Least used double track line?

[Altfish]

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

Stockport to Guide Bridge has one train a week; Guide Bridge to Stalybridge is very busy with TPE

 

[backontrack]

In that case, then it might be the fragments still extant of the Horrocksford line.

 

[Tomnick]

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.

It's double track from Burton as far as Lounge Jcn, three or four miles short of Coalville, with very little traffic as you say (LU stock, occasional test trains and occasionally an empty stone train coming back - the latter more so now that GBRf have the Bardon contract). Mantle Lane, at the other end of the single line, is open regularly for two shifts - it sees a bit more traffic, with an occasional rake of wagons stabling there and light locos running round their trains on the Down line at Bardon Hill (coming to Mantle Lane to cross over to the Up). Moira West Jcn box (which controls Lounge Jcn) is only open as required though.

 

[Mugby]

How about Pye Bridge to Kirkby Lane End Junction? Since Thoresby Colliery closed earlier this year, is there any imported coal traffic (or any traffic) on this double track section?

 

[RichmondCommu]

How about Pye Bridge to Kirkby Lane End Junction? Since Thoresby Colliery closed earlier this year, is there any imported coal traffic (or any traffic) on this double track section?

That's a good shout and I can only think that it might be used to move empty stock to and from Etches Park. It can only have been re-signaled a few years a go and I do wonder why Network Rail bothered. I went up to Barrow Hill in September for the excellent LMS event and one of the signal boxes that was closed is now there.

 

[thenorthern]

Ellesmere Port to Helsby which is used by 4 trains per day in each direction.

 

[causton]

Is the Waterloo Curve that was once used by Eurostars too short to count? :P

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Dorking - Horsham ? - less than 1 tph an hour.

 

[Kentish Paul]

Castle Cary to Cogload Jcn?

I'll get my coat.

Agreed it is under used but to single it would be idiotic. As a frequent visitor to Somerton the line gets quite busy when the Taunton to Bristol line is closed for whatever reason. Talks surface every now and then about reopening the stations on the line but nothing happens.

You can take your coat off now.

 

[RichJF]

Is the Waterloo Curve that was once used by Eurostars too short to count? :P

Brixton Spur (Canterbury Road Junction) near Loughborough Junction is nearby.

Rarely used other than the odd TL diversion via Clapham or stock move by SE.

 

[Crossover]

Does the Bishop Auckland double track section ever get used as a double track? I get the feeling there may only ever be one train on the branch at a time (though hopefully that will change)

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Rufford loop!

 

[muddythefish]

How many trains a day use the Clitheroe - Hellifield line ?

 

[Crossover]

How many trains a day use the Clitheroe - Hellifield line ?

Very few. A couple of booked Sunday passenger services (though not for a few weeks as they are bustituted) - http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...15/12/13/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

Other than that, there are currently a few RHTT passes and a number of booked freight paths (most not used)

 

[RichmondCommu]

Very few. A couple of booked Sunday passenger services (though not for a few weeks as they are bustituted) - http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sea...15/12/13/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

Other than that, there are currently a few RHTT passes and a number of booked freight paths (most not used)

How frequent is the train from the cement works that runs via the S & C? As far as I know that run's at least once a week.

One other point perhaps worth mentioning here is that the company who own the cement works also own a large quarry near Kirkby Stephen. Given that there is to be a new aggregate service operating from Helwith Bridge in January 2016 I wonder whether there might be an opportunity to run trains of aggregate from Kirkby Stephen in the next few years.

 

[Taunton]

Borderlands Line, from Bidston to Wrexham, is double track with an hourly service. Just two trains provide the service, which always pass at Shotton, and the whole thing could be run as single track with one passing loop, because they don't pass anywhere else.

 

[Whistler40145]

What amount of traffic uses the Cannock line?

 

[Penmorfa]

Borderlands Line, from Bidston to Wrexham, is double track with an hourly service. Just two trains provide the service, which always pass at Shotton, and the whole thing could be run as single track with one passing loop, because they don't pass anywhere else.

