Passenger Crowding On Platform 14 At Manchester Piccadilly Station
After changing trains at Salford Crescent station, I arrived on Platform 13 at Manchester Piccadilly station.
Everybody says the two island platforms need more capacity and another two platforms.
This picture shows a train in Platform 14.
Note all the passengers alongside the train at the bottom of the stairs. Many of whom are waiting for later trains.
There are also few passengers waiting on the platform.
Consider.
I am writing this at eight in the morning and there are seventeen trains in total calling at Platforms 13 and 14, in the next hour.
- As one train starts from Platform 13, that is just nine trains per hour (tph) on each platform.
- The two platform station at Canada Water on the London Overground handles sixteen tph and in 2016-17, around 25 million passengers used the station.
- By comparison Manchester Piccadilly station handles around twenty-seven million passengers on fourteen platforms.
Because of the numbers of trains and passengers involved, I believe strongly that a rebuild of Platforms 13 and 14 could raise the numbers to those currentl achieved at Canada Water.
So what are the differences between Platform 13 and 14 ar Manchester Piccadilly and Canada Water?
- Both were originally built in the Victorian era.
- Both have been improved since 2000.
- The Manchester Platforms have a lift, two staircases and an up escalator, whereas each platform at Canada Water has a lift, and at least one of both a staircase and an escalator.
- Access at the Manchester Platform is all at one end, whereas access at Canada Water is to the centre of the platforms, where there is a wide lobby set back from the platform.
- The Manchester Platforms are narrower, than those at Canada Water.
- Canada Water has the advantages that it is only served by Class 378 trains and there is level access between platform and all trains.
- Canada Water is a well-designed light and airy below ground station, whereas the Manchester Platforms have all the dtyle and charm of a Victorian toilet block.
So what would I do to Platform 13 and 14 at Manchester Piccadilly?
- If all trains were at least four carriages, this might encourage people to spread out, instead of hanging about at the bottom of the main stairs.
- If platforms could be released in the main section of Manchester Piccadilly station, by virtue of the Ordsall , this might help.
- Increase the width of the platforms.
- Add more escalators.
- Put an enlarged waiting room on top of the current platforms, with quality information, so passengers can wait in the warm, with perhaps a cup of coffee.
In addition, the ultimate solution would be to built a long footbridge to connect the Southern end of all platforms.
It would be wide
Each pair of platforms would have lift and escalator access to the footbridge.
- It could have a lift to street level at both ends.
- I believe that this could be built, without disrupting the current traffic through the station.
Hopefully, this will all be sorted, when the HS2 station is built.
If something like it is not built, it will be a very long walk, between the HS2 platforms and Platforms 13 and 14.
No Wires At Bolton Station – 17th April 2018
These pictures show the state of the electrification at Bolton station.
Little seems to have happened since my last visit on November 17th last year.
Although it does seem that the new Manchester-facing bay platform is complete except for the electrification.
I also saw no electrification between Bolton and Salford Crescent stations.
If I reckoned that the progress of the electrification on the Gospel Oak to Barking Line was slow, this beats it by a country mile!
No Wires At Salford Crescent Station – 17th April 2018
These pictures show the state of the electrification at Salford Crescent station.
Note that there were no overhead wires through the station and also on the line to Salford Central and Manchester Victoria station. There still appears to be a lot of work to do.
Under Improvements the Wikipedia entry for the station says this.
In 2007, Network Rail recognised that Salford Crescent could not cope with existing passenger levels, leading to platform overcrowding. It suggested expansion of the station with extra platforms, greater use of it as an interchange and use as a terminus for services from east of Manchester. It also raised the possibility of moving the station.
In 2012, improvement work started at the station, including platform extensions, a new rain canopy and the relocation of the ticket office to street level. The works were completed in October 2013 and officially opened by Mayor of Salford, Ian Stewart.
This Google Map shows the station.
I think, it will be a tight fit for extra platforms, as the station is surrounded on all sides by Salford University.
The solution would probably be to build on top of a new station, that was in a strong concrete box.
Changing Trains At Salford Crescent Station
Today, I arrived at Salford Crescent on a train running between Bolton and Manchester Victoria stations.
As I needed to go to Manchester Piccadilly station, I left on a train running between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport stations.
Consider.
- In the few minutes, I was on the station, I must have heard staff asked, which train do I get to Piccadilly or Victoria, several times.
- Surrey Quays station handles three routes at the South end of the Thames Tunnel and currently handles sixteen trains per hour (tph)
- With high-quality signalling and a measure of automatic train control, I could expect Salford Crescent station to handle at least 12 tph, in both directions.
- Is the island platform wide enough?
- Is loading slowed as a lot of trains calling at the station are just two cars, with four doors?
- Is loading slowed as many of the trains, aren’t step-free from the platform to the train?
