Phil from Mon
Member
Travelled Shrewsbury to Chester today. Just an impression, but it felt like some of the very old track on the soon-to-be-commissioned redoubled section has been relaid. Or am I imagining things?
Balderton to Green lane is being renewed as part of the domestic renewals plan.
Good, that should eliminate the last jointed 1960s track, I think.
Major rail enhancements between Wrexham and Chester will enter into its final phase next week.
The North/South Wales Enhancement project, which is being undertaken as part of Network Rails Railway Upgrade Plan, will begin on Friday 24th March.
Funded by Welsh Government, the major rail enhancement will deliver five miles of track redoubling between Wrexham and Chester.
It is hoped that once the project is commissioned this spring, the upgrade work will allow for more frequent services and shorter journey times between Cardiff and Holyhead, subject to additional fleet being made available and limited-stop services being specified in the future.
As part of the projects final phase, work will be undertaken on the railway between Rossett Junction and Saltney Junction, which will affect passengers travelling between Wrexham and Chester and from North Wales to Chester.
Rail replacement bus services will be in operation on the following dates:
9pm Friday 24th March to 11:35pm Saturday 25th March Chester to Rhyl
11:35pm Saturday 25th March night to 3:55am Monday 27th March Chester to Llandudno Junction
9pm Friday 24th March to 5:10am Saturday 1st April Chester to Wrexham
Work is also underway at Broad Oak and Balderton crossing, which is due to be complete by Friday 24th March. Work will also take place on two other level crossings in the area from Saturday 25 March to Saturday 14th April.
Upgrade work on Green Lane and Pulford level crossings will see them benefit from safer, state-of-the-art obstacle detection systems. The crossings will be closed to pedestrians and road users while the upgrade work takes place, with diversionary routes in place.
Francis McGarry, route delivery director for Network Rail Wales said: We are pleased to be delivering the final phase of the North/South Wales Enhancement project, which will unlock the potential for faster and more frequent services between Holyhead and Cardiff.
The work will also provide greater resilience and reliability on the railway, all part of our Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger and better railway for the growing number of passengers.
With four level crossings set to be upgraded in the area, I would like to thank road and rail users for bearing with us whilst this improvement work takes place.
We are working closely with our partners Arriva Trains Wales, who are providing a rail replacement bus service for passengers during this essential railway upgrade work.
Network Rail will also be delivering work between Wrexham and Bidston on Sunday 26th March. Passengers are reminded to check before they travel as some services may be affected.
Note the various caveats around improved timings and frequencies.
Looks like the final phase (for the time being I hope) is upon us
Funded by Welsh Government, the major rail enhancement will deliver five miles of track redoubling between Wrexham and Chester.
It is hoped that once the project is commissioned this spring, the upgrade work will allow for more frequent services and shorter journey times between Cardiff and Holyhead, subject to additional fleet being made available and limited-stop services being specified in the future.
Although the increased frequency between HHD-CDF is 'not where it matters', the redoubling is happening on that route and (unfortunately) the Welsh government funded the project for the purpose of improving HHD-CDF services, despite the fact that a reduction to 3 fast trains each way daily, instead of the current 1 fast train and a whole load of slow ones, would probably be a more-appropriate course of action for HHD-CDF services.I love that quote. completely ignoring the possibility of more frequent services where it matters and where the redoubling is actually happening!
Well, I think the story goes something like:
WG asks NR how much to redouble Saltney-Wrexham (10 miles), and increase line speeds to 90mph (north of Rossett) and 75mph (south of Rossett)
NR says about £45m (but isn't keen to do it) (in 2011).
WG says OK, get on with it.
NR then says sorry, after more research, it'll be £60m.
WG says £45m is the max, what can you do for that?
NR says it can do just the 5 miles between Saltney and Rossett (the "easier" half of the line).
That leaves the southern half up the Gresford bank and over the A483 single track bridge, plus changes at Wrexham north, all untouched.
It turns out NR has also deleted the line speed increases except where they install brand new track. ...
A further question: is there a speed limit of 70 mph on jointed track nowadays? Or is this just because NR could not, or would not, upgrade those sections of jointed track?
Mind you, as much as NR appear to have seen the Welsh government coming, it would appear that if the government had coordinated their request better, they might have got a bit more value for money?
The single track was limited to 60mph (originally 90 before 1960s downgrading), and it included at least 2 sections of jointed track from c1964 (revealed in the consultant's report).
One of these has already gone on the new section, and we live in hope that the other one will have gone when the line reopens....snip
I should also say that there is a parallel scheme to raise line speeds between Shrewsbury and Gobowen from 70mph to 90mph.
The line was upgraded, and new 90mph signs erected ready, but the work was suddenly stopped last year.
I have no idea if/when this upgrade will be finished (it will deliver as much journey time benefit as Saltney-Rossett redoubling).
With a twin tracked railway line, does the lower of the individual track speed limits dictate the speed limit for both tracks?
i.e. would a small section of 60mph in one of the tracks lead to the whole of the twin track (new and "old" 90mph) being downgraded to 60mph?
No, it can be tailored to the individual stretch of single line.
The reason for the restriction might not be solely down to jointed track.
The route was in a generally poor state before the upgrade started, and in places might suffer from mining subsidence from the former Gresford colliery.
Level crossings controls are often another problem, but these are being replaced in the current scheme (probably one of the causes of the cost increase).
Still many places on the ECML with non pandrol FB Rail.
Also many places on branch lines with 75 - 90 limits on BH or FB Timber
Off topic I know but, due to local expertise on this board, I was walking past Tal-y-Cafn station (Llandudno Junction to Betws-y-Coed line) the other day and noticed the track look quite rusted over.
Engineering closure?
Off topic I know but, due to local expertise on this board, I was walking past Tal-y-Cafn station (Llandudno Junction to Betws-y-Coed line) the other day and noticed the track look quite rusted over.
Engineering closure?