Transpennine Route Upgrade and Electrification updates

[edwin_m]

Hard to see exactly what they're planning but from the limited information available they don't look like the sort of barriers that would be needed to protect the properties (and their occupants) from a 25kV OHL. I suspect it's taking the opportunity to make the barriers more robust and prevent trespass.

I suspect they're putting a PES here on the nearer (Up) track. Up trains are on a descending gradient and with the station move stopping trains should have got up some speed when they get here, so the risk of stranding is likely to be manageable.

 

[59CosG95]

My in-expert eye seems to think that there is sufficient distance from the OLE, with the fence being up, to mitigate the distance without the need for a PES. The fencing *could* also be non-conductive (e.g. Glass-Reinforced Plastic/GRP), but I suspect a metal fence, with screen, bonded to traction earth, would be sufficient too.
Additionally, based on the curve of the track, the OLE is staggered as a "push-off" towards the cottages (in an easterly direction), meaning that, if the wires were to lose tension, they would return to the centre (in this case, westwards, and away from the cottages).

 

[AM9]

I suspect they're putting a PES here on the nearer (Up) track. Up trains are on a descending gradient and with the station move stopping trains should have got up some speed when they get here, so the risk of stranding is likely to be manageable.

PES?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

PES?

Permanently Earthed Section, aka "neutral" section.

 

[td97]

Testing update on the E1 electrification

Last night, we successfully completed OLE Lineside Compatibility Testing / Load Bank Monitoring, on the TRU East Alliance Project E1, marking a major milestone in our testing and commissioning programme. This brings us one step closer to introducing the new electrification between Colton Junction and Church Fenton into passenger service.

Luke Marsland on LinkedIn: Last night, we successfully completed OLE Lineside Compatibility Testing /…

Last night, we successfully completed OLE Lineside Compatibility Testing / Load Bank Monitoring, on the TRU East Alliance Project E1, marking a major milestone…

www.linkedin.com

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I thought a summary reminder of progress and a reminder what the project sections are would be useful.

W1 – Manchester Victoria Stalybridge - Complete
W2a – Stalybridge station - Complete
(I assume these includes Guide Bridge to Stalybridge which is also complete)

W2b – Stalybridge – Marsden – in design
W2c – Marsden to Huddersfield – in design
W3 – Huddersfield- Ravensthorpe – boots on the ground (TWAO)
W4 – Ravensthorpe - Leeds
W5– Morley station - work in progress

E1 – Church Fenton – Colton Jct – awaiting final commissioning
E2 – Leeds station and to Crossgates – some boots on the ground - some piling seen
E3 – Crossgates – Micklefield - some boots on the ground - some piling seen
E4 – Micklefield – Church Fenton-some boots on the ground - some piling seen

There is some evidence E2, E3 and E4 have been combined into 1 project. If the same contractors for all schemes that would sort of make sense.

 

[Halish Railway]

E1 – Church Fenton – Colton Jct – awaiting final commissioning
E2 – Leeds station and to Crossgates – in design
E3 – Crossgates – Micklefield - in design
E4 – Micklefield – Church Fenton

I’m not sure if ‘in design’ is the right description for E3 given that there are already piles for the OLE installed. Presumably we’re not far from seeing steelwork going up, although I haven’t heard of any reports of steelwork being spotted in any of the works compounds. The work to close and divert Rose Lane to the south of Church Fenton still seems like a long way off though.

 

[59CosG95]

I’m not sure if ‘in design’ is the right description for E3 given that there are already piles for the OLE installed. Presumably we’re not far from seeing steelwork going up, although I haven’t heard of any reports of steelwork being spotted in any of the works compounds. The work to close and divert Rose Lane to the south of Church Fenton still seems like a long way off though.

IIRC, E2, E3 & E4 all seems to have been combined into "E234". There's certainly been lots of piling activity in "E4", and a little in "E3". "E2" even has some steelwork in around Neville Hill!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I’m not sure if ‘in design’ is the right description for E3 given that there are already piles for the OLE installed. Presumably we’re not far from seeing steelwork going up, although I haven’t heard of any reports of steelwork being spotted in any of the works compounds. The work to close and divert Rose Lane to the south of Church Fenton still seems like a long way off though.

Thanks. Post now edited.

IIRC, E2, E3 & E4 all seems to have been combined into "E234". There's certainly been lots of piling activity in "E4", and a little in "E3". "E2" even has some steelwork in around Neville Hill!

 

[superkev]

I thought a summary reminder of progress and a reminder what the project sections are would be useful.

W1 – Manchester Victoria Stalybridge - Complete
W2a – Stalybridge station - Complete
W2b – Stalybridge – Marsden – in design
W2c – Marsden to Huddersfield – in design
W3 – Huddersfield- Ravensthorpe – boots on the ground (TWAO)
W4 – Ravensthorpe - Leeds
W5– Morley station - work in progress

E1 – Church Fenton – Colton Jct – awaiting final commissioning
E2 – Leeds station and to Crossgates – some boots on the ground - some piling seen
E3 – Crossgates – Micklefield - some boots on the ground - some piling seen
E4 – Micklefield – Church Fenton-some boots on the ground - some piling seen

There is some evidence E2, E3 and E4 have been combined into 1 project. If the same contractors for all schemes that would sort of make sense.

Thanks, most interesting.
No mention of Guide Bridge to Stalybridge there.
Although theres been mention of clearance of tunnel and bridge works on the west side (example Staly tunnel) are there any still to do on the east side.
Thanks.
K

 

[Legolash2o]

I thought a summary reminder of progress and a reminder what the project sections are would be useful.

