Workington bridge collapses - temporary station

[audigex]

Who says a lift is always necessary? As long as there's some way to get to each platform without using stairs (or too steep a slope).

[JamieLei]

Who says a lift is always necessary? As long as there's some way to get to each platform without using stairs (or too steep a slope).

A level crossing would also suffice, although there are naturally concerns about their safety (almost 100% of the time, accidents happen when idiots clearly see the train and still decide to go). When I used Uttoxeter station (which has a pedestrian floor-level crossing with no lights), everyone was extremely sensible about it, waiting for the train to depart before even thinking about crossing the tracks.

[Kevo00]

HSE is unlikely to allow a new pedestrian crossing to be installed one would think, even though it is perfectly safe to use as Jamie says, providing all parties use it properly. Workington North apparently has a footbridge, no idea if its disability compliant, although presumably it would have to be. Perhaps temporary lifts could be used, I doubt they would be too expensive. Or maybe put the footbridge at one end of the station and have long, gradual ramps down?

[Ploes]

HSE is unlikely to allow a new pedestrian crossing to be installed one would think

Was my point. Especially since the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre installed that footbridge/lift thing to stop people having to cross the line that crosses the site, thats normally only used 3/4 times a day by freight trains!

Or maybe put the footbridge at one end of the station and have long, gradual ramps down?

You might be on a winner with that idea.
Like the design that they have put in at Heart Hill motorway services.

[audigex]

That's what I was thinking.

The example I'm actually thinking of is Millom station, which has an entrance on each platform. To get from platform 1 to 2, however, requires heading to the south side of 1, down a ramp, through a supermarket car park, along two roads, accross a bridge and round into the station car park.

At the same time, there's virtually no need for anyone to get from one platform to the other - you're either arriving or departing, the only trains on the other platform go back the way you came. The same applied for Workington North.

I can think of a lot of stations without lift access, and while I can't generally see them wanting to build at-grade crossings, there's not much problem with it on these slow speed lines and they may risk it for a temporary station. It's safer than crossing the road, IMO.

[Ameecher]

Platforms being extended by 20m and apparently the reliefs are wedged daily.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/6119.aspx

For those that may be interested

[Kevo00]

I like the speeded up video, lots of figures dressed in orange swarming around doing stuff.

[Ploes]

lots of figures dressed in orange swarming around doing stuff.

Yeah. Lots of movement!

I was expecting lots of orange standing around, drinking tea.

[tim_c]

Workington North apparently has a footbridge, no idea if its disability compliant, although presumably it would have to be.

As a temporary structure, the station does not need to comply with the DDA.
Also, because the trains being used, as stated on the timetable linked earlier, are not wheelchair-accessible, it seems pointless making the platforms so doesn't it?

Here in St Neots, FCC had to shelve tentative plans to install lifts as the shafts would not leave enough space between the structure and the platform edge. Apparently this only applies to new structures, though; the existing waiting rooms have at some points less than a metre between them and the fast lines. http://www.st-neots.co.uk/phorum/read.p ... msg-129275. This means the station DOES comply with the DDA as the Act specifies *reasonable* adjustments.

Realigning tracks and widening platforms is not seen as reasonable.

[Dave]

Sandwell and Dudley has 80 centimetres between the platform edge and the back of the platform - the yellow line is about 6 inches from the back of the platform.

[L&Y Man]

That's what I was thinking.

The example I'm actually thinking of is Millom station, which has an entrance on each platform. To get from platform 1 to 2, however, requires heading to the south side of 1, down a ramp, through a supermarket car park, along two roads, accross a bridge and round into the station car park.

At the same time, there's virtually no need for anyone to get from one platform to the other - you're either arriving or departing, the only trains on the other platform go back the way you came. The same applied for Workington North.

I can think of a lot of stations without lift access, and while I can't generally see them wanting to build at-grade crossings, there's not much problem with it on these slow speed lines and they may risk it for a temporary station. It's safer than crossing the road, IMO.

There is a footbridge at Millom from Platform 1 to Platform 2. This route is often used by pedestrians taking a short cut, I have noticed. The access mentioned above is for level access for prams, wheelchairs etc. Since the timetable changes in December 2008, most trains go the full length of route between Barrow & Carlisle.

L&Y Man

[L&Y Man]

The floods at Workington have had a masive effect on the town. Building the temporary station at Workington North and arranging the shuttle train in six days has been little short of amazing. The DfT waived the requirement for DDA compliance and the local authority, Allerdale Borough Council, rushed through the necessary formalities. A footbridge enables passengers to cross the line, although there is no level access to the down platform and the shuttle tains cannot cope with whelchairs as they are not equipped with the necessary ramps.

