Wigan-Bolton electrification. Construction updates only please

[Nicholas Lewis]

Recognotre from a 769 today. Piling look all but complete Bolton to Ince including a monstrous one in the flower bed at Westhoughton presumably for cantilever as was filled with concrete and potruding bolts. Masts up Westhoughton to Ince. Also at Ince new bridge is erected in car park with adjacent o/b adorned with enough scaffolding for a tower block so removal must be imminent. Actually looms a more modern structure than other o/b's. Vegetation receiving scorched earth policy West of Ince a d ive realised a hidden advantage of elecn! Wires look tight for Wigan Wallgate whats the plan here?

 

[Greybeard33]

Wires look tight for Wigan Wallgate whats the plan here?

Wiring Wigan Wallgate is out of scope.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Wiring Wigan Wallgate is out of scope.

Oh should have known that probably so electric only services to Wigan N.Western from Manchester direction?

 

[jonesy3001]

Will they be using the atherton line or a bit of the wallgate line has a run off for the wires?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Will they be using the atherton line or a bit of the wallgate line has a run off for the wires?

A bit towards Wallgate has some run off, but I'm pretty sure Atherton won't

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

So basically, marrying 1973 vintage WCML north of Weaver Junction electrification to the Wigan-Bolton section even though that is not complete just yet.

Indeed and you see David (1973) and Goliath (2024) side by side and can easily see why 25kv electrification now costs so much in this country.

 

[jonesy3001]

A bit towards Wallgate has some run off, but I'm pretty sure Atherton won't

Would of thought the run off would be on the atherton line incase of future projects.

 

[AMD]

There are about 5 piles in the cess next to the Up Atherton after Crow Nest junction, so that'll be the run off being put in.

 

[domcoop7]

Recognotre from a 769 today. Piling look all but complete Bolton to Ince including a monstrous one in the flower bed at Westhoughton presumably for cantilever as was filled with concrete and potruding bolts. Masts up Westhoughton to Ince. Also at Ince new bridge is erected in car park with adjacent o/b adorned with enough scaffolding for a tower block so removal must be imminent. Actually looms a more modern structure than other o/b's. Vegetation receiving scorched earth policy West of Ince a d ive realised a hidden advantage of elecn! Wires look tight for Wigan Wallgate whats the plan here?

I saw the ones in the flower beds! Took a picture - here on the 15th May complete with protruding bolts set into the concrete.

 

[AMD]

Remembered to get a photo today - Crow Nest Junction looking down the Atherton line showing the bases for the run off masts.

Also, the replacement road bridge at Ince station has been built in the compound next to the station awaiting its day to be moved into position.

 

[Foggycorner]

On a trip between Bolton and Wigan today noted that most if not all base piles done between Lostock jcn and Westhoughton station including some trying to hide in the flower beds at the station.
between Westhoughton station and Crow nest jcn masts are up complete with arms and fittings
Crow nest jcn to Hindley station most base piles are in including ones in the flower beds at the station
Crow nest jcn towards atherton line overrun mast piles are in
Hindley station to almost Ince station Masts are up again with arms etc
No mast piles in Ince area then Masts start at warrington road bridge for rest of the way to wigan station jcn
the minor road bridge on Lostock side of Chew moor is still slowly being completed

 

[absolutelymilk]

Thanks! Roughly what proportion of bases are completed overall?

 

[Gricer99]

Any idea when they are raising deep pit iron bridge?

 

[Foggycorner]

unfortunatly I no longer work for the railway and don't have access to plans for OHL and signalling like i used to but at a guess i would say 75 to 80% of the mast bases are in a lot now comlete with masts
as to the iron bridge raising your guess is as good as mine

 

[absolutelymilk]

unfortunatly I no longer work for the railway and don't have access to plans for OHL and signalling like i used to but at a guess i would say 75 to 80% of the mast bases are in a lot now comlete with masts

Thanks, much appreciated

 

[Gricer99]

We have now been told the footpath crossing the raailway at Deep Pit Bridge will be closed from July 1st for EIGHT Months! This will enable them to construct rsise the span (sometime in September) ramps on both sides and steps on the Northern side.
Eight months!! We were told they could do it in a weekend at the public meeting on 2023!

 

[scragend]

We have now been told the footpath crossing the raailway at Deep Pit Bridge will be closed from July 1st for EIGHT Months! This will enable them to construct rsise the span (sometime in September) ramps on both sides and steps on the Northern side.
Eight months!! We were told they could do it in a weekend at the public meeting on 2023!

Eight months does seem excessive, but equally a weekend seems a bit ambitious. Maybe the bridge itself could be raised in a weekend but constructing the ramps would probably take longer than that.

In practice it probably isn't going to make all that much difference to many people - it's not like the bridge actually leads to anywhere really! If you're at the top of Darby Lane and you want to get over the railway line it isn't all that much further to go via the footpath to Winscar Road then up Ladies Lane and over the road bridge.

 

[Geeves]

To be fair when you look at how much is now being done to this singular bridge I'd say 8 months is actually pretty good. I'd imagine it will have to be taken down entirely first before it can be raised 28ft or what ever it is. Then there's a huge new wheelchair accessible ramp(s) going in too that'll be a job in it's self. Then of course they will have to put it all back together, line closures, cranes, an army of orange.

