Author Topic: Liverpool news thread  (Read 122441 times)

Offline stevensr123

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #120 on: February 9, 2018, 01:06:51 pm »
What is happening in the city anyway this week? I keep on hearing shouting (like a protest) and cars beeping. But can't seem to find anything on the news. I'm near dale street FYI.
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #121 on: February 9, 2018, 02:09:46 pm »
What is happening in the city anyway this week? I keep on hearing shouting (like a protest) and cars beeping. But can't seem to find anything on the news. I'm near dale street FYI.

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #122 on: February 9, 2018, 05:38:54 pm »
Evertonians want their new ground now (and that Arteta money from Bill)
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #123 on: February 26, 2018, 08:20:50 pm »
A new hairstyle from Blackpool! to rival the famous Ketwig.

'Meet me at McDonald's' haircut but is it just a ketwig in disguise?

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/schools-banning-meet-McNasty's-haircut-14339287

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #124 on: June 28, 2018, 07:29:53 pm »
From November 2017 but a good read in the context of the work at Lime Street.
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More London trains, an expanded Liverpool Central and Anfield link - Mersey rail vision revealed

 This week transport bosses agreed a new Long Term Rail Strategy full of ideas for what the region’s transport network could look like.

It predicts that rail passenger numbers will keep growing and says the region’s rail network will keep growing with it.

That means Liverpool Central will have to be expanded or moved – and so will Lime Street.

New stations would be needed, while an old tunnel could be brought back into use and other lines electrified to allow for speedier services.

As with all developments on the railways, these projects are likely to take years to come to fruition. And they will all depend on money from central and local government, which is increasingly hard to come by.

But there are things in this ambitious list that are achievable even in the short term, while work is already underway on some of the high-profile projects.

In his introduction, metro mayor Steve Rotheram said: “This updated Long Term Rail Strategy takes forward the 2014 version to provide a route map for the rail infrastructure that can support the clustering effect we need to see.

“Increased connectivity, capacity and frequencies, together with reduced journey times and simplified ticketing across Liverpool City Region and the North of England generally, will enable people and freight to move more efficiently, catalysing economic growth.”

Here are some of the highlights in the hefty report approved by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Transport Committee this week:

Prediction of massive growth

 Network Rail is predicting that rail travel demand in Liverpool will grow by 104% over the next 30 years.

“The analysis suggests that by 2045, a further 7,000-8,000 passengers could be boarding trains at the city centre stations during the 5pm-6pm evening peak.

“At a very rough level, without any measures to affect station use, this might mean 3,400 more passengers at Central, 2,600 more passengers at Moorfields , 1,200 more passengers at James Street and over 700 more passengers at Lime Street.”

Liverpool Central needs to be expanded

Liverpool Central is small, very busy and getting busier, as those figures show.

It’s a real pinch point on the rail network. And plans that would create more rail traffic are restricted by the lack of space at Central.

There are, for example, ambitious plans to create a tunnel link between Central and Edge Hill – but it would be impossible for the curent Central station to take those extra passengers.

Steve Rotheram said: “Central Station sits at the heart of our rail network and is already the busiest underground station outside the capital with 15.6million journeys starting or ending there each year.

“It is reaching capacity and yet we can anticipate demand continuing to rise as our population and economy grow. In order to keep the city region moving we therefore need to increase capacity at the heart of the system in central Liverpool.”

What can be done about Central?

The report confirms that Merseytravel is now carrying out a review of the capacity issues at Central.

It’s early days yet, but potential solutions include:

- “Interventions” at Moorfields and James Street – ie looking to see if more passengers can be encouraged to use those stations, expanding capacity there if needed

- Expansion of the current station

- Expansion of the concourse area

- A new station in another location

The first option could happen anyway as Merseytravel aims to spread the load, while the fourth is the most drastic.

Talks are already under way on the second and third options above.

As revealed in the ECHO, developer Augur is planning to develop the Circus shopping and leisure complex on land behind the Lewis's building. above Central Station. And it is talking to Merseytravel and Network Rail about how the Circus plans could fit with any future redevelopment of Central.

Wapping Tunnel brought back to use

Ever since the Merseyrail network was created, people have wanted to link the City and the Northern lines.