W1 – Manchester Victoria Stalybridge - Complete
W2a – Stalybridge station - Complete
W2b – Stalybridge – Marsden – in design
W2c – Marsden to Huddersfield – in design
W3 – Huddersfield- Ravensthorpe – boots on the ground (TWAO)
W4 – Ravensthorpe - Leeds
W5– Morley station - work in progress

E1 – Church Fenton – Colton Jct – awaiting final commissioning
E2 – Leeds station and to Crossgates – some boots on the ground - some piling seen
E3 – Crossgates – Micklefield - some boots on the ground - some piling seen
E4 – Micklefield – Church Fenton-some boots on the ground - some piling seen

There is some evidence E2, E3 and E4 have been combined into 1 project. If the same contractors for all schemes that would sort of make sense.

Thanks for this info! I shall update my maps accordingly.

Any sections with piling I tag as under construction.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Thanks, most interesting.
No mention of Guide Bridge to Stalybridge there.
Although theres been mention of clearance of tunnel and bridge works on the west side (example Staly tunnel) are there any still to do on the east side.
Thanks.
K

Guide Bridge to Stalybridge is indeed complete but it never ( afaik ) got an E or W number - however, I have annotated and edited my post.

 

[superkev]

Guide Bridge to Stalybridge is indeed complete but it never ( afaik ) got an E or W number - however, I have annotated and edited my post.

Thanks. Is guide bridge to Stayly wiring completed and fully usable. Are any services actually using the new overhead.
K

 

[plugwash]

and are any services actually using it.

If there are, I don't think there will be very many of them. The TPEs that run via guide bridge tend to be the shorter distance services which are normally run with 185s.

Maybe some ECS or diverted services will use it, but I don't think it will get used much until the electrification reaches at least huddersfield and TPE get some EMUs from somewhere..

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Wasn't there talk of ECS movements using it?

 

[Meerkat]

Without wandering into “what should happen” am I the only one a bit depressed that Leeds to Micklefield seems to be getting electrified as is, making any capacity upgrades of a congested line even more expensive and disruptive?

 

[Legolash2o]

Without wandering into “what should happen” am I the only one a bit depressed that Leeds to Micklefield seems to be getting electrified as is, making any capacity upgrades of a congested line even more expensive and disruptive?

How congested is that section?

 

[takno]

Without wandering into “what should happen” am I the only one a bit depressed that Leeds to Micklefield seems to be getting electrified as is, making any capacity upgrades of a congested line even more expensive and disruptive?

If it waited then the electrification would never happen. This section isn't as busy or mixed as the central section, better acceleration from emus combined with digital signalling is likely to see most of the benefits of quad tracking without a lot of the cost

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

This is certainly a very long running thread...eleven years old and still going strong...

 

[geordieblue]

Without wandering into “what should happen” am I the only one a bit depressed that Leeds to Micklefield seems to be getting electrified as is, making any capacity upgrades of a congested line even more expensive and disruptive?

I can’t remember where I read it now but a Leeds City Council document that came out relatively recently showed four-tracking somewhere between Leeds and Garforth - I think it ended before Thorpe Park. So if it isn’t happening then it must have been descoped in the last few months. Alternatively it doesn’t need planning permission, because it’s on railway land, and so details haven’t been communicated to the public? But that would seem unusual for a project which seems to love re-issuing old news stories!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

If it waited then the electrification would never happen. This section isn't as busy or mixed as the central section, better acceleration from emus combined with digital signalling is likely to see most of the benefits of quad tracking without a lot of the cost.

Which is a sensible pragmatic approach imho.

 

[nr758123]

This is certainly a very long running thread...eleven years old and still going strong...

Will it still be running in another 11 years? Probably yes.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Will it still be running in another 11 years? Probably yes.

Not good! Scary and crazy in fact.

 

[Snapper]

The first new track on the TRU route upgrade has been laid at Deighton. https://paulbigland.blog/2024/09/27/27th-september-picture-of-the-day-3/

 

[coxxy]

The first new track on the TRU route upgrade has been laid at Deighton. https://paulbigland.blog/2024/09/27/27th-september-picture-of-the-day-3/

Was done about 2-3 months ago to be fair. Doesn't seem to be any more going down in a hurry though

 

[Snapper]

Was done about 2-3 months ago to be fair. Doesn't seem to be any more going down in a hurry though

True, it's hardly fresh this week, but it is the first track. I think there's a lot more muck to be moved before any more can be laid. I have noticed ballasted track in the Huddersfield compound but that's not connected to anything yet either.

 

[coxxy]

Yeah I think there's lots of little goings OK starting to appear.. noticed little red flags near Deighton, Heaton Lodge and mirfield that appear to be placed to show the future track placement, as well as more and more groundworks taking place everywhere. I think the Thornhill area seems to be very busy atm!

 

[Snapper]

Yeah I think there's lots of little goings OK starting to appear.. noticed little red flags near Deighton, Heaton Lodge and mirfield that appear to be placed to show the future track placement, as well as more and more groundworks taking place everywhere. I think the Thornhill area seems to be very busy atm!

Indeed. I hope to get out and about again to have a look at some other locations - if it ever stops raining!

 

[stibz]

Also lots of tree clearing going on slowly between Ravensthorpe & Mirfield, plus new bridge work next to existing calder rd bridge Nr Ravensthorpe station.

True, it's hardly fresh this week, but it is the first track. I think there's a lot more muck to be moved before any more can be laid. I have noticed ballasted track in the Huddersfield compound but that's not connected to anything yet either.

As observed, nothing happens quickly when it's taxpayer funded. When I worked in construction, it was get it done asap. but railway is a different thing lol The Only deadline is, whenever it's done!!

 

[185]

Whilst I've not seen it yet, I'm told DFT have published the Transport & Works Act for Leeds-Micklefield earlier today. I can't post my colleagues twitter, but I'm quite sure it's online somewhere. Mention of alterations to four bridges for electrification.