 

[CdBrux]

To be fair when you look at how much is now being done to this singular bridge I'd say 8 months is actually pretty good. I'd imagine it will have to be taken down entirely first before it can be raised 28ft or what ever it is. Then there's a huge new wheelchair accessible ramp(s) going in too that'll be a job in it's self. Then of course they will have to put it all back together, line closures, cranes, an army of orange.

If this was initially thought to be a fairly easy job and is now becoming quite a big one you do wonder what that means for the budget

 

[snowball]

If this was initially thought to be a fairly easy job and is now becoming quite a big one you do wonder what that means for the budget

When the budget was announced it was said that alterations would be required to 17 bridges (and two level crossings, have they ever been identified?)

Subsequently Roger Ford claimed a lot of the bridgework could be avoided. Since then the number of bridges requiring work seems to have gone up again.

 

[Winthorpe]

When the budget was announced it was said that alterations would be required to 17 bridges (and two level crossings, have they ever been identified?)

Subsequently Roger Ford claimed a lot of the bridgework could be avoided. Since then the number of bridges requiring work seems to have gone up again.

The Deep Pit footbridge was originally planned to be replaced. Subsequently it was given grade II listed status. So it now needs to be modified, which is a much bigger job. See:

Deep Pit Footbridge (AKA Hindley Ironbridge) was scheduled to be removed but was made a grade 2 listed structure, so it will survive albeit with some modifications.. to be jacked up & raised by 1mtr etc.

It would appear though that NR are looking to completely remove the original south lattice approach ramp & replace it with a brand new one despite it being listed & also an extensive part of the original structure.
On the northern side it would appear that NR also plan to add & include a non matching non sympathetic approach ramp (links to planning permission applications/technical drawings & proposals etc)..

planningdocs.wigan.gov.uk/planning/planning-documents?SDescription=A/24/96992/18PDA&viewdocs=true

planning.wigan.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SAE7VSRRKXT00&activeTab=summary

planning.wigan.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=externalDocuments&keyVal=SAJEMKRR0C800

Also there's an update on Higher Barn Lane overbridge (at Crow Nest Junction) that I saw today (06/05/24) there's a couple of sheets of paper fixed to a fence adjacent to the bridge giving notice relating to a temporary closure & diversion of the footpath (& I'm presuming closure of the road also?).
I think that the footpath diversion goes from the A58 (Castle Hill Road) via Hindley Mill Lane, through the tunnel under the railway that's alongside Borsdane Brook, then taking a sharp right to get back to the footpath via Higher Barn Farm to connect with the footpath on the northern side of the bridge.
The closure to commence on the 28th May 2024 for a period of approximately six months to enable works to be carried out etc etc etc.
If I get chance to get to back up there I'll try & get some photos etc.

 

[Foggycorner]

had a trip out to Wigan from Bolton today and additional to my report from June 4
Masts have appeared between the new bridge at cholsey lane and the M61 bridge both Chew Moor
mast bases have been put in through the Ince area so mast bases for most if not all the route Lostock Jcn to Wigan station jcn
Ince station footbridge and steps are gone with work progresing on the road bridge
new signalling works are also progressing, cable route loc bases and what looks like new signal bases as well, oh how I wish i still had access to signalling scheme plans

 

[AMD]

A view today of the east end of Ince station, showing where the access bridge has now gone.
I also noted that virtually all masts between Ince and Hindley have their registration arms fitted.

 

[vic-rijrode]

A view today of the east end of Ince station, showing where the access bridge has now gone.
I also noted that virtually all masts between Ince and Hindley have their registration arms fitted.

The photo could well be included in the Vegetation growing out of control? thread. The plants that adorn the bridge almost look as if they had been planted in a neat measured row.

 

[david l]

The photo could well be included in the Vegetation growing out of control? thread. The plants that adorn the bridge almost look as if they had been planted in a neat measured row.

That's nothing compared to what the rest of the route looked like (and still does via Atherton) before the absolute 'scorched earth policy' that has been applied to most of the rest of the route. Just so inconsistent...............very much like the train service at present!!

 

[Gricer99]

When do we think the first electrified services will be on the line? May timetable change 2025?
Also will there be through trains to the airport?

 

[Some guy]

When do we think the first electrified services will be on the line? May timetable change 2025?
Also will there be through trains to the airport?

Highly likely to stalybridge. Despite Wigan being in Greater Manchester they tend not to run trains to the airport since the barrow/windermere services went via Bolton

 

[GhostManDN91]

Hopefully when it changes will be able to go faster than 75mph between Lostock Junction and Salford Crescent.

 

[Geeves]

Hopefully when it changes will be able to go faster than 75mph between Lostock Junction and Salford Crescent.

You'd hope but then again 323s should be replacing the 769s/150s as the stopping train traction of choice between Bolton and Salford Crescent so top speed isn't that important.

Anyways that's far down the line, had better return thread to the job at hand.

 

[Chrius56000]

. . .Wasn't the signalling only recently modernised between Wigan Wallgate and Lostock Junction or is it the original TCB signalling between Wigan Wallgate and Crow Nest Junction that needs replacing?

. . .The last time I used that line on a regular basis was in 1987/1988 when AB with semaphore signals was used between Crow Nest Junction and Walkden, (and if I remember correctly) Lostock Junction to Crow Nest Junction via Westhoughton was a long unsignalled section with the block limits being Crow Nest Junction and Lostock Junction – am I correct?