Now early studies have been carried out to see whether the Wapping Tunnel, which runs from Edge Hill to the Baltic Triangle , could be brought partially back into use to provide that connection.

 That would, the report says, “allow the operation of high speed Merseyrail Electric services to operate on the City Line network.”

Such work would also allow a new station to be created to serve the Knowledge Quarter and the £1bn Paddington Village development.

Lime Street also needs expanding – or moving

The current Lime Street development work, which saw the station closed for 23 days, will see the number of platforms at Lime Street increase from nine to 10.

But as demand for rail grows, then Lime Street will get congested once again.

Meanwhile, plans are being prepared for a Northern Powrhouse Rail high-speed line from Liverpool to Manchester and Leeds. There would be no room for those services at Lime Street as it is now, and so dramatic change could be needed.

This week’s report says; “Merseytravel will undertake the necessary development work with Network Rail to identify the future requirement for a City Centre station. This could include extending the platforms in the current location or relocating the station.”

More trains to London – with South Parkway connections

A new West Coast main line franchise is expected to be awarded next year – and Merseytravel wants to use the opportunity to get new services to London.

The report says: “In particular, Liverpool City Region will be pressing for an increase in services between Liverpool and London to two trains an hour; a reinstatement of hourly stops at Milton Keynes; and one service an hour to call at Liverpool South Parkway.”

A new station at the airport

 The CA report says that a direct Merseyrail connection to Liverpool John Lennon Airport would “enhance the connectivity of the region to the airport”.

But it says the last serious study of the route was carried out in the mid-1990s and so more research is needed.

The airport aims to grow from welcoming 4.8m passengers a year today to 11m by 2050.

The CA says: “This level of growth will be required in order to pro-actively support a robust business case (for the station).

Passenger services via Anfield on the Bootle Branch

 The Bootle branch line branches off at Wavertree and runs under Edge Lane and through Walton and Anfield to Bootle .

Merseytravel has suggested that the line could also be used for passenger traffic, depending on the expected growth in demand for freight services on the line.

That could pave the way for a station to be built near Liverpool FC ’s Anfield stadium.

That option was floated by Rick Parry in 2008, when Liverpool wsa still planning to move to a new stadium at Stanley Park.

This week’s report says: “An initial study is required to understand fully the freight requirements for the line and what the realistic potential for operating passenger services over the line is.

Better links to Wales and the Midlands

Local authorities in Liverpool and across the Welsh border have long wanted improved rail links – and the completed Halton Curve work will make that possible.

The curve will make it possible to run services from Liverpool and Runcorn through Chester to North Wales.

Merseytravel says it will work with Transport for Wales and the bidders for the new Wales and the Borders franchise, which will be decided next year, to get better services.

Meanwhile the East Midlands train franchise, under which services from the Midlands and Sheffield run into Lime Street, will also soon go out to tender. The report says: “Merseytravel will press for improved links to the Midlands as part of the new franchise.”

We’re poorly connected – so let’s link to Bristol

The report looks at how well connected Liverpool is compared to other UK cities. It looks at 30 large UK destinations and analyses whether or not they are linked to each other by direct services.

Liverpool ranks 21st out of 30, with a “connectivity rating” of 27.6%.

Once TransPennine Express starts its direct Glasgow services and if London trains start stopping at Milton Keynes, things improve a little but not enough.

Of those 20 cities that are better connected than Liverpool, most are smaller than our city. The report says Reading has a third of Liverpool’s population but DOUBLE the connectivity.

But this report shows that if Liverpool could secure direct services to Bristol, Reading, Cardiff and Southampton, then Liverpool would soar up the rankings with a connectivity rating of 55%.

The report says that would make the city more attractive to investors and adds: “When it comes to the visitor economy, the provision of direct rail services literally places a destination ‘on the map’ and is important for continued growth.”

Don’t forget about freight

The Port of Liverpool wants to keep growing – and that means the port will need more freight rail services.

The new Liverpool2 container terminal can now handle large ships that could only dock in southern ports.

Once this ships start arriving, most containers will be shipped from Liverpool by road – and to get them off the roads, more work is needed on the port rail network.

The report says that would need: “An improvement to the rail terminal within the Port, an increase in capacity on the Bootle Branch Line, and paths both north-south and east-west on the national rail network.”

