Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[Batley Lad]

Thanks for the replies and information.

Here goes for the image, not sure on posting a link though.

For detail, the red pin is the location of the footbridge with a street view below for prospective.

With Street view, to the left of the telegraph pole will be the entrance to the footbridge. I’ll try and post a comparison photo later from the same street view location.

 

[sjpowermac]

Thanks for the replies and information.

Here goes for the image, not sure on posting a link though.

For detail, the red pin is the location of the footbridge with a street view below for prospective.

With Street view, to the left of the telegraph pole will be the entrance to the footbridge. I’ll try and post a comparison photo later from the same street view location.

View attachment 134276

Many thanks indeed for that, most helpful and really appreciated (thank you too @zwk500 and @snowball most kind of you both).

Yes, I take your point about modern bridges and photography, though maybe the stairs/ramps will afford some good views.

Many thanks as always, your coverage of the infrastructure work has been wonderful to follow.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yes, I take your point about modern bridges and photography, though maybe the stairs/ramps will afford some good views.

From an enthusiast point of view, the rather ramshackle footbridge at Ravensthorpe will be a sad loss in the upgrade work as it's great for photography.

 

[sjpowermac]

From an enthusiast point of view, the rather ramshackle footbridge at Ravensthorpe will be a sad loss in the upgrade work as it's great for photography.

Yes, agreed. The same goes for the footbridge at Garforth, due to be removed in June, I think.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yes, agreed. The same goes for the footbridge at Garforth, due to be removed in June, I think.

Hadn't realised the end was so close for that one. I suspect RVN has a little longer, it'll probably go as part of the big blockade for four-tracking as the station is being relocated.

 

[GardenRail]

When is the actual line due to be fully electrified, Church Fenton right through to Stalybridge?

 

[sefyllian]

For detail, the red pin is the location of the footbridge with a street view below for prospective.

With Street view, to the left of the telegraph pole will be the entrance to the footbridge. I’ll try and post a comparison photo later from the same street view location.

Full plans and elevations of the bridge are available in the planning application here if anyone’s interested.

(Looks like the bridge sides will be 1.8m high…)

 

[Batley Lad]

Full plans and elevations of the bridge are available in the planning application here if anyone’s interested.

(Looks like the bridge sides will be 1.8m high…)

Thank you for the information and I guess the height is a reflection of providing safety on/for a yet to be electrified railway.

Many thanks indeed for that, most helpful and really appreciated (thank you too @zwk500 and @snowball most kind of you both).

Yes, I take your point about modern bridges and photography, though maybe the stairs/ramps will afford some good views.

Many thanks as always, your coverage of the infrastructure work has been wonderful to follow.

Thanks for the kind words. As promised in an earlier post, a street view from tonight in 2nd photo below.

 

[sjpowermac]

Thank you for the information and I guess the height is a reflection of providing safety on/for a yet to be electrified railway.


Thanks for the kind words. As promised in an earlier post, a street view from tonight in 2nd photo below.

View attachment 134302
View attachment 134303

That’s quite a change and perfectly illustrates what’s happening there, thank you so much.

Thank you too @sefyllian very useful info and again, much appreciated.

 

[snowball]

When is the actual line due to be fully electrified, Church Fenton right through to Stalybridge?

An excellent question! We'd all love to know.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

An excellent question! We'd all love to know.

But I would be surprised even with a change of government if it got done before 2029 at very best

 

[Batley Lad]

Batley - Former Adwalton line at Lady Anne crossing.

Still grading the embankment and footpath.

Rutland Road

They have been pouring concrete and building an additional rebar structure adjacent to the Huddersfield down line.



New Footbridge Bridge.

Some of it currently parked on a couple trailers near to Soothill bridge. You can just about make out the round foot of the bridge support on the second photo below.

 

[Traf73]

A closer view of the column and landing:

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I've lived in Batley for nearly nine years, but had no idea just how close the crossing was to my flat until the work on the bridge started- and the extra use of the horn alerted me! To think I could have gone up there for my daily Covid walks but never did is rather annoying!

Anyway, I had a walk up there yesterday to see how things were going, and was surprised to see that the crossing is still open to pedestrians. There was also a planning notice pinned to a lamp-post which suggested that the crossing had been open to road traffic right up until the work began a few weeks ago. I was under the impression that it had been a pedestrian only crossing for years on account of having gates rather than barriers.

 

[Batley Lad]

Batley - Former Adwalton line at Lady Anne crossing.

Re New Footbridge - looks like the main part of the bridge has arrived.

A closer view of the column and landing:

View attachment 134390

Great photo - thanks.

With your earlier post and diagram of the rebar foundation, this makes more sense of how it all fits together.

 

[CAF397]

Along Ashton No 1 and Ashton No 2 viaducts between Guide Bridge and Stalybridge there are some concrete foundations that have appeared between the Viaduct railings, complete with bolts for OLE structures.