Both the shuttle and Northern's service trains are very busy between Workington and Maryport. As there are no tickets being issued between those points, passenger counts are being conducted to establish the use. The current funding for the shuttle and free travel expires on 2nd May next, although the temporary road bridge is not expected to open much before 31st May. Once this bridge is opened, it is expected that the numbers of passengers, not only at Workington North, will fall. However, people are finding this station useful, not only for travelling between Workington and Maryport, but also from further afield. Workington North is almost adjacent to the Dunmail Park shopping centre which houses west Cumbria's only cinema, but a recent announcement that ASDA is to move in there shortly adds impetus to a campaign to have the temporary station made permanent.


Workington North is another example of pioneering work on the railway in west Cumbria. In December 2008, the "Harrington Hump", a low-cost means of raising low platforms, was piloted at that station, with subsequent installations at St Albans Abbey and Aberdovey.

Yet again, the North of England is leading the way.

L&Y Man

[audigex]

Sandwell and Dudley has 80 centimetres between the platform edge and the back of the platform - the yellow line is about 6 inches from the back of the platform.

Doesn't Sandwell and Dudley have trains passing through at 125mph? Or at least passing through...
Workington north is serviced by every train passing through, and even at full tilt they're only doing about 70.

And re Millom: Sorry yeah there's a footbridge (and a shorter route from the southbound ramp to the northbound platform down some stairs) - I was referring specifically to the accessable route. And yeah, most trains do the whole Lancaster/Barrow-Carlisle run - but as it's only one route, there's virtually no need to swap platforms (unless you miss your stop at green road, but that's pretty rare)

[JamieLei]

Between 40 and 75 according to the West Midlands RUS. It would be nice if they could wizz at 125 between Birmingham at Wolverhampton, but that's highly unlikely due to pathing problems. I suppose they could do what they do on the New Street - International bit where the "all stations" calls everywhere but Marsdon Green, which is serviced by the semi-fast to Northampton/London Euston instead. The local then sometimes runs express to Coventry, with the "semi-fast" then calling all stations to Northampton.

West Midlands RUS - makes for some interesting reading
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20d ... dlands.pdf

Do Virgin still serve Sandwell and Dudley?

[Dave]

Do Virgin still serve Sandwell and Dudley?

Every one of the trains that continues to/originates from Wolverhampton calls at Sandwell & Dudley except the 0520 to EUS which runs via Bescot with a RRB replacing. Or that's how it was until recently.

[JamieLei]

Ahyes - I got confused as I had a peek at the Birmingham - Wolverhampton timetable to see if the local service still runs, and saw lots of VT trains running non-stop. Just had another look and realised they were the Birmingham - Scotland Voyagers. Odd to see Voyagers providing the express, and Pendolinos the semi-fast!

Also oddly, there's still a direct Virgin Euston - Edinburgh service, but it runs through Birmingham New Street, thus amalgamating 2 services. Perhaps they couldn't get approval to officially cancel their Edinburgh Pendo outright.

[Dave]

Ahyes - I got confused as I had a peek at the Birmingham - Wolverhampton timetable to see if the local service still runs, and saw lots of VT trains running non-stop. Just had another look and realised they were the Birmingham - Scotland Voyagers. Odd to see Voyagers providing the express, and Pendolinos the semi-fast!

Also oddly, there's still a direct Virgin Euston - Edinburgh service, but it runs through Birmingham New Street, thus amalgamating 2 services. Perhaps they couldn't get approval to officially cancel their Edinburgh Pendo outright.

Does that ridiculous Eus-Bhm-Man service still run as well?

[JamieLei]

No idea - Virgin don't run Birmingham to Manchester services any more so I highly doubt it.

And I can't seem to find that EUS - BHM - EDB service any more - I did definately stumble across it - it did the normal express to Birmingham calling at MKC, and then the normal semi-fast to Edinburgh calling everywhere.

[beeb375]

Workington north is serviced by every train passing through

Not quite. My dad's train was running late up from Barrow, so at Workington he got told to abandon the Carlisle journey and turn the train around at Maryport instead, to head back down south. What they didn't tell him was that he was meant to stop at Flimby and Workington North on the way back... There were quite a few bemused passengers when he flew through at 60 with a blast of the horn.