-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Wigan-Bolton electrification. Construction updates only please
- Thread starter GRALISTAIR
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Absolutely fantastic news
furnessvale
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Jul 2015
- Messages
- 4,587
Surely totally different disciplines can take part at the same time in one possession.
“Surely” assumes common sense, in a less than 7 mile electrification project!
Howardh
Established Member
- Joined
- 17 May 2011
- Messages
- 8,199
Have there been any recent plans (ie last 20 years or so) to close the line between Hindley and Lostock?
Certainly not in the last 9 of those years - there have been plans to electrify it for that long!
I don’t think either the Bolton - Preston or Atherton lines, or for that matter the number 7 or 575 buses could cope without it. Trains to Westhoughton create a gap in the timetable through Chorley which allows the TPE Scotland service time to catch the Blackpool in front by Leyland.
The only closure we’re likely to see anytime soon is a continuous engineering possession while it’s electrified.
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
And I assume, repair of that wall sheared up by props?
59CosG95
Established Member
That must imply that Westhoughton, Ince and everywhere from Hindley to Salford Crescent (exc.) will be closed throughout that period too.
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
So extended blockade approach I assume ?
59CosG95
Established Member
That's my assumption. The route via Hindley doesn't strike me as a diversionary route to be kept open at all costs. Better 3 months disruption than many, many weekends of it.
jonesy3001
Established Member
Is there any dates for the blockade or will they be waiting for the stalybridge line to be done first?
I doubt that you are correct. Sounds to me like they have decided that the station and bridges are complete rebuilds. There is a replacement bus between Ince and Daisy Hill but I think that trains will still run on the line during weekdays. They just won't be stopping at Hindley.
WatcherZero
Established Member
- Joined
- 25 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,272
Think its just a station closure not a line closure.
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Well the bridge at Westhoughton Golf Club is going to bite the dust
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/new...f-club-access-bridge-set-demolished-replaced/
https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...ter-news/golf-club-access-bridge-set-25130303
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/new...f-club-access-bridge-set-demolished-replaced/
https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...ter-news/golf-club-access-bridge-set-25130303
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Correct - so I won't bother reposting them here. I am hoping that two of our regular correspondents will post an update. Though from the text message I received they spent most of their time on the Man Vic- Staly scheme.
The planning process requires a decision within two months although this may be much shorter, after public notices, if the matter is one which the planning committee delegates to officers, which this may well be, being uncontentious.
Also the permissions process is certain to be included within the works schedule or Gantt Chart and application made well in advance of the programmed start date.
WAO
Also the permissions process is certain to be included within the works schedule or Gantt Chart and application made well in advance of the programmed start date.
WAO
Have we established yet whether only Hindley station will be closed for the bridge replacement with trains running non-stop or if there will be a full blockade of the line, either only from Crow Nest Junction to Lostock Junction with trains diverted via Atherton or all the way from Wigan with both the Atherton and Westhoughton lines temporarily closed as a consequence, even if not at the same time as the bridge replacement?
Greybeard33
Established Member
Hindley is between Crow Nest Junction and Wigan. So how would a blockade only between Crow Nest Junction and Lostock Junction help the bridge replacement works?
Obviously a blockade between Crow Nest Junction and Lostock Junction wouldn’t happen simultaneously with bridge replacement at Hindley, but I do want to know if there will be any full line closures or just weekend/overnight possessions.
NR made two planning applications on 6th September for bridge replacements. One is for Old Lane (Westhoughton Golf Club) and the other is for a bridge at Jacks Lane, a small bridge between Old Lane and Crow Nest junction. There is also a notice on the council planning website apologising for excessive delays in issuing planning application decisions.
Murphys rebuilt bridge 7 near the M61, a few years back they also rebuilt a number of bridges between Bolton and Adlington on the Manchester - Euxton electrification, including the one by the station at Lostock at the start of the Lostock - Crow Nest line, at least two of the bridges involved temporary diversion of services but none of the work involved line closures, just overnight and weekend posessions. When I spoke to the crew who did bridge 7, I was told that Murphys were going to do the other bridges on the project, so it could be reasonable to assume that the same methods will apply.
WatcherZero
Established Member
- Joined
- 25 Feb 2010
- Messages
- 10,272
Existing Hindley Bridge:
After works:
On the operating brick arch they are demolishing the arch and everything directly above it and replacing it with a standard flat span, all construction using pre-cast concrete and shock absorbers and the bridge sides will concrete with Insitex panel detailing. That increases the vertical clearance from 4.2m to 5.16m.
On the non-operating brick arch they are in-filling it with foam concrete then a brick outer lining leaving a pair of 3x3m gate at each end of the bricked up arch for vehicle use.
Its all pre-cast concrete they are using so works could be done in only a couple of weeks.
After works:
On the operating brick arch they are demolishing the arch and everything directly above it and replacing it with a standard flat span, all construction using pre-cast concrete and shock absorbers and the bridge sides will concrete with Insitex panel detailing. That increases the vertical clearance from 4.2m to 5.16m.
On the non-operating brick arch they are in-filling it with foam concrete then a brick outer lining leaving a pair of 3x3m gate at each end of the bricked up arch for vehicle use.
Its all pre-cast concrete they are using so works could be done in only a couple of weeks.
Last edited:
Presumably this stops any fanciful ideas about Metrolink one day coming through along the old fast line track bed!