Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[Halifaxlad]

How long ago was not so long ago? On Google Streetview you can see them from the road at a range of dates from 2009 to June 2023. They look quite low and not changed in that time.

Actually its probably just me.

I did see a recent photo and the parapets from the rail side looked that clean like it had been recently raised, just looked at Street view and the raising was done some time ago.

It might be a slight change of perspective since the bridge was removed.

 

[1D53]

The main road Bridge hadn't been touched in many years and is a listed structure.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Cowi have been awarded design contracts for Stalybridge, Scout & Standedge Tunnels.

The 1.7km of slab track mentioned in the article doesn't seem to correspond to any of the TRU tunnel dimensions.
It's certainly not enough for Standedge tunnel (if needed there).

I haven't come across COWI before, but it seems they are tunnel experts and designed the Mersey Gateway bridge and some of the Nordic region bridges

 

[D6130]

The 1.7km of slab track mentioned in the article doesn't seem to correspond to any of the TRU tunnel dimensions.
It's certainly not enough for Standedge tunnel (if needed there).

Is it by any chance at Mossley, to improve clearances for the tight bridge and lineside houses?

 

[snowball]

The 1.7km of slab track mentioned in the article doesn't seem to correspond to any of the TRU tunnel dimensions.

Slab track is doubtless measured in single track km. #7868 said Stalybridge and Scout tunnels would require track lowering. They are double track. To get the length of slab track required for them, add their lengths and double the result. It comes to just under 1.6km but maybe the slab needs to extend slightly outside the tunnels.

 

[sturmey_archer]

The main road Bridge hadn't been touched in many years and is a listed structure.

Photos on the Garforth page at railwayarchitecture.org.uk show the parapet was raised sometime between 1974 and 1993. The description on the Grade II Listing says that the 'raising of the parapets has been carried out sensitively in matching ashlar.'... I don't know if I agree with that, they look like concrete blocks rather than a matching stone.

They look like they must have been very low before, so I wonder if the road level has been raised or realigned at some point. But to go back to the original question... yes it looks like they will need raising again, and may need the copings replacing.

 

[snowball]

Just noticed that there's a pedestrian on Streetview and they don't even reach his shoulders. Any past raising was obviously not up to electrification standards, even as they were then.

 

[edwin_m]

It comes to just under 1.6km but maybe the slab needs to extend slightly outside the tunnels.

Transitions between slab and ballasted track are tricky - going directly from one to the other risks a "hard spot" as the ballasted track settles a bit but the slab stays put. There might have to be some sort of transition structure to make this more gradual, which would probably sit outside the tunnel.

 

[swt_passenger]

Transitions between slab and ballasted track are tricky - going directly from one to the other risks a "hard spot" as the ballasted track settles a bit but the slab stays put. There might have to be some sort of transition structure to make this more gradual, which would probably sit outside the tunnel.

I remember when Southampton tunnel was slab tracked the transition sections were very obvious during installation, just outside each end of the tunnel, before they were effectively buried under the finished ballast level and shoulders. Basically there’s a wide sloping trench to retain the ballast that is gradually reducing in depth towards the tunnel.

There‘s a photo of a transition section at the top of a contractor summary of the work here:

http://www.lesmac.co.uk/pdf/case-study-southampton.pdf

 

[Geeves]

The slab at Macclesfield tunnel too also starts (and ends) at least 3 or 400 meters outside the actual structure too as others have said it's not just a case of the ballast ending and concrete suddenly starting.

 

[Halifaxlad]

The main road Bridge hadn't been touched in many years and is a listed structure.

I think we have already establised that, thanks!

 

[td97]

A possible test circuit is running today (coinciding with no services due ASLEF strike)
Longsight - Crewe - Stalybridge (via Ashton) - Oxford Rd (via Guide Bridge) - Stalybridge (via Guide Bridge) - Longsight (via Ashton)
3Q91, 3Q92, 3Q94, 3Q95, 3Q97

 

[Greybeard33]

A possible test circuit is running today (coinciding with no services due ASLEF strike)
Longsight - Crewe - Stalybridge (via Ashton) - Oxford Rd (via Guide Bridge) - Stalybridge (via Guide Bridge) - Longsight (via Ashton)
3Q91, 3Q92, 3Q94, 3Q95, 3Q97

Genuine question: why would a Stalybridge test train first go all the way from Longsight to Crewe, just to come back again on the same route?

 

[Geeves]

I was thinking that myself, the electrical control room is at Crewe, maybe they picked someone (or something) up at Crewe that that they needed for the test?

All the tests seem to have ran so hopefully we can start using the wires soon. The 769 power change over at Vic is currently leading to so many cancellations. If it could run on electric that would be one less thing to cancel the Stalybridge train for!

 

[darylyates17]

I was thinking that myself, the electrical control room is at Crewe, maybe they picked someone (or something) up at Crewe that that they needed for the test?

All the tests seem to have ran so hopefully we can start using the wires soon. The 769 power change over at Vic is currently leading to so many cancellations. If it could run on electric that would be one less thing to cancel the Stalybridge train for!

Think it will be from June that the wires are used by 769 & 802s.

