Todmorden Curve

[JCB]

Originally Posted by Reamer

Here's a link from the LT showing revamped design for Burnley Man Rd station.
Final paragraph states that services to Manchester via Tod curve due to start May 2014

Iconic fin design planned in Burnley Railway Station revamp (From Lancashire Telegraph)

May 2014 ?

Not according to today's LT .

It will be delayed by at least six months .

Why ?

They haven't enough trains !!!

No further comment needed . It speaks for itself .

'Lack of trains' to hold up new £8.8m Todmorden Curve route (From Lancashire Telegraph)

[Gremlin]

I was on Todmorden station recently and there looks to be a new platform being constructed terminating in the station.
The work on the curve is going well and I have vivid memories of hanging around there waiting for a friendly banking engine driver letting me ride to Copy Pit and back with him.
I later lived at Calder Head farm near Copy pit and a lot of the land is now taken over by the compound where all the cabins and equipment will be stored for the renewal of the Holme Tunnel.

The picture below is the Todmorden triangle I knew in the 50s & 60's

[cmonstanley]

Originally Posted by JCB

May 2014 ?

Not according to today's LT .

It will be delayed by at least six months .

Why ?

They haven't enough trains !!!

No further comment needed . It speaks for itself .

'Lack of trains' to hold up new £8.8m Todmorden Curve route (From Lancashire Telegraph)

another reason to re-nationalize . invest in Britain

[keep the faith]

Apparently there have been some problems relating to the unavailability of rolling stock which has caused a further delay in the line re opening. According to The Citizen, following some involvement by local MP's the issue has now been resolved and the new service should start up sometime early in the new year. Fingers crossed!

[Gremlin]

Did the Citizen mention when the Holme tunnel will be reopened?
The last I heard was the realigning and strengthening of the tunnel would take until mid March, the job included new rails and drainage.
I passed Calder Head farm where I once lived, a couple of weeks ago and by the look of all the land they have made into a works unit with big machinery and double high ports cabins it is a big job.
Until that job is finished no trains will run on the curve.
Probably have it timed for everything to finish together.

[Neil]

If you look at this link it says 23rd March 2014. There is an interesting video showing what they are doing to the tunnel

Northern Rail - News - Holme Tunnel engineering work

ANd this link from 2012 mentions the curve and tunnel repairs http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk...fter_May_2014/

[Atarah]

28th March 2014 is the supposed deadline for the re-opening of Holme tunnel

[wadey]

Thanks for the link Neil, I have to say that it will still be a longish journey to Manchester via Tod

[Atarah]

Originally Posted by Atarah

28th March 2014 is the supposed deadline for the re-opening of Holme tunnel

As we speak have heard the "men in orange" are getting on well with the work

ps
Whilst at Hebden Bridge on Sunday just gone, I saw the actress Sarah Lancashire, her recent Tuesday evening's viewing of Last Tango in Halifax has been truly marvellous.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by wadey

Thanks for the link Neil, I have to say that it will still be a longish journey to Manchester via Tod

QUicker and easier than doing Accy to Blackburn. Then Blackburn to Bolton. Then Bolton to Manchester though. Or you can pay more and do Accy to Preston then Preston to Manchester

[keep the faith]

Originally Posted by wadey

Thanks for the link Neil, I have to say that it will still be a longish journey to Manchester via Tod

It also knocks 40 minutes off the Accy/Manchester bus journey.

[Atarah]

Shucks, have missed Michael Portillo’s Great Railway Journey`s - he apparently was at Church and Oswaldtwistle station, Accrington station and the Dunkenhalgh – BBC2 6.30 tonight (Wed)

Shucks, I missed it!




[wadey]

BBC iPlayer - Great British Railway Journeys: Series 5: Preston to Rochdale

[Gremlin]

I had a quick look at the bit of Todmorden curve you can see from the footbridge.

No.1 The left fork goes to Hebden Bridge and the right will eventually go into Todmorden station and onwards to Manchester.

No.3 Looking back towards Burnley, they have installed a switch over to get the trains onto the other line so they can go into Tod station.
I think that once the Home tunnel re-alignment is finished trains will be able to run through from Accrington to York again even though the curve may not be finished.
It looks to me as though the work on the track they use to York is completed, the switch overs are complete and the cables to the points and signals are in place.

[Alan Varrechia]

Just heard on tv that the opening is now delayed till December due to lack of rolling stock.