POSSIBLE NEW STATIONS

The authors of the CA report analysed 24 potential new station sites and scored them based on how successful they were likely to be and on how long the projects would take to happen.

Of those stations, seven performed well, with nine performing moderately well and eight – including stations at Anfield, Edge Lane and Tuebrook – listed as performing less well.

Here are some of the most successful station ideas:

St James Station in the Baltic Triangle

Business leaders in the Baltic Triangle have long wanted the old St James Station, which closed a century ago, to reopen.

The Baltic has become a popular destination for visitors, thanks to new businesses such as the Baltic Market at the old Cains Brewery site, and many more apartments are planned in the area.

So Baltic leaders will be happy to see that the CA report says the business case to reopen the station performed well AND that the project is seen as a short term scheme.

Mark Lawler, who runs the Baltic Creative complex of digital businesses, said “The reopening of the station would be a catalyst for further massive investment” in the area.

A detailed report into the station is expected shortly.

New station at Smithdown Road

A new station in Smithdown Road is also listed in the CA report as a short-term station idea that performed well.

The ECHO recently visited the old Sefton Park railway station in Smithdown Road , where the booking office survives as the C&G finishes specialist paint shop.

The station closed in 1960 because of a lack of passengers. But the area, near Penny Lane and Sefton park, remains popular with homeowners and students alike meaning a station would surely attract many passengers.

A new station at Vauxhall

A vauxhall station is listed as a long-term ambition that performed well in Merseytravel’s station analysis.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson is keen to see a station built on the Northern Line to serve the proposed new Everton stadium at Bramley Moore Dock and the Ten Streets creative district planned for north of Leeds Street.

Skelmersdale station

 This is listed as a long-term ambition – but thus extension to Merseyrail’s Kirkby line is inching closer.

Skelmersdale is one of the largest towns in the North without a rail connection and campaigners have been calling for one for years.

In September a £5m funding package for the station was agreed with Lancashire County Council and Merseytravel to fund a detailed study into the line, which could see new stations in Headbolt lane in Kirkby and Skelmersdale .

Another £300m in funding is likely to be needed to make the line a reality.

Some work is already well under way

This strategy is full of long-term ideas, but Merseytravel is keen to point out that many rail improvements are happening right now.

They are:

- Electrification of the Liverpool to Manchester and Liverpool to Preston lines: Completed

- Introduction of Class 319 electric units on the City Line, increasing train capacity: Completed

- Four tracking of line between Roby and Huyton: Completed

- Newton-le-Willows station upgrade: Due to be completed by April 2018

- Halton Curve upgrade: Due to be completed by May 2018

- New station at Maghull North: Due to be completed by May 2018

- Redevelopment of Liverpool Lime Street station: One closure period has just finished and the whole station is set to be upgraded by October 2018

-New rolling stock for Merseyrail: The new trains are set to be introduced by 2021. But the Stadler vehicles have proved controversial as Merseyrail is planning to remove guards’ roles, leading to a dispute with the RMT union that has already caused several strikes.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/more-london-trains-expanded-liverpool-13860131

I've read that conservationist complain that the Wapping Tunnel couldn't handle a reintroduction onto a modern rail network and should be preserved as a historical monument, given it was the first tunnel every dug out under a town or city.  But it is apparently in good condition, despite being partially flooded, and we need to make use of pre existing infrastructure wherever possible imo.

The issues of expanding/moving Lime Street and expanding Central are head scratching.  Once upon a time we had three serviceable mainline stations, and whilst the loop line is certainly efficient, just keeping one of Central or Exchange Street might have made a big difference now. 

Expanding Central as it stands should be comparatively easy, but Lime Street?  I doubt that will be going anywhere given what it's currently costing just to upgrade the station; perhaps there is some point on the Lime Street approach where new tunnels could be delved that might connect with existing tunnels, and so bring trains out at a new mainline terminus?
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Offline Red Beret

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #125 on: June 28, 2018, 07:38:00 pm »
Just connecting in with the article above, only sharing the stuff relevant to Central Station.

