Another Sensible Large Map
This map was at Southport station and shows the two lines that meet there.
Like several Merseyrail stations, Southport has a combined ticket office and shop.
Several other train operators could do worse than copy some of Merseyrail’s ideas.
I sdhould say that Southport station is particularly well appointed, as it has an entrance into the nearby large Marks and Spencer.
A Sensible Large-Scale Local Train Map
I like this map from Merseyrail’s Northern Line.
The London Underground has something similar, with a schematic with times to get there, but London’s are much smaller than this large-scale version.
But that doesn’t put the minutes in a station circle and this is the only map I’ve seen that does!
Incidentally a Scouse version of Irene’s Law would not be far out, if you allowed three minutes for each stop.
Up The Rat Hole
Look at this YouTube video of the tunnel connecting Liverpool James Street station to Water Street.
Now look at these pictures I took.
It’s a great improvement.
As is the improved tunnel at Bank station in London, that I wrote about in The New Tunnel Under Bank Station.
We need more updates to pedestrian tunnels like these two fine examples.
Liverpool’s Underground Trains
The Class 507 and Class 508 trains on Merseyrail‘s two main lines; the Northern and Wirral are some of the oldest on the UK rail network, as they date from the late 1970s.
But they don’t show their age, unlike the closely-related Class 313 trains running the services out of Moorgate, on the Northern City Line.
These trains will certainly last until they are replaced by the new Stadler trains in a couple of years.
But knowing Liverpool’s love of the past, I wouldn’t be surprised if a way is found for some to live on.
Many Liverpudlians still think that closure of the Liverpool Overhead Railway in 1956, was one of the worst decisions about the City’s transport.
I do wonder, if the Dockers’ Umbrella had made it to the 1960s and the first revival of the Liverpool’s fortunes, it would still be here today, like Hong Kong’s trams, Lisbon’s historic trams, San Francisco’s cable-cars and Wuppertal’s Schwebebahn.
Sorting Out The Kirkby, Ormskirk And Southport Branches Of Merseyrail’s Northern Line
A Lot of changes will and could happen at the Northern end of Merseyrail‘s Northern Line in the next few years.
- New bespoke Stadler trains will be introduced, that will run services from Liverpool to Kirkby, Ormskirk and Southport stations.
- Class 319 and Class 319 Flex trains will start to appear at stations like Kirkby, Ormskirk and Southport, where Merseyrail’s network joins Northern Rail’s lines from Bolton, Manchester, Preston and Wigan.
- A new station at Maghull North will be built.
- Skelmersdale, which is one of the largest towns in the North-West without a rail connection, could be linked to Merseyrail’s network.
- A new Headbolt Lane station could be built to create a proper connection between Merseyrail and Northern’s trains using the Kirkby Branch Line to Wigan Wallgate station and onwards to Bolton, Manchester and Manchester Airport.
- Ormskirk station could be remodelled to allow direct services Liverpool and Preston.
- The Canada Dock Branch could be electrified and be opened to passenger trains.
- The Burscough Curves could be reinstated.
- The Southport to Manchester Line could be electrified.
- Everton could be building a new stadium at Bradley Moore Dock.
In the next series of sections, I will cover some of these changes and issues raised in more detail.
Turn-Up-And-Go Services
Where I live in Dalston in East London, the London Overground run services at what they call a Turn-Up-And-Go service of four trains per hour (tph).
Merseyrail use this frequency on some of their lines, as do Birmingham and Leeds.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see this on some more routes in the North-West, where there is sufficient demand.
Can Stadler’s New Trains And Class 319 Trains Share The Same Tracks and Platforms?
I’m not sure about this, as until we see the new trains and/or their specification making a comparison is difficult.
- Both trains can run on third rail electrified lines, although most of the current Class 319 trains working in the North West have had their third rail equipment removed.
- The Stadler trains must be designed to work with the current Class 507 and Class 508 trains, which they probably must do during the introduction phase.
- So could there be size problems between Stadler’s and the Class 319 trains?
But seeing how Stadler are always a company for the main chance, I wouldn’t put it past their engineers to design a train, that can work the same routes as all variants of the Class 319 trains, as replacing them in a few years time would be a nice little earner.
There is also plenty of words in the media, which state that 25 KVAC overhead capability can be added to the Stadler trains, so they can work lines out of Liverpool Lime Street.
As an aside here, I should mention the Halton Curve, which is to be upgraded to create a new route between Liverpool and Chester.
