WCML rewiring 2026 to 2036

[74A]

Haven't seen anything about this. Over the next ten years network rail are replacing the catenary as its over 50 years old.

Rolling programme of 2 week closures for each section. Going to be a big job.

I thought they had done this when the WCML was upgraded for the pendolino but obviously not.

Also we're they expecting HS2 to be open before they had to do this. Would have made sense.

 

[takno]

Haven't seen anything about this. Over the next ten years network rail are replacing the catenary as its over 50 years old.

Rolling programme of 2 week closures for each section. Going to be a big job.

I thought they had done this when the WCML was upgraded for the pendolino but obviously not.

Also we're they expecting HS2 to be open before they had to do this. Would have made sense.

where are you seeing it now?

 

[The Planner]

Haven't seen anything about this. Over the next ten years network rail are replacing the catenary as its over 50 years old.

Rolling programme of 2 week closures for each section. Going to be a big job.

I thought they had done this when the WCML was upgraded for the pendolino but obviously not.

Also we're they expecting HS2 to be open before they had to do this. Would have made sense.

You want it done before HS2 opens surely, especially as its meant to be the north end. West Coast Route Mod was a southern end job. It was never going up that far.

 

[DJH1971]

It will certainly put pressure on LNER as more people travelling from London to Scotland will end up going via the ECML. Likewise with Chiltern Trains as more people travelling from the West Midlands to London will end up going via the Chilterns

 

[Peter0124]

So does that mean the WCML is closed for 10 years? Or will there be breaks in between each rewiring project?

 

[ainsworth74]

So does that mean the WCML is closed for 10 years? Or will there be breaks in between each rewiring project?

It will be ten years of short term closures in specific areas. They're not going to close the WCML for ten years

 

[swt_passenger]

It will certainly put pressure on LNER as more people travelling from London to Scotland will end up going via the ECML. Likewise with Chiltern Trains as more people travelling from the West Midlands to London will end up going via the Chilterns

It’s the north end of the WCML between Warrington and Carlisle according to a paywalled article in the Times, there’s no reason for Chiltern to be affected at all.

 

[DJH1971]

It’s the north end of the WCML between Warrington and Carlisle according to a paywalled article in the Times, there’s no reason for Chiltern to be affected at all.

So trains to Liverpool, Manchester, North Wales and West Midlands are basically unaffected?

 

[Peter0124]

I thought the Warrington - Carlisle section was wired later in 1974?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jan 2025 ==

It’s the north end of the WCML between Warrington and Carlisle according to a paywalled article in the Times, there’s no reason for Chiltern to be affected at all.

 

[swt_passenger]

So trains to Liverpool, Manchester, North Wales and West Midlands are basically unaffected?

A couple of paragraphs from the Times:

Industry insiders have been told engineers will take possession of the line — shutting it to trains — for three blocks of two weeks each in 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Similar blockades which will affect services between Crewe in Cheshire and Gretna in Dumfriesshire, are anticipated for up to ten years but are not yet scheduled. The stations which will be affected include Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith and Carlisle.

The work starting in 2026 is designed to “renew” rather than simply enhance the west coast main line. The full programme of works is understood to include the replacement of 155 miles of overhead wires installed in 1974, when the line was electrified, as well as the renewal of 140 miles of track and replacement of 2,000 signalling units.

So it’s not just the overhead. The stories do seem to get exaggerated, but AFAICT whether or not HS2 phase 1 is opened will be irrelevant.

 

[Mag_seven]

I thought the Warrington - Carlisle section was wired later in 1974?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jan 2025 ==

Through electric services from Euston to Glasgow Central started in May 1974.

 

[The Planner]

I thought the Warrington - Carlisle section was wired later in 1974?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jan 2025 ==

Renewing a 50 year old asset.

So trains to Liverpool, Manchester, North Wales and West Midlands are basically unaffected?

Yes.

 

[Peter0124]

I also take it diversions via Manchester will happen if the Warrington-Preston section is closed

Renewing a 50 year old asset.

