Wigan-Bolton electrification. Construction updates only please

[GRALISTAIR]

Roger Ford's assertion (mentioned in #125 and a number of times since) is looking wide of the mark. He said the number of bridges needing to be reconstructed had been reduced to one for clearance and two for condition.

Indeed. I was thinking exactly the same. Now I am sure there has been some reduction in the number of interventions needed, but still, Old Captain Deltic is, as you say, looking wide of the mark.

 

[td97]

Possibly in anticipation of additional EMU stabling required for this project, Blackpool carriage sidings depot has had siding lanes 1, 7 & 8 electrified this month.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I see Page 11 of the latest Modern Railways confirms the project but says 2025 completion.

 

[jonesy3001]

Have works resumed on the line or are they still waiting a replacement contractor since buckingham folded.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Have works resumed on the line or are they still waiting a replacement contractor since buckingham folded.

I believe the rail division of Buckingham has been bought out by Kier so work shouldn't be halted.
I've not seen much happening when passing Hindley but a short view at occasional times isn't a big sample size.

Kier acquires Buckingham Group’s rail division

04/09/2023

www.kier.co.uk

Kier acquires Buckingham Group’s rail division​

​

Kier has today announced it has agreed to acquire substantially all the rail assets of Buckingham Group, which has gone into administration. It will become part of the Kier Transportation business, which designs, builds and maintains infrastructure for the highways, rail, aviation and ports sectors. ​

 

[snowball]

The updated Enhancements Delivery Plan has Jul 2025 for completion of Bolton-Wigan, but I don't know whether that was updated before or after Buckingham's administration.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

The updated Enhancements Delivery Plan has Jul 2025 for completion of Bolton-Wigan, but I don't know whether that was updated before or after Buckingham's administration.

It was May 24 so thats a lot of slippage for a simple route and can't be attributed to Buckinghams were they even doing any of wiring or railway systems work. This is small job with some civils work but surely would have been ideal for a 3 monthish blockade to just get bulk of wiring work done.

 

[stan claire]

Possibly in anticipation of additional EMU stabling required for this project, Blackpool carriage sidings depot has had siding lanes 1, 7 & 8 electrified this month.

Would it not make more sense to stable at Springs Branch instead, considering it's close to one of the stations on the route?

 

[WatcherZero]

The Blackpool work is part of the North West Train Lengthening project to accommodate six car trains.

 

[59CosG95]

The Blackpool work is part of the North West Train Lengthening project to accommodate six car trains.

And Springs Branch can already accommodate 6-car trains, can it not?

 

[david l]

Yes, but the Bolton to Wigan electrification will be going to Wigan NW not Wigan Wallgate. As such only No. 1 platform at Wigan NW is accessible from Hindley and long enough for 6 car. As No 1 is currently used far more than previously when there is (seemingly constant) disruption on the WCML and/or Liverpool L St direction there will be little scope for anything extra to be put there, even if reversing down to SP (No. 3 can be used but it is only long enough for a 4 car train- even after recent track alterations that took No. 2 out of use).
Having said all that, slippage from May 2024 to July 2025 seems an amazingly long delay for what is 6.5 miles of double track, when each end is already wired.

 

[standish1]

Work has not started yet on the railway bridge at Ince station.

 

[superkev]

Yes, but the Bolton to Wigan electrification will be going to Wigan NW not Wigan Wallgate. As such only No. 1 platform at Wigan NW is accessible from Hindley and long enough for 6 car. As No 1 is currently used far more than previously when there is (seemingly constant) disruption on the WCML and/or Liverpool L St direction there will be little scope for anything extra to be put there, even if reversing down to SP (No. 3 can be used but it is only long enough for a 4 car train- even after recent track alterations that took No. 2 out of use).
Having said all that, slippage from May 2024 to July 2025 seems an amazingly long delay for what is 6.5 miles of double track, when each end is already wired.

Didn't Roger Ford of Modern railways mag work out various current short Electrifications of Colton Jnc to Church Fenton, Man Vic to Stalybridge and Guide Bridge - worked out at over a year for each mile. Wigan Bolton prob at least as long.
At that rate That would have taken the 200 miles KX to Leeds 200 years.
In business time is money
No wonder the DFT (Dept of twirps) are reluctant to invest in railways.
K

 

[Springs Branch]

Having said all that, slippage from May 2024 to July 2025 seems an amazingly long delay for what is 6.5 miles of double track, when each end is already wired.

