Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[jonesy3001]

The transpennine route upgrade page as also been updated which will include the engineering works throughout next year, with the ashton line starting the weekend of 18th and 19th feb up until the blockade in march and a few weekends after that.

Upcoming Closures

thetrupgrade.co.uk

 

[Nottingham59]

engineering works throughout next year

How much of the route will have been electrified when they've done all those?

 

[jonesy3001]

How much of the route will have been electrified when they've done all those?

Be done by 2024 be a while before we a see an electric train using the wires like, depends how quick they can turn the juice on.

 

[59CosG95]

How much of the route will have been electrified when they've done all those?

At least Man Vic to Stalybridge, and at least York to Church Fenton North Jn. Possibly also Leeds to Neville Hill (as a remodel).

This is purely in physical terms of the wires being up, of course. My guess is that W3/W4 work will begin after Stalybridge is done, but I don't know for certain.

 

[Halish Railway]

At least Man Vic to Stalybridge, and at least York to Church Fenton North Jn. Possibly also Leeds to Neville Hill (as a remodel).

Is the Neville Hill remodelling expected to be done in and around 2024?

 

[59CosG95]

Is the Neville Hill remodelling expected to be done in and around 2024?

Maybe - I did see on the LinkedIn post that OLE piling near Neville Hill has begun...

 

[Nottingham59]

Possibly also Leeds to Neville Hill (as a remodel).

I did notice that Boxing Day closure included "installing overhead line equipment foundations in Miles Platting and Leeds". I did wonder what that was for. Perhaps around Neville Hill?

 

[fishwomp]

Our Christmas upgrades include:
➡️boring over a mile of culvert at Colton junction
➡️installing a new crossover connection into Holbeck depot
➡️installing under-track crossings in Leeds, Neville Hill depot, Batley and Morley
➡️major refurbishment of five sets of track points at Westfield Kirkgate to support resilience on this key diversionary route
➡️ overhead line equipment (OLE) foundation installation are throat of Neville Hill depot
➡️ electrification work in Manchester (including near Manchester Victoria, Collyhurst and Miles Platting)

Huddersfield-Wakefield-Leeds diversion looks set to be regular during the works - although I'm surprised it's only an extra 15 mins to go via Wakefield for the detours this coming weekend.

In addition to the point work above, is anyone aware of any plan to deal with the 20mph restrictions through Healey Mills?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

A couple of queries regarding the post above:

installing under-track crossings in Leeds, Neville Hill depot, Batley and Morley

Assuming this isn't referring to the stations at Leeds, Batley and Morley. On that basis, is there documentation online indicating the specific locations where these works are taking place?

major refurbishment of five sets of track points at Westfield Kirkgate to support resilience on this key diversionary route

Is this a major retail development planned for the former Wakefield Hotel and Snooty Fox pubs?

 

[59CosG95]

A couple of queries regarding the post above:

Assuming this isn't referring to the stations at Leeds, Batley and Morley. On that basis, is there documentation online indicating the specific locations where these works are taking place?

Nothing in the public domain. Best bet is looking for a patch of fresh ballast that crosses the tracks.

 

[WAO]

The mention of work at Neville Hill may indicate the start of electrification Eastwards from Leeds.

WAO

 

[YorksLad12]

The mention of work at Neville Hill may indicate the start of electrification Eastwards from Leeds.

WAO

Isn't the Neville Hill work to do with slewing the through lines further away from the depot traffic? Or has that already happened? I get letters from Network Rail once in a while as a "railway neighbour" but NL is further down the line than where I am.

 

[59CosG95]

Isn't the Neville Hill work to do with slewing the through lines further away from the depot traffic? Or has that already happened? I get letters from Network Rail once in a while as a "railway neighbour" but NL is further down the line than where I am.

Yes, and electrification eastwards too.

 

[YorksLad12]

Yes, and electrification eastwards too.

Ta. I was thinking that the electrification work was some way off (in railway terms), but the track change was taking place when best to do so, as a separate project, though obviously with future electrification in mind. The timescales for TRU are so extended now it's hard to keep track!

 

[Ploughman]

Any reports of the works around York Station over the Christmas period.
Or should that be in a new thread?

 

[59CosG95]

Any reports of the works around York Station over the Christmas period.
Or should that be in a new thread?

I believe that's mainly track renewal work.