Under Upgrade in the Wikipedia entry for the Halton Curve, this is said about the building of the curve and its future services.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority approved the work in April 2016, utilising Government’s Local Growth Fund (LGF) funding £10.4 million, adding an additional £5.67 million from the city’s LGF. Work is hoped to start in June 2017 and to be completed in May 2018. This should lead to an hourly service between Liverpool and Chester from December 2018 along the curve with some services extending into North Wales.
With their dual voltage and electro-diesel capability, the Class 319 Flex trains must be an ideal train to work services to Chester and North Wales via the Halton Curve.
So I suspect there could be a lot of compatibility between the current Merseyrail trains, the new Stadler trains and the Class 319 trains, as otherwise it could be tricky to work the Halton Curve to Chester, until the new Stadler trains are delivered.
This leads me to say that there should be no problems with both sets of trains sharing platforms and tracks on the surface branches of the Northern Line to Kirkby, Ormskirk and Southport.
I suspect that the Class 319 trains could also work the Northern Line tunnels, but I suspect that would be a step too far for Merseyraiil and they would prefer their network to be reserved for their new Stadler trains as much as possible.
Canada Dock Branch
The Canada Dock Branch will have a large influence on what happens to the rail services in the North of Liverpool.
There will be a massive increase in capacity of Liverpool Docks after the completion of Liverpool2.
Under Freight Use in the Wikipedia entry for the Canada Dock Branch, this is said.
Due to the construction of Liverpool2 container terminal at the port of Liverpool the line will increase in freight traffic. In May 2016 it was announced that the line’s final section into the dock estate would be upgraded to double track from single track to increase capacity to the port. Combined with improved signalling at Earlestown, the improvements will enable up to 48 trains a day to enter the port. Work on the line is expected to be completed by 2019.
How many trucks is that going to remove from the M62?
Under Passenger Use in the Wikipedia entry for the Canada Dock Branch, this is said.
The line is also being seriously assessed for reopening to passengers with Everton F.C. and Liverpool F.C. stadia both located on the line’s route.
On 16 July 2007 the Liverpool Daily Post reported that Liverpool F.C. may partially fund the reopening of the line to passenger services providing a direct rail link to the proposed Stanley Park Stadium however this project has since been dropped by the club. This was highlighted on the Network Rail North West development plan as a potential project to be undertaken by Network Rail, rather than Liverpool F.C..
The Department for Transport’s Rail electrification document of July 2009, states that the route to Liverpool Docks will be electrified. The Canada Dock Branch Line is the only line into the docks.
Add this to 48 freight trains per day running into the Docks and this must surely result in the Canada Dock Branch being electrified between Liverpool Docks and where the Branch joins the electrified Liverpool and Manchester Lines at Wavertree Technology Park station.
This is also said about passenger services.
The electrification of this branch line would greatly assist in recommissioning passenger trains, as costs would be reduced. The electrification of the Liverpool and Manchester line will reduce travel time from around 45 minutes to 30 minutes between the two cities due to the greater acceleration achieved by electric trains in clearing lines quickly, and the raising of the speed limit along the line from 75 to 90 mph. These advantages will cascade onto the Canada Dock branch line. Class 319 dual-voltage, 3rd rail and overhead wires, EMUs will be fully refurbished and transferred from the Thameslink route to operate between Liverpool, Wigan and Manchester. The dual voltage trains can operate on Merseyrail’s 3rd rail network giving greater scope for route planning.
There is also a serious suggestion to introduce passenger services on this line in the Local Transport Plan for Merseyside. This was again mentioned in Merseytravel’s 30-year plan of 2014.
Putting the comments about electrification, passenger services and 319 trains together with Network Rail’s performance as regarding electrification in the North-West, I now feel that Porterbrook, Northern Rail and Rail North have thrown a very large drum of lubricating oil into the mix in the shape of the Class 319 Flex train.
A passenger service could be run along the Canada Dock Branch, as soon as the following conditions are met.
- Some stations have been built or reopened.
- The route is appropriately signalled, tested and certified.
- A small number of Class 319 Flex trains are available.
Electrification can come later.
This Google Map shows Kirkdale station on the Merseyrail Northern Line.
Note the dark cutting going North-East to South-West across the map. With a more detailed resolution, I can see railway tracks in the bottom.
This is the Canada Dock Branch.
So what do I think will happen and where would I put my money?
- Electrification
- A passenger service.
- A station to serve Liverpool and Everton Football Clubs
- Some other stations
- An interchange at Kirkdale station between the Canada Dock Branch and the Northern Line.
It will be interesting to see what happens to the Canada Dock Branch.
