Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[PDG1949]

I'm worried about all those rabbits around Buckshaw Parkway.
The place teems with them rushing around as a train goes past.
How are they going to get through all the upcoming piling and banging?

Mind you, in Finland last week an enormous hare ran across the tracks - in Turku town centre!
They have reindeer trouble too.

Well, what do you expect with a name like BUCKshaw Parkway?? Agree with you on Finland - mind you had a nice reindeer steak in the revolving Tampere tower restaurant in 2006..................

 

[LDECRexile]

Joe Callaghan has kindly sent an unusual Farnworth Tunnel photo he took in April.

I've added it as 3920m in his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157651953947345

and also as 3920m in the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Thank you Joe.

 

[thealexweb]

thealexweb has sent another fine set of photos of progress at Ladybridge and Dean Clough bridge.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157652232138430

and to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Thank you thealexweb.

No problem

Unfortunately due to an accident I was involved in, whilst on holiday in Windermere, it sadly looks unlikely that I will be up to taking any more photos around Ladybridge any time soon.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I am really struggling to find 3920m - but I am sure in the grand scheme of things I will find it later.

 

[LDECRexile]

Dear thealexweb

I'm very sorry to hear of your accident. I hope you'll mend soon.

Dear Graham

Here it is:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/18519858723/in/album-72157648767927083/

Kind regards to you both

Dave

 

[snowball]

Deleted (overtaken by the post above)

 

[LDECRexile]

I have just heard that Balfours have withdrawn from NW electrification.

I've no more details except that HMG are expected to review and re-tender.

Dave

 

[thealexweb]

Dear thealexweb

I'm very sorry to hear of your accident. I hope you'll mend soon.

Dear Graham

Here it is:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/18519858723/in/album-72157648767927083/

Kind regards to you both

Dave

Thank you for your kind words.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I have just heard that Balfours have withdrawn from NW electrification.

I've no more details except that HMG are expected to review and re-tender.

Dave

Wait what? Does that mean all work will halt?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I have just heard that Balfours have withdrawn from NW electrification.
I've no more details except that HMG are expected to review and re-tender.
Dave

Well that puts the tin lid on things.
Nothing on the BB site of course.
There are a number of possible reasons, one being BB's corporate difficulties.
I had thought rail was a bright spot in all their contractual troubles, but maybe not.
Maybe they just got fed up with NR.
Re-tendering will be no easy matter in the current climate.
Another possibility is that NR may have asked them to put all their efforts into the GW project (they are doing Airport Jn-Maidenhead for Crossrail).

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Dear GrahamHere it is:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/18519858723/in/album-72157648767927083/

Kind regards to you both Dave

Definitely interesting

 

[WatcherZero]

Would be a bit odd for Balfour to have pulled out, they just posted job adverts for a programme director and a host of roles in the project at the start of the month. This wouldn't be something they had been considering for a long time.

 

[ALX400]

In regards to todays announcement what does it really mean for the current works in progress, I think they would be hard pushed to stop phase 4 as it stands

 

[GRALISTAIR]

In regards to todays announcement what does it really mean for the current works in progress, I think they would be hard pushed to stop phase 4 as it stands

There is absolutely not a chance. I will give 20:1 odds - so you bet a fiver and I will bet 100. Anyone care to take me up.

 

[Class 170101]

Didn't BB sell part of their operation to Alsthom just this week?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Secretary of State -

We have seen electric trains introduced this year between Liverpool and Manchester, and between Liverpool and Wigan, and the work that will see them
spread to Bolton and Blackpool is under way.

Today I have made no cuts whatever to the rail investment strategy—the largest rail investment strategy that has ever taken place. The amount of money invested is exactly the same as it was last week—the budget within which the strategy has to be delivered.

I think that is fairly conclusive on Stage 4

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Didn't BB sell part of their operation to Alsthom just this week?

Yes, but it was their 50% of the signalling joint venture SSL.
I wouldn't have thought it would affect NW electrification.
It does indicate BB is selling assets though, retreating to its core business.

 

[LDECRexile]

Things are starting to emerge:

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/...n-hold-as-network-rail-spending-is-reset.html

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...cretary-insists-electrification-great-9525608

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/fury-...is-halted-in-disaster-for-yorkshire-1-7327951

http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2015/06/mcloughlin-resets-£38bn-rail-investment-programme

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2015/06/25/government-slams-brakes-on-railway-eletrication-plan/

http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/transpennine-electrification-put-on-hold/

 

[snowball]

Is there anything new in any of those for anyone who followed yesterday's discussion in these two threads?

