Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[Purple Orange]

Between Leeds and Huddersfield the linespeed will fluctuate between 85 MPH and 100 MPH compared to the current 75 MPH, the only exception being the curve on which Morley station sits on which will be raised from 45 MPH to 60 MPH.

Thanks. Therefore thinking a step further, if full electrification through to Manchester takes place, would a similar line speed increase be feasible between Manchester & Huddersfield?

 

[Bald Rick]

Could anyone state what the maximum and average line speed will be between Huddersfield & Leeds after this stage of TPRU is completed?

I am taking the comments earlier about Leeds to Church Fenton at 110mph and Church Fenton to York at 125mph to be the latest view for that section.

Dewsbury - Hudd, no idea, but looking at the alignment I’d be surprised if any was above 100mph.

*edit* ignore me, better answer above.

 

[Halish Railway]

Thanks. Therefore thinking a step further, if full electrification through to Manchester takes place, would a similar line speed increase be feasible between Manchester & Huddersfield?

Yes, up to 100 MPH through Standedge tunnel and 95 MPH between Huddersfield and Slaithwaite.

The most important line speed increase will be at Stalybridge; Currently it’s 50 MPH across the eastern throat and the platforms and 35 MPH across the western throat. From what I understand this will change to 80 MPH and 70 MPH.

 

[Purple Orange]

Between Leeds and Huddersfield the linespeed will fluctuate between 85 MPH and 100 MPH compared to the current 75 MPH, the only exception being the curve on which Morley station sits on which will be raised from 45 MPH to 60 MPH.

Post #3,529 has the proposed line speeds on it.

Thanks for pointing out the graph too!

 

[jonesy3001]

Are the wires going up in stages?

York to church fenton,
Church fenton to Neville hill junction,
Leeds to Huddersfield,
Huddersfield to stalybridge,
Stalybridge to guide bridge/miles platting.

 

[Glenn1969]

I admit I hope these upgrades are not delayed by the effects of the pandemic. And that an upgrade of the Calder Valley route that includes electrification of some or all could follow in CP7 or CP8.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Yes, up to 100 MPH through Standedge tunnel and 95 MPH between Huddersfield and Slaithwaite.
The most important line speed increase will be at Stalybridge; Currently it’s 50 MPH across the eastern throat and the platforms and 35 MPH across the western throat. From what I understand this will change to 80 MPH and 70 MPH.

Indeed - that is a substantial proposed increase. I had not realised before even though I have seen the graph dozens of times.

Are the wires going up in stages?
York to church fenton,
Church fenton to Neville hill junction,
Leeds to Huddersfield,
Huddersfield to stalybridge,
Stalybridge to guide bridge/miles platting.

Yes and it makes sense too imho. NR/DfT/HM Treasury have been burned once too often on electrification costs. Doing stages with each stage full costed etc that each bring benefits - but if a horrendous cost overrun on any stage - cancel the lot.
I don't want to get into speculative territory, but suggest Leeds -Selby will come before Church Fenton - Neville Hill jct and then you only have a very small infill anyway.

I admit I hope these upgrades are not delayed by the effects of the pandemic. And that an upgrade of the Calder Valley route that includes electrification of some or all could follow in CP7 or CP8.

Again I think it makes good sense. You should not have two Transpennine routes being disrupted and electrified at the same time. Calder Valley should only follow when Stalybridge route is done.

 

[Bald Rick]

Are the wires going up in stages?

York to church fenton,
Church fenton to Neville hill junction,
Leeds to Huddersfield,
Huddersfield to stalybridge,
Stalybridge to guide bridge/miles platting.

All the right electrification, but not necessarily in the right order
(With apologies to Eric Morecambe).

 

[Roast Veg]

Because Huddersfield to Stalybridge is very firmly at the bottom of the pile, marked in pencil as "203x".

 

[jonesy3001]

All the right electrification, but not necessarily in the right order
(With apologies to Eric Morecambe).

Which order is the electrification going in, please.

