Newark Castle to Newark Northgate?

[Karlywarly]

I was sorting out a route home for my son the other day and I noticed that the last of the day's East Midlands Trains services from Nottingham to Lincoln (departing Nottingham at 22:26) is timetabled to call at both Newark Castle (22:57) AND Newark Northgate (23:09). How does it manage this? The only route I can see is to cross the ECML on the flat junction, switch to the westbound line then reverse back along the chord onto the ECML and then into Newark Northgate...?

It seems to be the only service of the day that has this routing (not surprising if that is what is has to do!) Or am I missing something?

(Obviously, I could just make the journey and see for myself, but I'm more of an armchair traveller...)

Thanks in advance,

Karl of Lincoln

 

[trentside]

There's a signal and crossover that allows the train to run in to Newark North Gate. The first train of the day from Lincoln to Nottingham (dep. 0526) also runs to both North Gate and Castle, as do certain services on Sundays.

 

[Karlywarly]

Thanks for your quick response! Does that mean that the driver has to change ends? I presume by walking through the train as there's no platform nearby?

 

[jon91]

Yea it does. I've been on the last service from Nottingham quite a few times, usually as a result of a night out in Nottingham...

 

[Karlywarly]

Interesting! I would have thought that was quite a rare thing to do, but maybe I'm wrong... Does anyone know of any other locations where a pax service has to reverse NOT in a station?

 

[trentside]

Thanks for your quick response! Does that mean that the driver has to change ends? I presume by walking through the train as there's no platform nearby?

Correct, driver changes ends by walking through the unit. Time built in to allow for this.

 

[najaB]

Interesting! I would have thought that was quite a rare thing to do, but maybe I'm wrong... Does anyone know of any other locations where a pax service has to reverse NOT in a station?

Coombe Junction?

 

[Penmorfa]

Interesting! I would have thought that was quite a rare thing to do, but maybe I'm wrong... Does anyone know of any other locations where a pax service has to reverse NOT in a station?

Liskeard to Looe branch?

 

[PHILIPE]

Severn Tunnel Jn (outside station) on XCs if diverted that route.

 

[causton]

I've had it twice today doing the Hornsey flyover on Hull Trains to St Pancras what about that odd route that goes round Inverness on that through train? Does that reverse outside the station?

 

[DanP]

There's also the Kyle to Elgin service which reverses to get into Inverness after using the Rose Street curve.

Interestingly during the Hatfield disruption, the Cleethorpes - Scunthorpe shuttle went west of Scunthorpe station before reversing and using the other platform. Presumably so that people did not need to use the footbridge, although it did add on a short time to the journey.

 

[TheWalrus]

So to clarify this service reverses twice; once on the line and once at North Gate?

 

[edwin_m]

So to clarify this service reverses twice; once on the line and once at North Gate?

Yes.

Reversals away from stations are reasonably common on diversions. For example if Trent to Nottingham is closed the diversionary route reverses at Trowell Junction, and the diversionary route for Sheet Stores to Derby is by reversal at Stenson Junction.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

There was a time not long ago when many trains served both in the daytime. It may have been slow and reduced East Coast capacity but it was great for connectivity.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Interesting! I would have thought that was quite a rare thing to do, but maybe I'm wrong... Does anyone know of any other locations where a pax service has to reverse NOT in a station?

It is very rare, as others have said most Looe line trains reverse before getting to Coombe Junction.
I think that some Norwich to Peterborough trains missed Ely in the past by reversing but I'm not sure.

 

[Railwaymadness]

Here's the driver changing ends on the Nottingham - Newark Castle - Newark Northgate - Lincoln service I caught recently

 

[Mark62]

In days gone by the Sheffield to Huddersfield trains reversed at Nunnery after Victoria had closed. Even with the driver changing ends it was twice as fast from Sheffield to Penistone 40 years than it is today.
I was fortunate in 1978 to travel from Sheffield to Manchester via Woodhead. The dmu really moved down the hill into Manchester. Driver had some fun that day, as I did. I was only 16 but it's still a fresh memory.

 

[CockneySparrow]

Thanks for your quick response! Does that mean that the driver has to change ends? I presume by walking through the train as there's no platform nearby?

Would have thought he would use the platform at Northgate, as the train drops off and picks up there lol
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

There was a time not long ago when many trains served both in the daytime. It may have been slow and reduced East Coast capacity but it was great for connectivity.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


It is very rare, as others have said most Looe line trains reverse before getting to Coombe Junction.
I think that some Norwich to Peterborough trains missed Ely in the past by reversing but I'm not sure.

They use the avoiding loop at Ely North Junction, there is one service a week on a Sunday that misses Ely by using this loop

 

[CatfordCat]

Would have thought he would use the platform at Northgate, as the train drops off and picks up there lol

The driver probably does at Northgate.

However, a Nottingham - Castle - Northgate - Lincoln (or vice versa) move requires the driver to change ends twice, once at Northgate and once where there isn't a platform.

 

[najaB]

There was a time not long ago when many trains served both in the daytime. It may have been slow and reduced East Coast capacity but it was great for connectivity.

This, by itself, is a good reason not to do it!

 

[38Cto15E]

Just out of interest I was looking at booking a Leicester-Newark Northgate ticket and on the East Mids Trains web site it shows a 33 minute walk from Castle station.
Would a ticket be valid with a change at Collingham if a person was unable to undertake a 33 minute walk?

 

[CallySleeper]

33 mins?! Takes twenty minutes tops for a slower walker who doesn't want to get an available bus or taxi.

Not sure about Collingham.

 

[Railwaymadness]

You can catch a train from Leicester to Newark Northgate and change at Collingham for the next train from Lincoln to Newark Northgate. If booking ticket online enter Leicester to Newark Northgate with via Collingham added to see the times and prices.