Blockades likely in Christmas markets season
ELECTRIFICATION WORK on the Manchester to Preston line via Bolton has slipped further. According to local sources Network Rail has confirmed the transfer of electrification work from collapsed contractor Carillion to Amey has added eight weeks to the programme timetable.
The work was originally due for completion by December 2017, but Network Rail subsequently announced a delay until May 2018.
A further delay was then announced with completion by ‘late summer or early autumn’ planned, but a recent statement by Network Rail said the company is ‘aiming for completion in time for the December 2018 timetable change’.
A source at Northern commented: ‘We need to have a fully risk-assessed signed off programme that delivers to a date, whenever that is, whether it’s December or not’.
With the electrification programme looking ‘very tight’ for completion in time for the December 2018 timetable change, one insider told Modern Railways: ‘To get to December we’re assuming Network Rail will need massively more possession access through the autumn period, which is one of Northern’s biggest revenue-generating periods, with Christmas markets and so on’.
Modern Railways understands the Department for Transport has been kept fully informed of the situation and is aware that the delays are outside the control of both Northern and TransPennine Express. Variations to both franchise agreements will be required as key contractual targets are certain to be missed.
Modern Railways has also learned there is now an emerging issue over the connection of the power supply feeder at Stalybridge with the new electrification at Manchester Victoria via what the industry has dubbed ‘a long extension cable’. Noting there is currently ‘no agreed plan’, the latest proposals are understood to call for ‘huge amounts of access and a fall back to another feeder station’.
Operators remain concerned over whether there will be sufficient power available to run all the planned electric trains when the route finally goes live. Tony Miles
