Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[Joseph_Locke]

11th Feb, I'm told, will be good day...

I didn't realise the approvals were in place?

<whistles nonchalantly>

 

[Malay States]

Yes that's right, you will be able to get on an electric train at Bolton from Monday.

We have been told that half of the Man Vic- Buckshaw Parkway turnbacks, as well as about one in three of the Man Picc-Blackpool North and Man Airport-Preston services are booked to be 319s.

Martin Keating, the Northern Stakeholder Manager, has emailed his contacts this afternoon confirming what Llama has said in post 9445.

 

[SansHache]

Class 323 and Class 390 have both been signed off for interim service operation on the Bolton route today, subject to a maximum speed restriction of 75mph. I would assume that Class 319 and 350 will have received similar authorisation but I haven't seen the documentation.
Electric trains and trains on Saturdays - they are spoiling us!

 

[td97]

Class 323 and Class 390 have both been signed off for interim service operation on the Bolton route today, subject to a maximum speed restriction of 75mph. I would assume that Class 319 and 350 will have received similar authorisation but I haven't seen the documentation.
Electric trains and trains on Saturdays - they are spoiling us!

Are you aware if this is feeding off the WCML side, or has the extension lead been completed?

 

[SansHache]

Are you aware if this is feeding off the WCML side, or has the extension lead been completed?

I presume the feeder will be from Willow Park (Parkside) along the Chat Moss route into Manchester then via Ordsall Lane up to Euxton, as it was for the test runs before Christmas. The extension lead isn't plugged in yet.

 

[Elecman]

Fed from Willow Park ATFS ( Parkside Grid Feeder ) Heyrod Grid Feeder, Stalybridge ATFS and Great Extension Lead nowhere near ready yet.

 

[td97]

I presume the feeder will be from Willow Park (Parkside) along the Chat Moss route into Manchester then via Ordsall Lane up to Euxton, as it was for the test runs before Christmas. The extension lead isn't plugged in yet.

Fed from Willow Park ATFS ( Parkside Grid Feeder ) Heyrod Grid Feeder, Stalybridge ATFS and Great Extension Lead nowhere near ready yet.

Thanks both, thought that might be the case.

 

[LDECRexile]

Yes that's right, you will be able to get on an electric train at Bolton from Monday.

We have been told that half of the Man Vic- Buckshaw Parkway turnbacks, as well as about one in three of the Man Picc-Blackpool North and Man Airport-Preston services are booked to be 319s.

This is great news, though personally miffing as I'll be in The Great Wen Monday to Wednesday. I'll strive to get a ride or two on Thursday.

Well done all concerned.

 

[Malay States]

Martin Keating, the Northern Stakeholder Manager, has emailed his contacts this afternoon confirming what Llama has said in post 9445.

Further to the above, the same email explained that Network Rail will today issue the necessary certification to operate electric trains via Bolton following final testing and commissioning of the system last weekend. it was also mentioned that class 769s will be introduced during the summer.

 

[Muenchener]

Further to the above, the same email explained that Network Rail will today issue the necessary certification to operate electric trains via Bolton following final testing and commissioning of the system last weekend. it was also mentioned that class 769s will be introduced during the summer.

You wouldn't happen to know if a cascade plan of DMUs is currently being worked? Clearly; with EMUs in place on the Bolton corridor there is an opportunity to bolster DMU services that may previously have been short-formed.

 

[Ianno87]

You wouldn't happen to know if a cascade plan of DMUs is currently being worked? Clearly; with EMUs in place on the Bolton corridor there is an opportunity to bolster DMU services that may previously have been short-formed.

Or more likely the start of Pacer withdrawals?

 

[Wiganlad]

So why can’t the 319’s operate yet

 

[Llama]

So why can’t the 319’s operate yet

None are diagrammed to until Monday.

 

[InOban]

Fed from Willow Park ATFS ( Parkside Grid Feeder ) Heyrod Grid Feeder, Stalybridge ATFS and Great Extension Lead nowhere near ready yet.

What's the delay? The usual reasons for the late delivery of the project - ground conditions etc - surely don't apply.

 

[Trackman]

Anyone know when the first passenger train will run?

 

[Llama]

Monday, I haven't seen the crew/unit diagrams yet, I will have a dig around tomorrow.

