Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[Spartacus]

I'd kept meaning to ask that on here, but it kept slipping my mind!

I assume @Halifaxlad means the space behind platform 2, where a strip of what was rather wild vegetation has been cleared away. Looks like either an access point or a works compound (or a combination of the two). The idea of an Up loop behind the platform keeps being suggested, but as you say there's nothing in the official documentation to suggest such a thing. Looking with the mk1 eyeball, I'd be surprised if there was enough space for the switch between the end of the platform and the start of the viaduct. Or at least, space compliant with modern tolerances and standards.

I think the idea of an up loop with a relocated or partially rebuilt up platform (you could chop the platform south of the underpass, or abandon the underpass and have a footbridge, which would given even more space, and extend the platform to the north to compensate), but in the end I think it was decided it wasn't worth it. Who knows if that's changed though.

If I remember right the works there started early last year, with an access created through the yard of one of the bed factories there after it relocated the short distance to Grange Road.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I think the idea of an up loop with a relocated or partially rebuilt up platform (you could chop the platform south of the underpass, or abandon the underpass and have a footbridge, which would given even more space, and extend the platform to the north to compensate), but in the end I think it was decided it wasn't worth it. Who knows if that's changed though.

If I remember right the works there started early last year, with an access created through the yard of one of the bed factories there after it relocated the short distance to Grange Road.

The curve would be a problem on the up side, you'd probably need to relocate the station towards the Soothill Road bridge in order to put loops in... which wouldn't be a terrible thing but is beyond the scope of the current plans. The subway will need to be closed or at least supplemented with a bridge with lifts or ramps anyway, and filling it in would correct what is currently a rather bumpy bit of track.

 

[Mollman]

DELETE

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Ah, yes. The Batley Bump. Legend has it 185s were subject to a speed restriction there because the MD at the time kept spilling his coffee when running at linespeed!

 

[Halifaxlad]

Regarding Batley from looking at that video posted a while back it does appear that the station is to get a footbridge and lifts, presumably the subway will then be infilled and the bump flattened.

 

[59CosG95]

Regarding Batley from looking at that video posted a while back it does appear that the station is to get a footbridge and lifts, presumably the subway will then be infilled and the bump flattened.

Perhaps the work going on behind the westbound platform is in aid of that?

 

[Spartacus]

Perhaps the work going on behind the westbound platform is in aid of that?

I suppose it's possible they're establishing a compound for the works where the line towards Beeston used to diverge.

 

[Foggycorner]

On a trip out today between Stalybridge and Manchester Victoria spoted about 25 masts have been erected Baguley Fold junction towards Ashton on the down side not sure about up side i can only look out one side at a time

 

[tpjm]

Regarding Batley from looking at that video posted a while back it does appear that the station is to get a footbridge and lifts, presumably the subway will then be infilled and the bump flattened.

Perhaps the work going on behind the westbound platform is in aid of that?

Yes.

 

[59CosG95]

On a trip out today between Stalybridge and Manchester Victoria spoted about 25 masts have been erected Baguley Fold junction towards Ashton on the down side not sure about up side i can only look out one side at a time

Thanks for the update! Good to see some tangible progress on the route at last.

After taking a break for April, the E1 Tracker is back for May: https://thetrupgrade.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/E1-Tracker-2022_05-accessible.pdf
No new electrification-related works (directly at any rate), but the compounds at Brumber Hill & Ulleskelf will be demolished on Friday/Saturday nights throughout the month.

This relates to OLE for Ulleskelf as the building circled in red (see below) fouls the path of the Up Normanton Earth Wire. Removing it will allow the wire's extension northwards.

 

[snowball]

Press release on the two bridges at Ashton with a video we've already seen of one of them. I don't think there's any new info.

Watch: Major progress on Transpennine Route Upgrade in Manchester

Major progress made to electrify the railway between Manchester and Stalybridge as two bridges are raised Transpennine Route Upgrade will help to create a cleaner, greener railway between York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester Passengers should check before they travel this Early May Bank...

