Killingworth
Established Member
Wirh only 4 more days of possession left there's no sign of that happening.
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Hope Valley Capacity Scheme updates
- Thread starter Killingworth
- Start date
Wirh only 4 more days of possession left there's no sign of that happening.
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AlbertBeale
Established Member
I suspect he'd rather like this one...At least it isn't the other Swampy, who normally bedevils infrastructure projects
I'm going to miss this thread once all this gets commissioned, it's been great to be able to follow the happenings in my old haunts.
Thanks to Killingworth and everyone else who has contributed updates.
After decades of talk it's good to finally see real progress as it all comes together.
Thanks to Killingworth and everyone else who has contributed updates.
After decades of talk it's good to finally see real progress as it all comes together.
GardenRail
Member
It's been the most exciting thing to happen to the railway around Sheffield for many, many years.
Give it another 20 years and we might see trains up to Stockbridge again....
Another one that has been talked about for decades. I think we will be waiting a bit longer!
We’re in nesting season now, deveg work has to stop.
WesternBiker
Member
Ah - that explains it. Thanks.
Killingworth
Established Member
All hands on deck today. TPE, EMR, Northern jackets all in evidence checking it out for Monday. Much still to do.
What's neat about this project is that it is geographically defined and has a clear end. TPU has sites all over the place. Also, more decades ago than I care to admit, (and before the old layout was reduced ) we used to travel that way to the inlaws in Derby.
This project is part of TRU….
It was planned and designed long before and has benefits quite independently although these will also assist the rest of TPU.
Peterthegreat
Established Member
Services started up about 30 minutes late.
td97
Established Member
- Joined
- 26 Jul 2017
- Messages
- 1,300
Track drainage has been installed at the Abbey Lane area.
www.linkedin.com
Pod-Trak on LinkedIn: #podtrak #civilengineering #railwayengineering #drainage #hopevalley
Recent works on the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade for VolkerRail Ltd where we undertook the installation of 237 meters of drainage with 7 chambers and a further…
Presuming the bulk of construction must now be finished, as typically 48hrs wheels-free testing for the signalling commissioning is required.Pod-Trak said:
GardenRail
Member
Nothing major, but the siding at Grindleford will not be commissioned properly when all is done. The GPL leading into the Siding will be out of use and bagged over for another 10 weeks.Track drainage has been installed at the Abbey Lane area.
Pod-Trak on LinkedIn: #podtrak #civilengineering #railwayengineering #drainage #hopevalley
Recent works on the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade for VolkerRail Ltd where we undertook the installation of 237 meters of drainage with 7 chambers and a further…
Presuming the bulk of construction must now be finished, as typically 48hrs wheels-free testing for the signalling commissioning is required.
Article from The Stir:
Advertisement
But despite creating a passing loop on the line to make this possible in future, Network Rail now says additional work is required, and the commitment to delivering those extra trains appears to be wavering.
Liberal Democrat councillors in Sheffield now claim the decision on whether to introduce an extra hourly fast service has been left to the Manchester Recovery Taskforce, to consider as part of its remit to improve services in the
Manchester area, leaving Sheffield out of the loop altogether.
'Simply unacceptable'
Martin Smith, Liberal Democrat councillor for Dore and Totley, said: "10 years in the planning, 3 years in the building and 1 week before completion we find out that one of the most important benefits of this project will not be delivered. It was only after I made enquiries that we were told the additional trains would not be running.
"I welcome improvements from the upgrade such as the new platform at Dore and Totley station in my ward, but to keep such a fundamental change quiet from the people of Sheffield until the project is nearly completed is simply unacceptable."
Dore & Totley station in Sheffield, where a second platform and a footbridge has been created as part of the £145m Hope Valley railway line upgrade.
Work to upgrade the railway line, which began in spring 2021 and was initially scheduled for completion at the end of 2023, is finally due to be finished when the route reopens on Monday, March 25, after a 10-day closure.
As well as the passing loop to remove bottlenecks, signalling improvements have been made to improve reliability, longer platforms created to accommodate more carriages and a second platform and new footbridge has been installed at Dore & Totley station.
