Direct Rail Service Plan Supported By PM
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
Plans for a new passenger rail service running direct trains between north Wales, the West Midlands and London have received support from the prime minister.
These three paragraphs add detail to the story.
A new open-access rail operator, external, called the Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway (WSMR), has been formed, offering passengers in Wrexham, as well as Gobowen, Shrewsbury, Walsall and Coleshill, a direct link with the capital.
Speaking in the Commons, Shrewsbury’s Labour MP Julia Buckley asked Sir Keir Starmer if he would support the provider’s application.
The prime minister responded, saying he would be “delighted to make sure the MP and other interested MPs meet with the rail minister to put their case forward”.
He didn’t actually say he supported the application, but then lawyers are careful with words, as every syllable costs money.
I have a few thoughts on this service.
The North Wales Metro
The North Wales Metro was announced today and I wrote about it in £2.1bn North Wales Rail Overhaul Plans Unveiled.
The Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway connects the North Wales Metro to Gobowen, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Coleshill and London Euston.
Will The Trains Be Hydrogen Powered
In Alstom And Eversholt Rail Sign An Agreement For The UK’s First Ever Brand-New Hydrogen Train Fleet, I reported how Alstom could be going to build a fleet of hydrogen trains in Derby.
I just wonder, if Alstom are going to create a hydrogen train with this specification.
- Five cars
- 125 mph top speed
- Ability to use electrification, where it exists.
- Sufficient range on hydrogen to cover the non-electrified section of the route between Wrexham General and Wolverhampton.
- Wrexham General and Wolverhampton is just under sixty miles and takes an hour and six minutes.
As the fastest trains between London Euston and Walverhampton take one hour and forty-nine minutes, trains would take just under three hours between London Euston and Wrexham General.
I rode an Alstom hydrogen-powered train in Germany in March 2019 and wrote My First Ride In An Alstom Coradia iLint.
I took this picture at the time.
Alstom certainly have all the technology to build a 125 mph hydrogen-powered train, that can use electrification.
Where Would A Hydrogen Train Be Refuelled?
I suspect, that as the train would probably have a range of around a thousand kilometres, it could fill up overnight at Wrexham.
The hydrogen could be sourced from Runcorn or it might even be generated at the depot.
Would A Hydrogen Train Attract Passengers?
If the hydrogen-powered train were to be mouse-quiet like Wrightbus’s hydrogen buses, I believe it would.
Landsec Buys Liverpool One Shopping Centre For £490m
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Tje Times.
This is the sub-heading.
Commercial property group adds to its portfolio with another bet on ‘destination’ bricks and mortar
I know Liverpool well and I think this is a smart purchase.
The Mersey Tidal Barrage
If all goes well in a few years time, Liverpool One will be just a short walk from one of England’s most spectacular tourist attractions – The Mersey Tidal Barrage, which will allow you to walk or cycle across the Mersey.
The Pierhead, Waterfront And Merseyrail
Note.
- The Mersey Ferry Terminal is to the left,
- The Liver Building is in the centre.
- The Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs between the two, to give access for narrow boats to the Albert Dock.
- There is a Merseyrail station to the right.
The famous waterfront is already a major calling port for cruise ships and is connected to the rest of Merseyside, by one of the world’s best urban railways.
The Improved Rail Service From London
In the new year, Liverpool will get a second hourly rail service from London with new faster Hitachi trains and as Lime Street station is only a couple of stops on Merseyrail or a downhill walk for the average urban walker to Liverpool One, many will go and do their day’s shopping with a meal and some entertainment in the City.
The New Everton Stadium
From next year, that entertainment could be watching football at Everton’s new stadium, which is on the waterfront.
Battery High Speed Trains Across The Pennines
The trains across the Pennines will be improved soon, when new battery-electric high speed Hitachi trains come into service.
Hotels And Golf
The one thing that Liverpool One and the waterfront needs is some world class hotels. The Liverpool area already has a few golf courses good enough for the Open Championship.
The area has marketed itself in the past, as the Golf Coast.
Future Development
Liverpool One, the Pierhead and the Waterfront, can develop massively over the next ten years.
Thoughts On Tram-Trains In Manchester
The State Of Public Transport In the North
Over the last few years plans have been put in place to improv the state of the public transport of the major cities of the North and progress has started to happen, with new trains, trams and light rail systems being planned and in some cases coming into service.
Birmingham, Coventry And The West Midlands
A lot of investment has been made and it is continuing.
- Birmingham New Street station has been rebuilt.
- Coventry and Wolverhampton stations have been remodelled.
- Two new stations were built in Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games.
- A large number of new Class 730 local trains are being brought into service.
- Birmingham stations are being updated for High Speed Two.
- The West Midland Metro has been extended at both ends and a second line is under construction.
Transport in the wider West Midlands has been greatly improved.
Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield And The East Midlands
The major investment in this area is the electrification of the Midland Main Line and the provision of new Hitachi electric Class 810 trains.
