Lostwithiel - footbridge, services and sidings (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[LiskeardRich]

I’m covering the 1245 par to liskeard for the next 3 weeks now.
A colleague is covering the 1138 par to liskeard
And two liskeard to par workings also

[Kernow Otter]

An aspiration to lift two of the spans out tonight wind permitting.

[DaveHarries]

A quick heads-up for anyone not aware but the signallers at Lostwithiel and Par are doing things a slightly different way as a consequence of one of the lines being blocked.

I got sent to Lostwithiel on a work errand on Tuesday and had to get the train back. As I was taking photos on the up platform the signalman got my attention and asked if I was intending to get 2P16 (1410 to Plymouth) which I was and I said so. He said that he was having to close the gates earlier than normal due to the wrong-line working of the northbound train from Par. He waited for me to cross and then shut the gates at just after 1350, about 20 minutes before the train was due to depart. This, as he told me and as I saw, was needed because of different working regulations meaning he and another Network Rail (NR^» (Network Rail - home page)) employee (who was trackside just north of the crossing) had to do things between them. So the order went like this:

1. Crossing closed earlier than it normally would be before the train was due to arrive.
2. Signalman reverses points 41, just north of the crossing, to allow the northbound train to cross from Platform 2 onto the usual northbound track on departure.
3. Crossing phones Network Rail (NR) employee who was trackside just north of the crossing.
4. Trackside Network Rail (NR) employee, on instruction of the signaller, clips the points in position and confirms that this has been done.
5. Signaller then pulls the lever to allow the ground disc (LL36) to show proceed.
6. Signaller communicates with his colleague at Par (next box south) and confirms all is in order and that the train can proceed from Par.
7. Train driver approaches Platform slowly at Lostwithiel and is shown yellow flag.

Once 1-6 above has been done the signallers will not unset things for anyone who wishes to get a train but finds themselves on the wrong side of the line. One person found this out while I was awaiting 2P16 and was told no by the signaller. As the signaller pointed out to me if you undid things after the above 6 things have been done it would count as setting the signal (LL36?) against a train (whether the train was in sight of the signal or not) due to Par having been told that everything is done and that the train can come through wrong line from Par and this, in turn, would generate enough paperwork to the end that "the 1410 would become more like the 1435 or 1440" (not my words).

HTIOI,
Dave

Edit:VickiS - Clarifying acronym

[RailCornwall]

More pictures in this NRW^» (Network Rail Western - about) Tweet of 24 Mar 2021

https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/1374718185971257344

[RailCornwall]

Network affecting Job 'Completed' residual non traffic affecting clear-up work to continue.

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/rail-improvement-work-completed-in-lostwithiel/

[Kernow Otter]

One and All

For information, NR^» (Network Rail - home page) have submitted Pre application information, to Cornwall Council's planning department.

https://planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=R0VDCLFG0IS00

If the link doesn't work then the application number is PA21/02763/PREAPP which can be typed into the Cornwall Council Planning Website.

Information includes, plan, proposed design etc.

[Kernow Otter]

So, work has started this week to lift the redundant clay sidings from adjacent to the bay platform at Lostwithiel.

The bulk of the salvaged tracker apparently heading to the Plym Valley Railway.

Progress towards the footbridge.

Happy days

[Jamsdad]

Looks as if the ill-fated plan for the Lostwithiel footbridge is actually getting somewhere!

£1.8m bridge in the works could stop trespassing on train lines.

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/lostwithiel-bridge-hopes-stop-trespassing-7174302

[infoman]

Forgive me for not knowing the correct info,but I thought any new or replacement foot bridges had to be wheel chair compliant.

[Bmblbzzz]

Forgive me for not knowing the correct info,but I thought any new or replacement foot bridges had to be wheel chair compliant.

Possibly under the Equality Act 2010? Though I think that perhaps doesn't apply to railway structures. Anyway, at the moment they seem to be dealing with it by making a promise:

The design of the footbridge also accommodates the future installation of lifts, which subject to future funding being approved, will enable the footbridge to provide connectivity to the station and town for all users.

[paul7575]

I don’t think footbridge replacements having to have lifts or ramps is a general 100% requirement.  Every now and again a station footbridge is replaced like for like, an example near me was Woolston.  It was a life expired concrete structure, now it’s a modern steel equivalent.  That was within the last ten years or so and presumably legit.  The EWR reopening project is providing new steel footbridges at various places to replace foot crossings, but they aren’t providing ramps as well, again, that’s happening now so can only assume it’s legal. 

[Jamsdad]

Also there is already level access to both platforms so I don't think the  new footbridge can be seen as fundamental to enabling disabled access.

[stuving]

According to this piece in The Construction Index,

Lostwithiel and Llanharan are at similar stages, PACE^» (Police & Criminal Evidence Act - about) 2 (Grip 4 & 5 Design – according to the Governance for Railway Investment Projects procedures). Actually delivery remains a few months away.

It's going to be one of Taziker's "Legacy FRP bridge designs" - a plastic bridge, in other words. The article says this is an 'access for all' footbridge, which I'm sure is wrong. AFA-ready, more like. There is further here from Taziker about how they have a lift for these bridges, designed for quick installation and for reliability.

[Kernowman]

Anyone heard any news on this recently?

[Kernow Otter]

Manufacturing of the bridge is reported to be starting this week, with full factory assembly, before dismanting and transporting to Lostwithiel, with a view to installation before year end.