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Norton Bridge WCML deviation works pictures


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The civil engineering for the new Norton Bridge Junction project is well underway so I took a tour round the spots as it's started to look like what it will be.

 

The map from CEEQUAL shows the scope of the works and provides a key for the following photos.

 

CQA%20329%20-%20image%201.JPG

 

Network Rail recently published an aerial image of the Great Bridgeford end of the works where a temporary siding has been installed on the new alignment.

 

New%20sidings%20installed%20at%20Norton%

 

The lineside view is changing and this side-on view shows the gradients and the height of the surrounding land the deviation will cut into.

 

Shallowford_Panorama_sm.jpg

 

Looking south towards Stafford from Searchlight Lane gives a view of the impressive cutting works.

 

Searchlight_Lane_South_2.jpg

 

Looking north from Searchlight Lane isn't as impressive yet but the distant points show where the junction will be for the Down line to Stoke-on-Trent.

 

Searchlight_Lane_North.jpg

 

Looking south from the new overbridge of the B5026 over the deviation towards the junction.

 

B5026_south.jpg

 

The deviation will rejoin the existing WCML at Heamies Bridge.

 

Heamies_Bridge_South.jpg

 

This spot is well known with photters and there's still a good view to the north but I'd think the works will bring pallisade fencing and these views will be history soon.

 

Heamies_Bridge_North.jpg

 

Looking back from Meece Road along the alignment of the Down line for Stoke. The bridge just above the SRS roadsweeper is where the Down Stoke will cross over the existing WCML.

 

Meece_south.jpg

 

Looking north this is the new road bridge for Meece Road and the converging existing line from Norton Bridge to Stoke can be seen coming into the picture from the right.

 

Meece_north.jpg

 

The existing Norton Bridge junction will become much simplified with only the Down Slow and Up lines from Crewe and Stoke.

 

Norton_Bridge_Yard.jpg

 

All images taken from publicly accessible locations.

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  • RMweb Gold

Very interesting thanks Andy.  

 

I was quite surprised by the extent of the works when we came past a couple of weeks ago (although a Pendolino doesn't really give the best of views).  Incidentally the junction in view No.2 is where the new double line will come off the existing Slows - it will consist of a new Down Slow/Down Stone Line and the new Up Stone Line.  The Up Stone Line will join the Up Slow at Little Bridgeford Jcn while, as you say, only the Up Slow (together with the Up & Down Fasts  of course) will continue to run via the existing Norton Jcn with the Down Slow wholly diverted over the new alignment.

 

According to various NR papers (and I fail to see why they need so many, no wonder the company costs a lot to run!) there will be a single line between the existing Norton Bridge Jcn and the connection with the new double track Stone Lines at Yarnfield Jcn.  In view of what it's all likely to be costing I'm a little surprised there seems to be no intention at this stage to realign the Up Slow and Fast Lines through the site of Norton Bridge Jcn and to shift the junction itself to a more easily maintained site off the curve - maybe they ran out of money?

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Interesting set of photos Andy.

 

Made me think of a few questions - all curiosity based.

 

  • Its obvious that this is costing a lot of money, what benefits will it bring? 
  • Are the old lines staying or going? 
  • When is the new section due to open? 

Thanks for answers in advance. 

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I think it'll be complete by the end of next year Kris and there'll be a new timetable in 2017.

 

Network Rail stake the benefits as:

 

More services

Two extra trains per hour (off peak) in each direction between London Euston and the North West.
One additional fast train per hour in each direction between Manchester (Stone) and Birmingham.
One additional freight path per hour in each direction through Stafford via Trent Valley, helping take lorries off congested roads such as the M6.
 
Faster journeys
The improvements between Crewe and Norton Bridge, completed in March 2014, increased the maximum speed on the "slow" lines used by freight and local passenger trains from 75 to 100 mph.
Further linespeed increases between Stafford and Great Bridgeford (just south of Norton Bridge) will follow from August 2015, after the resignalling work around Stafford is completed.

 

Although the work is independent of HS2 it's complementary to it.