In addition the following has been done.
- The Hope Valley line between Manchester and Sheffield has been improved.
- Derby station has been improved.
- The local trains have been refurbished.
- The power supply has been improved.
- An application for an Open Access service to Sheffield has been made.
The improvements in the East Midlands, will not be on the same scale as in the West Midlands, but they will make a difference.
Leeds, Bradford And West Yorkshire
For decades, West Yorkshire and especially Bradford has lagged behind the rest of the North.
But at least things are stirring.
- Plans have been laid to create a through station in Bradford.
- Leeds station has been refurbished.
- An extra platform is being added at Bradford Forster Square station.
- The TransPennine Upgrade is underway to electrify between Huddersfield and York.
- Hitachi have developed a battery-electric high speed train for the TransPennine route.
- Bradford is installing a hydrogen electrolyser, so that the city can have hydrogen buses to cope with the hills.
- Plans are now being developed to create a metro for Leeds and Bradford.
West Yorkshire is closing the gap to the rest of the North.
Liverpool And Merseyside
Again, a lot of investment has been made.
- The approaches to Liverpool Lime Street station have finally been sorted, with more tracks and new signalling.
- Liverpool Lime Street station has been improved and is now one of the finest stations in Europe.
- Trains are now approaching High Speed Two times between Crewe and Liverpool.
- More services between London and Liverpool can now be planned, with the arrival of new Class 807 trains.
- Some new stations have been built and more are planned.
- A large number of new Class 777 local trains are being brought into service.
Transport in the wider Merseyside has been greatly improved.
Newcastle, Tyneside And Northumberland
The area is getting investment, but not as much in proportion as others.
- The Metro trains are being replaced and the Metro itself, is getting a major update.
- The East Coast Main Line has received improvements to power supplies, signalling and some bottlenecks.
- The Northumberland Line to Ashington is being brought back into operation.
It’s a start, but if the Northumberland Line is a success, I can see a call for more line re openings.
Manchester And Greater Manchester
If you look at each of the areas, they generally have one or more large projects.
- Birmingham, Coventry And The West Midlands – Birmingham New Street station, Class 730 Trains, High Speed Two, West Midland Metro
- Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield And The East Midlands – Midland Main Line, Class 810 Trains, Hope Valley Line, Open Access To Sheffield
- Leeds, Bradford And West Yorkshire – Leeds station, Bradford improvements, TransPennine Upgrade, Battery-Ekectric Trains, Leeds Metro
- Liverpool And Merseyside – Liverpool Lime Street Improvements, Class 807 Trains, Class 777 Trains
- Newcastle, Tyneside And Northumberland – Metro upgrade with New Trains, Northumberland Line
So what improvements are in the pipeline for Greater Manchester?
This Wikipedia entry is entitled Proposed Developments Of Manchester Metrolink.
The proposed developments include in the Wikipedia order.
- New Metrolink Stop: Stop to serve new housing development proposed at Elton Reservoir on the Bury Line.
- New Metrolink Stop: Stop to serve new housing development proposed at Sandhills on the Bury Line.
- New Metrolink Stop: Stop to serve new housing development proposed at Cop Road on the Oldham and Rochdale Line.
- Airport Line extension to Terminal 2: A short extension of the Airport Line from the current Manchester Airport station to the site of the expanded Terminal 2.
- Airport Line extension to Davenport Green: An extension of the Airport Line from Roundthorn to the site of the proposed Manchester Airport High Speed station on the HS2 high speed network.
- Oldham–Heywood via Rochdale tram-train pathfinder: A tram-train service utilising the heavy rail Calder Valley line to connect Oldham to Heywood through Rochdale railway station.
- Manchester Airport–Wilmslow via Styal tram-train pathfinder: A tram-train service operating on the southern section of the heavy rail Styal Line between Manchester Airport and Wilmslow in Cheshire.
- South Manchester–Hale via Altrincham tram-train pathfinder: An extension of Metrolink’s Altrincham Line using tram-train to reach Hale on the heavy rail Mid-Cheshire line.
- Improved Metrolink frequency between Piccadilly and Victoria stations: Increasing capacity to provide a direct service from Rochdale and Oldham to Manchester Piccadilly.
- Interventions to improve Metrolink capacity and reliability: Includes improvements to turnback facilities and double-tracking currently single-track sections.
- Further interventions to improve Metrolink capacity and reliability: Includes longer vehicles, a third depot and double-tracking currently single-track sections.
- Manchester–Stalybridge extension: An extension of the East Manchester Line from Ashton-under-Lyne to Stalybridge.
- Manchester–Middleton extension: A proposed spur from the Bury Line connecting to the town of Middleton.
- Oldham–Middleton extension: A spur from Oldham to Middleton.
- MediaCityUK–Salford Crescent: A line connecting the MediaCityUK tram stop to the Salford Crescent railway station interchange. Further new Metrolink.