Quote
Revealed: Developer's Circus plans for Lewis's and expanded Liverpool Central



Today we can reveal Augur boss Simon Mann’s new plans for Circus will leave space for Network Rail to expand congested Central Station and will even allow space for new platforms if a new line is built from Edge Hill to the city centre.

Merseytravel also has a long-term vision to link Edge Hill with Central via the disused Wapping Tunnel. That would also allow a new underground station to be built near the £1bn Paddington Village regeneration scheme, but would also mean many more passengers coming to the already busy Central Station.

Mr Mann said: “We are trying to ensure that whatever we propose at the back, the whole site assists the future investment in capacity that’s needed at Central Station.”

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/revealed-plans-lewiss-central-liverpool-13645237
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #126 on: June 29, 2018, 02:36:59 am »
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #127 on: July 2, 2018, 12:22:30 am »
From November 2017 but a good read in the context of the work at Lime Street.
I've read that conservationist complain that the Wapping Tunnel couldn't handle a reintroduction onto a modern rail network and should be preserved as a historical monument, given it was the first tunnel every dug out under a town or city.  But it is apparently in good condition, despite being partially flooded, and we need to make use of pre existing infrastructure wherever possible imo.

The issues of expanding/moving Lime Street and expanding Central are head scratching.  Once upon a time we had three serviceable mainline stations, and whilst the loop line is certainly efficient, just keeping one of Central or Exchange Street might have made a big difference now. 

Expanding Central as it stands should be comparatively easy, but Lime Street?  I doubt that will be going anywhere given what it's currently costing just to upgrade the station; perhaps there is some point on the Lime Street approach where new tunnels could be delved that might connect with existing tunnels, and so bring trains out at a new mainline terminus?

Never realised there used to be a station on Smithdown Road, but it seems so obvious to look at the building now.

I'm just off Grant Avenue, so I'd find that very handy - I'm right between Wavertree Tech Park & Mossley Hill (on their seperate lines).  It'd make for a cracking link for students at the universities too.

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #128 on: July 2, 2018, 09:06:52 am »
South Parkway is badly designed, it can barely handle the traffic it gets at the moment with Lime Street shut. Its not so much the tracks, but the walking between platforms. Therr is just one small set of stairs available to get on/off the platform, and it gets dangerously full whenever a train gets in. It needs large amounts of staff to direct people through the station. If they want more services there, they need to do a major redevelopment.


I do wonder if inatead of expanding Lime Street further, Edge Hill or Wavertree could have been expanded. There's more land available around there, ans it would easy to run a very frequent connecting train to Lime Street.
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #129 on: July 3, 2018, 11:06:17 am »
South Parkway is badly designed, it can barely handle the traffic it gets at the moment with Lime Street shut. Its not so much the tracks, but the walking between platforms. Therr is just one small set of stairs available to get on/off the platform, and it gets dangerously full whenever a train gets in. It needs large amounts of staff to direct people through the station. If they want more services there, they need to do a major redevelopment.


I do wonder if inatead of expanding Lime Street further, Edge Hill or Wavertree could have been expanded. There's more land available around there, ans it would easy to run a very frequent connecting train to Lime Street.

Liverpool South Parkway was 30 years late and built in the wrong place.  It's landlocked and it's virtually impossible to extend the platforms given its location.

There's talk of extending the Northern Line from Kirkby to Skelmersdale; based on what I've read that would involve building a new station at Headbolt Lane, and also a station at Skelmersdale itself.  But it's said it will take 10 years and cost £300m.  :o

£300m?  For three miles of sodding track and two new stations??  Puts any potential redevelopment plans for Liverpool South Parkway into perspective!
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #130 on: July 3, 2018, 12:10:04 pm »
A lot of the infrastructure is still available in Birkenhead to take some services from the South.  That would certainly alleviate a lot of the pressure on Lime Street and probably help to rejuvenate the ferries given the proximity to Woodside if they used the old Woodside terminus area.  A station there with a hotel looking out to the Liverpool waterfront with ferry services a minute's-walk away.  Plus you tie in the idea of a Liverpool City Region but leaving Birkenhead with its own identity too.  I just always feel that something like that is just a win-win for both sides of the water.
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Offline Red Beret

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #131 on: July 4, 2018, 01:28:36 am »
A lot of the infrastructure is still available in Birkenhead to take some services from the South.  That would certainly alleviate a lot of the pressure on Lime Street and probably help to rejuvenate the ferries given the proximity to Woodside if they used the old Woodside terminus area.  A station there with a hotel looking out to the Liverpool waterfront with ferry services a minute's-walk away.  Plus you tie in the idea of a Liverpool City Region but leaving Birkenhead with its own identity too.  I just always feel that something like that is just a win-win for both sides of the water.