 

[Foggycorner]

I was out on the train today Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge and return and noticed brand new wires on both the up and down slow lines (ashton line)between the end of existing wires collyhurst tunnel and victoria side of the old line to oldham road goods at collyhurst sidings
contact wire and other suport wires droppers etc so some progress over christmas

 

[59CosG95]

I was out on the train today Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge and return and noticed brand new wires on both the up and down slow lines (ashton line)between the end of existing wires collyhurst tunnel and victoria side of the old line to oldham road goods at collyhurst sidings
contact wire and other suport wires droppers etc so some progress over christmas

Must be about a Tension Length's worth of wires on each track then.

TRU West Alliance also posted this on LinkedIn, detailing the works at Victoria:

TRU West Alliance on LinkedIn: #team #engineering #railway

On Boxing Day, the TRU West Alliance were busy delivering essential work in Manchester to bring passengers a faster, greener, cleaner railway. Electrification…

www.linkedin.com

They've installed a Permanently Earthed Section (PES) to facilitate the wiring eastwards from the station without the need to isolate everything within it (presumably). They've also put Junction Lighting up supported from the OLE portals.

 

[snowball]

Any reports of the works around York Station over the Christmas period.
Or should that be in a new thread?

There's now a press release about it. As 59CosG95 said, it was track renewal:

New year, new track: Smoother journeys through York station after Christmas refresh

Passengers travelling through York station can look forward to smoother, more reliable journeys after Network Rail refreshed nearly three kilometres of track through the platforms.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Passengers travelling through York station can look forward to smoother, more reliable journeys after Network Rail refreshed nearly three kilometres of track through the platforms.

The £6 million upgrade will help to drive down delays, getting passengers where they need to be on time, and improve the track’s condition for many years to come.

Between Christmas Eve and Monday 2 January, engineers replaced 2.7 km of track, renewed nine sets of points (which allow trains to move from one section of track to another), and improved some vital signalling equipment.

To ready the route for a cold winter, teams also improved specialist heaters on the track which play an important role in melting snow and ice so that trains can run reliably whatever the weather.

Strike action over the Christmas period initially saw this work placed under review, but specially trained and fully qualified back up staff were able to step up and help deliver these major benefits for passengers.

Paul Rutter, East Coast Route Director for Network Rail said: “I’m so pleased that we were able to push ahead with this work despite the strike action and do the right thing for passengers. Better equipment and new weather-ready tracks will all help to offer more reliable journeys through York.

“I’d like to thank passengers for their support and patience over the festive period and look forward to welcoming them back to the railway throughout 2023.”

 

[59CosG95]

This in from the TRU LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thet...sv?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

What better way to see in the New Year than major track and drainage renewals?

Over the last 10 days, engineers have been working hard to complete work at Morley Station which will allow the station to be relocated approximately 75m away from its current position later in the year.

As a multi-million-pound investment, the relocated station will boast longer platforms to provide space for faster, more frequent, greener trains with more seats available for passengers travelling between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. A new footbridge with lifts will also be installed, making the station fully accessible for everybody.

Our engineers replaced tracks on the Up Huddersfield line towards Dewsbury, installed 4 under-track crossings, removed track drainage, installed a temporary track drainage pumping system and used over 8 engineering trains and 1 on track machine (tamper), all in preparation for key work that’s due to take place over 8 days between 4 to 12 February.

During the February upgrades, we will be laying foundations for the new platforms as well as electrical overhead line foundations, realigning tracks into the final position, completing further drainage work and installing an under-track crossing (which allows cables and services to pass under the railway lines).

We’ve worked hard with our train operating colleagues to keep passengers moving while this work takes place and are encouraging everybody to check their journeys if travelling through the area during this time.

Click here to find out more about our Morley New Year work and the other upgrades that took place over Christmas:

https://lnkd.in/eeswUixg

Looks like OLE Piling will be starting in February in the Morley area.

 

[snowball]

And there's another press release:

On track to better: Transpennine Route Upgrade delivers Christmas improvements

The Transpennine Route Upgrade is on track to better, more reliable journeys after Network Rail delivered improvements over Christmas and New Year between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

The Transpennine Route Upgrade is on track to better, more reliable journeys after Network Rail delivered improvements over Christmas and New Year between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.

While the route was closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, major work to ready the 70-mile route for full electrification powered ahead in Manchester (near Manchester Victoria and Collyhurst) and near Neville Hill depot in Leeds.

This will eventually help to save up to 87,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year – the equivalent to 5.9 million car journeys along the same route.

Further upgrades to track through Leeds, Batley, Morley and Wakefield Kirkgate were also packed in over the two days to make the best use of the annual Christmas closure and deliver as many improvements as possible for passengers.