- Connections between Salford Crescent, Inner Salford and the City Centre: Extension of the MediaCityUK–Salford Crescent line into the regional centre.
- Completion of the Airport Line (Wythenshawe Loop): Completion of the Wythenshawe Loop by connecting the Metrolink lines between the Davenport Green and Manchester Airport Terminal 2 extensions.
- Port Salford/Salford Stadium extension: Extending the Trafford Park Line from the Trafford Centre to a proposed container terminal at Port Salford.
- Glossop tram-train: A tram-train service utilising the Glossop line between Manchester and Glossop in Derbyshire.
- Marple tram-train: A tram-train service utilising the Hope Valley line branches north of Marple towards Manchester.
- Manchester–Wigan via Atherton tram-train: A tram-train service utilising the Atherton section of the Manchester–Southport line between Manchester and Wigan.
- Manchester–Warrington tram-train: A tram-train service utilising the southern route of the Liverpool–Manchester lines between Manchester and Warrington.
- Stockport–Hazel Grove tram-train: A tram-train service between Stockport and the suburb of Hazel Grove.
- Stockport–Manchester Airport tram-train: A tram-train service between Stockport and Manchester Airport.
- Rochdale–Bury via Heywood tram-train: Extension of the Oldham–Heywood tram-train pathfinder from Heywood to Bury.
- Manchester Airport–Mid Cheshire tram-train: A tram-train service from Manchester Airport using a proposed Western Link rail line to the Mid-Cheshire line.
- Stockport–Ashton via Denton and Reddish tram-train: A tram-train service utilising the Stockport–Stalybridge line from Stockport to Ashton.
- Cornbrook–Manchester Airport via Timperley tram-train: A tram-train service from Cornbrook using the Altrincham line to Timperley, the Mid Cheshire line to Baguley, then the Wythenshawe Loop to Manchester Airport.
- Regional centre metro tunnel: Providing capacity for more services on the network.
- Oldham–Greenfield via Grotton extension: A Metrolink spur from Oldham town centre to Greenfield railway station on the Huddersfield line.
- Oldham–Royton extension: A Metrolink spur from the Oldham and Rochdale line to the town of Royton.
Note.
- The number of times that tram-trains are mentioned.
- But with its numerous rail and tram lines, Greater Manchester is ideally suited for conversion to tram-trains.
- There are three pathfinder routes for tram-trains, which will be converted first to prove the technology.
These are my detailed thoughts on tram-trains in Greater Manchester,
All Routes Could Be Run By Identical Tram-Trains
If this can be arranged, it is surely preferable from the operator, staff and passengers point-of-view.
Tram-Trains Can Run On Secondary Routes Like The Calder And Hope Valley Lines
In Manchester, this would enable some routes to be swapped from the rail to the tram network.
It would also allow trams to run between networks, so you could have a direct tram service between say Stockport and Sheffield on the Hope Valley Line.
Tram-Trains Can Be Faster
Tram-trains can be faster, when running on rail lines, so they don’t hold up expresses.
What Do Tram-Trains Look Like?
This is one of Sheffield’s Class 399 tram-trains at Rotherham Parkgate.
Note.
- This tram-train is a member of the Stadler Citylink family.
- this version can be powered by either 750 VDC or 25 KVAC.
- The Welsh version will also have battery-power.
- It is a three-car tram train.
- There is step-free access.
The Wikipedia entry for the Stadler Citylink has lots more details.
Stadler have just launched a new smaller one- or two-car tram-train.
This image from the press release shows the prototype hydrogen-powered one-car RS ZERO.
Note.
- The Regio-Shuttles can run as up to seven car trains.
- These RS ZERO are powered by overhead electrification, battery or hydrogen power.
- They can carry 170 passengers at 75 mph.
- They can run as train-trams using the Chemnitz model on compatible tram networks.
- The interiors are very flexible.
- An RS ZERO can be fitted with toilets for the posher parts of Manchester.
- Typically, a one-car RS ZERO handles a similar passenger load to a one-car Metrolink vehicle.
The more I compare the RS ZERO with the Metrolink’s trams, the more it looks like Stadler’s design has a Metrolink order firmly in its sights.
A Simple Tram-Train Example
The Altrincham Line of the Metrolink, runs between Altrincham and Deansgate-Castlefield in Central Manchester.
- Tram-trains would be capable of sharing the tracks with the current trams.
- Initially, they would run an identical service to the same destinations in the North.
- At either Navigation Road or Altrincham stations, they would switch to the heavy rail track.
- They would then travel to Hale or whatever station is determined to be the terminus.
Tram-trains would be a simple way of extending a tram service along a heavy eail line.
The Range Of The RS ZERO
This article on the Railway Gazette is entitled Prototype RS Zero Hydrogen Or Battery Railcar For Secondary Lines Unveiled At InnoTrans, has this paragraph.