 

[snowball]

Latest Freel07 pics:

Electrification

So the much needed electrification of routes out of Manchester will after all take place, despite the Spending Review, though there is some anger that the time for the work has been extended so that it won't be finished until 2016 at the earliest. More details here...

www.skyscrapercity.com

 

[Batley Lad]

Batley - Former Adwalton line at Lady Anne crossing.

Still grading the embankment and footpath.



A new signal has appeared on the up Huddersfield line and opposite the one on the down Huddersfield. (These are located between LadyAnne crossing and the new footbridge) As both signals are facing the same direction, would this will allow, with the new crossover, bi-directional running? Although this assumption is definitely outside of my level of enthusiasm and knowledge for all things railway!

The signal located in between Batley station and Soothill over bridge has a route indicator -2nd photo below. This is on the Huddersfield down.



Rutland Road

They are building the form work around the bridge support foundation.

 

[snowball]

Are there any prospects of substantial works in pursuit of the Huddersfield-Westtown TWAO starting soon or do we have to wait until next year?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Are there any prospects of substantial works in pursuit of the Huddersfield-Westtown TWAO starting soon or do we have to wait until next year?

It depends what you consider to be "in pursuit" of those works, but as I understand it the new crossover at Batley will allow Dewsbury to be served by trains to and from Leeds when the bulk of the work around Mirfield takes place.
I've been keeping an eye on progress at Hillhouse, where the site of the old Motive Power Depot has been cleared for the temporary station for Huddersfield to be located. However when I travelled for the match yesterday I foolishly sat on the wrong side so didn't have chance to see how things have progressed in the last week or so.

 

[coxxy]

Is the line being resignalled between Greenfield and Huddersfield soon? Noticing lots of groundworks and large concrete blocks appearing at different points. All seem to be roughly a signal distance apart.

 

[Halish Railway]

Is the line being resignalled between Greenfield and Huddersfield soon? Noticing lots of groundworks and large concrete blocks appearing at different points. All seem to be roughly a signal distance apart.

If this were the case then there must have been some design work done on figuring out what the future linespeeds will be in order to calculate the distances between signals.

If true, it may that the spacings may have been future proofed for the best case scenario (highest possible linespeeds), even though some linespeeds may end up being a bit lower if designs become more advanced and a valuation is made that a lower linespeed in certain locations presents better value for money. On this project we've already seen the aspiration of the realigned Miles Platting curve being 60mph be decreased to 55mph and Stalybridge being downgraded from a 70mph Flyover to a remodelled 50mph flat junction heading to and from Manchester Victoria.

Also I wouldn't be surprised if the distance between signals has been calculated to allow freight trains to run at the same speed as passenger trains, removing the need for differentials.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I was under the impression that the Huddersfield to Stalybridge section was likely to be the last to receive any major upgrade works. AIUI the current plan is for three tracks (as there isn't room for four with clearances for modern stock and without sacrificing speeds due to curvature) but that's probably a decade away. Given the timescales involved there might well be a case for some signalling upgrades in the meantime, no more wasteful than remodelling Stalybridge twice in 15 years!

 

[GardenRail]

Huddersfield Workstation takes Diggle area of control next year. Apparently.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Huddersfield Workstation takes Diggle area of control next year. Apparently.

Probably a recontrol ahead of eventual ETCS east of Stalybridge.

 

[GardenRail]

Probably a recontrol ahead of eventual ETCS east of Stalybridge.

If ETCS even gets done. Lets see the wires go up first.....

 

[coxxy]

Huddersfield Workstation takes Diggle area of control next year. Apparently.

That could explain it then

 

[Tim_UK]

Are there any prospects of substantial works in pursuit of the Huddersfield-Westtown TWAO starting soon or do we have to wait until next year?

There are fenced off areas and compounds appearing alongside the viaduct in Huddersfield.

 

[snowball]

I don't know whether this is related to TRU. I think the word "stunning" is a bit of an exaggeraation.

Images revealed of UK’s first ‘Beacon’ bridge, set to transform accessibility at West Yorkshire rail station

Stunning artist impressions of Garforth Station’s new accessible pedestrian bridge have been released.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Stunning artist impressions of Garforth Station’s new accessible pedestrian bridge have been released.

The ‘Beacon' bridge, so-called due to the striking design of its two lift shafts, is the first of its kind in the UK and will give rail passengers a safe, step-free option at the station for the first time.

Construction of the £6m investment – part of the Department for Transport’s Access for All programme – starts at the end of this month (May) and will be completed by April 2024.

While the work takes place, the car park at Garforth will be reduced by around 60 spaces and alternative, clearly sign posted routes to/from the platforms will be in place.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I think the word "stunning" is a bit of an exaggeration.

Definitely hyperbole