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Ramsgreave and Wilpshire Station

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Sox

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Saw quite a large team of individuals working under floodlight tonight (Sunday) at the above. Amongst other things, they seemed to be lengthening the platforms.
 
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Jonny

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Saw quite a large team of individuals working under floodlight tonight (Sunday) at the above. Amongst other things, they seemed to be lengthening the platforms.

They would be more than welcome up in the North-East, start with Chester-le-Street and then do a few on the Tyne Valley line.
 

ainsworth74

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They would be more than welcome up in the North-East, start with Chester-le-Street and then do a few on the Tyne Valley line.

Why? I wasn't aware that platform length was an issue at stations in the North East? Unless someone is proposing 8-car services all of sudden (not that I would complain ;)).
 

Jonny

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Why? I wasn't aware that platform length was an issue at stations in the North East? Unless someone is proposing 8-car services all of sudden (not that I would complain ;)).

Not immediately - but a lot of services through Chester-le-Street are just too long to stop without costly SDO (or need to do a "precision stop" if 5 x 23m carriages); also anything 5-car would just be too long for the Tyne Valley - which could be a good place from which to run direct-to-London (Hexham is a rich town with a large catchment area as is Corbridge). It would also make more room for sharper approaches
 

ainsworth74

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Not immediately - but a lot of services through Chester-le-Street are just too long to stop without costly SDO (or need to do a "precision stop" if 5 x 23m carriages); also anything 5-car would just be too long for the Tyne Valley - which could be a good place from which to run direct-to-London (Hexham is a rich town with a large catchment area as is Corbridge). It would also make more room for sharper approaches

But seeing as there are no plans for services such as these to serve areas on the Tyne Valley or to have improved services for CLS (though do knows it could do with them), it seems to me that it would be fairly pointless to extend the platforms. I don't think railways work on the principle of 'if you build it they will come' when it comes to longer trains ;)

Also apologies to the OP we seem to have derailed your post with the very first reply :oops:
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Saw quite a large team of individuals working under floodlight tonight (Sunday) at the above. Amongst other things, they seemed to be lengthening the platforms.

I was unaware that the existing platform lengths at Ramsgreave and Wilpshire were unsuitable there for the units that run the Manchester to Clitheroe service. The station was re-opened in 1994, some distance away from the site of the old station, with the specification of construction that was prevalent when many new stations in the North of England were being built.
 

Lampshade

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Quite odd given [STN]RGW[/STN] can take 2x156; what else could they possibly want to stop there?
 

Sox

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I was unaware that the existing platform lengths at Ramsgreave and Wilpshire were unsuitable there for the units that run the Manchester to Clitheroe service. The station was re-opened in 1994, some distance away from the site of the old station, with the specification of construction that was prevalent when many new stations in the North of England were being built.
The workers seemed to have taken down the tip of the existing platform (up-line being nearest to me), brick by brick, to foundation level. I suggested platform lengthening as I couldn't think of anything else they might be doing.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Rebuilding the platforms by chance? They are built on stilts IIRC.

Since this station was rebuilt in 1994 to the specification prevalent at that time when many new stations were built, the materials used should not have been subject to degradation to that extent. Could it have anything to do with the groundwork stability in the area where this new station was constructed?
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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All stations on the Clitheroe line could take a 150+153 max until the work started, but all platforms by next month will be able to take 2x156

Is there any reason why the stations are being lengthened to take 2 x 156? Are there proposals to run trains with more capacity on this line? There are currently only the stations at Langho, Whalley and Clitheroe after this station, that are currently in use on the final part of the Manchester to Clitheroe service.
 

175001

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Yeah, and also its to do with the fact that at times, on the peak diagrams, you do get at times 156's coupled to a 150 or another 156 that make it too long, and also, OK they might be seasonal. but the Dales Rail, and Santa Specials do throw up 4 car diagrams, the Santa Specials are planned for 2x156's always :D
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Yeah, and also its to do with the fact that at times, on the peak diagrams, you do get at times 156's coupled to a 150 or another 156 that make it too long

Thank you for this explanation. Do I take it that with the possible exception of the request stop at Entwistle, all the stations between Bolton and Blackburn are already of the correct length to take the unit formations on the Manchester Victoria to Clitheroe service that you describe?
 

MidnightFlyer

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AFAIK yes, but Darwen / Hall-i-th-Wood may be close. Entwistle and Bromley X are fine.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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AFAIK yes, but Darwen / Hall-i-th-Wood may be close. Entwistle and Bromley X are fine.

You have named a station here at Hall i' th' Wood which was opened in 1986 under the new construction specification prevalent at the same time in which the rebuilt Ramsgreave and Wilpshire was also constructed. I wondered if the specification stipulated a standard platform length for all such stations constructed at that time or could length variations be allowed subject to specific site requirements or constraints.
 

Sox

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Yeah, and also its to do with the fact that at times, on the peak diagrams, you do get at times 156's coupled to a 150 or another 156 that make it too long, and also, OK they might be seasonal. but the Dales Rail, and Santa Specials do throw up 4 car diagrams, the Santa Specials are planned for 2x156's always :D
Work still going on tonight (must be costing a fortune).

It is now obvious that the platforms are being lengthened by about 6/7m at each end (I presume each end, cos I can't see the far end but it is obvious something is going on).

I asked one of the workers who said that they were lengthening the platforms "to take longer trains".
 

175001

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Yup, thats the whole plan of the extentions, to make them able to take the maximum formation possible on the line, which will be 2x156's, so that we don't have to lock carriages out of use, which we currently do.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Yup, thats the whole plan of the extentions, to make them able to take the maximum formation possible on the line, which will be 2x156's, so that we don't have to lock carriages out of use, which we currently do.

