Manchester Ordsall Chord rail link opens to passengers

[AndrewE]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-42302241 says

An £85m rail link has opened alongside the world's first passenger railway.

The Ordsall Chord connects Manchester's three main stations, linking the city's northern and southern parts.

Note the leading unit working the train over this new infrastructure!

 

[DarloRich]

that wasn't the first train.

 

[AndrewE]

that wasn't the first train.

I didn't say it was! (but I guess it might have been the implication of the story)

 

[DarloRich]

OK - i think the first was a highly glamorous 150/158 combo

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Stupid question has a revenue earning electric train gone over the chord yet.

 

[323235]

The 0840 Man Vic - Oxford Road was the first diesel service this morning. No electric services at the moment.

 

[WatcherZero]

At the moment its being worked from two diesel diagrams.

 

[AndrewE]

The 0840 Man Vic - Oxford Road was the first diesel service this morning. No electric services at the moment.

At the moment its being worked from two diesel diagrams.

Watch it, you two! Someone from the Southeast (or even the West midlands) will be along soon to tell you that the North doesn't deserve any new infrastructure anyway, let alone electric trains!

 

[Bovverboy]

The 0840 Man Vic - Oxford Road was the first diesel service this morning. No electric services at the moment.

At least two ECS moves preceded the first service journey.

 

[Bovverboy]

At the moment its being worked from two diesel diagrams.

When the service is hourly (as it has been for most of today) a minimum of four diagrams are required to cover it.

 

[Loop & Link]

A 5th unit diagram comes into play late evening.

But for anyone wishing to travel over it.

Booked traction (Sunday Only) is 2 diagrams booked for a 150. 1 booked for a 1 x 158 and another for 2 x 158’s (was a 150+158 today) and then late evening there is another 158 comes into play to work 21:35 ex-Leeds.

Hope this is of some use to anyone travelling over it.

 

[IrishDave]

OK - i think the first was a highly glamorous 150/158 combo

It was - 150142 leading 158909 on the first train (2M34, 0840 Victoria-Oxford Road) this morning, and the other way round for 2E41 back from Oxford Road to Leeds. 150142 looks to have been newly refurbished, it smelled almost brand-new inside!

 

[snowball]

Perhaps this thread could be merged with the main Ordsall Chord thread, where the opening was already under discussion?

 

[WatcherZero]

When the service is hourly (as it has been for most of today) a minimum of four diagrams are required to cover it.

Two diagrams in that two distinct arrangements are operating it before being duplicated.