You're not going to rejuvenate the ferries.  They're down to two very old boats that cost a fortune to run, with a third in mothballs and replacements running at £6m a pop.  New boats are in the pipeline but other than being custom built to hold functions and parties don't expect anything radically different from what we already heave.

That leaves the rail tunnel and the bus as the only viable links between Birkenhead and Liverpool if you built a mainline station on the Wirral.

The loop line is capable of handling far many more trains than it does; Hamilton Square was remodelled specifically with that in mind.  However it seems the bulk of passenger numbers are relying on the Northern Line for their commute.
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #132 on: July 4, 2018, 09:42:37 am »
Liverpool South Parkway was 30 years late and built in the wrong place.  It's landlocked and it's virtually impossible to extend the platforms given its location.

There's talk of extending the Northern Line from Kirkby to Skelmersdale; based on what I've read that would involve building a new station at Headbolt Lane, and also a station at Skelmersdale itself.  But it's said it will take 10 years and cost £300m.  :o

£300m?  For three miles of sodding track and two new stations??  Puts any potential redevelopment plans for Liverpool South Parkway into perspective!

I used to work for arriva trains in the facilities department. Laying track is a mammoth job, and very expensive. I remember in 2016 one of our depots in Crewe wanted an extra siding to assist with shunting four wagons (approx 180metres) of new track. The cost was in excess of 180k.
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #133 on: July 4, 2018, 10:00:38 am »
I used to work for arriva trains in the facilities department. Laying track is a mammoth job, and very expensive. I remember in 2016 one of our depots in Crewe wanted an extra siding to assist with shunting four wagons (approx 180metres) of new track. The cost was in excess of 180k.

Well that works out roughly at £1,000 per metre.  Three miles is 4,500 meters.  So the math says £4.5m for three miles of track.  Call it £5m.  Is the other £295m just for the stations, signalling, electrification and such?  Still seems an awful lot of money, especially when we have so much pre existing infrastructure that can be updated and brought back into use.

Why is everything in this country so sodding expensive to do?  The last Labour government pulled the plug on Merseytram when costs rose to £170m! 

And I'll bet the 10 year time frame has nothing to do with construction logistics - it's purely because there isn't the money to get it all done in one go so they have to spread it out into phases. 
« Last Edit: July 4, 2018, 10:02:26 am by Red Berry »
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #134 on: July 4, 2018, 10:03:21 am »


I don't doubt that sort of figure for such a short stretch of track, but....if what RB says here is correct...

... based on what I've read that would involve building a new station at Headbolt Lane, and also a station at Skelmersdale itself.  But it's said it will take 10 years and cost £300m.

£300m?  For three miles of sodding track and two new stations?? 

It does make you wonder when the complete Borders Railway reinstatement was

...Network Rail agreed to build the line by mid-2015 for £294 million,

The line comprises 40 miles (65 km) of single-line track over a distance of 31 miles (50 km), plus 42 new bridges, 95 refurbished bridges and two refurbished tunnels, and required 1.5 million tonnes of earth to be moved.[50][51][52] Stations are provided at Stow, Galashiels, Tweedbank, Newtongrange, Shawfair, Eskbank and Gorebridge.[39]
....
Amongst the line's 27 substantial structures, the greatest engineering challenge was posed by the point where the track met the Edinburgh City Bypass. At that point, a tunnel had to be constructed under the A720 road while it had been temporarily diverted; in total, the project incorporated five new associated road schemes.[50][55] Major challenges were also posed by abandoned mine shafts to the north of the route, some of which dated to the 16th century and had not been mapped.[50] More than 200 bridges were involved in the scheme, as the route crosses the Gala Water and River Tweed nineteen times.[45][55] One of the most vital bridges on the line carries the track over Hardengreen roundabout on the A7, and required extensive works throughout 2013.[56] Other works included digging out an infilled cutting on the outskirts of Galashiels and reconstructing a nearby bridge to allow the line to pass under power lines.


