R A I LT R AC K - The Railways Archive

Progress on the 1998 NMS
C A PACITY ‘Leeds 1st’ will be complete in 2002. In the past year, we have laid
down new tracks and opened up a brand new platform. This has allowed for the
development of extra train services into Leeds and has improved the punctuality
of services in the Leeds area by streamlining the flow of trains. This work,
together with our regular renewal programme, improvements in maintenance
management and a host of smaller investments, has led to a reduction of around
25% in infrastructure-caused train delays over the last year in the Leeds and
West Yorkshire area.
In addition, signalling equipment and track layout works to improve capacity
in the Manchester Piccadilly area were completed in August and December
1998, respectively. These have the same effect on passengers as the changes at
Leeds, with the potential for much improved punctuality.
In partnership with Merseytravel, we are assessing the feasibility of
remodelling the junction at Hunt’s Cross in order to improve reliability and
allow for more flexible services. We expect the report to be complete by
summer this year.
We have studied how to improve linespeeds at Guide Bridge Junction,
where the Trans-Pennine Route meets suburban southeast Manchester routes.
We consider this to be a medium-term project to be taken forward with our
industry partners. In 1998 we repurchased some former railway land to facilitate
potential improvements at Guide Bridge.
Work is under way at Greenfield (east of Stalybridge) to increase capacity
through renewal of signalling equipment.
LINESPEED The work at the Ship Canal Viaduct at Irlam has merited an
Engineering Excellence award for combining innovative construction techniques
and meeting commercial challenge. As a result of this work, we will be able to
improve train speeds between Manchester and Liverpool. We have developed
proposals for journey-time improvements with our industry partners for the main
sections of the route.
C A PABILITY A study into gauge clearance for the high-gauge freight route is
due to report in September this year.
A new connection to the rail network from the cement works at North
Ferriby near Hull has been opened.
We are working with North Yorkshire County Council, City of York , the
Freight Transport Association and EWS on evaluating existing sidings on the
Scarborough Line for potential freight use.
DEPOTS Work at Neville Hill Depot has included the installation of a new
carriage washer, which is scheduled for completion later this year.
S TATIONS The developments recorded in last year’s NMS at Leeds Station
included the renovation of the art deco north concourse, a new multistorey car
park with improved access into the station, and additional shopping outlets,
which will provide an increased range of services to station users. These
works are all now largely complete, and retail tenants will be taking up the
opportunities in the new units at about the time this NMS is published. The
rebuilding of much of the station, as part of the major ‘Leeds 1st’ project over
the next three years, is about to begin.
In partnership with the local councils, we have been researching new
station sites. At Strensall, we have purchased land in anticipation of the proposed
new station.
Station regeneration projects are complete at many stations on the route
including, Manchester Oxford Road, Mossley, Greenfield, Scarborough and
Bridlington. Reroofing and structural repairs at Manchester Oxford Road have
been successfully completed, restoring this well-known Manchester landmark to
its former glor y. This will be followed by a joint initiative with Greater Manchester
PTE to improve passenger facilities at the station. At many of the smaller stations,
such as those on the Wolds Coast, station regeneration has typically included
such works as platform resurfacing, construction of new waiting shelters,
improvements in lighting, and a lot of work the travelling public is unlikely to see,
such as improving drainage, rebuilding platform retaining walls, and reroofing
buildings. Station regeneration continues at a number of stations on the route,
most notably at Manchester Piccadilly, Hull, Huddersfield, Halifax and Stalybridge.
Huddersfield and Hull stations are magnificent buildings in their own right and
our work is going a long way to restoring them. At Hull, we have been working
with local partners to find opportunities to develop the area around the station
itself – particularly, because the station is located adjacent to the city bus station.
The potential to improve the nature of interchange between bus and rail is great.
PERFORMANCE A range of initiatives from large investment projects to
focused local initiatives have contributed to consistently improved performance
this year. Delays on this route are on target for a reduction of around 30% on
1997/98. This has required the development of a much closer working
relationship with our suppliers and the development of analytical techniques to
manage asset performance and identify areas requiring enhanced maintenance.
The ‘Alliance’ agreement we established with Jarvis Rail has helped deliver these
achievements and will be the basis for our 1999/2000 plans.
Significant structural works have been carried out this year at Mirfield Bridge
(West Yorkshire) and Hessle foreshore (an embankment adjacent to the Humber
Estuary) in order to secure the fabric of the railway for the future and improve
infrastructure reliability.
The first phase of a series of track renewals using some of the latest
technology has resulted in substantial track improvements on the Wolds Coast
between Hull and Beverley. In this case, we have used the innovative stoneblower
machine to improve the foundations to the track (the ballast). These works have
removed some of the temporary speed constraints on the line and have
improved the quality of ride for travellers on the route.
Further work has improved the reliability of the points equipment at
junctions, and improved reliability in autumn and winter weather conditions.
Trespass and vandalism problems have been tackled with a portfolio of
approaches including fencing, increasing the visibility of Railtrack staff, the
Q-Train initiatives and increased lineside patrols (Operation Scarecrow).
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