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Major rail upgrades around Greater Manchester have been delayed by a combined total of more than 14 years, the M.E.N can reveal.

Network Rail’s £1bn North of England and multi-billion pound ‘Great North Rail’ projects were heralded as the ‘biggest investment in Manchester’s railways since the Victorian era’.

Including electrification of existing routes as well as new tracks and bridges, they are aimed at creating more seats, speed and reliability on our creaking infrastructure.

Some key projects, including the £85m Ordsall Chord - have now been finished. But seven major projects are delayed - some indefinitely.

The M.E.N has examined the delays for both completed and ongoing schemes, which have been plagued by setbacks ranging from five months to four years.

In total, the delays amount to more than 14 years.

It comes as Transport for the North - a body of civic and business leaders - launches a £69bn ‘transport bible’ which outlines what is needed on road and rail to boost the economy.

(Image: Sean Hansford)

Pending public consultation, it includes an M60 relief road, a road tunnel through the Pennines, cheaper tickets and underground platforms at Manchester Piccadilly.

The strategy has been met with scepticism in some corners as it will rely on the green light from Government.

Sadly, a look at how Greater Manchester’s rail projects have fared since the start of the works is unlikely to bolster confidence.

Sir Peter Hendy, Network Rail chairman, was brought on board in 2015 after the body lost control of projects, with costs spiralling and unrealistic deadlines.

It was revealed in November 2015 that Network Rail will have to sell off £1.8bn of shops and depots to fund major projects.

At the time it was also reported that the company would have to increase borrowing from the taxpayer to £700m to build ‘the bulk’ of its promised projects.

Sir Peter admitted ‘poor cost estimating’ and ‘inadequate planning’.

But delays have continued over the last two years, with some projects now suspended pending sign-off from the Department for Transport.

A spokeswoman for Network Rail said: “Nationally 99pc of the 15,000 projects we carry out each year are delivered on time. In some cases we encounter unforeseen challenges but we always strive to overcome them in ways that minimise impacts on customers, as we are doing on our Manchester-Preston upgrade.”

The DfT said Network Rail was responsible for implementing the projects and declined to comment further.

Ongoing projects

Manchester Piccadilly Station

Was: December 2018

Now: we don’t know...

Delay: TBC - at least one year

The station’s through-platforms, 13 and 14, were to be modernised and two new platforms - 15 and 16 - built over Fairfield Street to alleviate congestion.

It was aimed at allowing for 14 trains through the station each hour as opposed to 10.

It would also ensure that the Ordsall Chord could fulfil its potential .

Network Rail says works were carried out to replace old track and improve reliability on platforms 13 and 14 over Christmas.

But platforms 15 and 16 are on hold as the Transport and Work Act Order is still with the DfT and Network Rail is ‘awaiting a decision from them’.

Network Rail initially said the Ordsall Chord delay had a knock-on effect on the works programme.

But now there is talk of achieving the same result through ‘digital improvements’.

Without the official green light, there is no new date for this project - and it may not happen at all.

Oxford Road Station

Was: December 2018

Now: we don’t know...

Delay: TBC - at least one year

Like Victoria, Oxford Road is a Grade II listed building. Small in scale, but a favourite among architects, it opened in 1960, and at the time was seen as a revolutionary building thanks to its cutting-edge timber structure. It poses a challenge because the options for expansion are limited, but platforms need to be extended.

In architect Peter Jenkins’ plan walls on Whitworth Street West would have to be moved and - subject to public inquiry - the area at street level would also need improving.

Plans for a new wall follow the historic vaults of the viaducts, creating a pedestrian link on a new pavement with a well-lit sheltered walkway linking the area to First Street and linking the station with Home. A new shopping arcade would line the way. But it’s too small for the Northern Hub and our future transport needs. The platforms are crowded, the canopies insufficient and its footbridge too small.

Initially, Network Rail blamed the Ordsall Chord delay for having a knock-on effect on the works programme.

Again, there was a public inquiry and now Network Rail says the Transport and Work Act Order is awaiting approval from the Department for Transport.

Hope Valley Scheme - Manchester-Sheffield track improvements

Was: December 2018

Now: we don’t know...

Delay:TBC - at least one year

Planned to answer demand for travel between Manchester and Sheffield.

Work is to improve sections of railway close to Dore & Totley station, and between Bamford and Hathersage stations.

A new ‘passing loop’ plus track extension would allow faster trains to overtake slower moving freight trains.

It would allow for three fast trains per hour instead of two.

Network rail say they are awaiting approval from the Department for Transport.

(Image: Mark Waugh)

Electrification: Manchester-Preston via Bolton

Was: December 2016

Then: December 2017

Then: May 2018

Now: December 2018

Delay: Two years

Expected to add capacity and speed and allow Northern to run electric trains.

Network Rail said the original delay was caused by ‘lessons learned’ from the delayed TransPennine electrification.

They realised that testing and delivery would take longer than expected.

