Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[Elecman]

I know this might sound stupid, but why is the Pendolino stopping at Poulton-le-Fylde and Kirkham & Wesham, when they won’t even be calling at either station?

Presumably to check clearances from platform faces ahead of service introduction, we don’t want to scrape one of beardies babies when they pass through nonstop

 

[LDECRexile]

I know this might sound stupid, but why is the Pendolino stopping at Poulton-le-Fylde and Kirkham & Wesham, when they won’t even be calling at either station?

For the reason given in the post, ie clearance tests. I imagine that static and moving clearance characteristics may be different, but I'm just a layman. It also covers the future, ie should stopping at either ever come to pass, further testing won't be needed. It has been dinned into me that the engineers aim to leave a line which will not need anything other than routine maintenance for 40 years.

 

[LDECRexile]

I have been invited to publicise this meeting:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/40174879090/in/dateposted-public/

I am delighted to do so.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I saw a VT poster at Crewe today listing changes from May 20, and the Pendolino services were there, as on RTT.
So that seems to indicate they have ORR approval to run.
Hopefully the clearance/power tests next week will put ticks in all the relevant boxes.

 

[LOL The Irony]

I saw a VT poster at Crewe today listing changes from May 20, and the Pendolino services were there, as on RTT.
So that seems to indicate they have ORR approval to run.
Hopefully the clearance/power tests next week will put ticks in all the relevant boxes.

Blackpool to Preston on a Pendo. I'm doing that one day.

 

[Chester1]

Blackpool to Preston on a Pendo. I'm doing that one day.

Me too!

I am sure this has been asked over the last 240 pages but how are VT finding the stock to run the extra services?

 

[The_Engineer]

I am sure this has been asked over the last 240 pages but how are VT finding the stock to run the extra services?

No extra stock required! Trains are former Preston/Lancaster terminators, so very little extra mileage required.

 

[Ianno87]

No extra stock required! Trains are former Preston/Lancaster terminators, so very little extra mileage required.

Only the 05-whatever Up and 1633 Down were former terminators.

The new trips in May are whole new services. Effectively, they are using two Pendolinos that currently sit in London all day between the peaks - using the spare time to now work to Blackpool and back, getting back in time for their evening peak extra working.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The "amended service" between Preston and Blackpool North has been extended, to no-one's surprise, until "at least Friday May 18" according to NRE.
2tph Airport/York (not today of course), plus 4 buses per hour.

 

[LDECRexile]

I have received this from an authoritative Orangeman:

"All section proving done and fine.

Test train leaves Preston at 23:25 on Monday next, 14th May. It then leaves Blackpool North heading back to Preston at 00:05.

Hope that helps with getting footage"

I really appreciate being given this notice.

 

[Elecman]

Add to the above the OLE is now undergoing a full voltage soak test for 48 hours then Short Circuit testing on Sat night/Sun morning

 

[HowardGWR]

^^^ 00.05
Do you fancy doing an O.Winston Link, LDECRexile?

 

[LDECRexile]

I've now received more:

"The test train (Pendelino) is doing 2 runs on the night from Preston - Blackpool return."

Once more, warm thanks.

 

[LDECRexile]

^^^ 00.05
Do you fancy doing an O.Winston Link, LDECRexile?

Is it anatomically improbable?

 

[The_Engineer]

"The test train (Pendelino) is doing 2 runs on the night from Preston - Blackpool return."

Thanks LDECRexile! I hope our mate NODROG on YouTube will get his camera out for this too.......

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Thanks LDECRexile! I hope our mate NODROG on YouTube will get his camera out for this too.......

Indeed that would be absolutely outstanding.

 

[Whistler40145]

Are we to presume that Pendolinos will be limited to 75 mph non tilt between Blackpool North and Preston?

 

[59CosG95]

Are we to presume that Pendolinos will be limited to 75 mph non tilt between Blackpool North and Preston?