Before this platform extension work was carried out, at which stations did you have to lock carriages out of use on the Manchester to Clitheroe route?
 

Ploughman

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Since this station was rebuilt in 1994 to the specification prevalent at that time when many new stations were built, the materials used should not have been subject to degradation to that extent. Could it have anything to do with the groundwork stability in the area where this new station was constructed?

If these platforms are of a similar nature to the ones backed by West Yorkshire in that they are Timber with plywood panel decking. Then they will be subject to severe degradation.
I have seen a number of platforms on the Aire Valley and elsewhere that have had large holes in the main surface and many that have been patched and others redecked over the last 5 years.
 

175001

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Before this platform extension work was carried out, at which stations did you have to lock carriages out of use on the Manchester to Clitheroe route?
It would have to be all stations north of Blackburn.

If it was a 150 and a 153, you were JUST able to fit all 3 carriages on, if it was a 150/150 or 156/156, i'd lock the rear most set out, if it was a 156/153, again, would have to lock the rear most carriage out.

A pain I know, but it was the only way, to ensure the safety of myself and my passengers.

The work currently going on, only allows a max of 2 carriages to be in use, but that will soon change :)
 

Sox

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http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/opinion/9419410.Trains_must_be_frequent_and_reliable/?ref=ec=

Trains must be frequent and reliable

2:33pm Wednesday 14th December 2011

News from Northern Rail that 50 more carriages are being added to some of the region’s busiest routes isn’t an early Christmas present for East Lancashire people who want to travel by train.

Although the Clitheroe to Manchester route, which runs through Blackburn, Darwen and Bolton, was included in the announcement, it turns out that “extra” carriages were actually added to that route last summer.

And there will be no extra capacity on trains running across East Lancashire from Preston to Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley and Colne.

Instead, the extra second-hand stock is to be concentrated on lines between Manchester and Cheshire, Leeds and Liverpool.

Northern Rail says the extra carriages are aimed at easing overcrowding on the busiest routes.

But in East Lancashire, the issue is that many more people would use trains if services were more frequent and reliable.

Commuters on the Clitheroe to Manchester route often face delays and people travelling to the city from Accrington or stations west of Blackburn face timetables with connections that involve lengthy waits.

In short, what is needed in East Lancashire is a more passenger-friendly service.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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Although the Clitheroe to Manchester route, which runs through Blackburn, Darwen and Bolton, was included in the announcement, it turns out that “extra” carriages were actually added to that route last summer. And there will be no extra capacity on trains running across East Lancashire from Preston to Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley and Colne.

Instead, the extra second-hand stock is to be concentrated on lines between Manchester and Cheshire, Leeds and Liverpool. Northern Rail says the extra carriages are aimed at easing overcrowding on the busiest routes. But in East Lancashire, the issue is that many more people would use trains if services were more frequent and reliable. Commuters on the Clitheroe to Manchester route often face delays and people travelling to the city from Accrington or stations west of Blackburn face timetables with connections that involve lengthy waits. In short, what is needed in East Lancashire is a more passenger-friendly service.


Now, why I am I not surprised at the news that the extra carriage provision had already been made, but was added back in to make matters seem better than they are. This is why my forum signature exists.
 

MidnightFlyer

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From an official source:
'Ramsgreave & Wilpshire from Sunday 11 December 2011

Works have been completed to extend both platforms by 12 metres (13 yards), by raising the existing ramps at both ends of each platform.'

Platforms have also been extended at Langho and Whalley (15m / 16yds in the Down at the Hellifield end and 15m / 16yds in the Up at the Blackburn end) and Clitheroe (16m / 18yds at the Hellifield end of both platforms).
 
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Xenophon PCDGS

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Whilst this re-opened line is currently a matter running on the forum, could any forum member local to the line be able to say why, when the line re-opening took place in 1994, the station at Daisyfield (closed in 1958) and situated in-between Ramsgreave and Wilpshire station and Blackburn station was not also subject to reopening, as there seems to be quite a population to be served in this area and the signal box that administers the level crossing is still in use. Is it because it was deemed to be too near to Blackburn town centre?
 

ValleyLines142

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Not immediately - but a lot of services through Chester-le-Street are just too long to stop without costly SDO (or need to do a "precision stop" if 5 x 23m carriages); also anything 5-car would just be too long for the Tyne Valley - which could be a good place from which to run direct-to-London (Hexham is a rich town with a large catchment area as is Corbridge). It would also make more room for sharper approaches

For those who travel from Hexham to London, it requires a simple change at Newcastle (or Carlisle).
 

Sox

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Whilst this re-opened line is currently a matter running on the forum, could any forum member local to the line be able to say why, when the line re-opening took place in 1994, the station at Daisyfield (closed in 1958) and situated in-between Ramsgreave and Wilpshire station and Blackburn station was not also subject to reopening, as there seems to be quite a population to be served in this area and the signal box that administers the level crossing is still in use. Is it because it was deemed to be too near to Blackburn town centre?

I guess Daisyfield was considered too close to the town centre to justify the investment (circa 3/4 of a mile) and Blackburn station itself is ever so slightly out from the main shopping area.

Having said that, RGW is a very popular station and it was mowed out the other Saturday with people waiting for the Manchester bound train.

At Daisyfield the line drops down to single track as it prepares to join the line from Burnley.

I was at Blackburn station this Saturday and I must say that the new platform 4 canopy arrangements look pretty tidy.

On the way in to Blackburn, I noticed the big "shed doors" had been opened up at the front of the station and it was like looking into a time capsule with all wood panelling and an air of abandonment.

.....but what a crawler of a train service between Blackburn and Bolton.
 
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