The Most Annoying Thing They Do To Trams
When I first arrive in a city, I tend to take a ride on the local trams to get my bearings.
But it is difficult, to see where you are and what you are doing, if the tram is covered in advertising, like this one in Manchester.
It means that visitors can’t see the city properly. Hopefully, locals know their city!
I remember visiting one city, where every tram was wrapped in advertising.
The city wasn’t very interesting, so perhaps that was the reason.
Daisy Hill Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Daisy Hill station is on the list.
These pictures show the station.
This Google Map shows the station.
Whilst I was at Daisy Hill, I spoke to a couple who used the station regularly, who told me the following.
- The station needed step-free access.
- The station had been recently decorated and that the platforms were being extended.
- The local kids would get in and muck about in the lift.
- There is a lot of new housing to be built locally.
My own observations are.
- The steps are long, but swell-hand-railed.
- The station is in generally good condition.
- The Google Map shows that platforms have been longer in the past.
Surprisingly, the couple hadn’t heard that the station is to be made step-free.
Installing Step-Free Access
From the pictures, that I took, it looks like a single lift could be placed between the street and platform levels.
It would probably be tucked into the angle of the building.
This arrangement is not the most difficult of designs and lifts have been incorporated into stations like this, many times.
Conclusion
This station will be greatly improved by a single lift.
As to the fact, that the couple I spoke to, hadn’t heard of the step-free access, I’ve heard this at other stations on the list.
Network Rail need to sort their publicity.
The Light And The Dark Of It!
I find Manchester Victoria station annoying.
In some parts like the tram station, the light is good, but much of it is dark and dingy.
There are below ground stations with higher light levels than some parts of Victoria station.
I know the weather wasn’t bright on Saturday, but station lighting should be able to cope.
Manchester Victoria To Chester
On Saturday, I went between Manchester Victoria and Chester on the new hourly Northern Connect service between Chester and Leeds.
Note.
- The train was a Class 158 train, with a Class 153 train acting as a capacity enhancer.
- The train was only doing 60 mph on the West Coast Main Line.
- The service was fairly busy.
- The route is electrified between Manchester Victoria and Warrington Bank Quay stations.
On this Saturday morning, it appeared to me that a better train is needed.
In Northern Connect Between Chester And Leeds To Start In May, I did report a rumour that Class 769 trains might be running between Chester and Leeds.
In my view Class 769 trains are ideal for the route between Chester and Leeds.
- They are four-car trains.
- They can do 100 mph, where electrification is available.
- They are 90 mph trains on diesel.
There main problem, is not their age, but since they were proposed, train interiors have moved on. Passengers and train operating companies want more tables and comfortable seats. Even some refurbishments of forty-year-old trains have tables. In What Train Is This?, I described a high class refurbishment of a Class 150 train. Here’s a picture.
The Chester and Leeds route and probably many other routes in the UK need a train with the following characteristics.
- 100 mph using either 25 KVAC overhead or 750 VDC third-rail electrification.
- 100 mph on secondary power like diesel, battery or hydrogen.
- two hundred mile range without refuelling.
- Four or five cars.
- Comfortable interior with tables, wi-fi, power points and everything else passengers want.
Train operating companies would probably like a 125 mph version.
Hitachi already have a train with this specification in the Class 800 train. In Hitachi Plans To Run ScotRail Class 385 EMUs Beyond The Wires, I detail, Hitachi’s plans for Class 385 trains. Could these be stretched to perhaps do 100 miles on batteries.
Bombardier are offering a High Speed Bi-Mode Aventra with batteries and Stadler are introducing the Class 755 train for Greater Anglia.
Conclusion
It looks to me, that Northern need to get themselves some new 100 mph hybrid trains. The diesels they have on order are so Twentieth Century and late!
Chester To Liverpool Via Runcorn
This new service between Chester and Liverpool Lime Street stations via Runcorn station and the Halton Curve, started a couple of weeks ago.
I took these pictures of the journey.
Note.
- The service was busy, as everybody seemed to be going to Liverpool to prepare for the evening’s match.
- The Class 150 train kept up a good speed, which indicates that Network Rail didn’t cut quality on the link.
- Runcorn is about the halfway point of the journey.
- The route is electrified between Runcorn and Liverpool Lime Street stations.
- The Class 150 train was a bit tired.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a hybrid train working this route.
- Transport for Wales have ordered some electro-diesel Class 769 trains.
- Alstom are converting Class 321 trains into hydrogen-powered Class 321 Breeze trains at nearby Widnes.
- Porterbrook are converting Class 350 trains into Battery/FLEX trains.
- Hitachi are talking to ScotRail about Class 385 trains with batteries.
- I’m also sure Bombardier have a battery-electric Aventra.
Operation would be as follows.
- All these trains work be capable of 100 mph using 25 KVAC overhead electrification between Liverpool Lime Street and Runcorn stations.
- Power changeover would be at Runcorn station.
- Between Runcorn to Chester stations is only about fourteen miles.. This will be well within battery range in a few years.
Transport for Wales will be obtaining trains from a crowded market.
More Halton Curve Services
Under Planned Improvements in the Wikipedia entry for Transport for Wales, this is said.
Introduction of a new hourly Liverpool to Llandudno and Shrewsbury service, and a new two-hourly Liverpool to Cardiff Central service from December 2022.
Adding these to the current hourly service, this would mean that two trains per hour (tph) would normally run between Liverpool Lime Street and Chester stations, with three trains in every alternate hour.