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

• Major progress made to electrify the railway between Manchester and Stalybridge as two bridges are raised
• Transpennine Route Upgrade will help to create a cleaner, greener railway between York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester
• Passengers should check before they travel this Early May Bank Holiday as work continues

Network Rail has made major progress on the Transpennine Route Upgrade in Manchester after raising two railway bridges to make way for overhead electric wires.

The bridges in Ashton-under-Lyne – Southampton Street and Granville Street – have been raised to eventually allow train-powering electric wires to pass beneath them. This will help to create a cleaner, greener railway in the future.

Work to install new overhead line equipment, upgrade signalling equipment and renew sections of track between Manchester and Stalybridge is also well underway. The ongoing project will see this part of the route fully electrified.

Newly released footage shows engineers lifting a section of Granville Street bridge and moving it to its final destination.

No new electrification-related works (directly at any rate), but the compounds at Brumber Hill & Ulleskelf will be demolished on Friday/Saturday nights throughout the month.

Were these compounds created earlier in the current works? If so their removal would seem to suggest we're getting near the end. Or did they exist before?

I wonder when we'll begin to see catenary or contact wire.

 

[D6130]

Passing on a Calder Valley train on Tuesday morning, I noticed that a number of semi-portals have been erected on the new curve at Miles Platting.

 

[59CosG95]

Pile on the Dn Crowthorne line at Ashton Moss Jn, viewed west from Richmond St O/B: https://flic.kr/p/2nevbxq
There's also two on the Dn Crowthorne east of Richmond St, one of which is an SSA: https://flic.kr/p/2nenfKB

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Pile on the Dn Crowthorne line at Ashton Moss Jn, viewed west from Richmond St O/B: https://flic.kr/p/2nevbxq
There's also two on the Dn Crowthorne east of Richmond St, one of which is an SSA: https://flic.kr/p/2nenfKB

One of these days the old Woodhead-era masts/portals will have to come down...

 

[59CosG95]

Were these compounds created earlier in the current works? If so their removal would seem to suggest we're getting near the end. Or did they exist before?

I wonder when we'll begin to see catenary or contact wire.

Yes - they were created earlier to facilitate the work, containing material storage, welfare etc.
ISTR that Ulleskelf was already substantially cleared, except for the buildings - but Brumber Hill's compound will need returning to soil.

One of these days the old Woodhead-era masts/portals will have to come down...

Indeed - and these 2 piles might be part of that work...

 

[snowball]

Pile on the Dn Crowthorne line at Ashton Moss Jn, viewed west from Richmond St O/B: https://flic.kr/p/2nevbxq
There's also two on the Dn Crowthorne east of Richmond St, one of which is an SSA: https://flic.kr/p/2nenfKB

Is this a government top secret line to the Transport and Road Research Laboratory?

 

[Pinus contorta]

One of these days the old Woodhead-era masts/portals will have to come down...

I wonder if someone will think of putting one in a museum at some point in the near future? They are quite significant in historical terms.

 

[Greybeard33]

I wonder if someone will think of putting one in a museum at some point in the near future? They are quite significant in historical terms.

I doubt that Network Rail has any plan to replace the 1950s OLE structures that are still in use between Ardwick and Hadfield. Not yet ready for a museum.

 

[billh]

Pile on the Dn Crowthorne line at Ashton Moss Jn, viewed west from Richmond St O/B: https://flic.kr/p/2nevbxq
There's also two on the Dn Crowthorne east of Richmond St, one of which is an SSA: https://flic.kr/p/2nenfKB

Why would piles be located here? Is there a plan for some sort of electric train head shunt? Presume no plan to electrify to Heaton Norris, this side of year2200? As an aside, I got a trip on an EM1 to here about 60 years ago....

 

[Pinus contorta]

I doubt that Network Rail has any plan to replace the 1950s OLE structures that are still in use between Ardwick and Hadfield. Not yet ready for a museum.

Good point I'm probably jumping the gun a bit there.

 

[Ploughman]

Press release on the two bridges at Ashton with a video we've already seen of one of them. I don't think there's any new info.

