Is Ilkeston Station Going To Open Early?
National Rail’s journey planner doesn’t get it wrong often.
So look at the screen-shot for Monday 27th of March.
Ilkeston station isn’t supposed to open until the 2nd of April.
Searching the on-line timetable shows it is just Northern Rail’s Nottingham-Leeds services that seem to call both ways.
Is it the truth, finger trouble or even Fake News?
Barnsley Interchange Is One Of My Favourite Stations
Barnsley Interchange station is unusual in that it is a combined train and bus station, that seems to be well-positioned in the town.
There is only one real problem and that is like Lincoln station, it is a town centre station with a level crossing.
The other problem with the station, is that it is a steep walk up the hill to the Football Ground.
The only solution would be a tunnel under the hill with a large lift to bring you into the Ground.
I don’t think it woud be very affordable or practical.
There is a lot to like about the station and this Google Map shows the overall layout.
Note the level crossing at the South end of the station.
If you read the section on Services in the Wikipedia entry for the station, you’ll see that the station handles three or four trains per hour in both directions at times. The track layout on the Penistone Line doesn’t help, as this extract from Wikipedia describes.
Barnsley also marks the last continuous dual running track (except for parts) for trains heading towards Huddersfield, or the first continuous dual running track for trains heading towards Sheffield.
I suspect Network Rail and the Penistone Line Partnership have ideas for increasing capacity, but they’d really like the level crossing removed.
I did notice though, that trains in opposite directions, didn’t always seem to pass in the station, which is a technique that has been used in several places to cut the number of times crossings close.
Perhaps because of the single-track sections on the Penistone Line this is not possible.
But other factors will help.
- Northern’s new Class 195 trains will probably handle the stops a couple of minutes faster, than the current Pacers.
- As there are upwards of a dozen stops, this could save a lot of time and allow organising the passing of trains better.
- There are some other level crossings, which might be removed.
- Most of the line is single-track, but it does seem from my helicopter that the track-bed has been left wide enough to reinstate the original double-track.
So in a few years time with the new Class 195 trains, some track modifications and perhaps better signalling, a more frequent and better service might be possible.
From Liverpool To Huddersfield
These pictures document a trip I took between Liverpool and Huddersfield.
Some thoughts on the trip.
The Class 319 Interior
The first batch of Northern’s Class 319 trains are very much pack-it-in specials for running commuter services around the Blackpool, Liverpool, Manchester Airport triangle.
They are good for a thirty-year-old train, but they could be better.
In Porterbrook’s Class 319 Flex brochure, they show a proposed interior based on a Class 319/4 with the following.
- A mix of 2×2 and 2×3 seating.
- 12 First Class seats
- 255 Standard Class seats
- A full-accessible toilet.
- Two luggage racks per car.
It would certainly be a much better passenger experience.
Works At Edge Hill
Buckingham Group obviously have a big project on to the East of Edge Hill station.
This Google Map shows the lines through and to the East of Edge Hill.
Note how to the South of the Retail Park and/or warehouses, work seems to be going on. Are extra tracks being created?
There is also a white scar at Wavertree Technology Park station, so if this was two fast lines, then fast services between Liverpool and Manchester and Wigan could storm in and out.
The Atherton Line
The Atherton Line is part of the Manchester-Southport Line and runs between Wigan Wallgate and Salford Crescent stations.
Wikipedia says this about Improvements to the Atherton Line.
There is ongoing feasibility into the conversion of parts of this line (Wigan–Atherton–Manchester) to operate as a Manchester Metrolink service with a higher frequency metro service for the Greater Manchester Boroughs of Wigan and Salford into the city centre. In November 2013, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority approved a recommended strategy for reconfiguring existing commuter services into tram-train operation, identifying the Atherton line as providing an opportunity for extending potential tram-train services from the south-east (Marple, Glossop) across the city centre and outwards to the north west.[2] Southport and Kirkby services on this line would be diverted to operate via Bolton. Additionally, Network Rail has identified electrification of Wigan to Southport, together with the Ormskirk–Preston line and the Burscough Curves as a possible source of new services.
