Least used double track line?

[montyburns56]

A few days ago I spent almost three hours in the vicinity of the Widnes loop between Ditton and Fiddler's Ferry and in that time I didn't see a single train. According to Realtimetrains site there's only a few scheduled daily services between Warrington Arpley and Garston and the Halewood plant, so it seems strange to have retained two tracks for such a lightly used line. Admittedly the section between FF and Arpley is pretty busy, but it seems like the kind of route that would have been singled in BR days. Plus the section at Arpley between Walton Old Junction and Arpley Junction is effectively a single track these days as well (see the picture below) so singling the whole line wouldn't have much affect on line capacity anyway.

It does make me wonder though if the Arpley Chord is ever built then would the whole of the Widnes Loop be singled while they are doing it?

But anyway, are there are any other double track "mainlines" that are so lightly used these days? I mentioned the Wigan Goods lines in another recent post which have next to no regular traffic, so what other lines do you think could be singled? (leaving aside any long term problems that this might create)

 

[185143]

Passenger is quite possibly the Bentham line

 

[headshot119]

No lines should be singled, the network is still recovering from lines being singled. Wrexham - Chester being a good example
Gowerton another.

 

[30907]

In both cases, the cost of resignalling has to be balanced against the cost of maintaining the second track.

For the Bentham line, for example, there was a brief period in the days of Sectorisation when the service was timed to operate over a "notional single line" for accounting reasons, but that hasnt applied for years, and closing Wennington box 20 years ago reduced signalling costs.

You would need to have a dynamic loop somewhere, which would constrain timetabling.

In terms of other examples, I suppose you could justify singling Bromley North, but Boris might demand a 2- train shuttle once he's taken over SE And then there's the Medway Valley South of Maidstone that's not very busy.... but I don't think anyone would suggest that seriously either these days. There's far more examples of singling that with hindsight would have been best not done IMO, Head shot has just given examples.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

The City of Glasgow Union Railway line across the Clyde past where St Enoch station used to be must be a contender for least used (in the Glasgow area anyway).

 

[driver_m]

When the line to fidlers has normal levels of coal going into the power station then it could justify the double track. The olive mount chord and the stockpiling of coal have both reduced the levels of traffic going that way but it is a very useful bit of track. Can't think of anywhere I cover that singling would be manageable. If the Frodsham curve gets rebuilt as planned I can see even that causing problems. Leave them doubled!

 

[simonw]

The Barton on Humber line as far as New Holland is double track but only has one unit on it at any one time.

 

[backontrack]

Passenger is quite possibly the Bentham line

You realise that crehld will attack you with a keyboard now, right?

I'd guess that the passenger least-used double-track section is the Newington curve.

 

[Whistler40145]

Would Clitheroe to Hellifield count?

 

[backontrack]

Would Clitheroe to Hellifield count?

Now you're going to do it as well.

 

[furnessvale]

Passenger is quite possibly the Bentham line

If you are talking passenger surely the bit of Stockport-Stalybridge that is double track must be in with a shout.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Norton-on-Tees West to East is a double track freight line that is very rarely used. Only about 29 chains long though.

 

[crehld]

You realise that crehld will attack you with a keyboard now, right?

I'd guess that the passenger least-used double-track section is the Newington curve.

My reputation precedes me I see Therefore there's no need for me to once again state my concern that the statistics don't reflect reality.

You're all fine ... Until someone suggests closure!

 

[Whistler40145]

Well, unless you want to shove passengers onto a bus, I can't see it happening anytime soon!

 

[crehld]

Would Clitheroe to Hellifield count?

Has to be a contender and is double track throughout.

 

[Whistler40145]

The Little North Western line is pretty useful, I do remember when it was a diversionary route for InterCity services, Euston bound services would reverse in sidings at Carnforth and then run across to Settle Junction, then Hellifield to Blackburn and onto Preston, sometimes they had a rather cold journey in winter behind a pair of Class 20s.

 

[furnessvale]

The Little North Western line is pretty useful, I do remember when it was a diversionary route for InterCity services, Euston bound services would reverse in sidings at Carnforth and then run across to Settle Junction, then Hellifield to Blackburn and onto Preston, sometimes they had a rather cold journey in winter behind a pair of Class 20s.

IIRC and being pedantic, the "Little North Western" was actually the now closed line from Clapham Jcn (the proper one) to Low Gill Jcn.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

If you are talking passenger surely the bit of Stockport-Stalybridge that is double track must be in with a shout.

Not double throughout though I think.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

How much traffic does Stechford to Aston see on a normal day? That's double tracked and electrified. I'm sure it's paid for itself when WCML Trent Valley services are diverted via the West Midlands and I know XC run at least one train a day over it but does it get much freight?

 

[notadriver]

I know this doesn't really count but how about double track main line connection between Saltwood Junction and the channel tunnel. The rails look really rusty there. Also add to that list the chord from Fawkham Junction to Southfleet a Junction.

 

[Whistler40145]

What use does the line between Camden Road to the WCML via Primrose Hill see?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

IIRC and being pedantic, the "Little North Western" was actually the now closed line from Clapham Jcn (the proper one) to Low Gill Jcn.

Strictly, the North Western Railway was built from Skipton to Ingleton, with a branch from Clapham to Lancaster.
Ingleton to Low Gill was built by the "big" North Western (LNWR) and only became a through route under the LMS in 1923.
Wennington to Carnforth was Furness & Midland Joint territory.

 

[Whistler40145]

Thanks for your information, much appreciated.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
How about the line that connects the Tyne Valley/Settle & Carlisle lines to the Cumbrian Coast line?

 

[satisnek]

The line from Stourbridge Junction towards Brierley Hill is still double track, although I think it has been operated on a 'one engine in steam' basis for many years.

 

[RichmondCommu]

What use does the line between Camden Road to the WCML via Primrose Hill see?

From what I've seen a fair amount of intermodal freight hauled by class 90's and class 86's runs along the North London Line. I'm guessing here that a reasonable amount of freight coming off the GOBLIN will run that way too.

 

[Whistler40145]

Cheers mate for the info.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Is the line between Burton and Coalville still double track? If so the only stuff that runs along the line now is the new TfL Underground stock on it's way to the 'Smoke. Mantle Lane signal box is still open at Coalville but I'm guessing that it's only really there to operate the level crossing.

 

[theageofthetra]

Linford St Jct?

 

[HowardGWR]

Castle Cary to Cogload Jcn?

I'll get my coat.

 

[yorksrob]

IIRC and being pedantic, the "Little North Western" was actually the now closed line from Clapham Jcn (the proper one) to Low Gill Jcn.

As I understood it, the 'Little' North Western refers to the company which built the whole route from Skipton to Lancaster, so even though trains now use the joint line to Carnforth from Wennington, it's fair to say that they still use a good chunk of it.

Anyway, it makes sense for it to be double track as you wouldn't want trains getting delayed in a passing loop then turning up late at the WCML !