Network Track Record Major upgrades for York to Newcastle?
NETWORK Rail is considering plans for a series of major upgrades on the York to Newcastle section of the East Coast Main Line.
The project would prepare the route for the arrival of HS2 and High Speed North (HSN) trains in the 2030s.
Proposals include an ambitious and potentially costly rebuild of the station and junctions at Northallerton, additional platforms at York and Darlington, and studies into the possible reopening of the Leamside line.
Longer west-facing bay platforms are also being considered at Newcastle, as well as new through platforms for Sunderland and Hartlepool on the Durham Coast route.
Northallerton could gain two replacement platforms and a flyover for Teesside-bound trains to reduce conflicting moves and increase capacity. Platforms and flat junctions would be replaced, although the freight lines avoiding the station could be retained to maintain flexibility.
Long-distance
York could gain four additional platforms and Darlington three as NR looks to create additional capacity for HSN and long-distance trains running through from HS2 Phase
2b – planned to connect to the network near Church Fenton, south of York – to the north-east of England and Scotland.
York’s former bay platforms 1 and 2 (removed by BR in the 1980s) could be reinstated as platforms A and 0 for local trains, with additional through platforms 12 and 13 envisaged on the western side of the station.
A third track is also likely to be added between York and Skelton Junction, where the Harrogate line diverges.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps unveiled £8.7million funding on June 29 to develop proposals for three new platforms at Darlington and a further £2.45m to extend platform 2 at Middlesbrough.
The enhancements at Darlington look likely to include the construction of a new bay platform and link line for local trains to/from Teesside and two new through platforms, one of which could become the main southbound platform for longdistance trains.
These would be situated on the eastern side of the station outside the train shed, reducing the number of conflicting moves where local trains have to cross the ECML.
Work is already underway to improve the 25kV AC power supply north of Doncaster, allowing more electric trains to operate over the coming years.
Currently, some TransPennine Express Class 802 bi-mode units have to work in diesel mode north of Newcastle because of power supply issues.
The southern end of the ECML is receiving £1.2billion of investment, both in civil engineering upgrades, such as the new Werrington Junction diveunder north of Peterborough, and the installation of European Train Control System (ETCS) digital signalling and traffic management systems between London King’s Cross and Stoke Tunnel, near Grantham.
‘Digital’
The south end of the ECML is set to become the UK’s first ‘digital’ main line after the Government confirmed a £350m contribution towards replacing life-expired conventional signals with ETCS in-cab signalling (RM July).
The scheme will take advantage of the recent introduction of new ETCS-ready train fleets and the need to replace lineside signals dating from the original GN suburban electrification of the mid-to-late-1970s.
Siemens has been awarded a framework contract valued at up to £900m to design, build and maintain the ETCS equipment and infrastructure.
Operation with in-cab signalling is due to start with a pilot scheme on the Moorgate branch from December 2021 using Siemens-built Class 717s.
November 2023 is currently the planned date for the introduction of ETCS operation on the main line. ■ Planning permission has been granted for alterations that will create two new entrances at
Grade I-listed Newcastle Central and open up original features that have been hidden for decades.
The 170-year-old station will gain a new concourse and western access to Central Parkway and a second entrance at the front of the station, replacing a car-hire retail unit.
Approval has also been given to a redevelopment of the Forth Yards area south-west of the station, which could see the construction of a new multi-storey car park, offices and up to 2,500 homes.