Headbolt Lane Station
Headbolt Lane station is Merseyrail’s solution to connecting the single-track Kirkby Branch of the Northern Line to the double-track Kirkby Branch Line from Wigan Wallgate station in an efficient manner.
I wrote about this station in An Overview Of Headbolt Lane Station
Kirkby Or Headbolt Lane To Manchester
In this section, by Kirkby, I mean Kirkby and/or Headbolt Lane. The former would apply now and the latter, when it is built.
Currently, a train running between Kirkby and Salford Crescent stations takes around 60 minutes, via Atherton.
If I apply Irene’s Law, which admittedly applies to London Underground journeys, but seems to work in a rough manner on intensive urban and suburban lines, I reckon that an electric train can do the following.
- Salford Crescent to Manchester Piccadilly – 6 minutes
- Salford Crescent to Manchester Victoria – 4 minutes
So it leads me to think that a Class 319 Flex train, which is faster than the current Class 156 train, could probably do Kirkby to either of the two Manchester stations in under an hour.
This would mean the following.
- To provide a two tph service to Manchester would require four trains.
- To provide a four tph service to Manchester would require eight trains.
Where the benefits come, is when all the lines are electrified, which means faster speed and quicker stops.
Take the four tph service between Dalston Junction and New Cross. As the service takes 22 minutes, the round trip can be done within an hour, giving drivers time to turn the train and have a comfort break or a coffee.
So this shorter route will only need four trains to porovide a four tph timetable.
Anything that can be done to reduce the journey time, means the required frequency can be attained with a smaller number of trains.
Going back to the Kirkby to Manchester service.
There is a bay Kirkby/Southport-facing platform at Wigan Wallgate station, which is shown in this Google Map.
And here’s a picture of the platform.
According to Wikipedia, the bay platform is for trains for Southport and Kirkby.
Wigan to Kirkby is currently scheduled at 24 minutes, which I suspect is so that a Class 142 Pacer can do a complete trip within the hour.
So this would mean the following.
- 2 tph between Kirkby and Manchester would need 4 trains.
- 2 tph between Kirkby and Wigan Wallgate would need 2 trains.
So two trains have been saved.
But Kirkby to Wigan Wallgate is run at a Turn-Up-And-Go frequency of 4 tph, where the trains have cross-platform access to Liverpool to Kirkby trains with the same frequency.
Southport To Manchester
I wasn’t intending to look at Southport to Manchester now, but as I’ve just looked at Kirkby to Manchester and the two routes both go through Wigan Wallgate station, I’ll do it to follow the Kirkby analysis.
Currently, a train running between Southport and Salford Crescent stations takes just over 60 minutes, via Atherton, with Southport and Wigan Wallgate taking thirty minutes.
So at a quick look, it would appear that
So this would mean the following.
- 2 tph between Southport and Manchester would need 4 trains.
- 2 tph between Southport and Wigan Wallgate would need 2 trains.
If the timings were aligned, every inbound Wigan Wallgate service from both Kirkby and Southport would arrive at Wigan Wallgate, in front of a Manchester service, which could take them to where they wanted to go, if it was beyond Wigan.
So with 12 trains, the following lines could get these services.
- 4 tph Kirkby to Wigan Wallgate
- 4 tph Southport to Wigan Wallgate
- 2 tph Wigan Wallgate to Salford Crescent via Bolton
- 2 tph Wigan Wallgate to Salford Crescent via Atherton
From Salfrord Crescent, passengers will after the Ordsall Chord and the related works have been completed, be able to get easily to Deansgate, Hazel Grove, Manchester Airport, Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria, Salford Central, Stockport and probably a few others too.
Obviously, there are other and better patterns.
But it just shows what can be done, by creating a network of electrified and pseudo electrified lines into Manchester and funnelling them through a series of interchanges.
The Burscough Curves
There were some good thngs done by British Rail in the 1960s and 1970s, but there were some supreme examples of crap design.
This Google Map shows trhe Burscough Curves, which I suspect were originally designed to make operation of trains to the South East of Southport a lot more efficient.
There are two railway lines on the map.
- Burscough Bridge station is on the Southport to Manchester Line, which is a major commuting route.
- Burscough Junction station is on the Ormskirk Branch Line, which is an extension of Merseyrail’s Northern Line, that links it to Preston.
Connecting them are the North and South Burscough Curves.
This description of the Burscough Curves, is a simplified version of that in Wikipedia.
During the rail restructuring of the 1960s and 1970s, the “Burscough Curves”, which formed a link between the Ormskirk-Preston and Southport-Wigan lines were removed, although the formation survives. The North Curve was taken out of use and severed in July 1969, being lifted in 1973: it was last used for a Saturdays only empty train from Blackpool to Southport. The South Curve was singled in 1970, but remained in use to serve the extensive sidings at the MOD depot located just to the north of Burscough Junction station. It saw its last train in 1982.
