Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

LNW-GW Joint · 4 May 2018

Still to come:
1. 3tpd through trains to London starting soon.
2. New trains on several routes from Blackpool next year.
After 44 years of being left off the electrification map, Blackpool will not be a backwater any more.
Journey times will improve when they get round to tuning the electric operation via Bolton.

RailUK Forums

B&I · 4 May 2018

Any electrification is a good thing, particularly from the railway operator's point of view. However, if some other improvements had been made at the same time the project could have delivered more, particularly from the passenger's point of view.

AM9 · 4 May 2018

B&I said:
Any electrification is a good thing, particularly from the railway operator's point of view. However, if some other improvements had been made at the same time the project could have delivered more, particularly from the passenger's point of view.

Have patience. Everything comes to those who wait.

Confused147 · 4 May 2018

Anyone know if the 16:33 Euston to Blackpool will become a pendo or is it still going to be a voyager?

LNW-GW Joint · 5 May 2018

Confused147 said:
Anyone know if the 16:33 Euston to Blackpool will become a pendo or is it still going to be a voyager?

Still a Voyager.
Among other things it calls at Kirkham and Poulton, and it couldn't do that if it was a 390.
The early morning train from Blackpool to Euston merges with a Holyhead service at at Crewe, so also must be a Voyager.
However the positioning ECS moves (Crewe to Blackpool in the morning, Blackpool to Central Rivers in the evening) are a bit of a waste.

42626 · 5 May 2018

Walked over Ridgway Bridge today (between Blackrod and M61) and noticed that the capping on the screwed rod/bolts have deteriorated or completely disappeared already.

Joseph_Locke · 5 May 2018

superkev said:
With all this talk of draconian line speeds anyone know what the projected and past max line speed is Preston Bolton Manchester.
K

Leaving aside Crescent,
Was (at best) 75, with 20 through Bolton and 50 through Chorley.
Will be 75 mostly with bits of 80 for all trains, but up to 100 for multiple units (Except through Bolton (still 20) and ending just south of Chorley.

SodTheDrummer · 5 May 2018

Joseph_Locke said:
Leaving aside Crescent,
Was (at best) 75, with 20 through Bolton and 50 through Chorley.
Will be 75 mostly with bits of 80 for all trains, but up to 100 for multiple units (Except through Bolton (still 20) and ending just south of Chorley.

Why so slow through Bolton? (I realise the council are trying to get visitor numbers up

) Please excuse my engineering ignorance!

59CosG95 · 5 May 2018

SodTheDrummer said:
Why so slow through Bolton? (I realise the council are trying to get visitor numbers up ) Please excuse my engineering ignorance!

Virtually all trains stop there, and the geography of the route just north of the station (Sharp curve, then tunnels/retaining walls) mean that increasing the linespeed would have little to no effect on journey times at quite considerable expense.

SodTheDrummer · 5 May 2018

59CosG95 said:
Virtually all trains stop there, and the geography of the route just north of the station (Sharp curve, then tunnels/retaining walls) mean that increasing the linespeed would have little to no effect on journey times at quite considerable expense.

Excellent, thank you! There would be some who would say demolish Bolton (not the station, the whole town), but that's a separate issue!

42626 · 5 May 2018

59CosG95 said:
... Sharp curve...

and the associated screech of the the pacers negotiating that curve.

superkev · 5 May 2018

Joseph_Locke said:
Leaving aside Crescent,
Was (at best) 75, with 20 through Bolton and 50 through Chorley.
Will be 75 mostly with bits of 80 for all trains, but up to 100 for multiple units (Except through Bolton (still 20) and ending just south of Chorley.

Thank you most interesting. Are there any enhanced multiple unit MU speeds allowed Preston Blackpool

Roose · 5 May 2018

tom1649 said:
That's why I always take the slower route to Blackpool South. Blackpool North has a very unhappy feel to it.

Hmm.

Out of interest, how would you describe the feel of Blackpool South?

Elecman · 5 May 2018

Non existant

tom1649 · 6 May 2018

Roose said:
Hmm.

Out of interest, how would you describe the feel of Blackpool South?

I'm completely neutral about Blackpool South, which is an improvement on North in my opinion. I can wander up and down the platform without being shouted at.

Bullfield WEst · 6 May 2018

tom1649 said:
I'm completely neutral about Blackpool South, which is an improvement on North in my opinion. I can wander up and down the platform without being shouted at.

Are there still Yellow Lines and notices about stand well back for none stop trains on the platform at South?

M60lad · 6 May 2018

There was last time I was there with a friend of mine a couple of months back

driver9000 · 6 May 2018

superkev said:
Thank you most interesting. Are there any enhanced multiple unit MU speeds allowed Preston Blackpool

Yes. As previously Kirkham to Poulton is 60/MU70.

LeylandLen · 6 May 2018

I think I read somewhere that the overhead lines to BPN are LIVE today May 6th , can someone confirm this please ???

GRALISTAIR · 6 May 2018

Switch on is 9.00 pm tonight I posted a photo or Dave did in the photo album

GRALISTAIR · 6 May 2018

And here you go

LeylandLen · 6 May 2018

GRALISTAIR said:
Switch on is 9.00 pm tonight I posted a photo or Dave did in the photo album

Thanks for that.I knew it was today, but not the time. I hope Network Rail gives it more publicity . If only to safeguard any stupid people who might want to do something , err, stupid.

Whistler40145 · 6 May 2018

I would like to know what the large building is for alongside the railway line at Kirkham & Wesham, it’s on what was the disused sidings near to where the South Fylde line diverges.

PDG1949 · 6 May 2018

TimSYoung40145 said:
I would like to know what the large building is for alongside the railway line at Kirkham & Wesham, it’s on what was the disused sidings near to where the South Fylde line diverges.

Retired Pacers ?

Whistler40145 · 6 May 2018

PDG1949 said:
Retired Pacers ?

No, I’m sure it’s part of the electrification equipment, probably the same that’s been installed at Lostock.

swt_passenger · 6 May 2018

TimSYoung40145 said:
No, I’m sure it’s part of the electrification equipment, probably the same that’s been installed at Lostock.

Is it pictured in any of the Flickr sets?

GRALISTAIR · 6 May 2018

swt_passenger said:
Is it pictured in any of the Flickr sets?

Yes 9092g -

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/39377571561/in/album-72157651259517065/lightbox/

Elecman · 6 May 2018

TimSYoung40145 said:
I would like to know what the large building is for alongside the railway line at Kirkham & Wesham, it’s on what was the disused sidings near to where the South Fylde line diverges.

Kirkham TSS the OLE switching equipment. There is also one at Blackpoool North by the carriage Sidings

Lostock is an AutoTransformer Switching Station along with Clifton and Blackrod

Garry Waters · 6 May 2018

Wonder if everything has gone ok on the big switch on

GRALISTAIR · 6 May 2018

Elecman said:
Kirkham TSS the OLE switching equipment. There is also one at Blackpool North by the carriage Sidings

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/27090423078/in/album-72157661069863633/

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