This included the installation of a new track crossing into Holbeck depot to support more trains using it in future. The improvements in Wakefield Kirkgate will boost resilience so the line can be used as a key diversionary route when work takes place on the core Transpennine route in future. This follows the completion of signalling upgrades and the installation of a new footbridge with lifts at Castleford station in November.

Investigative work also progressed through railway tunnels and bridges between Huddersfield and Dewsbury, where the line is set to benefit from twice as many tracks in the future to make way for faster, more frequent trains.

Between 31 December 2022 and 2 January 2023, engineers continued to renew the track and prepare for the new, fully accessible station at Morley.
.
This package of improvements is part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade’s plan to transform journeys across the North, better connecting towns and cities through more frequent, faster trains, running on a cleaner, greener and more reliable railway.

Neil Holm, Transpennine Route Upgrade Director, said: “The multi-million-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade will completely revolutionise rail travel between regional hubs such as Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York and it is great to see all this work delivered successfully over the festive period.

“We are constantly investing in schemes which will bring a better and more reliable railway, and this package of upgrades complements hundreds of other projects delivered across the country, such as the £5.1m platform upgrade at Manchester Piccadilly and the £6m track upgrade at York.

“I’d like to thank both our passengers and communities across the route for their patience as we take one step closer to a faster, cleaner, greener and more reliable railway for passengers across the north.”

Further strike action is planned between Tuesday 3 and Saturday 7 January, which will see train services reduced across the region. Passengers should only travel if it’s absolutely necessary and check their first and last train times with National Rail or their train operator.

 

[snowball]

Posters on Skyscrapercity have recently noted that there are wires over the bridge over the M60; and wires coming from the Victoria direction at the bridge over Ten Acres Lane, Clayton Vale.

There's a press release about Morley:

Nine days of major upgrades in Morley – passengers should plan ahead

As a multi-million-pound investment continues to transform Morley station, passengers are being urged to plan ahead this January and February.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

As a multi-million-pound investment continues to transform Morley station, passengers are being urged to plan ahead this January and February.

Over nine days, Network Rail will lay the foundations for new, longer platforms, realign the track to support faster trains through the area and complete important drainage work.

It means that over the last weekend in January (28 and 29) and from 4 to 12 February 2023, buses will replace some trains between Huddersfield and Leeds and rail diversions will be in place.

Passengers should plan their journey using National Rail or their train operator’s website and allow extra time.

As part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, Morley station will be relocated approximately 75m away from its current position to allow for longer platforms. These will provide space for faster, more frequent and greener trains with more seats available for passengers travelling between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York. A new footbridge with lifts will also make the station fully accessible for everybody.

Hannah Lomas, Principal Programme Sponsor for Transpennine Route Upgrade said: “This work is a key milestone for the Transpennine Route Upgrade and I’m looking forward to seeing the long term benefits it will offer passengers travelling between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.

"Although no trains will run through the area while the work takes place, we have worked closely with our train operating colleagues to keep passengers moving, with diversions and rail replacement services in place.”

The Transpennine Route Upgrade is set to revolutionise rail across the north of England by delivering a fully electrified railway between Manchester and York, improving stations along the route and upgrading a number of bridges and level crossings.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Can confirm that some wires exist on the bridge over the M60 at Ashton-under-Lyne.

 

[59CosG95]

TRU West reporting on LinkedIn that 9600m worth of wiring has been installed along the "Ashton Corridor" (i.e. section W1).

TRU West Alliance on LinkedIn: #future #rail #electrification #truwest | 10 comments

Last week members of the TRU West OLE team consisting of one wiring unit, four mobile elevating work platforms and 16 overhead line electrification… | 10 comments on LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com

Last week members of the TRU West OLE team consisting of one wiring unit, four mobile elevating work platforms and 16 overhead line electrification construction operatives installed 9600 metres of overhead wiring along the Ashton Corridor.

This wiring will allow the future running of electric trains along the Ashton corridor, an essential part of TRU West's plans to create a faster, greener and more reliable railway.

Looks as if that includes the first few hundred metres out of Man Vic now.

 

[jonesy3001]

TRU West reporting on LinkedIn that 9600m worth of wiring has been installed along the "Ashton Corridor" (i.e. section W1).