Now that's 7 stations built and 40 miles of track and all for £294 million.
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Offline Roady

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #135 on: July 4, 2018, 10:45:30 am »
Well that works out roughly at £1,000 per metre.  Three miles is 4,500 meters.  So the math says £4.5m for three miles of track.  Call it £5m.  Is the other £295m just for the stations, signalling, electrification and such?  Still seems an awful lot of money, especially when we have so much pre existing infrastructure that can be updated and brought back into use.

Why is everything in this country so sodding expensive to do?  The last Labour government pulled the plug on Merseytram when costs rose to £170m! 

And I'll bet the 10 year time frame has nothing to do with construction logistics - it's purely because there isn't the money to get it all done in one go so they have to spread it out into phases. 

That’s just for a siding with a speed limit of five mph. I can’t imagine the costs involved for mainline. Plus the amount of work they’d have to undertake with ground conditions etc. I wouldn’t believe a word network rail say. Add to that the absolutely crazy money their staff are on.
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #136 on: July 4, 2018, 11:24:09 am »
I don't doubt that sort of figure for such a short stretch of track, but....if what RB says here is correct...

It does make you wonder when the complete Borders Railway reinstatement was

...Network Rail agreed to build the line by mid-2015 for £294 million,

The line comprises 40 miles (65 km) of single-line track over a distance of 31 miles (50 km), plus 42 new bridges, 95 refurbished bridges and two refurbished tunnels, and required 1.5 million tonnes of earth to be moved.[50][51][52] Stations are provided at Stow, Galashiels, Tweedbank, Newtongrange, Shawfair, Eskbank and Gorebridge.[39]
....
Amongst the line's 27 substantial structures, the greatest engineering challenge was posed by the point where the track met the Edinburgh City Bypass. At that point, a tunnel had to be constructed under the A720 road while it had been temporarily diverted; in total, the project incorporated five new associated road schemes.[50][55] Major challenges were also posed by abandoned mine shafts to the north of the route, some of which dated to the 16th century and had not been mapped.[50] More than 200 bridges were involved in the scheme, as the route crosses the Gala Water and River Tweed nineteen times.[45][55] One of the most vital bridges on the line carries the track over Hardengreen roundabout on the A7, and required extensive works throughout 2013.[56] Other works included digging out an infilled cutting on the outskirts of Galashiels and reconstructing a nearby bridge to allow the line to pass under power lines.


Now that's 7 stations built and 40 miles of track and all for £294 million.

See that would make a lot more sense.  This is what I found on wikipedia, just reviewing Kirkby Station:

As part of the second Merseyside Local Transport Plan (covering expansion of public transport in the region from 2006 to 2011), plans were drawn up for the possible future expansion of the electrified line beyond the existing station. Since the existing track at Kirkby station makes interchange difficult, part of the expansion involves the construction of a new station in the Northwood area of the town.

This new facility, at Headbolt Lane - previously planned in the early 1970s but never built - would provide "turn-back" platforms for both diesel and electric services (likely in an island platform configuration). Exploratory technical assessments have already been carried out and Merseytravel have aspirations to construct the station as part of the Liverpool City Region Long Term Rail Strategy published in 2014.[6]

As of 2017, Merseytravel and Lancashire County Council have committed £5 million to a study into the opening of a station at Headbolt Lane and also in Skelmersdale. The plan would cost an estimated £300 million and would take a decade to deliver.[7]


The study alone is costing £5m.  :o

That’s just for a siding with a speed limit of five mph. I can’t imagine the costs involved for mainline. Plus the amount of work they’d have to undertake with ground conditions etc. I wouldn’t believe a word network rail say. Add to that the absolutely crazy money their staff are on.

Well if you take the Lime Street upgrade as a benchmark, that's costing £340m.  That's to upgrade 10 platforms, making them longer and straighter, replacing a WW2 era signalling system, new track, foundations, drainage, improved electrics and overhauling the line electrification. 

Plus - and I'm only guessing here - roughly 8 platforms' worth of track, probably extending anything up to a mile beyond the station approach (Platforms 1, 2 and 7 already have new track, as do the new platforms 8 and 9, although the old platform 9 - presumably will now be platform 10 - is probably having its track upgraded.)

