Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[zwk500]

It doesn't requires tensioners, I assume not anyway.

It may require expansion provision though.

That was sighted as one of the issues.

*Cited. (Sorry, I know it's pedantic of me).

 

[InOban]

It may require expansion provision though.

*Cited. (Sorry, I know it's pedantic of me).

The temperature in a cave or tunnel is famously very constant so allowing for expansion should be unnecessary.

 

[Meerkat]

Is there any official suggestion (not speculation or saying what should be built) of what is proposed for the Church Fenton to Leeds section - ie quadrupling/tripling/whatever?
Or even an output specification that would indicate whether 2 tracks is enough?

 

[zwk500]

Is there any official suggestion (not speculation or saying what should be built) of what is proposed for the Church Fenton to Leeds section - ie quadrupling/tripling/whatever?
Or even an output specification that would indicate whether 2 tracks is enough?

Believe Church Fenton to Micklefield is to stay 2-track. I'm fairly confident Cross gates-Micklefield will also, but not sure if Leeds-Cross gates might get some 4-track.

 

[Halish Railway]

Is there any official suggestion (not speculation or saying what should be built) of what is proposed for the Church Fenton to Leeds section - ie quadrupling/tripling/whatever?
Or even an output specification that would indicate whether 2 tracks is enough?

One of the PWI videos on YouTube about the TransPennine route upgrade featured a few animations, one of which featured Cross Gates station with the current track layout. Out of all of the places between Church Fenton and Leeds that would be the most obvious place to put additional tracks. To be honest, as stopping trains between Leeds and York will be provided by electric traction from day one there is little point in adding in passing loops, especially if they will continue to be non-stop from York to Micklefield, with Church Fenton being served by faster (Blackpool) services.

One annoyance that will exist is that the plans to electrify Micklefield to Selby were dropped, meaning that an electric Leeds to Selby stopping service can't operate, meaning that the existing stopping trains heading towards Selby (which currently continue to Hull) will either have to be worked by either a high performance DMU like a 195 or a newly-procured bi-mode train (which may make some sense as part of the eventual Sprinter replacement scheme whenever it happens).

 

[Mollman]

One of the PWI videos on YouTube about the TransPennine route upgrade featured a few animations, one of which featured Cross Gates station with the current track layout. Out of all of the places between Church Fenton and Leeds that would be the most obvious place to put additional tracks. To be honest, as stopping trains between Leeds and York will be provided by electric traction from day one there is little point in adding in passing loops, especially if they will continue to be non-stop from York to Micklefield, with Church Fenton being served by faster (Blackpool) services.

One annoyance that will exist is that the plans to electrify Micklefield to Selby were dropped, meaning that an electric Leeds to Selby stopping service can't operate, meaning that the existing stopping trains heading towards Selby (which currently continue to Hull) will either have to be worked by either a high performance DMU like a 195 or a newly-procured bi-mode train (which may make some sense as part of the eventual Sprinter replacement scheme whenever it happens).

I know this is getting into the realms of speculation (sorry) but what would make most sense is to four track Cross Gates through to the new Thorpe Park station, this would allow stopping trains to be passed 'on the move' rather than having to sit in a loop.

 

[Bald Rick]

I know this is getting into the realms of speculation (sorry) but what would make most sense is to four track Cross Gates through to the new Thorpe Park station, this would allow stopping trains to be passed 'on the move' rather than having to sit in a loop.

I think that’s the plan. Not 100% on that though!

 

[Geeves]

Sorry if this has been covered but what is the purpose of the new cross over at Batley? TYIA

 

[LittleAH]

Sorry if this has been covered but what is the purpose of the new cross over at Batley? TYIA

To allow trains to run to Dewsbury when Thornhill Junction/Heaton Lodge get ripped up.

 

[Ken H]

I think that’s the plan. Not 100% on that though!

Neville Hill to Crossgates was 4 track till the 60's or 70's. Whether there is enough room for a 4 track electric railway i dont know.
The 4 tracking ended just east of crossgates where the line to Wetherby diverged. So extending beyond Crossgates may be more difficult.

Any plans for a station in the Osmandthorpe/Halton Moor area?

 

[Geeves]

Ahh thankyou that makes sense. The new crossing and stations are showing on the signal diagram now too I just noticed.

 

[Batley Lad]

Batley - Former Adwalton line at Lady Anne crossing:
Looks like the core drilling and grouting has now finished with clean up in progress.

I suppose the next step will be to take the former bridge abutment down to its new design level. It will be interesting to see the process develop over the coming months.

Batley-Rutland road leading to Lady Anne crossing.

They have built a cantilevered platform off Rutland road and created a piling mat on the former Adwalton line embankment opposite this location. No piling machine on site at either location to date - can’t be far off though.

The site is difficult to photograph so apologies if the photos don’t show a lot of detail.

 

[Manutd1999]

I know this is getting into the realms of speculation (sorry) but what would make most sense is to four track Cross Gates through to the new Thorpe Park station

Is there still a plan to build "Thorpe Park" station?

 

[Halish Railway]

Is there still a plan to build "Thorpe Park" station?

