Manchester - Liverpool Electrification

A planning application has been submitted for the bit of fourth track at Huyton that requires new land take. Completion expected by end 2017.

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...d-Liverpool-as-part-of-Northern-Hub-1ff6.aspx

The constriction at Astley is the new Auto transformer station for the OLE

Any more recent developments spotted?

Last I heard (and also saw for myself) was that masts and OHL steelwork is now in place between Broad Green and Wavertree Technology Park.

snowball said:

A planning application has been submitted for the bit of fourth track at Huyton that requires new land take. Completion expected by end 2017.

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2017? when did that get pushed out by a year? Dec 2016 was the last I was told.

The Planner said:

2017? when did that get pushed out by a year? Dec 2016 was the last I was told.

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This from the Network Rail planning documents.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/improvements/northern-hub/projects/huyton-roby/

Delivering the work

We’re starting to improve Huyton and Roby stations and carrying out preparatory work ahead of installing the third and fourth track in 2014. Most of this work is taking place on land within Network Rail’s boundary. All other work is due to be completed by winter 2017.

The work involves purchase of some additional land for which permission is required and this is not expected to be received until mid 2015, so NR will have no option to delaying the completion and by saying now winter 2017 they are allowing plenty of slippage time whilst still allowing them to opt for an early completion should circumstances allow.

Sounds like spin or a mistake to me, third track is meant to be in by August and fourth track by Dec 16.

The Planner said:

Sounds like spin or a mistake to me, third track is meant to be in by August and fourth track by Dec 16.

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And with just over 10 months to go! :roll:

Actually the December 2013 draft of the CP5 Enhancements Delivery Plan has February 2016 for completion of the fourth track, so it's slipped two years in two months.

nw-sparks said:

Actually the December 2013 draft of the CP5 Enhancements Delivery Plan has February 2016 for completion of the fourth track, so it's slipped two years in two months.

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In one of the Network Rail pdfs on the application it states they anticipate the planning application may take till spring next year to be granted, so presumably they would only plan the installation of the final piece of the fourth line once this is confirmed, hence the rather vague and later completion date?

Wavertreelad said:

In one of the Network Rail pdfs on the application it states they anticipate the planning application may take till spring next year to be granted, so presumably they would only plan the installation of the final piece of the fourth line once this is confirmed, hence the rather vague and later completion date?

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The only reason the work is split at all is because of the planning delay related to the BT and Bus Station land purchase; as far back as 2011 it was recognised that the thrid track was achieveable (and is still planned for) August 2014, to align with the phase 2 electrification, whereas the the fourth track isn't required by the phase 2 (2014) timetable and could wait until later (e.g. 2016). So, it has all slipped by 0 months in 36 months ...

Could winter 2017 be jan 2017 and someone got confused?

Wavertreelad said:

This from the Network Rail planning documents.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/improvements/northern-hub/projects/huyton-roby/

Delivering the work

We’re starting to improve Huyton and Roby stations and carrying out preparatory work ahead of installing the third and fourth track in 2014. Most of this work is taking place on land within Network Rail’s boundary. All other work is due to be completed by winter 2017.

The work involves purchase of some additional land for which permission is required and this is not expected to be received until mid 2015, so NR will have no option to delaying the completion and by saying now winter 2017 they are allowing plenty of slippage time whilst still allowing them to opt for an early completion should circumstances allow.

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As the quote above says, my interpretation is that within the current NWR boundary work will be completed. Other work ( I assume outside the fence line) to be complete by winter 2017.
So does this mean 3 track working for a while or keep it at 2 until all 4 opened?

Ploughman said:

As the quote above says, my interpretation is that within the current NWR boundary work will be completed. Other work ( I assume outside the fence line) to be complete by winter 2017.
So does this mean 3 track working for a while or keep it at 2 until all 4 opened?

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As far as I know the intention is to run with three track working from moment the main electrification work is completed, then NR will return, assuming planning permission is granted and install the fourth track.

As pointed out earlier considering this project started in 2011, although in one of the NR documents is mentions 2012 it is amazing that this process should take so long considering the relatively minor impact it will have on the stake holders concerned and the wider general public. It is no wonder that such schemes take so long to go from planning to implementation, and why the costs so rapidly increase. The only winners are the lawyers sorting it out, when in many cases it should be a purely commercial transaction between the parties concerned, or is this too simple? Rant over!

