Works at Blackburn

[mike57]

I pass through Blackburn station regularly, and there appears to be ongoing work at the west side of the station, relaying track curving to the North. What is it? A quick google hasn't shed any light

Thanks

 

[The Planner]

Sounds like King St and the works to make it into a maintenance depot.

 

[PHILIPE]

Sounds like King St and the works to make it into a maintenance depot.

Read all about it here:-

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=123211

You'll need to get to read actually at Blackburn as the thread moves on.

 

[coxxy]

As stated above. New depot being built for Northern.

 

[scrapy]

Is it actually going to be a maintenance depot or a stabling and Traincrew depot?

 

[Geeves]

Its for stabling and light repairs. All the heavy work will still be done at Newton Heath or the other big depots. The train crew will have facilities I believe in the station building at Blackburn and will be taxied to and fromt the depot if needs be.

Last time I looked they were laying the sidings in the depot and sleepers were in place. Its coming along. First staff will be transfering/starting in December.

The new Blackburn depot will cover, the future half hourly Vic - Clitheroe. Blackburn to Vic via Todmorden. Colne line, Blackpool N and S and also the Orsmkirk Branch.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

The new Blackburn depot will cover, the future half hourly Vic - Clitheroe. Blackburn to Vic via Todmorden. Colne line, Blackpool N and S and also the Orsmkirk Branch.

And presumably will also have a share of the Blackpool-York runs.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The new Blackburn depot will cover, the future half hourly Vic - Clitheroe. Blackburn to Vic via Todmorden. Colne line, Blackpool N and S and also the Orsmkirk Branch.

Out of interest does that compliment or remove knowledge from other depots? For example, I believe presently only Blackpool crews sign the Ormskirk, Blackpool South and Colne branches, or will it just a case of moving work across multiple depots?

 

[MancMetro]

The new Blackburn depot will cover, the future half hourly Vic - Clitheroe. Blackburn to Vic via Todmorden. Colne line, Blackpool N and S and also the Orsmkirk Branch.

Is there a rough date planned for the half-hourly Vic-Clitheroe service?

 

[Darren R]

Is there a rough date planned for the half-hourly Vic-Clitheroe service?

It's only to be half hourly between Manchester and Blackburn. No confirmed starting date yet, but looks unlikely to be before 2018.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Out of interest does that compliment or remove knowledge from other depots? For example, I believe presently only Blackpool crews sign the Ormskirk, Blackpool South and Colne branches, or will it just a case of moving work across multiple depots?

It has long been my expectation that after electrification Blackpool crews will become (almost) electric only. The opening of a depot in Blackburn will inevitably lead in a reduction in the amount of work covered from Blackpool but many of the crews live as close to Blackburn as they do to Blackpool so many bodies are likely to be willing followers of the work. As for involving other depots there is lots of scope for that. Also note that a number of Manchester Victoria crews live within a reasonable distance of Blackburn so some of them may well transfer as well.