Adding Southport And Stalybridge Via Atherton To The Bee Network
This article on the Railway Gazette has a list of the lines, that will be transferred between Northern Rail and the Bee Network.
Included in the list is this line.
Southport And Stalybridge Via Atherton.
I think this route could be the following.
- The Eastern terminal would be Stalybridge.
- The Northern terminal would be Southport.
- Intermediate stations would be Meols Cop, Bescar Lane, New Lane, Burscough Bridge, Parbold, Appley Bridge, Gathurst, Wigan Wallgate, Hindley, Daisy Hill, Hag Fold, Atherton, Walkden, Swinton, Salford Crescent, Salford Central, Manchester Victoria and Ashton-under-Lyne
- The route is partly electrified with 25 KVAC overhead.
- Mich of the route has a 75 mph operating speed.
Currently, this service runs hourly, by a slightly different route to that proposed.
This is my thought.
Battery-Electric Trains
Consider.
- The route could be ideal for battery-electric trains.
- Central Manchester and Stalybridge will soon be electrified.
- A charging station could be added at Southport station.
Merseyrail’s Class 777 trains or something similar would surely do nicely.
Adding Wigan And Manchester Victoria To The Bee Network
This article on the Railway Gazette has a list of the lines, that will be transferred between Northern Rail and the Bee Network.
Included in the list is this line.
Wigan and Manchester Victoria via the West Coast Main Line and a proposed station at Golborne, which could open from 2025.
I think this route could be the following.
- The Eastern terminal would be Manchester Victoria
- The Northern terminal would be Wigan North Western, as it is on the West Coast Main Line.
- Intermediate stations would be Golborne, Patricoff, Eccles and Salford Central.
- The route is fully electrified with 25 KVAC overhead.
- Most of the route has a 90 mph operating speed.
There is no comparable route in the current timetable.
These are a few thoughts.
Golborne Station
In Beeching Reversal – Reopening Golborne Railway Station, I discussed the reopening of Golborne station.
I didn’t think it would be likely, as it was a cramped site in the middle of a village, as this Google Map shows.
But I didn’t notice the four tracks through the site.
As the line through here, will have to be rebuilt for High Speed Two to raise the operating speed from the current 90 mph to as high as 140 mph. perhaps a high class architect could find a way to build a station at the site on the slow lines?
Improvements To Wigan North Western Station
In Wigan North Western Station Set For Platform Extension Work, I talked about work to make Wigan North Western station ready for High Speed Two.
I concluded, by saying this.
It certainly looks like Wigan North Western station is being updated to have a comprehensive network of local electric services to give a large number of stations, good access to current West Coast Main Line and future High Speed Two services.
I also added this picture of Wigan North Western station.
Wigan North Western station can’t be far off being able to accept pairs of High Speed Two Classic Compatible trains, that will be 400 metres long.
The Wigan North Western and Manchester Victoria service will add Golborne, Patricoff, Eccles, Salford Central and Manchester Victoria to the list.
Connecting To Scottish Services
The Internet gives these times from Wigan North Western.
- London Euston – 1 hour and 55 minutes – Current
- London Euston – 1 hour and 34 minutes – High Speed Two
- Glasgow Central – 2 hours and 35 minutes – Current
- Glasgow Central – 2 hours and 06 minutes – High Speed Two
It looks to me, that there is an awful lot of trackwork to be done to the West Coast Main Line between Wigan North Western and Glasgow Central.
But on the other hand, changing at Wigan North Western will be a reasonably fast alternative, if whilst building High Speed Two to Manchester, the current route is closed.
Manchester Buzzing To Put Rail Into Its Bee Network
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Railway Gazette.
These two paragraphs introduce the article.
Locally branded stations and integrated ticketing are among the improvements to Greater Manchester’s local rail services envisaged from 2025 under a landmark devolution deal.
The deal agreed with the government on March 15 brings GM Mayor Andy Burnham and local council leaders significant additional powers in several policy areas, including transport. The single funding settlement is similar to those in place covering Scotland and Wales, but this and a similar deal for the West Midlands is the first time such a flexible grant has been granted to English regions.
Included in the deal are the following.
A London-Style Network
It is described in this paragraph.
Greater Manchester has set itself a target of rolling out so-called ‘London style’ transport across modes by 2030. While Transport for Greater Manchester already directly manages the Metrolink light rail network, buses are now being brought under tighter regulation through a franchising model, and TfGM aspires to introduce integrated smart ticketing across the city-region. Today, while paper travelcards can be bought covering buses, Metrolink trams and trains, these are poorly marketed and often more expensive than the fares offered by individual bus operators; there is also no ability for daily or weekly price capping to be introduced.
I hope that Manchester follows London’s rules.
- One card and any bank or credit card gives full access to buses, trains and trams.
- Daily, weekly and monthly caps.
- Freedom Pass or equivalent for those that need them.
- Comprehensive transport mapping.
- Visitor-oriented travel information offices in major stations.