The hydrogen powered RS Zero has a range of more than 700 km in the single car version, and a two-car version would offer more than 1 000 km. Battery trains will offer ranges of 80 to 110 km or 90 to 180 km. The maximum speed is 120 km/h.
As Chester and Manchester is only 45 miles or 72.4 kilometres, ways and means of running the battery versions on the route should be possible.
In fact, as Stockport and Manchester Piccadilly is already electrified at 25 KVAC and a return trip to Manchester Piccadilly from Stockport probably takes about twenty-five minutes, I would envisage that an RS ZERO would leave Stockport for Chester with a full battery. As Stockport and Chester is only 39.2 miles or 63 kilometres, the RS ZERO should do the trip if it started with a full battery and had a short length of electrification at Chester to top up the battery, if needed.
Other Possible Tram-Train Routes From Stockport
It is indicated the Metrolink would like to run other tram-train routes from Stockport.
- Ashton – Not sure of the route
- Buxton – 31.8 km
- Hazel Grove – 5 km – Electrified
- Manchester Piccadilly – 9 km – Electrified
- Manchester Airport – Not sure of the route
- Sheffield – 59 km – Will be electrified at Sheffield
Note.
- This would speed up Sheffield services.
- Buxton would be an interesting route and would probably use Newton’s friend to help on the return.
I suspect that nearly all local services from Manchester through Stockport could be run by battery-electric or hydrogen tram-trains.
The Glossop Line Could Be Converted To Tram-Train
It’s already electrified so why not?
Conclusion
It strikes me, that a lot of Manchester’s suburban rail network could be converted to RS ZERO tram-trains.
The RS ZERO tram-trains could also be used on existing tram routes to convert them to tram-train operation and extend them.
As a bonus Manchester’s trains would be substantially decarbonised.
Eurovision Boost For Record Rail Profits
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
A train operator has posted record profits thanks in part to the Eurovision Song Contest and other major events.
These four paragraphs sum up the story.
Merseyrail, which operates services across Merseyside and into Cheshire and Lancashire, is one of the most intensively used rail networks in the UK.
According to its directors’ strategic report for the year ending in January 2024, some 78,000 journeys were taken on Merseyrail services on average every day.
There were 28 million passenger journeys, which the company said was a post-Covid peak. It added a profit of just under £44m was the largest in its history.
The report said Merseyrail had benefitted from the Eurovision Song Contest being held in Liverpool, as well as the Open golf tournament at Hoylake on the Wirral and a successful Grand National festival at Aintree.
Note.
- Merseyrail’s trains seem to have taken the spectators to the big events all over the city.
- The trains are also virtually brand new and very bicycle and buggy-friendly, so do they introduce new passengers to Merseyrail?
- Spectators from places around the city like Birkenhead, Chester, Crewe, Manchester, Preston, Southport, Warrington and Wigan all have good rail connections to Liverpool Lime Street, which has its own Merseyrail below-ground station.
For big events like Eurovision, the Grand National or The Open, if you have tickets for the event, a train, on the day from Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, London, Nottingham or Sheffield is very feasible.
- In addition, now that Lime Street station and the area around it has been refurbished, it is a cultural area to visit in its own right.
- I believe that Liverpool will grow as a destination to visit.
- A doubling of the Avanti train service to London will add more capacity.
- The TransPennine Express service across the country and to Scotland will be improved.
- Blackpool will be eighty minutes away.
- The Eden Project North at Morecambe will be only an hour away.
- In a few years time, the Mersey Tidal Barrage will be attracting visitors.
- Liverpool has public transport connections to both Liverpool and Manchester airports.
Liverpool will be a place to stay for the weekend and for those, who don’t have a car or prefer not to drive, they will be able to use the extensive rail network to get to other places like.
- Blackpool and Manchester with their trams.
- Liverpool’s local attractions on Merseyrail.
Liverpool will become a very successful short-stay resort city.
Stadler Presents A World First In Berlin
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Stadler.
These are the first two paragraphs.
With the RS ZERO, the rail vehicle manufacturer is presenting the successor to the successful Regio-Shuttle RS1 model. There is a choice of two modern and environmentally friendly drive technologies: Hydrogen and battery. Both will enable CO2 emission-free operation of secondary lines in the future.
Stadler today unveiled the prototype of the new RS ZERO, the innovative successor to the successful RS1 Regio-Shuttle. The Regio-Shuttle has been one of the most popular vehicles in German regional rail transport for 28 years, with around 500 RS1 vehicles currently in operation in Germany and the Czech Republic. Stadler is building on this proven technology and integrating state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly drive systems. The RS ZERO is optionally available with a hydrogen and/or battery drive and thus not only sets new standards for environmentally friendly rail transport, but also presents a world first.
These pictures from Chemnitz Trams And The Chemnitz Model, show the Regio-Shuttle RS1.