But Ben Shaw, sponsor for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, added: "Before increasing the number of train services through this area, other essential railway work in Manchester and Sheffield, alongside timetable adjustments would need to take place.
"This is part of ongoing work being carried out by the railway industry, which will enable additional trains to run in future."
Network Rail was unable to provide a timescale for that additional work and the fact it said this 'would' need to happen rather than 'will' suggests the extra hourly train may never materialise.
Only last month, rail minister Huw Merriman had reaffirmed the Government's commitment to delivering a third hourly fast train between Manchester and Sheffield.
Responding to a parliamentary question by Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts about the timescales for the third fast train, Mr Merriman said: "The Government is committed to upgrading the Hope Valley line which would help enable a third fast train between Manchester and Sheffield."
But he failed to give any timescale on when those extra trains might start running, nor did the Department for Transport (DfT) or rail operators in the area do so when asked by The Star for more information.
The Star again contacted the DfT for a response to the Liberal Democrats' claims but was told it was a matter for Network Rail.
Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, leader of the Sheffield Liberal Democrats and parliamentary spokesperson for Sheffield Hallam, said: "We are continually losing out on the changes needed to transform public transport across the city, and this is just the latest example.
"Giving the decision on an intercity train line to the Manchester Recovery Taskforce means the people of Sheffield will have no input. Is Mayor Coppard leaving a key decision to Andy Burnham?
"Sheffield already has a second class bus network when compared to cities like Manchester, and now it seems we will also have a second class train service."
Sheffield-Manchester trains: Long wait for extra fast trains likely despite £145m rail upgrade
There will be no extra fast train between Sheffield and Manchester, for now at least, following the completion of the £145m Hope Valley railway line upgrade. Inset is Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, who saidAdvertisement
But despite creating a passing loop on the line to make this possible in future, Network Rail now says additional work is required, and the commitment to delivering those extra trains appears to be wavering.
Liberal Democrat councillors in Sheffield now claim the decision on whether to introduce an extra hourly fast service has been left to the Manchester Recovery Taskforce, to consider as part of its remit to improve services in the
Manchester area, leaving Sheffield out of the loop altogether.
'Simply unacceptable'
Martin Smith, Liberal Democrat councillor for Dore and Totley, said: "10 years in the planning, 3 years in the building and 1 week before completion we find out that one of the most important benefits of this project will not be delivered. It was only after I made enquiries that we were told the additional trains would not be running.
"I welcome improvements from the upgrade such as the new platform at Dore and Totley station in my ward, but to keep such a fundamental change quiet from the people of Sheffield until the project is nearly completed is simply unacceptable."
Dore & Totley station in Sheffield, where a second platform and a footbridge has been created as part of the £145m Hope Valley railway line upgrade.
Work to upgrade the railway line, which began in spring 2021 and was initially scheduled for completion at the end of 2023, is finally due to be finished when the route reopens on Monday, March 25, after a 10-day closure.
As well as the passing loop to remove bottlenecks, signalling improvements have been made to improve reliability, longer platforms created to accommodate more carriages and a second platform and new footbridge has been installed at Dore & Totley station.
'Faster, more reliable, accessible railway'
Network Rail, which was responsible for the upgrade, said it would bring passengers a 'faster, more reliable, accessible' railway between Sheffield and Manchester.But Ben Shaw, sponsor for the Transpennine Route Upgrade, added: "Before increasing the number of train services through this area, other essential railway work in Manchester and Sheffield, alongside timetable adjustments would need to take place.
"This is part of ongoing work being carried out by the railway industry, which will enable additional trains to run in future."
Network Rail was unable to provide a timescale for that additional work and the fact it said this 'would' need to happen rather than 'will' suggests the extra hourly train may never materialise.
Commitment made just last month
The Star asked whether it was correct that the decision now lay with the Manchester Recovery Taskforce, and we are awaiting a response.Only last month, rail minister Huw Merriman had reaffirmed the Government's commitment to delivering a third hourly fast train between Manchester and Sheffield.