I also think that the route from Salford Crescent to Southport via Atherton and Wigan could be ideal for electrifying in stages using Class 319 Flex trains to bridge any gaps.
The tools seem to be there, now is the time to think about how the work will be done.
Salford Crescent
Salford Crescent station could look very different in the future, as modern station design might be seen to favour two island platforms, one face of each dealing with Manchester Victoria station and the other Manchester Piccadilly station.
- Passengers going in to Manchester, needing trains to the other terminus, would just wait on the platform and catch the next train.
- Passengers coming from Manchester, who needed a different distination would change at Salford Crescent to their desired train.
- Comprehensive information would be provided.
The platforms would be built with lots of space, waiting rooms and coffee kiosks and would be well-staffed.
Manchester Victoria Station
Manchester Victoria station is starting look dirty again.
It must be all those elderly diesel trains.
Huddersfield Line
The Huddersfield Line took me to Stalybridge station and then later on to Huddersfield station.
There was no sign of any electrification work.
Stalybridge Station
As a coeliac, I found Stalybridge station one of the most gluten-free-unfriendly stations I have ever found.
In future, if I’m going that way, I’ll make sure that I stock up in Manchester or Leeds first.
TransPennine Express
The train was crowded and getting on at Stalybridge for the short trip to Huddersfield was delayed, as the conductor couldn’t get near to the doors to open them. Whereas the driver could have had a clear view.
It’s about time the NUR stopped this Driver Only Operation farce, which nearly all passengers think is sillier than the Teletubbies.
I hope the idiot, who landed TransPennine routes with the inadequate number of Class 185 trains, now has a job where he can do no harm, like in charge of the railways on the Scilly Isles.
Huddersfield
I don’t know Huddersfield and the only thing I’ve ever bought in the town is a ticket to the football.
You arrive in the Grade I Listed Huddersfield station and walk out into the magnificent St. George’s Square, which should be a welcoming gateway to the town.
Compare it to Kings Cross Square, where there is generally something going on and on a Friday is bustling with food stalls.
I walked to the shops and did find Marks and Spencer in a prominent place, but why wasn’t the route for pedestrians only, as it was crammed with traffic and parked cars.
Huddersfield needs to think how they organise their town centre, as except for the square ut’s about as weloming to visitors as Turkey is to the Dutch.
This Google Map shows the area.
I feel that Huddersfield needs what most European towns of this size would have and that is a tram, that goes through the centre.
You would walk out of the station and in the square would be a tram stop. Trams would go South along a pedestrianised John William Street and New Street. Obviously the route would be designed to go through the town to the main hospital, the University and if possible the the Council Offices, the Courts and the football/rugby stadium.
Incidentally, if you search for Huddersfield Hospital, you don’t find the NHS hospital, but a private one. All major hospitals should have a name like Ipswich, Reading or Crawley Hospital. It should also be galleria for sports venues to constantly change their names.
Huddersfield might wonder, why it doesn’t get the visitors, it thinks it should. It’s because it isn’t visitor friendly.
If I was a businessman wanting to set up a depot, warehouse or whatever in a large town in the North of England, Huddersfield would put me off because of its non-existent and chaotic transport system, built around everybody having a car with a sat-nav.
From Blackburn To Liverpool
I took these pictures as I went from Blackburn to Liverpool by a rather roundabout route mainly using a Lancashire Day Ranger.
These are my notes on the pictures.
The North Wakes Up Slow
I usually wake up about five and listen to the early news and Wake Up To Money on BBC Radio 5.
One of the reasons, I stay in Premier Inns, is that when I’m in one, I don’t have to change my routine.
I often leave home around seven and get my paper from the shop on the corner, which opens at the same time. Even on Sundays!
But in Blackburn and many places in the North, try getting a paper at that time and nothing’s open.