- Are there always staff on the platform.
I believe that operation of the station could be improved.
Reversing Direction At Salford Crescent Station
The current island layout allows passengers to change direction by walking across the platform.
As an example, if you go between Farnworth and Swinton stations, one of the recommended routes is via Salford Cresent.
An Improved Design For Salford Crescent Station
Perhaps before deciding to rebuild the station, serious work should be done to see if the station throughput in terms of trains and passengers can be improved.
My ideas would include.
A Wider Platform
This picture shows the island platform at Canonbury station.
It could handle a whole company of Grenadier Guards and all their kit, whereas Salford Crescent would struggle with a platoon.
Canonbury’s wide platform also has the following in the centre.
- A large covered shelter.
- A large number of seats.
- A coffee stall
It also allows passengers to stand well-back when a train goes through the station, without stopping.
Note that Canonbury is a station, where the platforms are uncovered. Would this be a wise idea in Manchester, even with a large central shelter?
Lomger Trains
a lot of trains going through Salford Crescent station are just two cars.
Northern‘s new trains will include, the following electric trains and bi-mode trains.
32 – four-car Class 319 trains
12 – four-car Class 331 trains
31 – three-car Class 331 trains, which will replace the Class 323 trains.
11 – four-car Class 769 bi-mode trsins.
If all trains calling at Salford Crescent were four-cars or more, this would probably mean at least eight doors, which would would speed up loading and unloading.
This would reduce dwell times at the station and increase capacity in terms of the number of trains per hour.
Level Access Between Platform And Trains
If the platforms are widened, I susopect with Harrington Humps, that this could be achieved.
This picture shows two Hsrrington Hump is at Canonbury.
If passengers in wheelchairs, buggy-pushers and those pulling heavy cases could just walk or push the,selves across.
Again, this would reduce dwell times and increase capacity.
Better Information
Given that I heard passengers asking the same question, I suspect that better informayion, could make the station easier fot interchang passengers.
Using the displays on Thameslink and at London Bridge station would be a good start.
An Up Escalator
Sal;ford Central station has a long set of stairs and a lift.
Many passengers with movement difficulties would welcome an up escalator.
Conclusion
I believe that a much improved station can be creased , without the expence of adding a new platform.
Wires, New Platforms And Sidings At Blackpool North Station – 17th April 2018
I took these pictures as I entered Blackpool station.
Note.
- There are now six straight platforms at the station.
- The platforms are long and can probably take an eleven-car Class 390 train.
- There seems to be five or six long sidings for trains, just outside the station.
- There is certainly evidence of ongoing work.
They certainly seem to be expecting a lot of trains.
If not soon, the station is future proofed.
What Trains Will Run To Blackpool?
I think the routes from Blackpool should have a minimum frequency of at least two tph.So the base local service should be.
- Two tph – Blackpool North to Liverpool Lime Street Class 319 train
- Two tph – Blackpool North to Manchester Airport – Class 319 train
- Two tph – Blackpool South nto Colne – Class 769 train
Other routes could include these services.
- 1-2 tph – Blackpool North to York via Leeds
- 1-2 tph – Blackpool North to Hazel Grove via Manchester Piccadilly – Class 319 train
- 1-2 tph – Blackpool North to Huddersfield via Manchester Victoria.
- 1-2 tph – Blackpool North to Ormskirk via Preston – Class 769 trains.
I wrote about the last service in Northern’s Plans For Between Preston And Ormskirk. But as Blackpool North station has six terminal platforms, it might be a better terminus than Preston.
Even if all of these services were to be two tph, this would only be fourteen tph between Preston and Kirkham and Wesham stations.
But the signalling is now modern and Northern have ordered a lot of 100 mph trains.
Obviously, Network Rail have got to finish the electrification.
Wires At Poulton-le-Fylde Station – 17th April 2018
These pictures show Poulton-le-Fylde station.
Note.
- The station has been refurbished.
- The overhead wires appear to be complete.
- A lift has been installed.
- The cafe has reopened.
- The island platform is wide.
- There are a pair of proper clocks.
It is surely now one of the best stations in the country with a single island platform, serving both lines.
Wires At Kirkham And Wesham Station – 17th April 2018
These pictures show Kirkham and Wesham station.
Note.
- Two new lifts are being installed.
- The overhead wires appear to be complete on the two main lines.
- The platform used by the Blackpool South Branch appears not to have been electrified.
Does anybody know if the line to Blackpool South station will be electrified?
- After all a four-coach bi-mode train like a Class 769 train could run the service.
- The last two Open Championships at Royal Lytham and St.Annes, were in 2012 and 2001, so it could return in the early 2020s.
But that gives the Blackpool area and Northern time to create the proper transport solution for the next Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
The Anonymous Widower 