I feel very strongly about the last two, as measures like these encourage visitors to return.
Trials of the ticketing should start by the end of the year.
The Bee Network
This is outlined in this sentence.
Together, the local transport network is to be branded ‘the Bee Network’, reflecting an enduring emblem of the area’s industrial heritage.
I like the name.
- The bee is one of the symbols of the city according to this Wikipedia entry.
- Bees are on the coat of arms of the City of Manchester.
- Bee symbols are used by Manchester and local businesses.
But perhaps most importantly, the bees were a symbol of recovery of the city after the May 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
The Addition Of Twenty Percent Of the Local Rail Network
This is outlined in this sentence.
Under the agreement announced on March 15, around 20% of local rail services, currently operated by Northern Trains and managed under contract with the Department for Transport, will be brought into the Bee Network.
These rail services are to be added.
- Wigan – Manchester Victoria via the West Coast Main Line and a proposed station at Golborne, which could open from 2025.
- Stalybridge – Southport via Atherton
- Glossop – Hadfield – Manchester Piccadilly
- Rose Hill Marple – Manchester Piccadilly
- Buxton – Manchester Piccadilly
- Alderley Edge – Manchester Piccadilly
I shall discuss each route in detail separately.
New Trains?
Consider.
- The Wigan and Alderley Edge routes are shared with 125 mph trains.
- The diesel trains on the Buxton and Rose Hill Marple routes will need to be replaced.
- The Buxton route is a very stiff climb.
- Do the Class 323 trains to Glossop and Hadfield need to be replaced?
- The Buxton, Southport and Rose Hill Marple routes are not fully-electrified.
I would have two separate fleets.
A small number of 110 mph electric trains for the Wigan and Alderley Edge routes. Class 350, 360, 379 and 386 trains would be possibilities.
An appropriate number of electric for the other routes. Some would have a battery capability to handle the partially-electrified routes. Merseyrail’s Class 777 could be ideal.
Note.
I am fairly certain, that the Class 777 trains can run as tram-trains, which would be useful for Manchester.
A rough calculation indicates that the ideal battery sizes for Southport and Buxton, could be similar.
The battery for the Rose Hill Marple route would be smaller.
There could be advantages if Merseyrail and Manchester had similar high quality trains.
Integration Of The Various Modes Of Transport
This is outlined in this paragraph.
Meanwhile, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority is to establish a North West Regional Business Unit and GM Rail Board to improve local scrutiny of rail service performance and shape the integration with other modes in the Bee Network.
This is critical to the successful development of the Bee Network.
Conclusion
It’s now up to Manchester to first make it work and then develop it for the benefit of the people and businesses of the City, and not forgetting the visitors.
Integration Of The Various Modes Of Transport
This is outlined in this paragraph.
Meanwhile, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority is to establish a North West Regional Business Unit and GM Rail Board to improve local scrutiny of rail service performance and shape the integration with other modes in the Bee Network.
This is critical to the successful development of the Bee Network.
New Mexican Carrier Aerus To Operate Regional Routes Left By Aeromar
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Simple Flying.
This is the first paragraph.
The new Mexican regional startup carrier Aerus will begin flying next month, according to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Javier Herrera. With a fleet of Cessna and Alice aircraft, Aerus is looking to replace Aeromar as the country’s leading regional airline flying point-to-point routes from its base in Monterrey International Airport (MTY).
The Rise Of Zero-Carbon Airlines
It looks like Aerus could be heading to join a list of zero- or low-carbon airlines.
Current airlines going in that direction include.
- Air New Zealand, who have released this press release, which is entitled Air New Zealand Launches Ambitious pProgramme For Zero Emissions Aircraft.
- Cape Air who have a large fleet of up to nine seat commuter airliners and 75 Eviation Alice on order.
- Evia AERO, which I wrote about in EVIA AERO Orders 25 Eviation Alice Aircraft.
- GlobalX has been reported as having 50 Eviation Alice on order.
- Harbour Air, which I wrote about in Harbour Air Set To Become The First All-Electric Airline In The World.
Some parts of aviation do seem to be decarbonising.
The Cough Goes On!
The cough that started last week has still not left me and it’s like the ones I used to get as a child, that went on for months and months. At least twice, I had six months and more off school. Sadly, those sections of my medical records got lost after University, so we can’t find out what the good doctor Egerton White thought!
Gravity Energy Storage For Cleaner Power Grids!
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Energy Live News.
This is the sub-heading.
Scotland’s Gravitricity has teamed up with a Czech electricity flexibility company to bring their gravity storage technology to market
These two paragraphs introduce the article.
Scottish firm Gravitricity has partnered with Czech energy flexibility aggregator Nano Energies to commercialize their gravity storage technology.
The partnership plans to convert an old mine shaft in the Czech Republic into a gravity energy store, which can rapidly respond to grid fluctuations and could be a pioneer for European projects.
Gravitricity seems to be on its way.
The Anonymous Widower 