The Morrisons in Blackburn Town Centre didn’t open until 08:30, which is almost the afternoon for me!
Clitheroe Station
I did take one of the first stations to Clitheroe station, which cost me just £2.70 with my Senior Railcard.
Clitheroe is the sort of station, that has a homely atmosphere and serves as the terminal for the Ribble Valley Line, with a ticket office, four-car platforms and an underpass to get across the tracks.
To Southport via Bolton
I took the train back to Bolton station and I just had time to buy a Lancashire Day Ranger in time to get a train to Southport station.
Southport station has a direct entrance to the town’s Marks and Spencer, so it must have the biggest food hall in any UK station.
I took the opportunity to pick up some sandwiches for an early lunch.
Kirkby Station
Kirkby station is like Ormskirk station, where the Merseyrail third-rail electric trains meet Northern’s services from Manchester or Preston.
It is not the best of designs, but Merseyrail are aiming to move the interchange to a new station at Headbolt Lane, which will hopefully have electric trains to Manchester on the Kirkby Branch Line, via Wigan Wallgate and Atherton stations.
Kirkdale Station
Kirkdale station is architecturally unusual, in that everything is on a step-free bridge across the tracks. Liverpool has another similar one in Wavertree Technology Parkstation, but why haven’t we got a standard station like this for lines in cuttings?
St. Luke’s Church
I always visit St. Luke’s Church, if I have time, when I pass through Liverpool.
It was one of C’s favourite places in the City and to me, it sums up Liverpool’s attitude to the troubles that beset us all!
Sadly, it would appear that La Bussola in old Street is no more, as it’s reincarnation as a Starbucks has been turned into a clothes shop.
The places of 1960s Liverpool are disappearing. At least Phred seemed to still be standing tall on the shell of the former Lewis’s Department Store.
Walking Manchester Metrolink’s Second City Crossing
I took these pictures when I walked the route of Manchester Metrolink‘s Second City Crossing (2CC).
I think it could be more interesting than just a second route across the City Centre for the trams.
This Google Map shows the train and tram lines through Deansgate station and Deansgate-Castlefield tram-stop,
Note.
- St. Peter’s Square tram-stop, which is the Western end of the 2CC, is the next one to the East from Deansgate-Castlefield.
- The rail and tram lines run close together to the West of Deansgate station.
- The rail line runs to Trafford Park, Warrington Central and then on to Liverpool.
This Google Map shows the train and tram lines to the immediate East of Manchester Victoria station.
Note.
- Victoria station is the Eastern end of the 2CC.
- The rail and tram lines run close together to the East of Victoria station.
- The rail lines run to Rochdale, Burnley, Hebden Bridge and Ashton-under-Lyme.
I can’t believe that the 2CC wasn’t designed without thinking about incorporating it as part of a tram-train route across the City.
Consider the Class 399 tram-train being trialled in Sheffield.
- It can work as a standard tram on a tram network, running under tram rules.
- It can work as 62 mph train on an electrified rail line.
- It can run on both 25 KVAC and 1500 VDC overhead electrification.
- On rail lines it can share with any train, like for instance a Class 319 pr Class 185 train.
It would probably need to be a version tailored to Manchester’s tram standards, but once the Manchester to Liverpool Line via Warrington and the Calder Valley Line are electrified, a Class 399 tram-train could work the following route.
- Starting from Liverpool Lime Street it would run as a train until just before Deansgate station.
- It would then switch to the tram lines and take the 2CC to Manchester Victoria station, running as a tram.
- To the East of Victoria station, the tram-train would switch to the Calder Valley Line and run as a tram, perhaps to Burnley or Hebdeb Bridge.
You have to remember that tram-trains are a bit like 4x4s and if there is a route on which they can run, then they can take it given that track, electrification and signalling are in place.
There would be no reason, why once at Burnley say, the tram-train could not go walkabout around the town.
Conclusion
On a quick look, it would appear that the Second City Crossing (2CC) has been built so that tram-trains across the city centre have not been ruled out.