I believe so; not much point in pouring extra thousands of pounds towards increasing kinematic envelopes just to enable one class of unit to go slightly faster than all the others.
Run everything at a uniform top speed and you have a more efficient timetable; obviously station stops decrease efficiency a bit but the point remains.

 

[td97]

just to enable one class of unit to go slightly faster than all the others

Which is basically EPS for the WCML
Voyagers (VTWC) can also take advantage of EPS, but it probably isn't worthwhile as the line isn't at capacity and the time savings will be minimal.

 

[59CosG95]

Which is basically EPS for the WCML
Voyagers (VTWC) can also take advantage of EPS, but it probably isn't worthwhile as the line isn't at capacity and the time savings will be minimal.

Indeed. Time savings would be minimal, even if 100mph was used throughout.

 

[LDECRexile]

Which is basically EPS for the WCML
Voyagers (VTWC) can also take advantage of EPS, but it probably isn't worthwhile as the line isn't at capacity and the time savings will be minimal.

"EPS"?

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

"EPS"?

EPS = Enhanced Permissible Speed, ie for trains equipped to operate above the normal maximum speed by tilting

 

[HowardGWR]

Is it anatomically improbable?

I don't know about that, but finding all the pop-off searchlights at this late stage would be difficult, I suspect (and very expensive). They were great shots though, were they not?

 

[SansHache]

Indeed. Time savings would be minimal, even if 100mph was used throughout.

In fact the Pendolinos will be running at lower speeds than most of the other trains on the Blackpool route as the Class 390 is specifically excluded from operating at the MU speed limit of 70mph that applies between Kirkham and Poulton. 390s are restricted to 60mph over this section.

 

[td97]

EPS = Enhanced Permissible Speed, ie for trains equipped to operate above the normal maximum speed by tilting

Yes, and as 390s are excluded from MU speeds it enables them to go at 125 where permitted. Are there are MU (multiple unit) or SP (Sprinter) differentials on the Blackpool - Preston section, or just 1 maximum speed?
It would be ironic if the flagship Virgin Pendolino service was actually slower than a Sprinter on the Blackpool - Preston section.

 

[td97]

In fact the Pendolinos will be running at lower speeds than most of the other trains on the Blackpool route as the Class 390 is specifically excluded from operating at the MU speed limit of 70mph that applies between Kirkham and Poulton. 390s are restricted to 60mph over this section.

Looks like you answered my question as I clicked post!

 

[SansHache]

I've now received more:

"The test train (Pendelino) is doing 2 runs on the night from Preston - Blackpool return."

Once more, warm thanks.

The main purpose of the test runs on Monday is to load the power supply to the maximum rating. An 11-car train is planned and the train will cycle between maximum power and maximum regen brake as it progresses along the route
The rumours that Blackpool Tower is to be used as a bar graph display of the line voltage are sadly untrue. However the off shore windmills may spin faster when the train is braking!

 

[SansHache]

Looks like you answered my question as I clicked post!

Yes indeed! Alstom and Virgin are reviewing why the 390s have this restriction applied as this may be an appropriate time to seek a relaxation.

 

[driver_m]

Yes indeed! Alstom and Virgin are reviewing why the 390s have this restriction applied as this may be an appropriate time to seek a relaxation.

Imagine if the press found out that the flagship train on the line has to go slower than pretty much everything else on the line. Even the 221 can do MU or HST speeds. We had this years ago round the West Midlands before the EPS boards were added.

 

[a_c_skinner]

I don't know about that, but finding all the pop-off searchlights at this late stage would be difficult, I suspect (and very expensive). They were great shots though, were they not?

Link used standard single use flashbulbs, all wired in series so either they all went off or none of them. You can get big electronic flashes that would be practical, though they are usually studio stuff, modern sensors are a lot more sensitive than film so that would help. Link had a huge amount of help and co-operation from the train operators, and yes, fantastic shots.