I think that, there would be a marketing advantage in running hybrid trains on these routes. Hydrogen would be ideal, as these would not need recharging like battery trains after a long trip.
To go through the single-track Halton Curve appears to take trains about five minutes, so up to eight tph could probably be feasible, which would mean four tph between Liverpool and Chester via Runcorn in both directions.
If Trains for Wales are going to compete with the Merseyrail electric services, they need a four tph frequency in both directions.
Flexible Ticketing
Currently, if you want to buy a ticket between the Chester and Liverpool Lime Street, you have to buy an appropriate ticket for your chosen route.
Surely, tourists and others might like to do the out and back journeys by a different route.
If London Underground and some train companies can share ticketing, then surely Merseyrail and other train companies can do the same.
Conclusion
This new service will be surprisingly well-used and needs an iconic hybrid train.
- Diesel is not appropriate for the long term, although in Northern Connect Between Chester And Leeds To Start In May, I did report a rumour that Class 769 trains might be running between Chester and Leeds.
- Hydrogen is non-polluting and has a longer range, that could make services between Liverpool and Holyhead possible.
- Battery will probably need a charging infrastructure.
My money is on hydrogen power.
Hillside Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Hillside station in Liverpool, is on the list.
These pictures show the station and the current station building, which is on a bridge.
This 3D Google Map shows the station.
Note.
- The station appears to have a large forecourt.
- The stairs to the platforms have thirty-two steps.
- There could be enough space for lifts outside the platforms.
But will a simple solution, be able to cope with major events like the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale?
Perhaps something more radical, but very possible will be done.
One idea, could be to extend the station building at both ends.
- A set of wide safe stairs and a lift could provide direct access from the street to the platform in the extensions.
- Once installed, the original stairs could be removed.
There are certainly possibilities for an architect to develop a solution to cope with the biggest events.
St Michaels Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
St. Michaels station is on the list.
These pictures show the current station.
St Michaels station, like Hunts Cross station, has rather unusual long shallow angle ramps, with steps.
This 3D Google Map shows the station.
Note.
- It is a well-appointed and well-maintained station with a Ticket Office, a toilet and cycle storage and hire.
- Car parking is very limited.
- But the station is designed for pedestrians, cyclists and visitors
- The station has a rather chequered history, being closed in 1972, only to be reopened six years later.
- I think the design of the ramps is a good example of independent Liverpudlian thinking, which often ignores conventional practice.
The ramps were built for International Garden Festival in 1984, the site of which is shown on this second Google Map.
St. Michaels station is in the top-right corner of the map.
The International Garden Festival site has since been updated and 1300 new houses are being built on the site.
Adding step-free access to the station, will surely be a big asset to the area.
Preparation For Class 777 Trains
Note that St. Michaels station has been updated to allow step-free access between the new Class 777 trains and platform.
According to a fellow traveller, it had been done at night with little inconvenience to passengers.
Installing The Lifts
I would suspect, that the two new lifts could be installed in the space currently occupied by the two disused stairways.
Conclusion
This is the type of station that needs step-free access.
- It will make nearby developments more desireable.
- It will facilitate walking with children and for those in wheelchairs.
- It will increase traffic at the station.
I would also suspect the lifts can be added without too much disruption to the travelling public.
I also think there a lesson in the chequered history of St. Michaels station.
Next time a station or even a whole line has to be closed, make sure that it can be reopened, if necessary in the future. To many useful stations like Horden and Maiden Lane have been reduced to rubble. The former is being rebuilt and many believe the latter is needed.
Hunts Cross Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Hunts Cross station is on the list.
These pictures show the station and the current bridge.
Hunts Cross station, like St. Michaels station, has rather unusual long shallow angle ramps, with steps.
This 3D Google Map shows the station.
It may be unusual, but I suspect a conventional lift tower on each platform would make the station fully step-free.
Note.
- The station is Grade II Listed and is described as”A good example of the stations built for the Cheshire Lines Committee.”
- The ramps and bridge look to be in excellent condition and could be reasonably recent. Some repainting was actually in progress.
- For those that are in need of a drink, after climbing the ramps, there is a handy pub called the Waiting Room. It was busy, when I went to the station.
- As well as providing step-free entrance and exit to the station, the lifts would provide step-free interchange for passengers from Manchester needing to transfer to Merseyrail.
- Passengers arriving at the station, who need to go to Manchester, would do as they do now and walk across the platform.
- Do the last two pictures in the gallery show that the bridge was built or has been modified for lifts to be added? The bridge seems to have a lower wall, which could be removed.
- There may be some adjustments needed to the path that Links the station entrance to the bridge.
I’m also pretty certain, that the layout of the station, would allow works to be done, whilst the station is in full operation.
Preparation For Class 777 Trains
Unlike most other stations, that I saw on on the Merseyrail network, work appears to be outstanding to create level access between the new Class 777 trains and platform.
Future Electrification
The bridge would appear to be high enough to clear any future 25 KVAC electrification.
Conclusion
This shouldn’t be the most difficult of projects, unless the Heritage Lobby get upset.
The only problem, I can see would be, it might attract more passengers and create a need for a larger car park.
Saddle Up Says Bank, As It Slashes Staff Parking
The title of this post, is the same as that of an article on Page 12 of today’s Sunday Times.
This is the precis.
HSBC is swapping spaces for bike racks to persuade workers to drive less, and to discover why Britons refuse to pedal.
It’s an interesting position to take.
And I agree with it! Especially, if offices have good public transport connections.
The Anonymous Widower 