Hazel Grove Station
Hazel Grove station is an important station on the Buxton Line.
Just to the South of the station, there is a large housing development, which probably helps to explain the what looks to be new expansion to the car parking at the station.
This Google Map shows the area around Hazel Grove station.
There are two main railways on the map.
- The Buxton Line runs North-West to South-East, connecting Stockport and Manchester in the North-West to Buxton in the South-East.
- The Buxton Line goes through Hazel Grove station, where some trains stop and under Chester Road.
- The rail line running East-West connects the Hope Valley Line in the East to a freight-only going West.
There is also a single-track bi-directional chord that connects the Hope Valley Line with Stockport.
The East Midlands Trains service between Norwich and Liverpool uses this chord, but doesn’t stop in Hazel Grove station.
Current Services At Hazel Grove Station
Under Services in the Wikipedia entry for Hazel Grove station, this is said.
Today Hazel Grove is served by two trains per hour to/from Manchester Piccadilly – the hourly Manchester Piccadilly to Buxton and the hourly Preston to Hazel Grove DMU services. Only a few of the local DMU services between Manchester and Sheffield go via Hazel Grove – most travel via New Mills Central. Few services from Buxton now continue past Manchester Piccadilly and those that do (currently seven services in total) operate in the early morning and evening business peak periods.
So Hazel Grove has a just two diesel multiple units per hour to Manchester Piccadilly..
The Class 319 Flex Train
If the building, testing and delivery of the Class 319 Flex train goes according to the Porterbrook/Northern plan, then the following will happen before the December 2017 Timetable Change..
- Four Class 319 Flex trains will be in service.
- Four more Class 319 trains will be in progress of being converted to Class 319 Flex trains.
- Class 319 Flex trains will be running between Manchester Piccadilly and Buxton.
- Class 319 Flex trains must be running to Blackpool and Windermere, if the sub-leased Class 185 trains have to go back to TransPennine.
Without any extra electrification, the Class 319 Flex trains will be able to run from Hazel Grove to to Barrow-in-Furness, Blackpool North, Buxton, Manchester Piccadill, Preston, Wigan North Western and Windermere
New Track/Electrification Before December 2017 Timetable Change
These changes and upgrades, should happen before the December 2017 Timetable Change.
- Manchester to Preston via Bolton should be electrified.
- The Blackpool Branch Lines to Blackpool North should be electrified.
- Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge could be electrified.
- According to Network Rail, the Ordsall Chord should be in operation.
They could make a lot of difference to services from Hazel Grove station.
- Class 319 electric trains could run to Blackpool North, Bolton, Liverpool, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria, Preston and Wigan North Western.
- Class 319 Flex bi-mode trains could run to Barrow-in-Furness, Blackburn, Blackpool South, Buxton, Clitheroe, Stalybridge and Windermere
Northern Rail have an awful lot of sensible possibilities for electric or bi-mode services.
Lunch In Buxton
These pictures show my time in Buxton.
The lunch in the Hydro Cafe was excellent.
Onward From Buxton
There are lines that branch off to the left as you reach Buxton. This the closed Ashbourne Line, which still carries stone and other quarried products from Hindley.
I wouldn’t be surprised that some of this route and others in the area, were reopened to passenger traffic.
Down The Buxton Line
On the return from Buxton, I took these pictures.
I sat on the wrong side of the train, as the views are better on the left-side going up and the right-side going down.
Up The Buxton Line
I took these pictures as my train went between Manchester Piccadilly and Buxton.
It was a hard climb for a poor clapped-out Class 150 train.
From Salford Central To Deansgate
I took these pictures as I walked from Salford Central station to the Deansgate-Castlefield tram-stop.
Despite the fact, that it was not raining and is very sunny, it is Manchester! Although probably, some parts are Salford!
It is certainly, an impressive bridge over the Irwell and a reconstructed viaduct to Deansgate.
The Anonymous Widower 