Three tracks from August and as much of the fourth track as possible until the land purchase when the last bit is put in along with a minor tweak at Huyton Jn. There are no timetable changes that require the third track that I am aware of though.

There now appears to be more OHL steelwork in place around Olive Mount now, which I saw going into Liverpool today.

DJH1971 said:

There now appears to be more OHL steelwork in place around Olive Mount now, which I saw going into Liverpool today.

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There is! There are a few overhead stanctions in place in the cutting and I reckon a few more will be put in place in the nearer future. Concrete bases are in around Whiston Station and also that palisade fencing is now on both sides of the farm fields at Rainhill also which makes the mind boggle I'm afraid.

8A Rail said:

There is! There are a few overhead stanctions in place in the cutting and I reckon a few more will be put in place in the nearer future. Concrete bases are in around Whiston Station and also that palisade fencing is now on both sides of the farm fields at Rainhill also which makes the mind boggle I'm afraid.

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I saw the Balfour Beatty train at Wavertree with more OHL steelwork loaded up this morning too.

Still no sign of mast bases around Huyton and Roby. Fair enough, they have got the 3/4 tracking to do (with 4 not due until 2017), but still thought they would be putting in mast bases and OHL work there.

10 months and a bit left according to Network Rail's schedule for completion in December 2014.

Just saying!

There is also more OHL steelwork in place around St Helens (near central stattion) now clearly visible.

DJH1971 said:

There is also more OHL steelwork in place around St Helens (near central stattion) now clearly visible.

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Plus a couple of new bases right at the WCML junction at Springs Branch.
Still a sizeable gap past the Ince Moss ponds.

DJH1971 said:

Still no sign of mast bases around Huyton and Roby. Fair enough, they have got the 3/4 tracking to do (with 4 not due until 2017), but still thought they would be putting in mast bases and OHL work there.

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I think you will see things move fast once the lifts / bridges are fully in place at both stations - no point putting in the OHL until they are completed (well that is my thinking).

A small snippet from the Manchester end. Metal work for the OHLE is now visable from the west end at Manchester Victoria spanning the Liverpool lines. I suspect after Sundays closure they will be well around the corner from Salford Central

I do a tour of Liverpool-Wigan-Roby-Earlestown-Liverpool approx once a month. Here are my findings today.

Edge Hill to Huyton 08/01/14 29/01/14 24/02/14

Edge Hill to Wavertree Tech Park
Masts 0 0 0
Bases 2 5 7
Scrapes 3 2 1

Wavertree Tech Park to Broad Green
Masts 0 0 32
Bases 21 29 3
Scrapes 0 0 0

Broad Green to Roby
Masts 0 0 15
Bases 17 21 5
Scrapes 1 3 4

Roby to Huyton
Masts 0 0 0
Bases 0 0 0
Scrapes 0 0 0

Total Masts 0 0 47
Total Bases 40 55 15
Total Scrapes 4 5 5

Huyton to Earlestown 08/01/14 29/01/14 24/02/14

Huyton to Whiston
Masts 0 0
Bases 6 45
Scrapes 21 15

Whiston to Rainhill
Masts 0 0
Bases 51 63
Scrapes 6 2

Rainhill to Lea Green
Masts 0 0
Bases 78 95
Scrapes 18 3

Lea Green to St Helens Junction
Masts 0 0
Bases 53 62
Scrapes 8 1

St Helens Junction to Earlestown
Masts 0 0
Bases 80 100
Scrapes 22 3

Total Masts 0 0
Total Bases 268 365
Total Scrapes 75 24

Huyton to Wigan NW 08/01/14 29/01/14 24/02/14

Huyton to Prescot
Masts 58 58 60
Bases 2 3 3
Scrapes 2 1 0

Prescot to Eccleston Park
Masts 40 44 46
Bases 3 3 2
Scrapes 1 0 0

Eccleston Park to Thatto Heath
Masts 19 19 21
Bases 4 5 3
Scrapes 2 1 2

Thatto Heath to St Helens Central
Masts 51 71 75
Bases 21 7 6
Scrapes 0 1 1

St Helens Central to Garswood
Masts 116 127 137
Bases 50 42 50
Scrapes 15 16 10

Garswood to Bryn
Masts 37 46 52
Bases 10 7 2
Scrapes 6 8 10

Bryn to Wigan N Western
Masts 32 32 39
Bases 7 51 56
Scrapes 45 10 17

Total Masts 353 397 430
Total Bases 97 118 122
Total Scrapes 71 37 40

Overall Totals (29 Jan and 24 Feb only)
Overall Total Masts 397 477
Overall Total Bases 441 502
Overall Total Scrapes 117 69

1. As well as the masts, bases and scrapes ("mbs") shown in the spreadsheet several stations have mbs either in or behind a platform, eg Prescot has two substantial "arches" spanning track and platforms. The branch off at Bamfurlong also has some, reported by others.