Note.
- The Regio-Shuttles can run as up to seven car trains.
- These Regio-Shuttles are electro-diesel.
- The distinctive diagonal windows.
- They can carry 170 passengers at 75 mph.
- They can run as train-trams using the Chemnitz model on compatible tram networks.
The Regio-Shuttle Wikipedia entry gives more details.
This image from the press release shows the prototype RS ZERO.
It looks very similar to my pictures from Chemnitz.
I have a few thoughts.
Comparison To A Class 150 Train
A Class 150 train can carry up to 149 seated passengers at 75 mph, which is similar to the RS ZERO.
As Stadler have built trains for Greater Anglia, Merseyrail and the Glasgow Subway, I believe that Stadler could build an RS ZERO, that would fit the UK loading gauge.
In What Train Is This?, I show the standard of interior, that can be achieved by refurbishing a Class 150 train, but unlike the RS ZERO, the train won’t be zero-carbon.
Does The RS ZERO Have A Toilet?
This is a paragraph from the press release.
The prototype of the RS ZERO presented today in Berlin is a one-car vehicle with hydrogen drive. Stadler is demonstrating the numerous design options with a multi-purpose area equipped for carrying bicycles, pushchairs and bulky luggage, lounge and comfort zones, standard and privacy seats, a wheelchair space, WC and a train office.
The train appears to be able to have what an operator might need.
What Will Be The Range Of An RS ZERO On Hydrogen?
I suspect, Stadler will provide a train, that will handle the route.
Conclusion
This could be a very handy train to decarbonise branch and secondary lines in the UK.
Minding The Gap: ‘It’s A Scandal, It’s A Death Trap’
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
The announcement “mind the gap” is almost as much a part of travelling in London as the Tube sign or a red bus. But when is the gap between the train and the platform too far and too dangerous?
These are the first two paragraphs.
Eric Leach thinks he has the answer to that, and it is 30cm, or 12 inches. He knows this because while lying on the platform in agony having fallen over while getting off a train, he had time to look at the vertical drop between the train and the platform.
In February, at Ealing Broadway station in west London, he stepped off an Elizabeth line train onto the platform. Such was the force from the drop, that he broke a bone in his foot. He collapsed on the platform.
I went to Ealing Broadway station and took these pictures.
The gap is quite large, but not larger than many of the suburban trains in London.
These pictures are from Greater Anglia and Merseyrail.
Note the gap-fillers below the door.
Conclusion
The Elizabeth Line can do better.
A First Trip To Headbolt Lane Station – 13th October 2023
Headbolt Lane station opened a week ago and I went to take a look today, where I took these pictures.
Note.
- It is a three-platform station, with two platforms pointing towards Liverpool and one towards Wigan Wallgate station.
- Changing trains is about a fifty metre walk.
- The toilets are trans-ready. But the toilets at Peterborough station, that I wrote about in A Pair Of Toilets At Peterborough Station were too.
I have a few thoughts.
Could There Be Through Running Between Headbolt Lane and Wigan Wallgate Stations?
This picture shows the walkway between Platform 2 on the South side of the tracks and Platforms 1 and 3 on the North side.
Note.
- Platform 1 is the platform on the left and Platform 2 is on the right.
- Platform 3 is in line with Platform 1 behind the fence at the far end of Platforms 1 and 2.
- The tracks don’t go straight through.
- There are two concrete blocks forming the walkway between platforms.
I suspect the answer is no at the moment.
But I wouldn’t be surprised to find, that the blocks have been designed to be lifted out and there is space to put a footbridge over the tracks, so that if in the future, through running were to be required, it is possible.
How Would A Station To Skelmersdale Be Connected?
In New Express Bus Improves Links Between Skelmersdale And Liverpool, I talked about a new express bus service between Kirkby and Skelmersdale.
This page on Bus Times gives details of the service.
The 319 Trainlink service will surely give useful information on possible passenger numbers.
In Would A Lower Cost Rail Link To Skelmersdale Be Possible?, I looked at options for the rail line.
Wigan’s Comprehensive Local Connections
Wigan North Western and Wigan Wallgate station have services to all these stations.
- Accrington
- Appley Bridge
- Ashton-under-Lyne
- Atherton
- Bescar Lane
- Blackburn
- Blackpool North
- Bolton
- Broad Green
- Bryn
- Burnley Manchester Road
- Burscough Bridge
- Clifton
- Daisy Hill
- Deansgate
- Eccleston Park
- Edge Hill
- Euxton Balshaw Lane
- Farnworth
- Garswood
- Gathurst
- Hag Fold
- Headbolt Lane
- Hindley
- Hoscar
- Huyton
- Ince
- Kearsley
- Leyland
- Littleborough
- Manchester Oxford Road
- Manchester Victoria
- Meols Cop
- Moorside
- Moses Gate
- New Lane
- Orrell
- Parbold
- Pemberton
- Poulton-le-Fylde
- Prescot
- Rainford
- Toby
- Rochdale
- Rose Grove
- Salford Central
- Salford Crescent
- Smithy Bridge
- Southport
- Stalybridge
- St Helens Central
- Swinton
- Todmorden
- Thatto Heath
- Upholland
- Walkden
- Wavertree Technology Park
- Westhoughton
Fifty-eight stations is certainly comprehensively connected.
