Calder Valley line improvement works

[superkev]

Looks like the work to extend Sowerby Bridge platforms is to start next week.

The Hall lane.Halifax, Milner royd, Hebden bridge boxes are due to close 23rd Oct with signalling transferred to York ROC. Most new signals seem to be in place with more capacity promised. Doesn't seem to be much if any increase in line speed. Signalling Man Vic to castleton remains manual.

Hebden Bridge car park is to be extended an a lift installed. Progress?

There are rumours that the Class 170's and the new Transpennine stock won't fit through some of the tunnels west of Hebden Bridge. Anyone know more?
K

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Calder Valley was number one on Northern Sparks priority list - all party report. I know that is a moot point now but the more that gets done -signaling etc, means the cost will be a little less later if it does eventually get sparked up.

 

[Spartacus]

I'm surprised 170s didn't occasionally go that way when TPE had them? If not it might just a be a case of them not being cleared rather than not fitting. I know they ended up on a few lines where they weren't cleared when TPE had them, before it was realised. I'm looking at something which suggests they're not cleared via Harrogate (nor are 180s through Mirfield)

Regarding clearances on new stock, didn't they solve issues with 185s simply by moving the steps a bit and shaving platform edges?

 

[deltic08]

I'm surprised 170s didn't occasionally go that way when TPE had them? If not it might just a be a case of them not being cleared rather than not fitting. I know they ended up on a few lines where they weren't cleared when TPE had them, before it was realised. I'm looking at something which suggests they're not cleared via Harrogate (nor are 180s through Mirfield)

Regarding clearances on new stock, didn't they solve issues with 185s simply by moving the steps a bit and shaving platform edges?

170s have cleared themselves as they have been running on the Harrohate Loop for a few months now.

 

[Bungle965]

There was an article of platform extensions kicking off in a few months time, it was only from the local news so only gave info that Littleborough, Smithy Bridge and Mills Hill would get attention. However is there any other?
Sam

 

[edwin_m]

There was an article of platform extensions kicking off in a few months time, it was only from the local news so only gave info that Littleborough, Smithy Bridge and Mills Hill would get attention. However is there any other?
Sam

Paul Bigland posted on these earlier this week including photos of work at Hebden Bridge and Sowerby Bridge.
https://paulbigland.blog/2018/08/16/calder-valley-rail-improvements-progress/

The following stations will see platforms extended by varying lengths, with work due to finish by December 2018.

Mills Hill. Smithy Bridge. Littleborough. Walsden. Todmorden. Hebden Bridge. Mytholmroyd. Sowerby Bridge and Bradford Interchange.

 

[Bungle965]

Paul Bigland posted on these earlier this week including photos of work at Hebden Bridge and Sowerby Bridge.
https://paulbigland.blog/2018/08/16/calder-valley-rail-improvements-progress/

Thanks for that!
I do wonder what they are planning to do about Moston. Half of the Leeds bound platform is in a completely derelict state since the freight wagon smashed into it. The last I heard about it Network Rail and DB were at odds as to who was to pay for it.
Up until now anything longer than 3 carriages and the rear unit would be locked out.
Sam

 

[Calderfornian]

Hebden Bridge car park is to be extended an a lift installed. Progress?

Lifts have been surveyed from what I understand. Car park involves reorganisation of the coal merchants’ yard. Platform works ongoing tonight (again).

 

[Calderfornian]

Looks like the work to extend Sowerby Bridge platforms is to start next week.

The Hall lane.Halifax, Milner royd, Hebden bridge boxes are due to close 23rd Oct with signalling transferred to York ROC. Most new signals seem to be in place with more capacity promised. Doesn't seem to be much if any increase in line speed. Signalling Man Vic to castleton remains manual.

Hebden Bridge car park is to be extended an a lift installed. Progress?

There are rumours that the Class 170's and the new Transpennine stock won't fit through some of the tunnels west of Hebden Bridge. Anyone know more?
K

Re TPE stock, it’s a diversionary route at weekends so it would seem a bit weird if it wasn’t cleared.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Re TPE stock, it’s a diversionary route at weekends so it would seem a bit weird if it wasn’t cleared.

185s are cleared. The TPE 170s were always a micro-fleet and when Calder Valley diversions were in place, the Hull 170 services tended to run as shuttles to Huddersfield (even on the old 4tph timetable, there weren't paths via Hebden for all 4) so there was no need to clear the 170s that way. In any case I'd be surprised if anything major was required to clear them, as they aren't significantly fatter than 185s which, again, are cleared.

Just realised you meant the new stock, apologies. On that, the Mk5a sets shouldn't need significant work in theory As they're 22m vehicles, and haven't 68s already run that way on excursions? 802s on the other hand might require more work, and if one of the tunnels is an issue (something was mentioned somewhere in the last few days IIRC) the costs might mount up...

 

[Calderfornian]

Platform 2 extension has been surfaced and hoardings we’re going up this morning for the lift works

 

[lincolnshire]

Looks like the work to extend Sowerby Bridge platforms is to start next week.

The Hall lane.Halifax, Milner royd, Hebden bridge boxes are due to close 23rd Oct with signalling transferred to York ROC. Most new signals seem to be in place with more capacity promised. Doesn't seem to be much if any increase in line speed. Signalling Man Vic to castleton remains manual.

Hebden Bridge car park is to be extended an a lift installed. Progress?