The passenger service from Ormskirk to Burscough Junction and on to Southport, which used the southern curve, was withdrawn in 1962
Pressure from local transport groups, has not so far persuaded Network Rail to reinstate the curves. Various schemes have been proposed, including the full electrification of the line from Southport via Burscough to Ormskirk using the same third rail system as Merseyrail. This proposal would allow users of the Ormskirk branch of Merseyrail’s Northern Line to reach Southport directly.
Wikipedia also says something of how they might be used in the future.
A new study being conducted by Merseytravel could see demand for a potential reinstatement and electrification of the curves in the near future. The uses of the curves in a new service pattern has been identified by Network Rail, if electrified along with the through lines.
One factor more than any other will decide what happens to the Burscough Curves and the possible opening of a through route from Ormskirk to Preston and that is new housing developments in the area.
It has already contributed to the need to open Maghull North station to relieve pressure on Maghull station
Midge Hall on the Ormskirk Branch Line could be the next to open.
Ormskirk To Southport
This is mentioned in my extract from Wikipedia’s entry for the Burscough Curves.
I suspect that any reinstatement of the Burscough Curves would develop this alternative route from Liverpool to Southport.
Ormskirk To Preston
If you take one of the new Northern Electrics from Liverpool Lime Street to Preston, it’ll take you 58 minutes.
If you go the other way by taking a Merseyrail train from Liverpool Central to Ormskirk and then a train for Preston, it will only take you just seven minutes longer.
The time could and probably will be reduced in the next few years.
- When the new faster Stadler trains are running to Ormskirk, it is likely that 6-7 minutes will be taken off the time.
- Eliminating the change of trainat Ormskirk could reduce the time.
- But new modern trains could go much faster on an improved Ormskirk Branch.
I would estimate that times of forty minutes could be achieved, with perhaps a frequency of two tph.
Higher frequencies like 4 tph, would probably need full restoration of the second track between Ormskirk and Preston.
This fast time would attract passengers and especially those living in the North of Liverpool and on the coast to Southport.
But other factors would also help.
- Fast trains to the North and Scotland will call at Preston and going via the Ormskirk Branch may be more convenient for many.
- Aintree station is five stations South of Ormskirk, so the route may offer a quick way to the races.
- The Open is at Royal Birkdale this year.
I have a feeling that extending the Northern Line from Ormskirk to Preston, with a well-thought out treatment of the Burscough Curves, may produce lots of passengers that the train companies didn’t think existed.
Everton’s New Stadium
Everton may well be building a new stadium at Branley Moore Dock, which is between Sandhills station and the City Centre.
For a new sports ground, that could be the centrepiece of a Commonwealth Gales in 2022 or 2026, it is well-placed and not far from Merseyrail’s Northern Line.
I have discussed this project in Everton’s New Stadium.
Except for possibly changes of services at times, it should not affect operation of services on the Northern Line.
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.
Tarbock Island Or Halewood South Station?
This document on the Merseytravel web site is their plan of what they would like to do in the future and when it talks about new stations on the Lines between Liverpool and Manchester, it always talks about a station at Tarbock Island or Halewood South.
I suspect the main purpose is to create a Parkway station, soi that cars and their passengewrs can come into the City using the rail system rather than their vehicles.
Tarbock Island Station
This Google Map shows the are around Tarbock Island, where the M62 Motorway from the East meets the Liverpool Orbital Motorway; the M57.
The Liverpool to Mainchester Railway is across the top of the map, with stations from West to East aqs follows.
There used to be a fourth station in the area. Huyton Quarry station which was possibly on a loop from the main line.
Looking at the map, it will be a difficult exercise to find space for a station to connect to the centre of Liverpool.
Halewood South Station
This Google Map shows the area around the bottom of the Knowsley Expressway.
There are two East-West rail lines and the A 562 from the Silver Jubilee Bridge over the Mersey.
Bridges Across The Mersey
This area is going to get very busy with road traffic, when the Mersey Gateway opens in late 2017.
But that bridge is going to have a toll, as will the existing crossing.
The issues surrounding the tolls are discussed in this article on the BBC, which was written before the 2015 General Election.
Conclusions
So would a Halewood South station be a good idea?
There are just so many issues.
And which of the two stations will be built?
Merseyrail has an interesting problem!
Stations Between Mossley Hill And Edge Hill In Liverpool
Greenbank Park and Wavertree have been named as possible station on this route.