The Connection To High Speed Two At Wigan North Western
This map from OpenRailwayMap shows the two Wigan stations; North Western and Wallgate.
Note.
- The orange tracks are the West Coast Main Line, which in the future, will carry High Speed Two services to and from Preston, Lancaster, Carlisle and Scotland.
- The yellow tracks are the local lines between Manchester in the East and Kirkby and Southport in the West.
- The local lines split after they pass under the West Coast Main Line, with the North-Western branch going to Southport and the Western branch going to Headbolt Lane, Kirkby and Liverpool.
- Wigan North Western is on the West Coast Main Line.
- Wigan Wallgate is on the local lines.
The stations are close enough to be converted into a superb combined station, where local passengers can join high speed services.
This picture shows the platforms 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.
This graphic shows High Speed Two services after Phase 2b is completed.
Only two High Speed Two services stop at Wigan North Western.
- The London and Lancaster service, which splits and joins with a London and Liverpool service at Crewe.
- The Birmingham and Scotland service.
As Wigan North Western has comprehensive local connections to the Northern areas of Liverpool and Manchester, it surely needs more services.
North West To Benefit From £19.8 billion Transport Investment
This is the title of this government document, which has this sub-heading.
Multibillion-pound plan to link major cities in the North via bus, rail and new and improved roads.
It says this about Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region.
- Greater Manchester will also receive around £1.5 billion from the CRSTS2 budget and around £900 million additional funding – funded from HS2 – which is an unprecedented investment in local transport networks. That is more than double their allocation under the previous programme
- Liverpool City Region will also receive c.£1 billion from the CRSTS2 budget, plus a further £600 million on top – funded from HS2. That is more than double their allocation under the last round
Some of that amount of money could go a long way to improve Liverpool and Manchester connections through Wigan and create a link to High Speed Two.
TransPennine Services Between Liverpool/Manchester And Scotland
Currently, the following services run between Liverpool and Manchester, and Scotland.
- Manchester Airport and Glasgow Central – 1 tp2h – via Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme Lake District, Penrith North Lakes, Carlisle, Lockerbie and Motherwell
- Manchester Airport and Edinburgh Waverley – 1 tp2h – via Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme Lake District and Haymarket Penrith North Lakes, Carlisle and Lockerbie and Haymarket
- Liverpool Lime Street and Glasgow Central – 2 tpd – via St Helens Central, Wigan North Western, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme Lake District, Carlisle, Lockerbie and Motherwell
Note.
- tp2h is trains per two hours.
- tpd is trains per day.
- Only the Liverpool services go through Wigan.
- North of Preston all trains will use the same route.
- All three services are run by Class 397 trains.
- When High Speed Two Classic-Compatible trains start running to Glasgow and Edinburgh, they will use the same route North of Preston.
Point 5 surely means that High Speed Two’s trains will be limited to the same speed as the current Class 397 trains, which is 125 mph. Although, this might be increased to up to 140 mph, by the use of in-cab digital signalling.
Consider.
- Edinburgh to Preston is 191.4 miles.
- The current TransPennine express service from Edinburgh to Preston is scheduled for two hours and 34 minutes, with five stops, at an average speed of 74.6 mph.
- The Wikipedia entry for High Speed Two says that the London-Edinburgh service from Edinburgh to Preston is scheduled for two hours and 30 minutes, with two stops and a split/join at Carlisle, at an average speed of 76.6 mph.
- The Wikipedia entry for High Speed Two says that the Birmingham-Edinburgh service from Edinburgh to Preston is scheduled for two hours and 24 minutes, with four stops, at an average speed of 79.8 mph.
Note.
- The first timing is based on a Class 397 train and the others will be High Speed Two Classic Compatible trains.
- The times would appear to be vaguely in line with each other.
- The removal of the split/join could explain why the Birmingham service is six minutes faster.
The following would appear to be true.
- Both the Class 397 and High Speed Two Classic Compatible trains can run at similar speeds North of Preston.
- The High Speed Two Classic Compatible train may have faster acceleration and deceleration, which could save a few minutes.
- Nothing substantial has been done to improve the tracks between Edinburgh and Preston.
- As the current times are run without digital signalling and the Class 397 train, is within ten minutes of that, I would be very surprised if digital signalling will be installed before High Speed Two services reach Edinburgh.
I also suspect that if digital signalling and a few other improvements were made to the North of Preston, a few extra minutes could be saved.