It has been talked about in these two threads;

New Station calendar

Thank you to my predecessors for initially creating and then taking on the updating of this thread. This first post lists only those stations considered to have a good chance of being delivered in a reasonable timescale. I have taken the list ‘as is’ at December 2020 and will update it when...

www.railforums.co.uk

The Growth Plan - Rail Projects

Governments fiscal event announcement released a document called The Growth Plan which refers to specific infrastructure projects for rail the list is. Nothing particularly new other than a commitment to accelerate delivery of the projects by a radical overhaul of the planning process. Kwarteng...

www.railforums.co.uk

Seeing as it was mentioned in the 2022 'Growth Plan', there must still exist some serious proposals to build it. One hitch that exists is whether and how any four-tracking will take place as part of the TransPennine Route Upgrade. If four-tracking does take place will the tracks be arranged as Up Slow - Up Fast - Down Fast - Down Slow, fitting in with the current platform layout of Cross Gates? Or will the tracks be arranged as Up Fast - Up Slow - Down Slow - Down Fast? This would require Cross Gates to be reconstructed but would allow stopping trains to be turned back at Thorpe Park without creating any conflicting movements with fast trains if it was determined to be better to terminate trains there, rather than in the through platforms at Leeds.

 

[D6130]

This would require Cross Gates to be reconstructed but

Borderline O/T, but I noticed, while en route to the Forum meal in Edinburgh last week, that a fairly hefty metal (but not pallisade) fence has now been erected along the centre of the formation between the two running lines....presumably to deter the local yobbery from jumping across the track from one platform to another.

 

[_toommm_]

Borderline O/T, but I noticed, while en route to the Forum meal in Edinburgh last week, that a fairly hefty metal (but not pallisade) fence has now been erected along the centre of the formation between the two running lines....presumably to deter the local yobbery from jumping across the track from one platform to another.

I saw that happen at one of the Underground stations the other week. I was absolutely dumbfounded.

 

[Roast Veg]

Clocked a 6 car TPE passing through Wakefield Kirkgate at about 11:50 today, it's a pity they aren't timetabled to call there.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Clocked a 6 car TPE passing through Wakefield Kirkgate at about 11:50 today, it's a pity they aren't timetabled to call there.

Problem is, if they called and people began to rely on them during a long blockade, you'd then disappoint them when the upgrade is completed and the fasts no longer run that way.

I do look forward to the Manchester stoppers being extended to Kirkgate though, filling the gap left by the Castleford service being withdrawn. Still think it should call at all the intermediate stops though.

 

[snowball]

Press release

Transpennine Route Upgrade thanks passengers after Morley station upgrade

Nine days of major work to transform Morley station are now complete, allowing trains to run between Leeds and Huddersfield from this morning (Monday 13 February).

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Nine days of major work to transform Morley station are now complete, allowing trains to run between Leeds and Huddersfield from this morning (Monday 13 February).

Engineers have worked around the clock to lay the foundations for new, longer platforms, realign the track and complete drainage work, ready for the new accessible station to be built later this year.

The multi-million-pound upgrade will eventually offer passengers faster, more frequent and greener trains with more seats as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

Network Rail worked with train operators, Northern and TransPennine Express to keep passengers moving with diversions via Wakefield, and rail replacement buses in place.

...

The next key piece of work at Morley station is set to take place in June, which will see the old station demolished, ready for the new station to open for passengers later this year.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Might just be poorly worded, but that last paragraph suggests (to me at least) a gap between the old station being closed and the new one being opened?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Might just be poorly worded, but that last paragraph suggests (to me at least) a gap between the old station being closed and the new one being opened?

I read it that way too!

 

[YorksLad12]

Same here. Being generous there may be a word or two missing, such as "fence" - access to the new station is via the site of the old, so you'd have to perambulate down the hill, through the car park and out where it's fenced off (or was) to reach the new platforms, with the old ones being fenced off. How do passengers leave the new Dewsbury-bound platform, by the way - separate entrance or footbridge a la Castleford?

 

[Neptune]

Borderline O/T, but I noticed, while en route to the Forum meal in Edinburgh last week, that a fairly hefty metal (but not pallisade) fence has now been erected along the centre of the formation between the two running lines....presumably to deter the local yobbery from jumping across the track from one platform to another.

That fence has been there for a few years now. You are correct as to it’s purpose.

 

[Roger B]

Borderline O/T, but I noticed, while en route to the Forum meal in Edinburgh last week, that a fairly hefty metal (but not pallisade) fence has now been erected along the centre of the formation between the two running lines....presumably to deter the local yobbery from jumping across the track from one platform to another.

Thanks D6130.

I didn't see anything about a forum meal, but would like to have gone. How / where was it publicised?

Many thanks

 

[themiller]

Thanks D6130.

I didn't see anything about a forum meal, but would like to have gone. How / where was it publicised?

Many thanks

Go to HOME, OTHER FORUMS and you’ll find it under Forum Meets.

 

[snowball]

Two posts by Freel07 on Skyscrapercity containing numerous recent photos in the Ashton-u-L and Droylesden area.

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

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Two posts by Freel07 on Skyscrapercity containing numerous recent photos in the Ashton-u-L and Droylesden area.

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

Wow - loads of progress.

 

[Roger B]

Go to HOME, OTHER FORUMS and you’ll find it under Forum Meets.

Many thanks - following this now

 

[jonesy3001]

Will they be lowering the tracks in the katherine street tunnel during for overhead clearance?
Freel07 has put more pics on skyscrapercity and both sides of the ashton line end up at the tunnel.

 

[a1904]

Problem is, if they called and people began to rely on them during a long blockade, you'd then disappoint them when the upgrade is completed and the fasts no longer run that way.

I do look forward to the Manchester stoppers being extended to Kirkgate though, filling the gap left by the Castleford service being withdrawn. Still think it should call at all the intermediate stops though.

When is that supposed to happen? First I've heard of it