TRU West Alliance on LinkedIn: #future #rail #electrification #truwest | 10 comments

Last week members of the TRU West OLE team consisting of one wiring unit, four mobile elevating work platforms and 16 overhead line electrification… | 10 comments on LinkedIn

www.linkedin.com

Excellent, was going to pop down to Manchester in a couple of weeks to see what the progress was but thanks to aslef announcing the strikes on the 1st and 3rd of Feb, spoilt my plans.

 

[59CosG95]

The transpennine route upgrade page as also been updated which will include the engineering works throughout next year, with the ashton line starting the weekend of 18th and 19th feb up until the blockade in march and a few weekends after that.

Upcoming Closures

thetrupgrade.co.uk

The Closures page has been updated again to include works on Easter Sunday (9th of April); Leeds-York trains will be diverted via Castleford as Neville Hill will be gaining new OLE.

 

[jonesy3001]

The Closures page has been updated again to include works on Easter Sunday (9th of April); Leeds-York trains will be diverted via Castleford as Neville Hill will be gaining new OLE.
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[M60lad]

Noted on my way to work this week that more wires have gone up in Miles Platting area over Oldham Road Bridge not to sure but it does seem that wires may now stretch to the already wired section East of Victoria.

So it seems there's 3 sets of wires in the area now, they certainly have got a move on this week as last week there was only one span of wire in the location.

 

[snowball]

There's a feature on TRU in the February Modern Railways. Mostly stuff that attentive readers of this thread will know. However, all the sections between Huddersfield and Church Fenton should be under construction by the end of this year, leaving only Stalybridge-Standedge-Huddersfield to start in later years (not specified exactly when).

Standedge will get track lowering (as previously mentioned) and slab track.

Also there's this press release on the upcoming Stalybridge closure:

26 days of major rail upgrades in Stalybridge - passengers urged to check before they travel

Engineers are about to start a mega, once-in-a-generation package of work around Stalybridge station to drive down delays and deliver a better, more reliable and greener railway for passengers.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Engineers are about to start a mega, once-in-a-generation package of work around Stalybridge station to drive down delays and deliver a better, more reliable and greener railway for passengers.

Over 26 days, the Transpennine Route Upgrade will completely remodel the tracks on the approach to the station, installing over two kilometres of new track and 23 new signals, upgrading 13 crossovers, and fitting overhead line equipment.

This means that from Saturday 11 March to Wednesday 5 April, there will be some changes to services. Trains will still run between Manchester and Leeds via the Calder Valley route, and services between Huddersfield and Leeds will continue as normal, calling at all stations.

Replacement buses will also keep passengers moving between Manchester (including Manchester Airport) and Huddersfield and between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge.

Passengers are being urged to check before they travel via National Rail or their train operator’s website and to allow extra time as journeys will take slightly longer.

Hannah Lomas, Industry Programme Director for Transpennine Route Upgrade said: “Over the 26-days, our engineers will work around the clock to complete these key upgrades in Stalybridge, bringing us one step closer to being able to run electric trains through the area by the middle of the decade.

"To complete it safely, it does mean some passengers will be impacted between February and May. We’ve worked closely with TransPennine Express and Northern to keep passengers moving via both diversionary routes and rail replacement buses.

"We’re encouraging anyone that’s planning on travelling during the main upgrades or preparation weekends to visit National Rail or their train operator's website to plan their journey."

Once fully completed, more trains will be able to move in and out of Stalybridge station more easily with better reliability.

It’s part of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade, which will bring faster, more frequent, greener trains with more seats available for passengers travelling between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York.

Chris Nutton, Major Projects Director for TransPennine Express said: “These upgrade works are a vital step towards delivering faster, more reliable and sustainable services between Manchester and York.

"Whilst the engineering work takes place around Stalybridge there will be a number of changes to TransPennine Express services across our network - and we’d advise our customers to check carefully for the latest advice before they travel on our website www.tpexpress.co.uk/travel-updates/changes-to-train-times. Updates will also be available on our social media channels. Our teams across from across the industry will be on hand at stations to assist customers with their journeys.”

Additional preparation work will also take place before and after the 26 days, including on 18/19 February, 25/26 February, 4/5 March, 15/16 April, 22/23 April, 29/30 April and 20/21 May. Passengers should check before they travel for the latest updates.

According to the MR piece, actual wiring will take place after the blockade rather than during it.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

A bit worrying that the MR piece implies that the Huddersfield-Dewsbury section is still not funded, despite having its TWA order approved.
I thought Grant Shapps had signed that off both in the NRP and in the £11 billion funding tranche he announced last year.
Hopefully it's just an administrative matter.