Watch: Major progress on Transpennine Route Upgrade in Manchester

Major progress made to electrify the railway between Manchester and Stalybridge as two bridges are raised Transpennine Route Upgrade will help to create a cleaner, greener railway between York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester Passengers should check before they travel this Early May Bank...

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Were these compounds created earlier in the current works? If so their removal would seem to suggest we're getting near the end. Or did they exist before?

I wonder when we'll begin to see catenary or contact wire.

Ulleskelf is one of those locations that is reused every few years for various projects.
I would not be surprised if it reappears in the next 2 - 3 years.
Brumber Hill is a totally new location as there did not used to be any Leeds lines access points between Church Fenton and Colton until recently. With the exception of a small access at Bolton Percy.

 

[59CosG95]

Ulleskelf is one of those locations that is reused every few years for various projects.
I would not be surprised if it reappears in the next 2 - 3 years.
Brumber Hill is a totally new location as there did not used to be any Leeds lines access points between Church Fenton and Colton until recently. With the exception of a small access at Bolton Percy.

Bolton Percy couldn't be used for large-scale vehicular access on the scale of Brumber Hill as the old station is an SSSI.

Why would piles be located here? Is there a plan for some sort of electric train head shunt? Presume no plan to electrify to Heaton Norris, this side of year2200? As an aside, I got a trip on an EM1 to here about 60 years ago....

I'm guessing no plan to wire all the way to Heaton Norris - at least not yet.

The piles would simply be making provision for wiring the crossover at Ashton Moss, so that in the unlikely event that a vehicle with a raised pantograph gets sent down the Crowthorne curve by a less-than-vigilant signaller, the pan would still have wires to push up against.
If it didn't, it would force itself upwards, then colliding with the wires on the Up Ashton, bringing the whole thing down and causing a headache for all involved.

(Smaller private sidings which have a ground frame locally next to the points tend not to have this problem!)

 

[greyman42]

Bolton Percy couldn't be used for large-scale vehicular access on the scale of Brumber Hill as the old station is an SSSI.

What is SSSI?

 

[themiller]

What is SSSI?

Site of special scientific interest.

 

[greyman42]

Site of special scientific interest.

What is it that is of interest?

 

[D6130]

What is it that is of interest?

It's usually the presence of some rare and/or endangered plant species (e.g. the orchids just South of Ribblehead, where weed-spraying is prohibited).

 

[Marcus Fryer]

It's usually the presence of some rare and/or endangered plant species (e.g. the orchids just South of Ribblehead, where weed-spraying is prohibited).

From the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust website:

Bolton Percy Station: Wildlife Trust

Bolton Percy, nr Tadcaster, N. Yorks.

Former railway goods platform that has been given over to nature and now managed as a reserve. A mix of old railway artefacts, scrub and grassland the site is good for a variety of wild flowers which in turn attract good numbers of butterflies, moths and other insects.

 

[Ploughman]

The SSSI I believe is only relevant to the Normanton lines and the old yard not the Leeds lines.
However the old station building may be listed.
Being an SSSI that has not stopped the yard being used as an access point through personal experience. Not recently though.

 

[Class 170101]

Why would piles be located here? Is there a plan for some sort of electric train head shunt? Presume no plan to electrify to Heaton Norris, this side of year2200? As an aside, I got a trip on an EM1 to here about 60 years ago....

A small part will be electrified as an overrun facility seems to be standard procedure these days

 

[Greybeard33]

Why would piles be located here? Is there a plan for some sort of electric train head shunt? Presume no plan to electrify to Heaton Norris, this side of year2200? As an aside, I got a trip on an EM1 to here about 60 years ago....

For those not familiar with the history, the old electrification to Ashton Moss Junction was from Guide Bridge, via an east to north curve that has since been lifted. The EM1 1500V DC electric locomotives used to work freights to/from exchange sidings at Ashton Moss.

I should think Heaton Norris to Ashton Moss and Denton to Guide Bridge might be a possible infill electrification scheme at some point in the future.