Kirkham and Wesham.

[Mugby]

A couple of questions about the lines through Kirkham and Wesham:

Does anyone know how these are designated, are the avoiding lines the mains or the slow lines or indeed just avoiding lines?

When I passed through on my way to Blackpool on Saturday, my train which didn't stop there used the platform line, when I returned, my train which also didn't stop there didn't use the platform line.
It seemed to me that with such a slow crossover and the lines being low grade track there's little or no advantage bypassing the platform lines.

Finally, will the track layout here be altered if/when the lines are electrified?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Platforms lines are Slows, non-platform lines are Fasts IIRC. I believe you are correct in your analysis - the slow turnout may negate any need to use them for the 2tph non-stop either way: it would also block, with westbound trains, anything coming the other way on the Slow, similar to what sometimes happens at Darlington.

I haven't seen any plans and it may have come up a long time ago in the relevant juicing thread, but I wouldn't be surprised if they went with OHLE work: such schemes tend to lead to track rationalisation. I would also expect a couple or more of the 8 platforms at North to disappear on a similar note.

NB - I believe platforms were planned for the Fasts, but WW2 halted plans and they were never seen through.

 

[driver9000]

Down Slow (Blackpool bound platform)
Up and Down Slow (Preston bound platform)
Down Fast
Up Fast

Heading to Blackpool it is easier to travel along the Down Slow (45mph) rather than crossing to the Down Fast which involves approach release of KM30 and 30mph crossovers. Heading to Preston it is easier to travel along the Up Fast as the train can reduce from 60/70mph to 40mph then 30mph to the Up Main. Up Main to Up and Down Slow involves approach release of KM80 through the 30mph turnout.

 

[Whistler40145]

AFAIK hardly anything uses the Down Fast at Kirkham. I've done it when I least expected, maybe it's at the discretion of the Signaller.

 

[snowball]

Finally, will the track layout here be altered if/when the lines are electrified?

Don't know but it seems a strong possibility, given that the plan to resignal before electrification has been responsible for slippage in the timescale for starting the wiring of this line, compared to others in the NW.

 

[itsjamierawr]

Funny this thread came up today, I was at the station earlier to catch the 15:49 Blackpool S - Colne, it was early and (for those unfamiliar with this service) Kirkham is the passing point for these trains (one train off the Blackpool South line, one train on) I noticed that at the same time, the Down Fast was used by the Transpennine Express service - I've seen it get used a couple of times as a passing loop for a delayed express to overtake a stopper

 

[Elecman]

The fast lines are used quite regularly at Kirkham

 

[CAF397]

Since the new timetable change the Blackpool south service seems to pass at Kirkham just in front of the TPE Blackpool North service. Any delay to the South service means it is beneficial to run the TPE on the Down Fast. Whilst it is true you are going from 75 to almost a stand, then crossing over at 30, once clear of the points it is up to 75 for all DMUs, then 60mph for TPE trains past Kirkham North Jn. Timing wise there probably isn't much in it.

There were two schemes planned for Kirkham, depending on money. Cheapest was to abandon the Up Fast (due to its curvature) and make the Down Fast the Up Fast, which would leave 3 lines at Kirkham. The preferred option, which would need DfT approval as it would cost more money, would be to make the Down Slow exclusively for Blackpool South, thereby double tracking the current single line to just around the corner from Kirkham Signal box. This would allow passing Blackpool South trains to do so without causing a bottle neck. The current Up and Down Slow would remain bi-directional, and Blackpool North bound trains would use this line, stopping or non stopping. The current Down Fast would again become an Up direction line, but a new platform would be built, for Preston bound services from Blackpool North, again stopping or non-stopping.

Together with junction improvements and enhancements line speeds through the area would be increased, flexibility increased.

 

[Ships]

Since the new timetable change the Blackpool south service seems to pass at Kirkham just in front of the TPE Blackpool North service. Any delay to the South service means it is beneficial to run the TPE on the Down Fast. Whilst it is true you are going from 75 to almost a stand, then crossing over at 30, once clear of the points it is up to 75 for all DMUs, then 60mph for TPE trains past Kirkham North Jn. Timing wise there probably isn't much in it.

There were two schemes planned for Kirkham, depending on money. Cheapest was to abandon the Up Fast (due to its curvature) and make the Down Fast the Up Fast, which would leave 3 lines at Kirkham. The preferred option, which would need DfT approval as it would cost more money, would be to make the Down Slow exclusively for Blackpool South, thereby double tracking the current single line to just around the corner from Kirkham Signal box. This would allow passing Blackpool South trains to do so without causing a bottle neck. The current Up and Down Slow would remain bi-directional, and Blackpool North bound trains would use this line, stopping or non stopping. The current Down Fast would again become an Up direction line, but a new platform would be built, for Preston bound services from Blackpool North, again stopping or non-stopping.

Together with junction improvements and enhancements line speeds through the area would be increased, flexibility increased.

The design I've seen is a mixture, abandon the up fast, three platforms and a short bit of double track onto the Blackpool south branch, whilst abandoning the connection from the slow onward to Blackpool north.

However it's probably changed again by now!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

By the sounds of it then they plan to make the current westbound platform a branch platform for South-Colne trains; the current eastbound platform the Blackpool North platform and realign the Fasts to create another platform there for Preston trains ex-North?

 

[Whistler40145]

If it's the plan to use the current Westbound platform for Blackpool South-Colne services, then obviously the track layout at the Preston end of the station would require modification along with bi-directional signalling.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Sounds like I misread it - it sounds like Blackpool South trains will have their own platform and Colne ones will use the one for Blackpool North?

 

[CAF397]

Yes, with resignalling would come remodelling of all junctions.