 

[Ploughman]

Between Leeds and Huddersfield the linespeed will fluctuate between 85 MPH and 100 MPH compared to the current 75 MPH, the only exception being the curve on which Morley station sits on which will be raised from 45 MPH to 60 MPH.

Post #3,529 has the proposed line speeds on it.

Back in the early 2000's we relaid both lines through Morley Tunnel, ISTR that we had great difficult in getting the track alignment suitable for even 45mph, I think we ended up cutting off some of the platform ramp on the Up in particular. This was due to the proximity of the Tunnel portal and the curvature through the platform along with required crosslevels.
Are more alterations planned to achieve this increase?

 

[Grimsby town]

Which order is the electrification going in, please.

Currently its likely to be Colton Junction (York) - Church Fenton followed by Leeds to Huddersfield.

I don't think there is a public commitment to do anything else. Victoria to Stalybridge is very likely to happen and I imagine could occur at the same time as the above sections and therefore be complete by 2025. As for Leeds to Selby / Church Fenton there is very little information in the public domain currently. Stalybridge to Huddersfield isn't even officially being electrified yet, although I believe full electrification is currently considered the optimal solution. That section will almost certainly be the last to be completed.

 

[jonesy3001]

Are they still doing the stalybridge to guide bridge line or has that been shelved?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Which order is the electrification going in, please.

Currently its likely to be Colton Junction (York) - Church Fenton followed by Leeds to Huddersfield.

I don't think there is a public commitment to do anything else. Victoria to Stalybridge is very likely to happen and I imagine could occur at the same time as the above sections and therefore be complete by 2025. As for Leeds to Selby / Church Fenton there is very little information in the public domain currently. Stalybridge to Huddersfield isn't even officially being electrified yet, although I believe full electrification is currently considered the optimal solution. That section will almost certainly be the last to be completed.

So
1. York to church Fenton - Piling is taking place right now. Exttract from NR letter
Our specialist teams will now be working along the track between the following dates:
Saturday 16 January (PM) – Sunday 24 January (AM) - We will be piling overnight along the line in a southward direction starting north of Bolton Percy and moving to Ulleskelf and Church Fenton
Monday 25 January (PM) - Friday 29 January (AM)- We will be piling overnight along the line in a southward direction through Church Fenton

2. Leeds to Huddersfield - loads actually committed 589 million iirc so in the process of happening but civils will come first

3. Stalybridge to Miles Platting. Some work - civils already in progress

4. Neville hill junction - Selby

5. Infill lto Colton Jct

6. Huddersfield to Stalybridge - definitely last

 

[Class 170101]

All the right electrification, but not necessarily in the right order
(With apologies to Eric Morecambe).

Which order is the electrification going in, please.

Currently its likely to be Colton Junction (York) - Church Fenton followed by Leeds to Huddersfield.

I don't think there is a public commitment to do anything else. Victoria to Stalybridge is very likely to happen and I imagine could occur at the same time as the above sections and therefore be complete by 2025. As for Leeds to Selby / Church Fenton there is very little information in the public domain currently. Stalybridge to Huddersfield isn't even officially being electrified yet, although I believe full electrification is currently considered the optimal solution. That section will almost certainly be the last to be completed.

Are they still doing the stalybridge to guide bridge line or has that been shelved?

One would expect wiring from Guide Bridge and Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge and to where the feeder station is on the Western side of the Pennines. On the Eastern side not knowing exactly where the the feeder station is but that would surely depend on how much wiring is needed to support electric services without imposing power limitations on services.

 

[59CosG95]

One would expect wiring from Guide Bridge and Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge and to where the feeder station is on the Western side of the Pennines. On the Eastern side not knowing exactly where the the feeder station is but that would surely depend on how much wiring is needed to support electric services without imposing power limitations on services.

Ravensthorpe is where the feeder between Leeds & Huddersfield is.
If, as I suspect the designer might well do, an autotransformer solution is chosen, there probably won’t need to be another feeder between Heyrod & Ravensthorpe.
East of Leeds, meanwhile, will be fed from the ECML PSU2 (Power Supply Upgrade Phase 2) 132kV SFC (Static Frequency Converter) FS at Hambleton Junction.