They then scrapped original partners Balfour Beatty (originally also working on TransPennine) and opted for Carillion - which has now gone bust. Network Rail has said this is not currently impacting works.

However, they say poor ground conditions caused by old unmapped mines are now behind the delayed completion of the route upgrade.

The delays have hit passengers with months of disruption on one of the region’s busiest routes - and they are likely to have to put up with 37 more weekends of replacement buses.

The delays also scupper plans to improve and update timetables on Northern and TransPennine services in May. This is now due to happen in December.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “We’ve had new contractors and have had to take the time to embed them into this huge amount of work.”

(Image: Ben Blackall)

Electrification: Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge Junction

Was: December 2016

Then: December 2017

Now: May 2018

Delay: One year, five months

Works include improving line speed and electrical work.

Originally, Network Rail gave the reason of ‘lessons learned’ from the TransPennine electrification.

Then Volker Rail was contracted to carry out the work instead of Balfour Beatty.

Network Rail say they are on track to be completed this May.

(Image: Mark Waugh)

Transpennine electrification / Route updgrade - Manchester - Leeds

Was: December 2018

Then: 2022

Now: No date

Delay: At least four years

This came with the promise of a 15-minute reduction in travel time from Manchester to Victoria via Leeds plus boosted capacity and speeds on routes between Manchester and Leeds via Huddersfield, as well as improved signalling between Manchester victoria, Leeds and York. But the ‘electrification’ was paused in summer 2015.

The M.E.N launched a major campaign after it was ‘paused’ when an original budget of £260m escalated to what experts claim could have been £600m following Network Rail ‘failings’.

Patrick McLoughlin, Transport Secretary, then said a new plan - to be completed by 2017 - would be better than before.

A new completion date of 2022 was given.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “The Transpennine Route Upgrade aims to deliver faster, longer, more frequent and more reliable services across the north of England, from Newcastle, Hull and York towards Manchester and Liverpool via Leeds. Network Rail has worked on the development of potential infrastructure options for the Transpennine Route Upgrade and has now submitted these options to the Department for Transport (DfT) for consideration.”

Electrification: Preston-Blackpool

Was: May 2016

Now: May 2018

Delay: Two years

On the Network Rail website, this is described as upgrading the railway between Preston and Blackpool to deliver ‘cleaner, quieter, and ore reliable journeys in 2018’.

It’s planned that the 17-mile route between Preston and Blackpool North will be fully electrified with better signalling to reduce delays.

Work also includes replacing 84 signals and moving the signalling control to the Manchester rail operating centre.

A Network Rail spokesman said work was on schedule for May 2018.

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Completed projects

Ordsall Chord

Was: December 2016.

Now: December 2017

Delay: One year

The £85m Ordsall Chord to link Piccadilly with Victoria was supposed to be completed n 2016.

Linking Piccadilly, Oxford Road and Victoria stations to unblock the congested city centre, it will also give direct access to the airport from Rochdale, Halifax and Bradford.

But after a public inquiry, followed by an appeal by engineer Mark Whitby over damage to the city’s heritage, it was delayed.

His appeal failed, and work finally began with a new completion date at the end of December 2017.

Victoria station was closed every Sunday until April for engineering works.

The Chord finally opened in December with the first six-minute journey from Victoria to Oxford Road attracting a cohort of rail enthusiasts.

Initially, the only service running on the new line will extend Northern Rail’s existing Leeds - Manchester Victoria route to Oxford Road.

This is due to insufficient capacity at Piccadilly ahead of a timetable re-jig. The route is due to be extended to Manchester airport.

But rail experts have questioned how effective the Chord can be without the extension of Piccadilly Station.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Victoria Station

Was: End of Spring 2015

Completed: October 2015

Delay: Six months

It was due to be completed by the end of spring but unforeseen underground obstacles - including a hidden culvert - caused a delay.

That £44m overhaul - including four new tram platforms and three new tracks - is aimed at enabling passenger capacity to increase from 20,000 to 40,000 a day.

It was five years since work began and the station now boasts a new access route from the Arena, with a new mezzanine level featuring cafes and shops.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin unveiled a plaque declaring the new station open at a ceremony beside Soldiers’ Gate, where local army service personnel passed through before heading off to fight in World War One, some never to return.

Victoria’s transformation will allow the passenger flow through its walls to increase from 20,000 to 40,000 a day.

(Image: Ben Blackall)

Electrification: Manchester-Liverpool and Wigan

Was: December 2014

Actual completion date: March 2015 - May 2015

Delay: Five months

From March 2015, electric trains started running from Manchester Airport to Liverpool.

They now also run to Wigan.

Northern Rail trains were boosted from two-car diesel to four-car electric.

This boosted capacity and speed.

(Image: Steve Fareham/ geograph.org.uk)

Manchester Airport Fourth Platform

Was: December 2015

Completed: ON TIME

Increased capacity to increase reliability and capacity.