Yes.

Im surprised they arent renewing south of there considering its even older

 

[The Planner]

Im surprised they arent renewing south of there considering its even older

Why? WCRM did a lot of it.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I've never quite understood the scope of WCRM rewiring, but I think it was fast lines only, Euston-Crewe-Manchester (maybe just to Cheadle Hulme).
Crewe-Weaver Jn-Liverpool/Edge Hill was also done I think, and the extremities of the Birmingham loop, and maybe some via Stoke.
The TV4 4-track section would be new OHLE I think.
That still leaves the slow lines (1960-ish) and Weaver Jn-Glasgow/Carstairs (1973-ish).
The rewiring also probably puts paid to ideas of new sections of the WCML to bypass congested areas (which was a post-HS2 ambition).

 

[Verulamius]

Could there be regular diversions via Settle whilst the section north of Preston is renewed?

 

[The Planner]

The rewiring also probably puts paid to ideas of new sections of the WCML to bypass congested areas (which was a post-HS2 ambition).

I don't see why, it just means its new and won't fail if its left alone expecting something that isn't even planned.

Could there be regular diversions via Settle whilst the section north of Preston is renewed?

There are other bets I would probably rather take first.

 

[DJH1971]

Could there be regular diversions via Settle whilst the section north of Preston is renewed?

They would need to be diesel-hauled, unless Avanti can spare any 805's which I highly doubt.

 

[74A]

where are you seeing it now?

Article in the daily mail. Quite long

Link https://www.dailymail.co.uk/galleri...-Britains-busiest-railway-line-set-close.html

 

[The Planner]

Article in the daily mail. Quite long

Link https://www.dailymail.co.uk/galleri...-Britains-busiest-railway-line-set-close.html

Its pictures with about 10 lines of story

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I thought the Warrington - Carlisle section was wired later in 1974?

Most of the wiring was complete in 1973. In fact, electric to diesel locomotive changes happened in Preston during that year. I saw the wiring complete (mainly) north of Preston in 1973 as the house where I grew up in, backed on to the WCML 4 miles north of Preston.

Through electric services from Euston to Glasgow Central started in May 1974.

Correct.

Renewing a 50 year old asset.

Correct 1973/4 ish TO 2025/6/7/8 is 50 years ish.

 

[takno]

Its pictures with about 10 lines of story

Not much danger I'll be trying to read it if it's in the Mail anyway . I was just unsure whether I should be looking for a Network Rail announcement, an industry publication or normal newspapers

 

[Bertie the bus]

There are other bets I would probably rather take first.

Such as betting on Elvis driving the first train following each blockade.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Not much danger I'll be trying to read it if it's in the Mail anyway . I was just unsure whether I should be looking for a Network Rail announcement, an industry publication or normal newspapers

I am sure there will be a major write up in the next few months in RAIL or Modern Railways or both.

 

[Russel]

Could they wire the Windermere branch while they are in the area?

Or is that asking too much?

 

[DJH1971]

Could they wire the Windermere branch while they are in the area?

Or is that asking too much?

Would make sense

 

[thecrofter]

Renewal (of existing wiring) and an Enhancement (electrifying the Windermere Branch) would be two entirely different things - so yes that would be asking too much.

 

[hvordan]

Would make sense

So they probably wont be doing it then!!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

So they probably wont be doing it then!!

Siting masts on the twisty Windermere branch would be quite a design challenge, and I'm sure is out of scope.
The WCML rewiring will probably use high-output equipment as they did for WCRM.
The challenge there will be to rewire the maximum length in (weekend?) possessions to avoid weekday disruption on the line.
I expect it follows on from similar life-expired rewiring on the GEML, which was considerably more complex (mostly 4-track with many crossings).
At least they won't have to deal with LNER-era hardware.

 

[Class 170101]

One would hope they will be rewiring near Penrith (South of M6 Junction 40) during the M6 Bridge Renewal next January.