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=117523
http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=116999

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I have just heard that Balfours have withdrawn from NW electrification.
I've no more details except that HMG are expected to review and re-tender.

Would be a bit odd for Balfour to have pulled out, they just posted job adverts for a programme director and a host of roles in the project at the start of the month. This wouldn't be something they had been considering for a long time.

I haven't seen any confirmation of this anywhere.
You'd expect news like this to firm up pretty quickly.
I expect our esteemed resident engineer would know...

 

[steverailer]

I have just heard that Balfours have withdrawn from NW electrification.

I've no more details except that HMG are expected to review and re-tender.

Dave

The rumour on the ground is that they are pulling out of rail operations all together apart from design. And that they made a loss of circa £64 million on phase 2 alone.

Something has definatly happened as alot of staff from track and office are ringing around to try and get positions with other firms.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The rumour on the ground is that they are pulling out of rail operations all together apart from design. And that they made a loss of circa £64 million on phase 2 alone.
Something has definatly happened as alot of staff from track and office are ringing around to try and get positions with other firms.

Well that's a real bummer.
We only hear about the Network Rail overruns, but of course there are contractors involved who are also likely to take a haircut.
It makes it very difficult to tender such contracts where there is a large risk.
Hopefully NR or the other major contractors will pick up the skilled electrification resource, and continue the project "by other means".

On the NW project, it would no doubt depend on what the contract terms are.
Phase 1 and 2 were specific contracts, but I'm not sure how the current work is being contracted, possibly under some form of frame agreement.
You'd expect BB to complete its contractual obligations, even if it did not enter into new ones.
Transferring the contract to another contractor by agreement with NR would be another way out.

 

[LDECRexile]

My correspondent has written again, among other things s/he says:

I have a further update for you - Balfour Beatty are to work until September installing a few hundred more foundations at which point their involvement in the project will end and someone else will take over.

I have heard rumours of Carillion being interested but can't confirm.'

Dave

 

[thealexweb]

My correspondent has written again, among other things s/he says:



Dave

Are BB the main contractor working on the Farnworth Tunnel? If yes, how can they stop work a month early

 

[snowball]

Are BB the main contractor working on the Farnworth Tunnel? If yes, how can they stop work a month early

I don't think they're involved at Farnworth, which is a separate contract.

 

[thealexweb]

I don't think they're involved at Farnworth, which is a separate contract.

That's slightly reassuring I guess.

If BB can provide a continuous run of bases between Euxton Junction and Bolton perhaps that is the best we can hope for.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Are BB the main contractor working on the Farnworth Tunnel? If yes, how can they stop work a month early

They are involved in some of the bridge work along the route, but I don't think they are doing Farnworth.
It's quite possible bridges and electrification are different disciplines within BB, so not all work may stop.

 

[eps200]

Went trawling through the thread but cant find an answer

Does anyone know what's to become of the redundant bore once farnsworth tunnel is finished? Once the works complete and both lines are in the enlarged one is it just going to be bricked up?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Went trawling through the thread but cant find an answer

Does anyone know what's to become of the redundant bore once Farnworth tunnel is finished? Once the works are complete and both lines are in the enlarged one, is it just going to be bricked up?

When I find the link I will post - but yes the redundant bore will be taken out of use.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2016629&postcount=5

 

[snowball]

Bat roosts, mushroom growing and hanging baskets have all been mentioned on here, perhaps not all seriously.

Renders show the spare bore open at its portals:

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...NVdyWAoGY7gbzy4a4DA&tbm=isch&ved=0CCMQMygDMAM

 

[LDECRexile]

Bat roosts, mushroom growing and hanging baskets have all been mentioned on here, perhaps not all seriously.

Renders show the spare bore open at its portals:

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...NVdyWAoGY7gbzy4a4DA&tbm=isch&ved=0CCMQMygDMAM

There have been two other proposals made, not mutually exclusive.

One was that the redundant bore should leave immediately, poor bloke, but oh dear, he dunnarf go on.

The other was that the redundant bore will have track removed then be retained as a safe access route for staff, but closed to the public.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I've wanged 19 photos on the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Dave