Delayed: Rail works meant to speed up your journey...
DELAYS, cancellations and overcrowding have become an inevitable part of life for rail commuters in the north.
At the same time, fare prices over the last decade have risen at more than twice the rate of wages – with another 2.3 per cent average increase having just hit pockets.
These challenging times have coincided with what was promised by Network Rail to be the ‘biggest investment in Manchester’s railways since the Victorian era’ – a £1bn infrastructure upgrade in the north of England. But five major projects are still delayed – some indefinitely.
Manchester Piccadilly Station Was: December 2018 Now: we don’t know... Delay: TBC – at least two years
The station’s through-platforms, 13 and 14, were to be modernised and two new platforms - 15 and 16 built over Fairfield Street to alleviate congestion. It was aimed at allowing for 14 trains through the station each hour as opposed to 10.
It would also ensure that the Ordsall Chord could fulfil its potential.
Network Rail initially said the Ordsall Chord delay had a knock-on effect on the works programme.
But now there is talk of achieving the same result through ‘digital improvements.’
Without the official green light, there is no new date for this project - and it may not happen at all.
Network Rail says works were carried out to replace old track and improve reliability on platforms 13 and 14. The waiting room was demolished to provide more space in time for the May 18 timetable change. The passenger information system was improved, as was the station waiting area.
But - as has been the situation for the last three years - the application for platforms 15 and 16 ‘remains live’ and is awaiting a decision from the secretary of state.
A spokesman added: “We have also been asked by the DfT to look at other options across Manchester to improve performance and capacity. This is in early stages of development and we will provide feedback to the DfT in March 2019.”
A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesman said: “As the Manchester Piccadilly and Oxford Road Capacity scheme is still the subject of an application for a Transport and Works Act Order by Network Rail, we can’t say anything further by way of an update.”
Oxford Road Station Was: December 2018 Now: we don’t know... Delay: TBC - at least two years
Like Victoria, Oxford Road is a Grade II listed building. Small in scale, but a favourite among architects, it opened in 1960 and at the time was seen as a revolutionary building thanks to its cutting-edge timber structure. It poses a challenge because the options for expansion are limited, but platforms need to be extended.
Plans for a new wall follow the historic vaults of the viaducts, creating a pedestrian link on a new pavement with a well-lit sheltered walkway linking the area to First Street and linking the station with Home. A new shopping arcade would line the way. But it’s too small for the Northern Hub and our future transport needs. The platforms are crowded, the canopies insufficient and its footbridge too small.
Initially, Network Rail blamed the Ordsall Chord delay for having a knock-on effect on the works programme. A spokesman said: “Oxford Road station and the widening of the Castlefield Corridor remains live and is awaiting a decision from the
secretary of state.” A DfT spokesman said: “As the Oxford Road Capacity scheme is still the subject of an application for a Transport and Works Act Order by Network Rail, we can’t say anything further by way of an update.”
Hope Valley Scheme - Manchester-Sheffield track improvements Was: December 2018 Now: we don’t know... Delay: TBC - at least one year
Planned to answer demand for travel between Manchester and Sheffield.
Work is to improve sections of railway close to Dore & Totley station, and between Bamford and Hathersage stations.
A new ‘passing loop’ plus track extension would allow faster trains to overtake slower-moving freight trains.
It would allow for three fast trains per hour instead of two.
Network Rail say the project was deferred as part of the Hendy Review in 2016. The Transport and Works Act Order was approved in August 2018.
A spokesman added: “We are working with DfT to restart the project in March 2019. Once funding is in place, we will devise a new programme for delivery.”
Electrification: Manchester-Preston via Bolton Was: December 2016 Then: December 2017 Then: May 2018 Then: December 2018 Now: January 2018 (hopefully) Delay: More than two years
This delay was known about a year ago, but that didn’t stop it wreaking havoc with the May timetable, which hit Northern and TransPennine passengers with a maelstrom of delays and cancellations over the summer.
Expected to add capacity and speed and allow Northern to run electric trains.
Network Rail said the original delay was caused by ‘lessons learned’ from the delayed TransPennine electrification.
They realised that testing and delivery would take longer than expected.
They then scrapped original partners Balfour Beatty (originally also working on TransPennine) and opted for Carillion - which then went bust.
Problems were exacerbated by poor ground conditions caused by old, unmapped mines.
The delays have hit passengers with months of disruption on one of the region’s busiest routes.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “An electric test train ran along the line this month. A further electric train test is due in January. This will complete the infrastructure work.
“Northern will be able to give information about when electric trains will run.”
Transpennine electrification / Route updgrade - Manchester - Leeds Was: December 2018 Then: 2022 Now: No date Delay: At least four years
This came with the promise of a 15-minute reduction in travel time from Manchester to Leeds plus boosted capacity and speeds on routes between Manchester and Leeds via Huddersfield, as well as improved signalling between Manchester Victoria, Leeds and York.
But the electrification was ‘paused’ in summer 2015.
The M.E.N launched a major campaign after it was ‘paused’ when an original budget of £260m escalated to what experts claim could have been £600m following Network Rail ‘failings.’
Patrick McLoughlin, then Transport Secretary, said a new plan - to be completed by 2017 - would be better than before.
A new completion date of 2022 was given. However, it’s not clear if this still stands.
Rob McIntosh, Network Rail boss, accepts the route is ‘creaking under the strain,’ adding: “The (rightly) well-documented introduction of the May 18 timetable, intended to help the situation, unfortunately only served to make things worse and we are taking steps to put that right.”
But he insisted there was a major plan to ‘change things,’ citing £2.9bn of works to be carried out between York and Manchester. Plans include: - Track in some areas to be doubled from two to four - Increased line speeds - Stations modernised - Electrification ‘where it generates the most benefit’
- The ‘UK’s first inter-city digital railway.’ He said the planned improvements would speed up journeys and boost capacity by trebling seat numbers. Two-thirds of the TransPennine route would be electrified, he said, within a ‘time period that passengers can tolerate.’
A DfT spokesman said the first phase of the £2.9bn upgrade, the ‘biggest investment in our existing railway in the next five years,’ would begin in the spring, adding: “This will future-proof the route, and we are clear that there will be further opportunities for investment in future funding periods.”
He said work was already under way to ‘support’ the upgrade, with improvements at Micklefield and the ongoing upgrade of the Calder Valley route.
They would ‘continue to work with stakeholder’ on how to deliver the rest of the upgrade, he said.
The May 18 timetable unfortunately only served to make things worse Rob McIntosh, boss of Network Rail