Can't remember where I read this nor provide a reference, but at the time the Lostock - Wigan NW scheme was approved (re-approved?), wasn't this meant to be some kind of test case - with Network Rail saying "look, we've learned the lessons from all those huge electrification cost and time overruns from the past decade or two. This time we've worked out a proper budget and the correct project timeframe. This time we'll prove we can deliver on budget and on time"?

Not looking good so far.

 

[Jamesrob637]

When will this be completed? Lostock to Wigan isn't far

 

[Winthorpe]

When will this be completed? Lostock to Wigan isn't far

See post #426:

The updated Enhancements Delivery Plan has Jul 2025 for completion of Bolton-Wigan, but I don't know whether that was updated before or after Buckingham's administration.

 

[td97]

Having said all that, slippage from May 2024 to July 2025 seems an amazingly long delay for what is 6.5 miles of double track, when each end is already wired.

The original 2021 press release does state 2024/25 completion, so nothing to suggest the project will be over this estimate.

Green light given for Wigan to Bolton electrification

Major upgrade, including electrification and longer electric trains, to railway line between Wigan and Bolton announced.

www.gov.uk

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

The original 2021 press release does state 2024/25 completion, so nothing to suggest the project will be over this estimate.

Green light given for Wigan to Bolton electrification

Major upgrade, including electrification and longer electric trains, to railway line between Wigan and Bolton announced.

www.gov.uk

It is the NR enhancements delivery plan document which says it has slipped

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Pictures of the ex-railway arch at Hindley being bricked in, only a small tunnel probably no wider than a car remains.

I noticed recently that the other arch at Hindley has been filled with bricks.
Any clue why? Was the old arch not stable enough and they wanted to put more bricks on it?
Probably not gonna be very helpful if they need anything big down to help with the platform extensions, since they probably can't fit down there anymore.

 

[jonesy3001]

Is there anything happening on the electrification side of the works on the line?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Is there anything happening on the electrification side of the works on the line?

I've not seen anything on the Crow Nest Jn - Wigan leg (except Hindley's bridge and platform extensions), but I basically never head up via Westhoughton so no clue how things are going at that end.

 

[GhostManDN91]

I was just at Hindley then on the train to Manchester. Manchester bound platform there are Kier guys currently cutting down vegetation with a power blade behind where the garden display is from the FOHS. Possibly to do with putting OHLE stuff next?

 

[Merle Haggard]

I noticed recently that the other arch at Hindley has been filled with bricks.
Any clue why? Was the old arch not stable enough and they wanted to put more bricks on it?
Probably not gonna be very helpful if they need anything big down to help with the platform extensions, since they probably can't fit down there anymore.

Was the part over the tracks originally an arch, now a deck?
On the MML the side arches are bricked up when the arch over the tracks is replaced by decking, and I think this is because the spandrels (? - the upper part of the arch) supported each other but when the over track one was removed there was nothing to support (no reaction) the sideways force. But perhaps a bridge engineer will say.
The side arches on the MML look the same, with a central doorway. They're often in open countryside so can't think that they could be for storage.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Was the part over the tracks originally an arch, now a deck?

Yes the part over the remaining track used to be an arch just like the other, but had to be rebuilt for the electrification.

 

[Gricer99]

There is now going to be a consultation next Monday at St Peters Pavillion where they will tell us what they are proposing to do to rise the "deep pit" footbridge, known locally as the Iron bridge bi one metre to allow electrification.
Seems there is a choice between 8 steps on each side or 150 m ramps!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

There is now going to be a consultation next Monday at St Peters Pavillion where they will tell us what they are proposing to do to rise the "deep pit" footbridge, known locally as the Iron bridge bi one metre to allow electrification.
Seems there is a choice between 8 steps on each side or 150 m ramps!

Is this the one you mean?

 

[175001]

Not sure if previously reported, but piling has taken place round Wigan Station Junction and concrete bases have appeared on the Up Hindley around the junction

 

[pokemonsuper9]

View attachment 145090
Is this the one you mean?

I think the works are in reference to the bridge at 53.541596, -2.581086 (google maps), which is much more red.
Despite passing under that bridge well over 200 times I don't think I have a picture of it.
What bridge is that pictured there?

 

[snowball]

Not sure if previously reported, but piling has taken place round Wigan Station Junction and concrete bases have appeared on the Up Hindley around the junction

Are these the first mast foundations on the route?

 

[jonesy3001]

Surprised they didn't start the piling from the lostock jct end where the wires run out from the chorley line.