 

[superkev]

Assuming no more excuses and the line has its full compliment of emu's on Monday anyone know roughley how many dmus are made spare. Perhaps this be the start of the pacer withdrawing
K

 

[AndyW33]

Assuming no more excuses and the line has its full compliment of emu's on Monday anyone know roughley how many dmus are made spare. Perhaps this be the start of the pacer withdrawing
K

It will all depend on the number of actual diagrams that are able to switch from diesel to electric without alteration. The line certainly won't have anything like every train electric on Monday, simply because a lot of diagrams include running on non-electrified routes. The diagrams are due to change anyway in May and that's the point at which significant numbers of DMUs start to be released

The good thing about even a proportion of trains going electric is that there's no way to short-form a 319 or 323, so the number of seats actually provided each day is likely to rise.

 

[Magicake]

What's the delay? The usual reasons for the late delivery of the project - ground conditions etc - surely don't apply.

I would say a lot is to do with all the attention during the Autumn being on the repeatedly delayed Manchester to Preston route and little oversight being given to the increasing delays on the extension lead which at the time was seen as being less critical as it wasn't due for completion until later.

It will all depend on the number of actual diagrams that are able to switch from diesel to electric without alteration. The line certainly won't have anything like every train electric on Monday, simply because a lot of diagrams include running on non-electrified routes. The diagrams are due to change anyway in May and that's the point at which significant numbers of DMUs start to be released

The good thing about even a proportion of trains going electric is that there's no way to short-form a 319 or 323, so the number of seats actually provided each day is likely to rise.

The current feeding arrangements also won't support a full electric service yet I don't believe.

 

[PN27]

Assuming no more excuses and the line has its full compliment of emu's on Monday anyone know roughley how many dmus are made spare. Perhaps this be the start of the pacer withdrawing
K

From the description above, it appears that there will be three diagrams going to EMUs on Monday; this will leave the majority of services still as DMUs. This will probably release four or five DMUs.

 

[yrreb]

From the description above, it appears that there will be three diagrams going to EMUs on Monday; this will leave the majority of services still as DMUs. This will probably release four or five DMUs.

Makes me wonder what's going to happen once four or five DMUs come free - Pacer withdrawal or diagram strengthening?

 

[Hophead]

At a guess, neither. Just a reduced likelihood of short-forms.

 

[notlob.divad]

Makes me wonder what's going to happen once four or five DMUs come free - Pacer withdrawal or diagram strengthening?

Hopefully more going away for PRM mods. 46 weeks left until the deadline.

 

[furnessvale]

Makes me wonder what's going to happen once four or five DMUs come free - Pacer withdrawal or diagram strengthening?

I reckon getting units off hire to reduce costs is a number one priority.

 

[Geeves]

My punt for Monday, probably wrong!

There is a 319 that spends the entire day sat in the sidings at Vic arrival ex Liverpool around 0930. I am fully expecting this to be foisted onto the 1005 Buckshaw off Vic on Monday, So no need to be rushing down too early. The first couple of sets that usually do the Buckshaw turnbacks come off NH and the two sets in the reverse sidings are already spoken for, so cant really think where else it will come from with out too much rejigging. I would also guess that when the 319 comes back it will come in from Buckshaw and form the 1711 to Lime St and that will be your Vic - Bolton electrics done for the day.

I would guess in May the 319 might well come empty from Bolton early doors to form the first run up to Preston.

I guess we will see Monday.

 

[42626]

A post on Facebook this morning says there are three 319 units running today, already started with the 5:23 Blackpool-Manchester, the other two working Preston-Manchester and Buckshaw-Manchester.

 

[a_c_skinner]

In service?

This one was, apparently. The 0534 was timed as a DMU, but this is a 319 on realtrainsurprises.co.uk.

 

[mikemcniven]

319's are up and running via Bolton, three of them in services running via Bolton

319368 on Blackpool North - Piccadilly then back and forth all day.
319365 on Preston - Man. Airport most of day.
319361 on Victoria - Buckshaw all day.

 

[Bullfield WEst]

2P41 0705 Manchester Victoria to Buckshaw Parkway 07:25 at Bolton was a 2x 150.

 

[chrissawer]

As I passed through Salford Central at about 7.55 this morning there was a 319 pulling out towards Victoria.

I think it was this one (2J41 0634 Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria). Very exciting to see.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y53058/2019/02/11/advanced