Responding to a parliamentary question by Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts about the timescales for the third fast train, Mr Merriman said: "The Government is committed to upgrading the Hope Valley line which would help enable a third fast train between Manchester and Sheffield."
But he failed to give any timescale on when those extra trains might start running, nor did the Department for Transport (DfT) or rail operators in the area do so when asked by The Star for more information.
The Star again contacted the DfT for a response to the Liberal Democrats' claims but was told it was a matter for Network Rail.
Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, leader of the Sheffield Liberal Democrats and parliamentary spokesperson for Sheffield Hallam, said: "We are continually losing out on the changes needed to transform public transport across the city, and this is just the latest example.
"Giving the decision on an intercity train line to the Manchester Recovery Taskforce means the people of Sheffield will have no input. Is Mayor Coppard leaving a key decision to Andy Burnham?
"Sheffield already has a second class bus network when compared to cities like Manchester, and now it seems we will also have a second class train service."
GardenRail
Member
Everything we do on the railway in this country seems to end in disappointment.
People are often determined to be disappointed by whatever happens, such is the nature of news.
Topological
Member
Probably the only correct thing in there is the quote from Merriman "The Government is committed to upgrading the Hope Valley line which would help enable a third fast train between Manchester and Sheffield."
That is true because the Hope Valley Line is getting an upgrade. The upgrade would enable a third fast train between Manchester and Sheffield. Both elements of the statement are completely correct. Enabling a train and a train actually running are very different things.
All that said, it is great to see the Hope Valley finally getting attention and it has been enjoyable to read all the excellent updates from posters on this thread.
That is true because the Hope Valley Line is getting an upgrade. The upgrade would enable a third fast train between Manchester and Sheffield. Both elements of the statement are completely correct. Enabling a train and a train actually running are very different things.
All that said, it is great to see the Hope Valley finally getting attention and it has been enjoyable to read all the excellent updates from posters on this thread.
GardenRail
Member
It was always a questionable project given that the LNE part will be resignalled with fancy colour lights and more sections, yet as soon as you get to Hope, you're back in the land of Absolute Block signalling. The problem has just been pushed down towards Manchester. It should have been the whole Hope Valley, but North West have no plans to re signal their bit.
Then there's the Tunnel Controls at Bradway that will prevent trains leaving the Curve until the previous train is at Dronfield...... Everything gained through this scheme has been lost just down the line.
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Elecman
Established Member
Actually it’s Earle’s not Hope where the AB signalling starts
GardenRail
Member
Yes, and the fringe is at Hope. The last of York's TCB Signals is just before Hope Station. We at York ROC on Sheffield Outer Workstation hand over to Earles at Hope, as per the Signal Box Diagram.
takethegame
Member
Wasn't the Joint GE/GN line upgrade a bit like this? Improved linespeeds, 24/7 working, new LED signals but fundamentally still the same, long blocks. I remember sitting at a red light at Littleworth until a freight train had cleared Spalding.
Killingworth
Established Member
The more you see of politics the more you can only despair. The LibDem councillors have known the backgound to this for years, or should have done if they'd been listening. The journalist writing the article has also known the background to why it is as it is but must find it too difficult to explain to his readers. Ditto both Labour and Tories.
In fairness, the complexity of everything to do with the railway is mind blowing. Watching work on this scheme day by day makes one realise just how many people and skills are required to ensure it all happens. Fingers crossed for the TPE 5.20 deparure from new Platform 1 at Dore & Totley. Followed by improved punctuality all round.
That's why I call it "The Stir"
The "journalist" is just looking for an angle to get clicks on the webiste from people who like seeing "bad news".
He could have easily (especially if he knows the background as you say) spun it to say "Improved punctuality to result from £145M rail upgrade that paves the way for extra fast trains".
As for the politicians, are there elections coming up? Let's not do anything contructive like liaising with the taskforce to see what can be done next, let's just moan about how hard done to we are.
Winthorpe
Member
1D53
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Apr 2006
- Messages
- 2,700
Believe this is fixed sooner rather than later.
The article also fails to mention the key requirement for the Hope Valley to deliver TRU diversions, not necessarily just for additional fast paths in the short term.