2. The new points at Earlestown still lie on disused S to W platform awaiting installation.

3. The approach appears to be "complete track and signalling work before starting electrification work", as there is no mbs work at all both 3a) east of Five Arches Bridge (Sankey Valley Viaduct) where track awaits laying and 3b) from the Roby Junction-to-be to well beyond Huyton Junction on the Wigan line and some distance beyond Huyton Junction on the Manchester Line.

4. Clear evidence of progress on Roby platforms and lifts. The former are being extended and (partially?) raised by about three bricks height. Some more track and sleepers laid and/or stacked in the line of the third track both west and east of Roby.

5. Huyton lift shafts are now clearly that, with concrete cast and shuttering removed. Huyton third and fourth platforms clearly taking shape.

6. Bases now extend up to the western end of Five Arches (Sankey Valley) viaduct.

7. Huyton Quarry groundwork continuing, with heaps of hardcore and intended ducting and men looking busy.

8. Between Bryn and Wigan NW a spanking new switchgear (?)-type installation, akin to that east of Newton-le-Willows station has been erected.

9. Rail lying in 4ft in several places awaiting replacing.

10. There appeared to be three electrification trains being readied for action in the sidings at Edge Hill, one was loaded with wiring reels, one with masts and mast attachments and the third with base-building kit.

Quick Springs Branch query.

I don't know the names of the junctions involved, so I'm afraid you'll have to bear with me. At Springs Branch, the main junction from the St. Helens line to the WCML runs roughly west to north, so trains can run into Wigan station and beyond. There's also, though, a west to south chord. Does this get used for anything these days: it certainly looks pretty rusty from train level on the St. Helens line! And is it planned to be electrified?

Sorry for ignorance of terms: hopefully I've been as clear as possible!

L+Y said:

Quick Springs Branch query.
I don't know the names of the junctions involved, so I'm afraid you'll have to bear with me. At Springs Branch, the main junction from the St. Helens line to the WCML runs roughly west to north, so trains can run into Wigan station and beyond. There's also, though, a west to south chord. Does this get used for anything these days: it certainly looks pretty rusty from train level on the St. Helens line! And is it planned to be electrified?
Sorry for ignorance of terms: hopefully I've been as clear as possible!

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That's the Ince Moss Goods line.
It is believed to be being wired, but I'm not sure if it carries regular traffic.
The WCML end was remodelled last year along with other junctions in the area.

OK, what I am about to say should be going into the Traction & Rolling Stock sub forum but as it is still related to this this topic, I'll say it anyway:

I had work that 350408 & 350409 arrived in the UK today.

Just one left now to go!

Any more progress noted lately btw?

DJH1971 said:

OK, what I am about to say should be going into the Traction & Rolling Stock sub forum but as it is still related to this this topic, I'll say it anyway:

I had work that 350408 & 350409 arrived in the UK today.

Just one left now to go!

Any more progress noted lately btw?

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Confirmed. They are still insisting on sandwiching freight between them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjtmdUFbSjI

thealexweb said:

Confirmed. They are still insisting on sandwiching freight between them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjtmdUFbSjI

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And still not painted.

Deleted

That's the Ince Moss Goods line.
It is believed to be being wired, but I'm not sure if it carries regular traffic.

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66720 was sat there for a few hours a couple of months back, it was some new biomass flow or something. The thing with GBRF and the biomass flows round here is that they don't appear to have settled into a pattern yet, like themselves and the customers are still trying out what's best.

It's one of those things though, just like many old freight route. Once it's gone it'll probably never come back and the work which would have come back onto the railway would instead go on the road...

Phil

DJH1971 said:

And still not painted.

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Er they are painted. That's what the grey is. They aren't yet viynalled because the contract with Siemens states they are to be delivered in neutral livery.

Class377/5 said:

Er they are painted. That's what the grey is. They aren't yet viynalled because the contract with Siemens states they are to be delivered in neutral livery.

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I meant not painted in TPE colours.

Wonder when this will happen?