 

[43095john]

A possible test circuit is running today (coinciding with no services due ASLEF strike)
Longsight - Crewe - Stalybridge (via Ashton) - Oxford Rd (via Guide Bridge) - Stalybridge (via Guide Bridge) - Longsight (via Ashton)
3Q91, 3Q92, 3Q94, 3Q95, 3Q97

Has ran, using TPE 397006

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Travelled east of Stalybridge today for the first time in a while (to Leeds via Normanton).
I expected to see major work going on between Huddersfield and Ravensthorpe, but not what appears to be a lot of renewals going on between Stalybridge and Huddersfield.
There seems to be a lot of lineside work going on including new cable routes and electrics cabinets, mainly on the south side but also some to the north.
Also some rerailing and new sleeper sections going in west of Diggle.
So does anyone know if this is just routine renewals, or is it a concerted project involving resignalling etc, as part of TRU?
Given that the whole length is due to get ETCS in due course for TRU, would Network Rail need to upgrade the existing signalling beforehand?

 

[Tim_UK]

Resignalling from Diggle to Huddersfield and beyond was completed around 2017. see https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/huddersfield-signalling-re-control-works.149136/

I understand that currently most of the actual works are about finding the cables and stuff that are underground.

And there is loads of digging going on around Deighton and Ravensthorpe. And Mirfield station and some new bridges, and the viaduct works are already done. I suspect they might look like not much is going on.

I also realise yesterday that Huddersfield railway viaduct has been historically widened. You can can see the middle and the sides at Bradford road. I never realised this before.

 

[Halish Railway]

Resignalling from Diggle to Huddersfield and beyond was completed around 2017. see https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/huddersfield-signalling-re-control-works.149136/

I think that could best be described as 're-controlling', as opposed to the style of resignalling as seen between Ravensthorpe and Leeds where the positions of the signals was changed and four-aspect signals being used instead of three-aspect.

 

[Fazaar1889]

Silly question but is the TPU part of the NPR? From the Wikipedia page, it seems that NPR consists of new HSR lines and an upgrade of existing lines. I think the lines to be upgraded for NPR are the same as TPU? Please correct me on the whole situation! I'm a tad lost.

 

[snowball]

Silly question but is the TPU part of the NPR? From the Wikipedia page, it seems that NPR consists of new HSR lines and an upgrade of existing lines. I think the lines to be upgraded for NPR are the same as TPU? Please correct me on the whole situation! I'm a tad lost.

TRU existed as a plan before NPR but ministers kept changing their minds about its exact scope.

NPR was even worse for vagueness. It meant different things to different people. Government had a more limited view of what it meant than what northern leaders wanted it to be.

It crystallised somewhat with the publication by the government of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands in November 2021. This included no new lines on the east side of the Pennines (except the eastern arm of HS2, since abandoned) but relied on TRU there, with some increased scope such as a third track from Standedge to Huddersfield.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

It crystallised somewhat with the publication by the government of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands in November 2021. This included no new lines on the east side of the Pennines (except the eastern arm of HS2, since abandoned) but relied on TRU there, with some increased scope such as a third track from Standedge to Huddersfield.

Although there's the proposed new link between Bradford and Huddersfield to deliver "Bradford-Manchester in 30 minutes".
Plus a new through station in Bradford.
This plan seems to have very solid DfT support (using diverted HS2 money of course).

 

[Halifaxlad]

TRU existed as a plan before NPR but ministers kept changing their minds about its exact scope.

NPR was even worse for vagueness. It meant different things to different people. Government had a more limited view of what it meant than what northern leaders wanted it to be.

It crystallised somewhat with the publication by the government of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands in November 2021. This included no new lines on the east side of the Pennines (except the eastern arm of HS2, since abandoned) but relied on TRU there, with some increased scope such as a third track from Standedge to Huddersfield.

Technically East of Huddersfield will partially be a new line mostly on former trackbed but also on an alighnment never previously used by rail!

Also wait and see what happens East of Leeds!

 

[snowball]

Technically East of Huddersfield will partially be a new line mostly on former trackbed but also on an alighnment never previously used by rail!

But already the subject of a TWAO application before the IRP was published. I think the public inquiry was going on at the time it was published.

Anyway, there's a press release:

A641 Bradford Road to be temporarily closed as TRU complete major upgrades in Huddersfield

As the next stage of work commences in Huddersfield as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, the A641 Bradford Road / Northgate will be closed for two weekends at the start of June.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

As the next stage of work commences in Huddersfield as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, the A641 Bradford Road / Northgate will be closed for two weekends at the start of June.

Road users are being reminded to plan their journey ahead of time, as the A641 Bradford Road / Northgate is closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic over the following dates:

From 23:45 on Friday 31 May to 05:00 on Monday 3 June 2024
From 23:45 on Friday 7 June to 05:00 on Sunday 9 June 2024

During these weekends, work will be undertaken to strengthen Huddersfield viaduct, in advance of new track being built over the structure.

The road closures provide access for the team to complete ground excavations and concrete pouring work, as part of the reinforcements.

Signposted diversions will be established along the A641 with clear directions of the best route to take.