Street Running

[JHurcum]

Hi - So I was just wondering if anyone knew of any Street Running sections left in the United Kingdom that are still operational? I have looked around and only found the recently refurbished Porthmadog Cross Town Link. So if anyone knows of any, it would be great to hear about where they are - and what state they are in.

Thanks

 

[PaulLothian]

Not entirely sure whether the Britannia Bridge really counts, given that it is operated as an extended level crossing. Any train other than a short one will have both ends on plain track while the middle crosses the road/bridge.

Other views will no doubt be offered!

 

[alex17595]

There is the bridge on the preston docks branch.

 

[thenorthern]

The best known one is Weymouth in which the infrastructure is largely intact although it hasn't been used since 1999 although talk occasionally pops up about reopening the line.

Ones in operation that I know of are the Swing Bridge on the Ribble Valley Railway in Preston and the freight only lines around Trafford Park Freight Terminal in Greater Manchester.

 

[JHurcum]

Thanks, I will look into the ones suggested - anymore ones?

 

[furnessvale]

The best known one is Weymouth in which the infrastructure is largely intact although it hasn't been used since 1999 although talk occasionally pops up about reopening the line.

Ones in operation that I know of are the Swing Bridge on the Ribble Valley Railway in Preston and the freight only lines around Trafford Park Freight Terminal in Greater Manchester.

Not much action on the Trafford Park Lines, I'm afraid.

Hardly surprising really. If you choose road transport the TP company provides the roads which are charged to all TP tenants and are free at point of use.

If you choose to use rail, you still pay the roads levy but then pay again to use the railway.

 

[najaB]

Hi - So I was just wondering if anyone knew of any Street Running sections left in the United Kingdom that are still operational?

I don't know of any in the UK, but (sorta) on the UK network you have street running in Dublin Port.

 

[snowball]

Not entirely sure whether the Britannia Bridge really counts, given that it is operated as an extended level crossing. Any train other than a short one will have both ends on plain track while the middle crosses the road/bridge.

I assume you mean here the Britannia Bridge at Porthmadog, rather than the much better known, but also road-rail, Britannia Bridge over the Menai Strait!

 

[johnnychips]

I assume you mean here the Britannia Bridge at Porthmadog, rather than the much better known, but also road-rail, Britannia Bridge over the Menai Strait!

That had me scratching my head as well!

 

[Hornet]

I don't know of any in the UK, but (sorta) on the UK network you have street running in Dublin Port.

Since when (1922) has Dublin Port been part of the UK? Hope you have your kneecaps well insured.

 

[D1009]

If we're going to widen the thread to outside the UK I can recommend the RhB line from Chur to Arosa in Switzerland.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I don't know of any in the UK, but (sorta) on the UK network you have street running in Dublin Port.

eh?

Maybe I should check with "the political wing of the . . . " British Army, or with "the Group known as the " Irish " state".

 

[najaB]

Since when (1922) has Dublin Port been part of the UK? Hope you have your kneecaps well insured.

I did stress 'on the UK network' - in that services with ATW TRUST IDs serve the port.

 

[Hornet]

I did stress 'on the UK network' - in that services with ATW TRUST IDs serve the port.

Alexandra Road is a fair distance from where IF and Stena have their Terminals, and the P&O Terminal is nearer The Point Red Line LUAS stop than Alexandra Road. I think you would have a very hard time convincing my missus and her brothers of your claim. It would cost you a lot in Guinness!

 

[PaulLothian]

I assume you mean here the Britannia Bridge at Porthmadog, rather than the much better known, but also road-rail, Britannia Bridge over the Menai Strait!

Keep up! It was a direct response to the OP...

 

[Skie]

There was Regent Road near the port of Liverpool where the freight line crossed the road and then ran alongside it with only an Armco barrier separating the two, but this was moved inside the docks estate 10 ish years ago. Road is still there but the crossing itself has been blocked to road traffic.

 

[najaB]

Alexandra Road is a fair distance from where IF and Stena have their Terminals, and the P&O Terminal is nearer The Point Red Line LUAS stop than Alexandra Road. I think you would have a very hard time convincing my missus and her brothers of your claim. It would cost you a lot in Guinness!

Okay, it was a stretch too far! Dublin Port exists as a destination served by UK services, and there's street running in Dublin Port... I owe your missus (and co) a Guinness or two.

As an aside I'm well acquainted with the distance having walked it a few times.

 

[DT611]

as mentioned the alexandra freight tramway in dublin port served by freight trains only, and wexford to rosslare where the trains run along the quay. thats of course if we are changing this to beyond the uk, if not then they won't be relevant

 

[QueensCurve]

Not entirely sure whether the Britannia Bridge really counts, given that it is operated as an extended level crossing. Any train other than a short one will have both ends on plain track while the middle crosses the road/bridge.

Other views will no doubt be offered!

Surely the road and rail links over the Britannia Bridge are on separate decks?

 

[najaB]

Surely the road and rail links over the Britannia Bridge are on separate decks?

Different Britannia Bridge...

 

[Beebman]

Are the tracks still in place in Bridge Road in Sharpness? I don't think they've been used for ages anyway. This Geograph photo from 2009 shows what I'm referring to:

 

[Clip]

Was about to mention those ^^^ no idea if used though.

 

[Ships]

Not much action on the Trafford Park Lines, I'm afraid.

Hardly surprising really. If you choose road transport the TP company provides the roads which are charged to all TP tenants and are free at point of use.

If you choose to use rail, you still pay the roads levy but then pay again to use the railway.

Trains still run to Barton containerbase don't they?

 

[PaulLothian]

Different Britannia Bridge...

Decided it was time to look stuff up. The Porthmadog Britannia Bridge is older by about 35 years than the Anglesey version. Admittedly less impressive, but it did carry rails for most of its life. Both Britannia bridges have been rebuilt.

 

[Radedamer]

Are the tracks still in place in Bridge Road in Sharpness? I don't think they've been used for ages anyway. This Geograph photo from 2009 shows what I'm referring to:

Yes, they are still in place – or certainly were a year or two ago – and some work appeared to have been done to them, suggesting they might perhaps still be in use. Certainly I think I have seen trains on the Sharpness line though not in the docks themselves.

 

[The Planner]

I think the docks line is considered OOU.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

The Metrolink in Manchester sometimes has normal railway locos on it at night.
Does that count?

 

[furnessvale]

Trains still run to Barton containerbase don't they?

Yes. The size of a single movement makes it worthwhile. I was really referring to the lines in the estate to locations such as CPC, Nortons scrap etc.

 

[cin88]

The Metrolink in Manchester sometimes has normal railway locos on it at night.
Does that count?

Do they ever go down to street level though? I know Metrolink occassionally borrow sections of the ELR and the Buckley Wells yard (they currently have one of their old trams stabled on road minus 1 at Buckley) but i'm not sure if they take "normal" railway locos down as far as street running sections of track.

 

[furnessvale]

The Metrolink in Manchester sometimes has normal railway locos on it at night.
Does that count?

I've never heard of that (not saying you are wrong).

I understood that when they converted from heavy rail, one of the cost savings was the ability to reduce clearances on the Bury line to accommodate OHLE without rebuilding bridges.

I suppose it could happen on the Altrincham line, but on street I would say tight curves would preclude locos.