I can’t find any reference to a new station at Greenbank Park on the Internet.
This document on the Merseytravel web site is their plan of what they would like to do and it has no mention.
Wavertree station did exist until the 1950s.
At University, I visited the area a lot and even lived in a Hall of Residence by Greenbank Park. I also proposed to C, close to the Park.
This Google Map shows the area.
Note the four-track railway passing to the East of the area, which is actually crossed by the iconic Penny Lane.
- Two fast lines take expresses to and from Liverpool Lime Street.
- Two slow lines handle the slower trains.
- Trains generally stop on the fast lines at Mossley Hill and West Allerton stations.
- There are no stations between Mossley Hill and Edge Hill.
It looks to me, that it is not an efficient way to run a railway and Merseyrail’s preferred four trains an hour (tph) frequency would be impossible.
This diagram from Wikipedia, shows the lines in the area.
Note how between Mossley Hill and Edge Hill stations, there used to be Sefton Park and Wavertree stations.
- As Greenbank Park and Wavertree stations have been named as possible stations, it would only be recreating the same philosophy as when the line was built.
- I suspect that no station would be created at Penny Lane, as it would attract too many tourists. But Greenmbank Park would be a short walk.
- Surely, the local trains would run on the slow lines, to avoid delaying the expresses.
- Services on the fast lines would only stop at Edge Hill and Liverpool South Parkway.
- Four tph would certainly be possible with Merseyrail’s new trains between Lime Street and Liverpool South Parkway.
- Services might even be able to access Liverpool Airport running as trams, as I believe they can.
Edge Hill station has never been fully developed for passenger services.
- There are tunnels from the station to stations at Liverpool Riverside and Crown Street.
- Crown Street station might be reopened to serve the flagship development at Paddington Village.
- Proposals exist for a station at Kings Dock linked to Edge Hill via the Wapping Tunnel.
- Trains can access the Canada Dock Branch from the station.
- The station has connections to Manchester, Preston, Warrington and Wigan.
Could Edge Hill be developed as a satellite station for Lime Street, just as Stratford is for Liverpool Street in London?
Laura Kuenssberg On The Southern Rail Dispute
This article on the BBC by Laura Kuenssberg is entitled The politics behind the Southern rail dispute.
It is a must-read for everyone who uses trains to get to and from work or for important journeys.
This is said.
One former senior minister tells me that “successive secretaries of state” in charge at Transport have wanted to “get rid of guards on trains”. The ambition is to bring down the cost of rail travel for the tax payer and the train passenger.
With that considered to be a long term ambition, it’s no surprise that the RMT, the only union that represents guards, wants to fight this every step of the way. Union sources deny it, but it’s suggested that they have dug in in this dispute, because if they lose it, they also lose a big chunk of their industrial muscle.
If there have to be guards on trains, a strike works if they walk out. If services can run with drivers on their own, their power to disrupt would be reduced. It’s worth noting that the RMT has more than 80,000 members, nearly ten times as many as the drivers’ union, ASLEF. It’s ASLEF that has agreed to meet Southern for talks tomorrow.
So like it or not the traditional guard is going the way of the dinosaurs.
Can rail passengers and hard-pressed tax-payers afford to pay for a vanity job, which if abolished would result in no loss of employment, but as Laura points out, a considerable loss of industrial muscle.
It is interesting to look at the future in the shape of Merseyrail’s new trains, that I wrote about in Thoughts On Merseyrail’s New Trains.
- The trains will be designed to fit the platforms for step-free entry and exit for all passengers.
- The trains will be designed for as high a level of passenger safety as possible.
- The trains will have a high degree of automation.
- Automatic Train Operation may be implemented in the Loop Line under Liverpool.
The trains will be designed for Driver Only Operation. This article on the BBC, which is entitled Merseyrail driver-only trains: RMT sets guards decision deadline.
This is said.
A train operator has two weeks to give “cast-iron” assurances that guards will be retained or risk dispute, rail union RMT has said.
I have a feeling that Merseyrail have been cunning here and that as it is three years before the trains run, natural wastage and other factors, will mean that the second men and women on the trains by 2020, will be running under new contracts.
Liverpudlians like a good fight and I have a feeling that in this dispute the RMT and its guards will be severely outnumbered.
RMT Fights Trains That Might Have Saved Girl
This is the headline on an article in today’s Sunday Times.
It is only for balance that you read the whole article, but I predict there could be an almighty row over over Merseyrail’s new Stadler trains, which as the article describes, are designed totally with safety in mind.
But not the RMT!
The Anonymous Widower 