The Future Of TransPennine Services Between Liverpool/Manchester And Scotland
Will the TransPennine services between Liverpool/Manchester and Scotland continue after High Speed Two services start running to North of the border?
Consider.
- I have never seen any plans from High Speed Two for services between Liverpool/Manchester and Scotland.
- If the TransPennine services, aren’t kept, travelling between Liverpool/Manchester and Scotland will need a change at Wigan North Western or Preston.
- The TransPennine services will probably need only a single train per hour (tph) on the West Coast Main Line to the North of Preston.
I can see them continuing. But possibly in a different form.
In 1967, I went from Glasgow to Manchester on a train.
- The Glasgow and Edinburgh trains joined at Carstairs.
- They then split again at Preston.
- One half went to Manchester and the other half went to Liverpool.
I remember that the train was late, because of late arrival of the Edinburgh train at Carstairs.
I needed to take a taxi. But I wrote my first complaint letter and got a cheque from British Rail.
Could similar joining and splitting be used again, as it uses only one train path between Preston and Scotland?
Would it also be better, if the service were to be under the Management of High Speed Two?
There are several possibilities, but I feel the TransPennine services will continue.
UK’s First Battery-Powered Trains Hit The Tracks
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
The UK’s first battery-powered passenger trains have started running on Merseyside.
These two paragraphs outline the article.
The trains, which are part of the Liverpool City Region’s £500m publicly owned fleet, will run from the new £80m Headbolt Lane station in Kirkby.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said the move helps to pave the way “for cleaner and greener” transport.
I particularly liked this paragraph.
The battery technology – which removes the need for a live third rail – could see the Merseyrail network running to previously inaccessible places, including Manchester, Wrexham, Warrington, Preston and Runcorn, according to a Liverpool City Region Combined Authority spokesperson.
After the trouble, I had on Tuesday, when I tried to get from Manchester to Saint Helens, Manchester is also a city that’s difficult to leave.
Southeastern Keen On Battery EMUs
The title of this post, is the same as that of a small section in the August 2023 Edition of Modern Railways.
This is said.
Southeastern is to seek pre-qualification interest from manufacturers and leasing companies for a replacement fleet for the Networker Class 465 and 466 inner-suburban stock, now over 30 years old. The company intends to compare the price of new and cascaded stock.
Southeastern MD Steve White told Modern Railways his preference is for a bi-mode EMU, capable of working off both the third rail supply and batteries. Battery EMUs were originally proposed for the Networker replacements so they could work through services to the unelectrified Isle of Grain branch, after Medway Council put forward plans to restore passenger services on the Hoo peninsular to serve new housing there.
Despite the extension of services to Sharnal Street on the Isle of Grain having since been put on hold by Medway Council on cost grounds (p13, May issue).
Southeastern is still pursuing battery EMUs, even though the company’s existing network is all electrified on the third rail system.
Merseyrail is already adopting battery EMU technology, with seven of the new fleet of 53×4-car Class 777 units being equipped with batteries to enable them to serve the unelectrified extension to Headbolt Lane (p82, July 2022 issue).
Mr. White says there are a number of reasons battery EMUs are attractive.
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- Increasing levels of mental health issues in society have led to trespass being a major issue the railway: battery EMUs would make it feasible to keep trains moving at slow speed when the current supply has to be switched off to protect a trespasser.
- Battery EMUs would be able to keep moving on occasions when the third rail supply fails, due to technical failures or ice on the conductor rail. This would avoid the compounding of problems, as when delayed passengers got out on the track at Lewisham in March 2018 when the third rail iced up, forcing Network Rail to cut the electricity supply and making it more difficult to get trains moving again.
- Battery EMUs would make it feasible to remove third rail from depots, making them safer places in which to work. A train cleaner was electrocuted and died at West Marina depot in St. Leonards in May 2014, and the Office of Road and Rail has well-publicised concerns on safety grounds about any extensions to the third rail system.
- Battery EMUs would be able to cater for service extensions on unelectrified lines, such as the Isle of Grain.
Mt. White says the trespass issue is the major driver, and if the principle of battery EMUs becomes established it might prove feasible to remove the third rail from platform areas at inner-suburban stations with a persistent trespass problem. He points out this approach might unlock extension of third rail to routes such as the Uckfield line, allowing station areas to be left unelectrified. Replacement of DMUs by electric stock on the Uckfield branch would eliminate diesel working at London Bridge, with air-quality and carbon removal benefits for the capital.
There are a 5-star hotel and a major hospital close to the diesel-worked plstform at London Bridge.
I will now look at some of the issues in detail.
Range Of A Battery EMU
I discuss range of battery EMUs in these posts.
- Stadler FLIRT Akku Battery Train Demonstrates 185km Range
- New Merseyrail Train Runs 135km On Battery
Note.
- Both trains are built by Stadler.
- 135 km. is 84 miles.
- A Bombardier engineer told me eight years ago, that the prototype battery-electric Class 379 train had a range of sixty miles.