And bear in mind, technically speaking Merseyrail isn't mainline.  It shares very little of its track with the rest of the national rail network.  Merseyrail is about as close as a privately run railway gets to being nationalised: track maintenance is in-house, and not handled by Network Rail; and the new trains will be owned by Merseyrail and leased to the operator.  Extending the line to a town that doesn't even have a railway station shouldn't really be an issue unless it's a complete scratch build.
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #137 on: July 4, 2018, 01:49:56 pm »
A lot of money probably goes into preparing the ground to take the track in the first place, but £300m sounds excessive. Its just a quick PR piece though and not a proper costing, so I'd just ignore that.
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Huge fire North Liverpool
« Reply #138 on: July 17, 2018, 01:29:29 pm »
At work in Huyton but can see a huge cloud of black smoke over past Anfield, maybe towards Everton/Kirkdale? I live in Anfield but just wondered if anyone knows what it is? A colleague said there was a warehouse fire in Kirkdale last night but it's not long started.

Have tried local tweets etc but no mention...

Thanks :wave
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Re: Huge fire North Liverpool
« Reply #139 on: July 17, 2018, 01:53:33 pm »
We are a team of one half.

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Re: Huge fire North Liverpool
« Reply #140 on: July 17, 2018, 04:59:17 pm »
Second massive fire in Kirkdale in recent months

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Re: Huge fire North Liverpool
« Reply #141 on: July 17, 2018, 05:02:18 pm »
We could smell it from sefton park earlier (wind blowing in our direction) and I can still see smoke/steam rising in the distance from here now. Must have been pretty big.
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Re: Huge fire North Liverpool
« Reply #142 on: July 17, 2018, 06:22:13 pm »
I was in the area and took this pic'.

If your moral compass is Piers Moron then I ask you to think whether someone who oversaw illegal phone hacking and published fake pictures depicting War Crimes is an appropriate person to look up to. In fact, I'd suggest you're a bit of a c*nt.

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Re: Huge fire North Liverpool
« Reply #143 on: July 17, 2018, 07:29:23 pm »
Would have been a lot to burn in there! Reminded me of the furniture warehouse fire by Asda Bootle last year
I assume nobody was hurt - it doesn't say there were casualties. Hopefully not.
« Last Edit: July 17, 2018, 09:42:07 pm by Shanklygates »
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Re: Huge fire North Liverpool
« Reply #144 on: July 17, 2018, 08:11:46 pm »
Everyone got out safe and sound   :)
If your moral compass is Piers Moron then I ask you to think whether someone who oversaw illegal phone hacking and published fake pictures depicting War Crimes is an appropriate person to look up to. In fact, I'd suggest you're a bit of a c*nt.

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Re: Huge fire North Liverpool
« Reply #145 on: July 17, 2018, 08:15:16 pm »
Two million pounds worth of improvements caused.
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Re: Huge fire North Liverpool
« Reply #146 on: July 17, 2018, 08:51:44 pm »
My first thought was an insurance job but seeing as there was people inside I don't think anybody is that ruthless.
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #147 on: July 19, 2018, 06:09:18 pm »
I think Anderson is a bit of an idiot, but when it comes to the 'spare mayor', Rotherham definitely seems to fit that description more. At least we hear enough of him to know he's an idiot. What does Rotherham do??? I know that may be ignorance on my part but I thought the whole point of him was that he was meant to be a vocal leader figure for the region.
« Last Edit: July 19, 2018, 06:10:56 pm by Bakez0151 »

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #148 on: July 19, 2018, 07:54:04 pm »
I think Anderson is a bit of an idiot, but when it comes to the 'spare mayor', Rotherham definitely seems to fit that description more. At least we hear enough of him to know he's an idiot. What does Rotherham do??? I know that may be ignorance on my part but I thought the whole point of him was that he was meant to be a vocal leader figure for the region.
I'll be careful what I say but creating the "metro Mayors" was just another poorly thought and extremely expensive idea from this sucking Government.

As you say, for the cost of the set-up, staff, back office, full support, premises and governance duplication costs - is the tax player getting value?