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Interesting stuff Andy, many thanks for those fine pictures. The view from the cab as you approach the first bit of earthworks on the Down Slow is very impressive, it looks massive. The current pointwork at Norton Bridge Jcn is very rough with a heavy freight in tow, it's not so bad with a light engine or travelling on a Pendo though.

 

Edited to add this...

 

post-7638-0-81260200-1440615124_thumb.jpg

 

 

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Much of the traffic over the Norton Bridge/Stone route is to or from the Birmingham direction, (most trains from the WCML normally running via Colwich/Stone), and as the Slow Lines become the Birmingham route at Stafford this work will avoid a lot of conflicting movements.

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And further up the line...... This weekend sees Stafford No4 & No5 signal boxes close.

Very sad occasion. I'm sure we are reaching the equivalent stage in signalling history to the early '60's in the steam age when the various classes of larger and more glamorous express steam locos handed their work over to diesel and electrics.

JF

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And further up the line...... This weekend sees Stafford No4 & No5 signal boxes close.

And i drove my last train past them this morning at 00:15

 

Tonight i'm diverted via cannock, colwich and stone to crewe as stafford is under possession while they commision the new signalling

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  • 6 months later...
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What's the current state of work on this and any idea when it will be finished?

 

I see there is another total blockade over the Easter weekend following one over the extended Christmas period.

There are some strange train movements due to the closure.

e.g. XC 1O14 which from Crewe went via Kidsgrove to Rugeley, then reversed to Stafford and then another reversal towards Birmingham!

 

Cheers

 

Keith

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It cannot be far of commissioning, the wires were going up last time I had a chance to look at it about a month or so ago.

 

The biggest bit with respect to the WCML will be putting in the junctions, whether that is what they are up to at Easter I dont know.

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It cannot be far of commissioning, the wires were going up last time I had a chance to look at it about a month or so ago.

 

The biggest bit with respect to the WCML will be putting in the junctions, whether that is what they are up to at Easter I dont know.

 

We've been issued with the 'yellow peril' signalling / track diagram to learn and memorise, the commissioning date on it is the end of this month but whether it will happen on time or not I couldn't say.

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I think it'll be complete by the end of next year Kris and there'll be a new timetable in 2017.

 

Network Rail stake the benefits as:

 

 

Although the work is independent of HS2 it's complementary to it.

As it appears the old down slow is now severed and out of use judging by the latest photos, does the date of end 2016 still stand. Or will we see for instance the new down slow to Crewe in service pretty soon, I.e. In the next few days or weeks.?

Bob

 

PS.....Andy, you are only 10 mins drive away, can't you nip down there and ask someone.?? :)

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First pics the north end of the deviation are now appearing on the web showing the severed northbound slow line and the new line attached for traffic heading towards Crewe.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60574231@N07/sets/72157666218184872/

I would be curious to know if the Flickr photos in that link, were taken from a public place, or having crossed a farmers field or similar. I'm interested as only living 10 miles away I would like to view the workings from similar places.??

Bob

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I would be curious to know if the Flickr photos in that link, were taken from a public place, or having crossed a farmers field or similar. I'm interested as only living 10 miles away I would like to view the workings from similar places.??

Bob

 

The northern junction is easily accessible - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.8742338,-2.2132059,3a,75y,107.76h,72.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sMn0CiNdPs2qf4wSH2L9vmw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

The cutting section is just about here - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.8599247,-2.1936445,3a,60y,197.44h,82.55t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s83-4cJ4QeJZCgvmrWCD6fQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

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As it appears the old down slow is now severed and out of use judging by the latest photos, does the date of end 2016 still stand. Or will we see for instance the new down slow to Crewe in service pretty soon, I.e. In the next few days or weeks.?

Bob

PS.....Andy, you are only 10 mins drive away, can't you nip down there and ask someone.?? :)

With a whole line missing on a good chunk of the line between Stafford and Crewe now I would expect at the very least the new down slow to be in use by the end of the possession or it will get quite congested what with all the intermodal workings that pass along here, there isn't an alternative route at this point.

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