There are rumours that the Class 170's and the new Transpennine stock won't fit through some of the tunnels west of Hebden Bridge. Anyone know more?
K

I think your date is in-correct as 23rd October is a Tuesday so guess it could be weekend of 20th/21st October .

 

[deltic08]

Platform 2 extension has been surfaced and hoardings we’re going up this morning for the lift works

Assume you mean Hebden Bridge? Has work started today at Sowerby Bridge?

 

[deltic08]

185s are cleared. The TPE 170s were always a micro-fleet and when Calder Valley diversions were in place, the Hull 170 services tended to run as shuttles to Huddersfield (even on the old 4tph timetable, there weren't paths via Hebden for all 4) so there was no need to clear the 170s that way. In any case I'd be surprised if anything major was required to clear them, as they aren't significantly fatter than 185s which, again, are cleared.

Just realised you meant the new stock, apologies. On that, the Mk5a sets shouldn't need significant work in theory As they're 22m vehicles, and haven't 68s already run that way on excursions? 802s on the other hand might require more work, and if one of the tunnels is an issue (something was mentioned somewhere in the last few days IIRC) the costs might mount up...

Do you mean a 170 has never run on the Calder Valley route in all these years?

 

[Bungle965]

Do you mean a 170 has never run on the Calder Valley route in all these years?

Well they are not cleared so I would suspect not.
Sam

 

[Halifaxlad]

When going past the site of Bowling Junction earlier today I couldn't help but notice that some of the vegetation had been cut back, that is a little bit strange as it wasn't anywhere near fouling the track. Does anybody know if this is something to do with the possibility of the Bradford 'Avoiding Line' being reopened, as it did seems to be on the old trackbed?

 

[AmateurRambler]

I think your date is in-correct as 23rd October is a Tuesday so guess it could be weekend of 20th/21st October .

23rd October is correct (or at least as correct as any other Network Rail deadline these days).

 

[deltic08]

Well they are not cleared so I would suspect not.
Sam

Obviously not then. I am surprised as I have seen 23m vehicles along the Calder Valley route.

 

[AndyW33]

Do you mean a 170 has never run on the Calder Valley route in all these years?

Well, when you look at the TOCs that have used them, only TPE ever might have, and it has already been explained why their very small fleet didn't need to.
Let's face it, there's little reason why Scotrail, MidlandMainline, Hull Trains, Anglia and successors, Central Trains, or South West Trains would ever have wanted to send theirs that way, even on the most inspired of ORCATS raids. After the fleet cascades and franchise changes that rearranged the 170s, there's still no reason why LM and successors or Cross Country or Chiltern (whose 170s have anyway become 168/3s) or Southern (became 171s) would have been involved either.
Really, it is only now that they have arrived with a TOC that actually operates the Calder Valley route on a daily basis that the issue has arisen.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

There's some blue piping fencing at either end of the platforms at Brighouse, so could Brighouse also have its platforms extended too?

 

[55z]

Class 170's not yet passed to run on Calder Valley Line unless things have changed recently (the sectional appendix says no to 170's) Lifts to be built at Hebden Bridge as part of the governments access to all scheme. Platform extension (eastbound) at Hebden Bridge is due to signal overlap being sub standard at east end and probably train lengths. Class 180's are passed to run Greetland Jn to Hebden Bridge and Milner Royd Jn to Dryclough Jn as Northern hire in for one journey in morning peak and another in evening peak Hebden Bridge to Leeds via Bradford Interchange. As far as I know the TPEXP mark5a coaches have not operated for gauge clearances Liverpool/Manchester to Scarborough. It is up to the TOC/FOC to request route clearance unless the unit/coaches/loco have grandfather rights.

 

[js517]

There's some blue piping fencing at either end of the platforms at Brighouse, so could Brighouse also have its platforms extended too?

Smithy Bridge seems to have the same fencing up at the platform ends.

 

[175001]

Line speed increases are happening. Up to 80mph in places.

 

[superkev]

At Sowerby bridge short eastwards extensions to the platforms are being progressed at night during the past 2 weeks. Looks very expensive for not a lot (about 8m) of platform.
The waiting shelters have been repainted and relaxed over the past 6 weeks. Pity painting couldn't include the tatty canopy. Pics-
K

 

[superkev]

I hear that network rail are going to attack the steelwork in at least one of the tunnels between Hebden and Todmorden to give presumably to give clearance for the 170's and MK5s.
No idea when but probably sooner than later as the bin liner train clearence is marginal too.
K

 

[coxxy]

In the next couple of months Mills Hill is having a lift installed on the rochdale bound platform and the ramp receiving some attention so it isn't as steep on the Manchester bound platform. Would imagine they would do platform work at the same time...

 

[Halifaxlad]

Went to Network Rail's engagement session the other week at Brighouse, picked up one of their glossy leaflets, attached is the map inside that shows what stations will have platforms lengthened and when, interesting Bramley & New Pudsey don't feature.

 

[Bungle965]

I seem to remember that the platforms at New Pudsey has platforms already long enough. Not sure about Bramley however.
No inclusion of Moston either.
Sam

 

[Eccles1983]

Moston won't need doing as it only gets served by the Rochdale turnbacks which at best is a 4 car service

 

[Ships]

Mostons being rebuilt after the freight train mashed it, might be rolled up into those works?