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Category Archives: Trains
Recap: all going on at the Salford Hub
No, it’s not an April Fool: the new footbridge at Salford Crescent really did come into use on Monday 1st April 2013 Forget the Northern Hub: it’s specifically Salford which appears to be the centre of activity on our railways … Continue reading
Posted in Trains
Tagged accident, construction, diversions, electrification, engineering work, network rail, northern rail, ordsall curve, salford crescent
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High Speed 2 preferred option to Manchester revealed
We’ve been somewhat ambivalent to High Speed 2 here at Manchester Transport blog. Construction on the northern sections to Manchester and Leeds isn’t planned until the latter half of the 2020’s, so it could be 2033 before the project is … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, Trains
10 Comments
West coast rail bid hits legal buffers
In a surprise move, the Government last night pulled the plug on the competition to run the West Coast Main Line franchise from December 2012. As you no doubt read elsewhere, the winning bidders were FirstGroup, who offered to pay … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, Trains
Tagged dft, firstgroup, franchise, virgin trains, west coast main line
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New platforms for Piccadilly and the airport?
So what’s new for Greater Manchester in today’s announcement for railway investment? After all, we’ve already seen the proposals for the Northern Hub and the Ordsall Curve. We have “options” for two new through platforms at Manchester Piccadilly, capacity improvements … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, Trains
Tagged dft, electrification, network rail, northern hub, northern rail, transpennine express
6 Comments
Northern Rail franchise extended to 2014
Good news for Northern Rail franchise-holders Serco and Abellio, who have had their franchise extended by the DfT until 1st April 2014. The holding company, which made a pre-tax profit of £40.1 million last year thanks to the DfT grant … Continue reading
Altrincham upgrade begins with footbridge demolition
The redevelopment of Altrincham Interchange (due to be completed in 2014) is slated to begin next Sunday with the demolition of the disused concrete footbridge linking the Metrolink station with the Stamford Quarter shopping centre. As a result, Stamford New … Continue reading
Posted in Buses, Trains, Trams
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Smartcards readers at Piccadilly?
On my way home last night, I saw that two new smartcard readers had been installed near the ticket office at Manchester Piccadilly, next to the Northern Rail ticket machines on the main concourse. Please present what card where now? … Continue reading
Photo: snow and sparks
Amidst this weekend’s snow, a Northern Rail diesel train heads over Castlefield Viaduct – where work has begun on the Manchester to Liverpool electrification in the shape of gantries that will hold the overhead feed wires. If you’d like to … Continue reading
Manchester Transport blog says “meh” to High Speed 2
It’s time to declare: Manchester Transport blog isn’t particularly enthusiastic about high speed rail. We can see the arguments for, and we think additional capacity on the mainline to the south will be needed at some point in the future, … Continue reading
Happy New Year (Fares Are Rising)
The annual rail fare revisions (read: increases) come into effect today, Tuesday 2nd January 2011, and naturally they’ve had a high profile in the national media. The Association of Train Operating Companies claims the average fare rise will be 5.9%, … Continue reading
Posted in Buses, Trains, Trams
Tagged bsog, dft, fares, firstgroup, fuel duty, metrolink, national rail, tfgm
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Manchester Transport blog 