R A I LT R AC K - The Railways Archive

Route characteristics
DESCRIPTION The North Trans-Pennine (NTP) Route forms the primary
corridor across the Pennines encompassing the main conurbations of Liverpool,
Manchester and Leeds, and linking them to Hull, York and Scarborough. The
route also includes the Wolds Coast route from Hull to Scarborough and the
Calder Valley via Bradford to Hebden Bridge. The route is predominantly two
track with 90mph linespeed east of Huddersfield and 85mph between Liverpool
and Manchester.
BOTTLENECK ANALYSIS Capacity on the route is constrained by the
bottlenecks at Leeds, and in the Manchester area between Deansgate and
Piccadilly.
The Leeds node is constrained by the number of available paths through
the four-track layout at the west end of the station and the two-track layout at
the east end. This congestion is further aggravated by the number of platforms
and the 15mph and 10mph speed restrictions at the west and east end,
respectively. Further constraints are the signalling system and the style of traffic
operating through the node, which is entirely different from what it was when
the layout was last modified in the 1960s.
Following detailed analysis and consultations with our customers, we have
committed to major remodelling of Leeds West End Junction, minor
Route vision
The increasing congestion on the adjacent road networks, particularly the M62,
represents a major opportunity for this route. Following our route strategy work,
our intention is to expand the rail market by providing for a high-capacity, fast,
interurban route linking Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and York–Hull.
The cornerstone to the future of the Trans-Pennine Route is the major
work we have started at Leeds. Contracts have already been let and work has
started on this development. The west end approaches to the station will be
completely rebuilt in order to replace the existing constrained four-track layout
with a higher-speed six-track layout. These six tracks will serve the three key
flows into the station from Wakefield and south London (Route 2), Huddersfield
and west Manchester (this Route) and the Airedale–Wharfedale–Harrogate
commuter corridors (Route 36). The track layout at the east end of Leeds
Station will also be remodelled to improve journeys to York, the North East and
the important train maintenance depot at Neville Hill. In total the new layout will
Route development and customer requirements
The stations on the route are in good order following our major renewal
programme. We are improving accessibility at Halifax and Dewsbury by installing
new lifts in partnership with our customer, local authorities and the PTE. We are
investigating the potential of parkway stations on the route, which aim to get
people out of their cars and on to the railway. In particular, we have purchased
land to secure a station site on the M60 to serve people living in south and
east Manchester.
Freight traffic on the route is growing, particularly in chemicals and
intermodal traffic. We intend to develop the capacity across the Pennines to
serve the dual needs of passenger and freight markets. We propose to increase
the gauge of this route to W10, and work is in hand to develop this.
Finally, to develop further capacity, faster journeys and new train services
across the Pennines, we are considering the route via Huddersfield to
Manchester Piccadilly, together with the route via the Calder Valley and Hebden
Bridge to Manchester Victoria (part of Route 33). We are promoting solutions
remodelling at the east end of Leeds Station with three new platforms and
renewal of the signalling equipment in the area. This is a major part of our ‘Leeds
1st’ project, which also includes complete upgrading of passenger facilities
throughout the station. The remodelling of the track will give a 50%-per-hour
increase in capacity through the western approach to the station.
Our analysis and further work proposals for the Manchester area are set
out in Route 1.
MAJOR STATIONS
Leeds Works completed on the station’s north concourse provide additional car
parking and improved retail opportunities. In parallel with the major track
capacity enhancement work, Leeds Station will be substantially rebuilt with new
platforms and a new roof. A priority in the rebuilding is to improve the
accessibility of the platforms for all passengers, including the disabled and those
with luggage or small children. Platforms will be linked by a new overbridge and
lifts. The platforms will be resurfaced, lighting renewed, and customer-information
displays will be replaced with state-of-the-art equipment. Customer facilities will
be developed, including improved interchange facilities between rail and bus,
additional car parking, new lounges and ticketing and information facilities.
allow up to 50% more trains per hour to serve Leeds from the west as opposed
to the current 24 trains. Overall, the ‘Leeds 1st’ project will benefit Leeds and
Yorkshire for many years to come by providing for more, and faster train
services, as well as improving punctuality.
Across the North Trans-Pennine Route we also intend to improve
passenger journey times, first by targeting the link between Liverpool, Manchester
and Leeds. Journey times will be improved in the May timetable by taking
advantage of the reconstruction of Irlam Viaduct (between Manchester and
Warrington) which will be completed this spring. Beyond this, we have a set
target time of 52 minutes on the Leeds–Manchester section of the route. The
‘Leeds 1st’ scheme will contribute towards meeting this objective. In the longer
term, we are aiming to reduce the Leeds–Manchester journey time to around
45 minutes to meet market, Franchising Director and customer requirements.
that aim to provide four fast trains per hour between Leeds and Manchester with
a 45-minute journey time. Our proposed solutions will address timetable service
patterns, infrastructure enhancements and the linking of the Manchester stations,
the development of the infrastructure to allow better integration of services on
the North Trans-Pennine, Calder Valley, Warrington Central and Chat Moss
routes, without compromising traffic growth on any of these individual routes.
We will complete this detailed study, after working closely with our
customers, the Franchising Director and the PTEs, and will report on the results
in the next NMS.
This is part of a major Midlands and Northern England timetable study for
2003 and beyond to ensure all of our customers aspirations can be met and any
necessary infrastructure enhancements identified, agreed and completed before
2003. This incudes the future timetable structure and infrastructure capacity
between Leeds and Hull.
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