Great Western Coffee Shop

All across the Great Western territory => The Wider Picture - related rail and other transport issues => Topic started by: JayMac on June 14, 2014, 14:05:03



Title: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: JayMac on June 14, 2014, 14:05:03
From the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27828743?):

Quote
Two new high-speed rail links from the north of England to London have moved a step closer.

The Great North Western Railway Company (GNWR) said Network Rail had agreed to let them run direct trains from Blackpool and Huddersfield.

The firm said it will invest in eight new trains and create 200 jobs if the plans are approved by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) later this year.

If agreed, the first of the routes could be operating by 2017, GNWR said.

Network Rail confirmed it had agreed the sale of access rights to allow the company to use the West Coast Main Line.

GNWR plans to run six return trains a day between London and Blackpool, starting in 2017.

In June last year two Blackpool MPs criticised Network Rail for refusing to allow Virgin Trains to run two trains a day into Blackpool from the capital.

'Very confident' of Euston link

The last direct service from Blackpool to London was withdrawn by Virgin Trains in 2003.

Under the plans, the Huddersfield service would also have six return trains a day, and would run via Manchester Victoria and then continue on to Leeds.

GNWR said it hoped this service would begin operating in 2018.

At the moment the company's agreement with Network Rail only guarantees they can run trains into Queen's Park station in London.

Managing director Ian Yeowart said getting access to Euston station depends on how many platforms are affected by the redevelopment ahead of the HS2 project.

"We are very confident that Euston will be accessible for our services," he added.

GNWR is consulting other parts of the rail industry until July, when the plans will go to the ORR for final approval.


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: eightf48544 on June 14, 2014, 20:55:17
"Under the plans, the Huddersfield service would also have six return trains a day, and would run via Manchester Victoria and then continue on to Leeds."

Being interested in odd routings (shades of PSUL in another post) i wonder how this train will be routed. Subject to confirmation there are only two resonably direct ways  from the WCML to Manchester Vic, via Newton le Willows or Denton the latter would mean reversing in Manchester Vic for Huddersfield. Unless they are waitng for the new curve off the Oxford Road line which will give a link from Picadilly through platforms to Victoria.

PSUL Passenger Services over Unual Lines

Web site http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm (http://www.psul4all.free-online.co.uk/intro.htm)


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: brompton rail on June 14, 2014, 21:24:29
Comments elsewhere have suggested via Earlstown. This route will be electrified shortly whereas the Stockport - Denton - Stalybridge line May not be done for some time.


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: eightf48544 on June 16, 2014, 10:44:06
Brompton Rail that sounds about right as Manchester to Hudderfield is down for electrification but will that be by 2018?

Also noticed no mention of stock Diesel or electric!


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: JayMac on June 16, 2014, 11:08:51
No mention of rolling stock in the BBC article but Alliance Rail's (GNWR) plans are for some 'baby' Pendolini from Alstom.

From Great North Western Railway Company Limited's Track Access Contract (http://www.alliancerail.co.uk/wp-content/themes/alliance/GNWR%20Application/track%20access%20contract/track%20access%20contract.pdf#page=97) with Network Rail:

Quote
5 Specified Equipment

Specified Equipment
5.1 In order to provide the Services specified in this Schedule 5 the Train Operator has:

(a) Firm Rights to operate the following railway vehicles:
Class 390 6 car set

and

(b) Contingent Rights to operate any railway vehicles registered with Network Rail^s rolling stock library, subject to obtaining any necessary route clearance for the route in question.


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: Rhydgaled on June 17, 2014, 23:46:21
Brompton Rail that sounds about right as Manchester to Hudderfield Leeds is down for electrification but will that be by 2018?

Also noticed no mention of stock Diesel or electric!
Correction (I think). Although I believe Hull and Harrogate are both under investigation for pontential electrification, I don't think either has been committed yet. Interesting if GNWR are planning to use 390s to Harrogate and First Hull Trains EMUs to Hull.

I think however that GNER (also Alliance Rail) propose using a mixture of 390s and bi-mode IEPs, so maybe GNWR are also planning a mixed fleet, not just 390s. Are GNER's proposals still under consideration or have they been accepted/rejected?


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: old original on June 18, 2014, 05:29:06
"Managing director Ian Yeowart...."

Same gent who set up Grand Central


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: eightf48544 on June 18, 2014, 09:19:29
Looks like we are still going to be short of stock in 2020.

If electrification programme and the IEPs are a success then where will the stock come from for these services?

Also if Alliance Rail want to use Pendelinos will they equip Earlstown Leeds with tilting balises.


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: onthecushions on June 18, 2014, 10:56:45
If electrification programme and the IEPs are a success then where will the stock come from for these services?


Germany, Japan or perhaps Italy?

OTC


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: eightf48544 on June 18, 2014, 13:16:31
Or surplus 313s!!!!!


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: onthecushions on June 20, 2014, 12:57:22
Or surplus 313s!!!!!

Not sure that I would want to do a three hour trip in one but if we really are short of stock then 1970's sliding door stock should really be life-extended. Looking at the categories there were (approx);
 313: 64  units, 314: 16 units, 315: 61 units, plus (dc) 507: 33 units and 508: 43 units.

Even on non-wired routes, a single voyager car could haul them quite happily.

Better than a pacer.

OTC


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: IndustryInsider on August 07, 2015, 16:15:03
Blackpool services, using 'Baby' Pendolino's now (finally) approved.  I admire Ian Yeowart's persistence!  Still a major sticking point as to whether they'll be able to get to Euston or have to terminate at Queen's Park which is 3.5 miles out of Euston and a kilometre away from Ladbroke Grove.  That's hardly an elegant or particularly useful station to terminate at and I presume it's been chosen because it's the closest station to Euston that has platforms on the relief lines and there's a goods loop the stock could run round in?  Let's hope the access to Euston can be agreed!

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/07/virgin-has-a-rival-gnwr-london-blackpool-west-coast-rail-service (http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/07/virgin-has-a-rival-gnwr-london-blackpool-west-coast-rail-service)


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: SandTEngineer on August 07, 2015, 16:25:05
.....ahem. On the WCML they are the SLOW LINES  ::) ;) :D


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: onthecushions on August 07, 2015, 22:04:08

There's always Kensington Olympia and a bit further on Waterloo Int., if Euston really is closed to newbies.

As it is they'd need dual voltage stock - ex-Eurostars perhaps.

Smart way to see the illuminations, or summer wine country.

OTC


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: eightf48544 on August 08, 2015, 17:26:50
When does Blackpool North get electrified?


Title: Re: Blackpool and Huddersfield rail links into London planned (BBC News 13/06/2014)
Post by: onthecushions on August 08, 2015, 21:20:23
When does Blackpool North get electrified?

February 2017 according to nw-sparks.co.uk

Put back from May 2016.

OTC



This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. Views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net