointed track.
Disappointing.

As it happens, both trains I used were delayed because of northbound 20-minute delays before Wrexham.
As a result, 2 southbound trains were held at Saltney Jn for the single line to clear.
Delays would have been minimal if the 2nd track had been in use, with trains passing around Balderton.

 

[Rydon]

From what i'm hearing this project won't be finished before spring.

 

[Wales_Commuter]

shame for the passengers, will it have much benefit when it's complete?

 

[craigybagel]

Interestingly enough, we'll be squeezing 2tph in both directions over the line this weekend, whilst Crewe-Shrewsbury is shut for engineering work. Some of the extra northbound services have lengthy waits at Wrexham though. Wrexham will also temporarily gain an hourly direct (well, no changes at least) Manchester service.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

From what i'm hearing this project won't be finished before spring.

Modern Railways (Dec p22) says NR discovered the signalling cables were not good enough and spent the recent blockade replacing them.
Another blockade will be required to commission the new signalling.

The main benefit for the time being will be timekeeping, as it will halve the occupation time for the single track (something like 5 minutes instead of 10).

 

[PHILIPE]

Interestingly enough, we'll be squeezing 2tph in both directions over the line this weekend, whilst Crewe-Shrewsbury is shut for engineering work. Some of the extra northbound services have lengthy waits at Wrexham though. Wrexham will also temporarily gain an hourly direct (well, no changes at least) Manchester service.

Through next week also.

 

[craigybagel]

Through next week also.

So it is, I hadn't realised. There was talk we'd go via the Oxley chord instead but this way is prettier I suppose.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Through next week also.

Taking Crewe Gresty Lane box out of use, apparently.
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2015/nov/signalling-updated-Crewe-Shrewsbury/

 

[TDK]

Managed to get some more information on this project. The line speed enhancement between Wrexham North Junction and Saltney is as follows:-

60mph from Wrexham North Junction to Rossett - 90mph from Rossett to Balderton - 60mph from Balderton to Saltney and 50mph over Saltney.

From Saltney to Wrexham North Junction:-

Saltney to Rossett 90mph - Rossett to Wrexham North Junction 60mph - 50mph.

The jointed track from Balderton to Green Lane crossing is remaining as there is not enough money to replace it hence the 60mph from Balderton to Saltney

The enhanced speeds from Gobowen to Shrewsbury have not been passed as the line is not in a good enough condition for the speed increase, also NR will have more in maintenance costs with a 90mph run so are not too excited in the increase so therefore as far as I have been informed the increase will not go ahead.

The completion date for the redouble is February next year supposedly unless the workforce can get a lengthy block to complete the works quicker.

I posted this last August, so the person I spoke to was correct and they knew in August that the redouble would not be completed in November. I was told also that the wiring for the signalling had not even started and this was the cause for the delay in completion, nothing about the wiring not being up to standard. I cannot name my source but it was obviously a good one!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

shame for the passengers, will it have much benefit when it's complete?

As far as I can see none!

 

[The Planner]

Taking Crewe Gresty Lane box out of use, apparently.
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2015/nov/signalling-updated-Crewe-Shrewsbury/

Ha ha, modern signalling system at Crewe, the one that is being life extended. I do love our spin.

 

[craigybagel]

Ha ha, modern signalling system at Crewe, the one that is being life extended. I do love our spin.

I did wonder about that! That said, I'd take it over the shiny brand new signalling it integrates with at the other end in Nantwich. 3 months it took to get it to not treat every train as an all stops local rather than a 90mph express....I don't believe the drivers are happy about their retinas getting seared every night either.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Ha ha, modern signalling system at Crewe, the one that is being life extended. I do love our spin.

I did wonder about that! That said, I'd take it over the shiny brand new signalling it integrates with at the other end in Nantwich. 3 months it took to get it to not treat every train as an all stops local rather than a 90mph express....I don't believe the drivers are happy about their retinas getting seared every night either.

They do like dumbing down their technical descriptions, don't they:

£25m investment to modernise signalling – the traffic light system of the railway – as part of Network Rail's Railway Upgrade Plan

£25m seems a lot to re-control one signal box.
Is it actually doing more than that?