 

[Halish Railway]

East of Leeds, meanwhile, will be fed from the ECML PSU2 (Power Supply Upgrade Phase 2) 132kV SFC (Static Frequency Converter) FS at Hambleton Junction.

Ok, that explains why Selby to Leeds needs to be done before York to Leeds fully. I assume that the currently undergoing construction electrification from Colton Junction to Church Fenton will feed off of existing sub stations on the ECML.

 

[jonesy3001]

Have the bridges been raised for electrification on the guide bridge line.

 

[Mikey C]

Are the wires going up in stages?

York to church fenton,
Church fenton to Neville hill junction,
Leeds to Huddersfield,
Huddersfield to stalybridge,
Stalybridge to guide bridge/miles platting.

5 separate projects

5 separate announcements for a politician to announce and take credit for

 

[GRALISTAIR]

5 separate projects

5 separate announcements for a politician to announce and take credit for

Cynical but almost certainly correct!!

 

[Class 170101]

Ravensthorpe is where the feeder between Leeds & Huddersfield is.
If, as I suspect the designer might well do, an autotransformer solution is chosen, there probably won’t need to be another feeder between Heyrod & Ravensthorpe.
East of Leeds, meanwhile, will be fed from the ECML PSU2 (Power Supply Upgrade Phase 2) 132kV SFC (Static Frequency Converter) FS at Hambleton Junction.

Thanks for reminding me about thr western feeder station I'd forgotten (though I probably shouldn't have given the Great Extension Lead). Presumably Wortley feeder station (referred to below) will also assist.

 

[nr758123]

5 separate projects

5 separate announcements for a politician to announce and take credit for

Not only that, they can announce and take the credit for each project several times. I've lost count of how many times TRU has been announced and re-announced, but 5 times sounds about right.

 

[YorksLad12]

5 separate projects

5 separate announcements for a politician to announce and take credit for

Cynical but almost certainly correct!!

"A" politician? It'll be the Transport Secretary of the day (unless the PM needs a win); Liam Robinson for Transport for the North; Andy Burnham or the West Yorkshire Mayor, depending in which side of the hill it is; the local Transport Committee Chair (if they still exist); the Leader of the nearest council or councils; the Leader of the parish council that the works compound is being built in; and anyone else they can fit into the photo...

 

[Greybeard33]

Have the bridges been raised for electrification on the guide bridge line.

There are two old arch bridges over the Stalybridge to Guide Bridge line. I don't know if they would need raising/replacing, but they only carry footways not motor roads.

 

[jonesy3001]

There are two old arch bridges over the Stalybridge to Guide Bridge line. I don't know if they would need raising/replacing, but they only carry footways not motor roads.

They've been raising most bridges so the wires can go under, unless they drop the track under both and either reuse the old gantries or put in new ones for the wires.

 

[Greybeard33]

They've been raising most bridges so the wires can go under, unless they drop the track under both and either reuse the old gantries or put in new ones for the wires.

These bridges are beyond the limit of the old 1500V DC wires, which used to extend part way from Guide Bridge towards Stalybridge.

 

[jonesy3001]

These bridges are beyond the limit of the old 1500V DC wires, which used to extend part way from Guide Bridge towards Stalybridge.

Didn't realise the wires went that far down.

 

[yorkie]

As this is a progress updates thread, and not a speculation thread, I have moved some posts to the appropriate forum section:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/huddersfield-to-stalybridge-electrification-how-could-this-be-done-and-how-can-the-challenges-be-overcome.213449/

If we can try to keep to progress updates in this thread that would be great.

If anyone wishes to discuss anything other than progress updates, please create a new thread (if there isn't one already); you are welcome to link to any such thread from here

Thanks!

 

[59CosG95]

Piling should be finishing tomorrow according to the piling update letter.
After that, who knows?

 

[Efini92]

Have the bridges been raised for electrification on the guide bridge line.

The guide bridge lines shouldn’t need bridges lifting. It was wired in the 50’s with the 1500v dc overheads.