edwin_m
Veteran Member
And the Nuneaton flyover approach, and I believe they have been used for various platform extensions too.
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Blackpool - Manchester Electrification
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And the Nuneaton flyover approach, and I believe they have been used for various platform extensions too.
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RailUK Forums
Heard today they are raising the Rawson Street bridge parapets in Farnworth over the coming weekends- sounds like a big job. Quote- they must be 1.850m in height due to EU regs . I wonder how many other bridges will need to be done. I'm travelling on the route tomorrow, looking forward to seeing the Ordsall Chord works and other developments, not been since last August.
daodao
Established Member
I travelled from Victoria to Horwich Parkway and back yesterday to attend a conference at the Bolton Stadium and was surprised how little work appears to have been done yet for electrification of this line. I can't envisage it being ready for use by electric trains before December 2018 at the earliest, but please could other posters enlighten me if it is due to be ready earlier. The rolling stock currently in use seemed rather down at heel (class 150 sprinter outbound, pacer on the return) so hopefully the electric trains will be better (when they arrive).
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
They seem to be concentrating on completing the piling of bases at the moment, which are not all that obvious from a train.
The last bit looks like Bolton-Salford, which they have just started.
They are also having a blitz down the line between Preston and Blackpool, while the line is closed at weekends.
The only masts, so far, are between Lostock and Horwich.
Yes, there's lots to do, and time is ticking for it to be ready (to Preston) for Dec 2017.
Elecman
Established Member
Once. The bases are in the masts and associated small steels won't take long to erect, as already said the project is concentrating on getting all the bases in ready.
furnessvale
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Yes, I am just waiting for the first petrol tank train to derail there and spill its load and watch the whole embankment disappear!
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Correct - ignition not needed - the petroleum would just rapidly dissolve away the Polystyrene.
Joseph_Locke
Established Member
I wouldn't hold your breath, as its been 18 years already ...
Have they perhaps put in a membrane of insoluble material to protect it?
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Would be how I would do it. I once laid a floor in Lytham St Annes and we dug down to base then Visqueen then stoned it up (2 inch crusher run/fill), then polystyrene block then the rebar cages then concrete. Then we trowelled it up. Long story short - the polystyrene does get protected.
iandavid59
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From what I have heard there is going to be a 3 week 7 day blockade between Preston and Bolton in late July 17.
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Wowsers - that sounds like wiring - etc -what else could that be? Finish piling/bases March-April - then Masts May/June and cantilevers etc June July. Wiring during the blockade ?
How good is your source?
furnessvale
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Indeed, my comment was only in jest!
LDECRexile
Established Member
Also three foot crossings to be replaced with bridges (plus two south of Bolton, please see attached.)
Did a car and shanks's tour of Bolton to M60 today. Photos say it all. They are in the Combined Volume here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157661069863633
Joseph_Locke
Established Member
I'm pretty sure its 3 weeks in August and it will see Bolton remodelled.
SodTheDrummer
Member
Noticed Murphy branded fencing on Blackhorse St (Bolton) here tonight attached to the brickwork (both sides) -
https://goo.gl/maps/q53qT13t9Tq
Is this for parapet uplifting does anyone know? the tops here look a bit low compared with others nearby...
https://goo.gl/maps/q53qT13t9Tq
Is this for parapet uplifting does anyone know? the tops here look a bit low compared with others nearby...
CAF397
Member
First daylight trip for a few months today, nice to see additional masts between Lostock and Horwich. Indeed, the Down Bolton looks to have all missing masts installed between the footbridge just north of Lostock Station and Lostock Lane bridge near Horwich. The Up Bolton appears to have 80% (at a guess) of masts erected along the same stretch.
Plenty of mast bases between Preston sports Centre and Salwick, apologies if it has been mentioned earlier amongst the Blackpool Souh discussions.
Definitely looks like quick progress of the Blackpool North line vs the Chorley line.
Joseph_Locke
Established Member
I hope there are at least two still missing, as there is ENW cable crossing yet to be shifted very close by ...
CAF397
Member
75mph and trying to look in several directions at once 
CAF397
Member
Onto the subject of Bolton remodelling.
I'd love the Down Passenger Loop to have a 40mph crossover, signalled by flashing yellow aspects and running all the way into Platform 5, with a crossover midway back into Platform 4. That would greatly assist in passing slower services without delaying them greatly.
I'd also like Platform 1/2 to run parallel to the Up Bolton and intersect the Up passenger Loop when it diverges from the Up Bolton. Again a 40mph linespeed would assist passing services.
Anyone have the definitive layout. August seems quite close for such works.
I'd love the Down Passenger Loop to have a 40mph crossover, signalled by flashing yellow aspects and running all the way into Platform 5, with a crossover midway back into Platform 4. That would greatly assist in passing slower services without delaying them greatly.
I'd also like Platform 1/2 to run parallel to the Up Bolton and intersect the Up passenger Loop when it diverges from the Up Bolton. Again a 40mph linespeed would assist passing services.
Anyone have the definitive layout. August seems quite close for such works.
Joseph_Locke
Established Member
A crossover between 4 and 5 would be interesting ...
I thought that platform 4 and platform 5 were to be opposite faces of an island platform - you wouldn't be able to cross over between them without also creating platform 6 and platform 7, all four of which would be far too short for the trains running through
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Network Rail has a fly-through of the new Bolton layout (approaching from the south).
Bolton is at about 1:35 in this video: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/major-transport-investment-in-bolton-continues/
It doesn't give you line speeds and signal aspects though...
Joseph_Locke
Established Member
75mph and trying to look in several directions at once
I'll grant you that most of the main steel that is up in that area now has cantilever booms and registration arms fitted, locked out of the way.
As to Bolton, both Burnden loops are removed as is Burnden Junction. The PS is changed down to 50 near Green Lane bridge (from currently 60, but later possibly 100) and a new 50mph facing lead laid near West Street in the Down to make P5, avoiding all approach controls.
The connecting line at the north / west end is recovered complete, and a new 25mph trailing lead forms the exit. The rest of the work is recoveries and a major realignment of the main lines south of Bolton in anticipation of the speed increases. P1 and P3 and their connections are all unaffected. There are adjustments to P2 as a result of electrical clearances to the existing canopy.
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CAF397
Member
Not sure why you're deliberately nitpicking that. If you thought I meant in the middle of the platforms then you insult my intelligence and your own.
The bigger picture of my quote described my preferred layout. The existing Loop made into a running line all the way into the new platform 5, (and here's the bit you chose to misread) a crossover to get back from the newly extended down passenger Loop to the current Down Bolton before the station, maybe in much the same position as now. Thereby providing flexibility to run through the Loop into both platforms 4 and 5 for contingency.
Anyway, thanks for clarifying the works taking place.
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iandavid59
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Pretty good source as we have been told to keep School Hols free for Rail Replacement Service between Preston and Bolton.
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Outstanding. I am home in the UK late May so will do a run (by car!!) Fylde Jct - Kirkham and photograph progress. Over July 4th American Independence week I am home longer and Dave aka LDECRexile have agreed- we will do a day out probably Chorley -Kirkham by car and so we should see and be able to photograph huge progress. As I said - outstanding.
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I've got dates of 12th to 28th of August for Bolton, can Mr Locke or anyone else please confirm?
I noticed on my last visit the new coping stones had been removed, so I would say yes.
Minimum height has to be 1.85m.
Here is pic of the stones, not the same bridge though.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/10200622.Safety_wall_blocks_view_for_avid_trainspotter/
The first thing they did electrification wise!
Joseph_Locke
Established Member
Matches what I've heard.
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