I feel it is reasonable to assume that a 100 mph battery-electric train, designed to replace Southeastern’s Networkers could have a range of at least sixty miles.
Distances Of Cannon Street Metro Services
These are distances of services from Cannon Street.
- Erith Loop via Greenwich, Woolwich Arsenal and Bexleyheath – 28.5 miles
- Gravesend – 24.5 miles
- Orpington – 12.6 miles
- Grove Park – 7.1 miles
- Slade Green – 14.5 miles
Note.
- The Erith Loop services start and finish at Cannon Street station.
- The Gravesend service terminates in an electrified bay platform.
- The Orpington service terminates in an electrified bay platform.
- Grove Park and Slade Green are depots.
If trains could be fully charged at Cannon Street station, all services out of the station could be worked by a battery EMU with a range of forty miles.
Charging At Cannon Street
Consider.
- All Cannon Street services arrive at the station via London Bridge station.
- All Cannon Street services leave the station via London Bridge station.
- Trains typically take 4-5 minutes between Cannon Street and London Bridge station.
- Trains typically wait at least 7 minutes in Cannon Street station before leaving.
- Typically, a battery EMU takes fifteen minutes to charge.
A train running from London Bridge to London Bridge would probably take a minimum of fifteen minutes, which should be enough to charge the train.
The track between London Bridge and Cannon Street would need a strong level of protection from trespassers.
I suspect that with some slight timetable adjustments, all Cannon Street services could be run using battery EMUs.
Distances Of Charing Cross Metro Services
These are distances of services from Charing Cross.
- Maidstone East – 38.9 miles
- Dartford – 17.1 miles
- Gravesend – 23.8 miles
- Hayes – 14.3 miles
- Sevenoaks – 22.2 miles
- Grove Park – 8 miles
Note.
- The Gravesend service terminates in an electrified bay platform, which could be used to charge the train before return.
- The Maidstone East service terminates in an electrified platform.
- Grove Park is a depot.
If trains could be fully charged at Charing Cross station, all services out of the station could be worked by a battery EMU with a range of fifty miles.
Charging At Charing Cross
Consider.
- All Charing Cross services arrive at the station via London Bridge station.
- All Charing Cross services leave the station via London Bridge station.
- Trains typically take 10 minutes between Charing Cross and London Bridge station.
- Trains typically wait at least 7 minutes in Charing Cross station before leaving.
- Typically, a battery EMU takes fifteen minutes to charge.
A train running from London Bridge to London Bridge would probably take a minimum of twenty minutes, which should be enough to charge the train.
The track between London Bridge and Charing Cross would need a strong level of protection from trespassers.
I suspect that with some slight timetable adjustments, all Charing Cross services could be run using battery EMUs.
Distances Of Victoria Metro Services
These are distances of services from Victoria.
- Gillingham – 37.2 miles
- Orpington – 14.7 miles
- Dartford – 18.9 miles
Note.
- The Orpington service terminates in an electrified bay platform.
- The Gillingham service terminates in an electrified bay platform.
- The Dartford service terminates in an electrified platform.
If trains could be fully charged at Victoria station, all services out of the station could be worked by a battery EMU with a range of fifty miles.
Charging At Victoria
Consider.
- All Victoria services arrive at the station via Shepherds Lane junction.
- All Victoria services leave the station via Shepherds Lane junction.
- Trains typically take five minutes between Victoria and Shepherds Lane junction.
- Trains typically wait at least 7 minutes in Victoria station before leaving.
- Typically, a battery EMU takes fifteen minutes to charge.
A train running from Shepherds Lane junction to Shepherds Lane junction would probably take a minimum of seventeen minutes, which should be enough to charge the train.
The track between Shepherds Lane junction and Victoria would need a strong level of protection from trespassers.
Conclusion
It certainly appears that if the Networker Class 465 and Class 466 trains were replaced by new trains with the following specification.
- 100 mph operating speed.
- Range of fifty miles on battery power.
- Ability to charge batteries in fifteen minutes.
- Third-rail operation
- It might be an idea to add a pantograph, so the trains could use 25 KVAC overhead wires where necessary and charge batteries on a short length of overhead electrification.
Then a substantial part of the Southeastern Metro network could be made safer, by selective removal of third rail at trespassing hot spots.
Merseyrail Saw Over 90,000 Extra Journeys Made As Eurovision Revellers Travelled Across The Region
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Advent.
These two paragraphs outline the story.
Merseyrail has reported an approximate increase of 24% in journeys made when compared to the same period in 2022 with an extra 90,000 trips made with the rail operator whilst Liverpool hosted Eurovision.
Special strategies were put in place to facilitate the increase in passengers, including late-night services to support the two busiest nights with trains running into the early hours following the Grand Final.
Sounds like Liverpool had a result, even if the UK didn’t.
The Anonymous Widower 