Engineering works on WCML north of Preston April/May 2013 - end date ?

General Zod · 13 Feb 2013

I've been trying to book tickets which involve using TPE along the WCML north of Preston up to Glasgow but have noticed that at weekends in late April/ early May there seem to be some engineering works in the vicinity. Would anyone know when these works are scheduled to end ? I would like to avoid having to take the lengthy route via Edinburgh and hence intend to book my ticket when works are concluded.

Cheers.

RailUK Forums

joeykins82 · 13 Feb 2013

It's all up on the National Rail Enquiries website

http://nationalrail.co.uk/service_d...e&action=true&txtTravelDate=27/04/2013&toc=tp

The Planner · 13 Feb 2013

Re-laying Morecambe South Jn then I think, probably a bit of prep work at Lancaster South too.

furryfeet · 14 Feb 2013

I see that yet again, Virgin are getting away with the absolute minimum in terms of through trains being diverted around the engineering works.
i.e. 1 train each way on the saturday and 1 train in one direction only on the sunday.

Is it not about time that the regulator stepped in and made them run a decent through service in such instances ?

The public have already made it known that having to get a "rail replacement bus" is a turn off.

ushawk · 15 Feb 2013

furryfeet said:
I see that yet again, Virgin are getting away with the absolute minimum in terms of through trains being diverted around the engineering works.
i.e. 1 train each way on the saturday and 1 train in one direction only on the sunday.

Is it not about time that the regulator stepped in and made them run a decent through service in such instances ?

The public have already made it known that having to get a "rail replacement bus" is a turn off.

Ever perhaps thought that there isn't any extra spare paths to run extra diverted services ?

Toots · 15 Feb 2013

There are paths available,the problem is,unless Preston is missed out,the journey involves a train coming off,(or onto) the East Lancs,going back to Preston,the crew changing ends,and then undertaking a lengthy diversion at lower line speeds compared with the WCML.So it isn't so much availibilty of paths,more whether there would be a demand for the service.

joeykins82 · 15 Feb 2013

Is there an electrified diversionary route while Lancaster is subject to a blockade?

Condor7 · 15 Feb 2013

ushawk said:
Ever perhaps thought that there isn't any extra spare paths to run extra diverted services ?

I am not in the industry so someone in a better position to myself may like to comment, however in past years the Settle and Carlisle line has coped with extensive diversions from the WCML.

I was just reading that in the early 90's it handled nearly 80 diversions over one weekend.

Even accepting that the S & C has greater passenger and freight than back then, one would presume those paths are still largely there?

furryfeet · 15 Feb 2013

Condor7 said:
in past years the Settle and Carlisle line has coped with extensive diversions from the WCML.

I was just reading that in the early 90's it handled nearly 80 diversions over one weekend.

Even accepting that the S & C has greater passenger and freight than back then, one would presume those paths are still largely there?

I agree with condor7's line of argument, since the S & C has been upgraded for 75mph running and has had extra IBS signalling installed to reduce the headways between trains to 15 minutes.

It cannot be a clearance issue, since both voyagers and pendolino stock has been diverted via the S & C since privatisation.

One is tempted to conclude that it is too much time/effort/cost for Virgin to organise the diversions.

Would this lack of provision be noted by the Rail Regulator, or taken into account when the franchise is re-let ?

Engineering works on WCML north of Preston April/May 2013 - end date ?

General Zod

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The Planner

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furryfeet

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ushawk

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Toots

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Condor7

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