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #149 on: July 19, 2018, 07:59:55 pm »
Does anyone know what sort of journey time to expect between Chester and Liverpool via the revamped Halton Curve?  Will it be quicker than the current Merseyrail via every fucking town in the Wirral?

Just asking as the Hartree Centre have offered to sponsor my MSc in Big Data at Liverpool Uni (which I was supposed to start last year), so a better journey time might sway it for me.
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #150 on: July 19, 2018, 09:57:07 pm »
I'll be careful what I say but creating the "metro Mayors" was just another poorly thought and extremely expensive idea from this sucking Government.

As you say, for the cost of the set-up, staff, back office, full support, premises and governance duplication costs - is the tax player getting value?

I worked for Merseyside County Council, which was spitefully abolished by Thatcher. That had a clear role and operated successfully between 1974 and 1986. The Mersey region role seems much more nebulous,

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #151 on: July 20, 2018, 10:19:35 am »
Does anyone know what sort of journey time to expect between Chester and Liverpool via the revamped Halton Curve?  Will it be quicker than the current Merseyrail via every fucking town in the Wirral?

Just asking as the Hartree Centre have offered to sponsor my MSc in Big Data at Liverpool Uni (which I was supposed to start last year), so a better journey time might sway it for me.

Wouldn't think so. Its nearly twice as far that way, even if there are less stops I can't see it being quicker.
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #152 on: July 20, 2018, 11:13:54 am »
Wouldn't think so. Its nearly twice as far that way, even if there are less stops I can't see it being quicker.

Yeah, looked it up, and it’s expected to be pretty much the same journey time. It’ll be more expensive than the merseyrail too, I’d imagine.

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #153 on: July 20, 2018, 02:40:52 pm »
Yeah, looked it up, and it’s expected to be pretty much the same journey time. It’ll be more expensive than the merseyrail too, I’d imagine.

It utilizes the mainline track so it will be competing with other service operators, which Merseyrail doesn't have to do.  I think the main thing about the Halton curve is that it makes direct services between Liverpool and North Wales an option, although I imagine that it's probably geared at making the city available to more visitors rather than a commuter service.

As for Joe Anderson v Steve Rotheram, just because one of them is noisy it doesn't make his job any more relevant.  It DOES make one of them look like they're trying way too hard to make their job SEEM relevant.
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #154 on: July 20, 2018, 04:00:26 pm »
LIMF charging a fiver or 15 squid entry if you didn't book in advance as well as searching and banning bringing your own ale. Can understand the fee but the ban on your own alcohol is shite, 6 years it's been on with people policing themselves fine.
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #155 on: July 20, 2018, 04:28:27 pm »
LIMF charging a fiver or 15 squid entry if you didn't book in advance as well as searching and banning bringing your own ale. Can understand the fee but the ban on your own alcohol is shite, 6 years it's been on with people policing themselves fine.
Does anyone know how thorough the searches will be?

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #156 on: July 20, 2018, 04:29:42 pm »
LIMF charging a fiver or 15 squid entry if you didn't book in advance as well as searching and banning bringing your own ale. Can understand the fee but the ban on your own alcohol is shite, 6 years it's been on with people policing themselves fine.

Obviously they'll be selling their own over priced crap with huge queues.

Should be boycotted.

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #157 on: July 20, 2018, 04:34:51 pm »
Went to the recent Smithdown Festival on the mystery and it was free but you could not take food/ale in, just searched bags as far as I seen so you may be fine with the half bottle down your plums. Not bothering with LIMF as I am not paying to get in to a festival that has been sound and free for years.
Incidentally, I think the Smithdown Festival is trying to be like the old Liverpool show, that will be charging soon I bet.

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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #158 on: July 20, 2018, 06:04:37 pm »
Remember when Liverpool music festivals was run by local businesses and were totally free to get into?  You know, before the council decided they could make a mint by taking it off them, moving it, and fencing it in?
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Re: Liverpool news thread
« Reply #159 on: July 20, 2018, 06:24:36 pm »
Obviously they'll be selling their own over priced crap with huge queues.

Should be boycotted.
Yep, I've only found out about the booze ban today a week after I bought the ticket, not much of a drinker but just hate the principle of being ripped off - especially when for years it was sound
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