Your proposal would mean that the remaining track would be completely occupied by the passenger service. There are curently two steel trains a day in and out of Shotton works. There would be no way to accomodate these services. The line also forms the only access to Merseyrail Wirral lines and frequently is traversed by engineering trains heading that way. Would you care to rethink your proposal?

 

[Whistler40145]

I wonder what the traffic was like when the Mersey, Docks & Harbour Company line connected with the Borderlands line?

 

[MarkRedon]

... Talks surface every now and then about reopening the stations on the line but nothing happens...

There is a fairly active campaign to reopen one of Langport or Somerton stations or one which would serve both towns on this long stretch which currently has no intermediate stations. See: http://www.westerngazette.co.uk/TRA...ting-station/story-28040684-detail/story.html. This "Back on Track" campaign makes reference to a second train each hour planned for 2017; I am not entirely sure what they are referring to… Can anyone enlighten us?

 

[Taunton]

I wonder what the traffic was like when the Mersey, Docks & Harbour Company line connected with the Borderlands line?

It was more substantial. We lived nearby in the 1960s-70s and iron ore trains from the Birkenhead docks to the Shotton steelworks could be hourly when a ship was in. The passenger service, which today is just two trains in service, was provided by a special batch of 12 Derby 2-car dmus, which had both cars powered to handle the surprisingly substantial gradients on the route, especially the steep pull up from Shotton into Wales, but also up to Heswall summit in both directions. The short spur into Chester was the busiest leg of the network, but surprisingly was closed in the late 1960s. Normally there were two trains an hour, at 40-20 minute intervals, giving space for an iron train in between and also helping to fit in with the Wirral electric intervals.

 

[Whistler40145]

Hazel Grove to Buxton?

 

[furnessvale]

Hazel Grove to Buxton?

I don't think so. Passenger each way every hour for 16-17hrs a day. Extras in the rush hours. Saturday and Sunday service.

Not forgetting the one freight a day which could be more, if NR could get planning permission to replace a weak bridge at Whaley Bridge. IMO, the required permission is being deliberately withheld to STOP additional freight traffic on the line.

 

[yorksrob]

I don't think so. Passenger each way every hour for 16-17hrs a day. Extras in the rush hours. Saturday and Sunday service.

Not forgetting the one freight a day which could be more, if NR could get planning permission to replace a weak bridge at Whaley Bridge. IMO, the required permission is being deliberately withheld to STOP additional freight traffic on the line.

Would it not be better going via Peak Forest anyway ?

 

[Whistler40145]

Okay.

I wonder how much traffic uses the Mid Cheshire line?

 

[furnessvale]

Would it not be better going via Peak Forest anyway ?

I presume you are talking about the freight train?

If so, the one train is going to Dowlow which avoids the long detour via Peak Forest and saves a path on the Hope Valley line. Freight from the Ashbourne line has increased dramatically and more is in prospect IF they could get more paths over the old LNW.

 

[Taunton]

Okay.

I wonder how much traffic uses the Mid Cheshire line?

I came along there only last Friday afternoon, connecting to the London train at Stockport, and was surprised to pass a substantial coal train headed from Drax to Liverpool docks. It had gone through Todmorden, down to Newton Heath, then left to Ashton, through Denton, Stockport and Altrincham (where we passed it), round the link from the Mid Cheshire to the WCML at Acton Bridge, up to Earlestown, and thence to Seaforth.

Now from Newton Heath to Earlestown must be only about 20 miles as the crow flies by a direct rail route through Manchester Victoria, but this train had been running at speed for about 3 hours between these points. I couldn't understand what it was doing on the Mid Cheshire at all.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R01106/2015/11/20/advanced

 

[Whistler40145]

Probably routed via the Mid Cheshire line due to pathing constraints around Manchester Victoria and the Chat Moss route.

 

[furnessvale]

Probably routed via the Mid Cheshire line due to pathing constraints around Manchester Victoria and the Chat Moss route.

I don't know all the gradients in the area but I wonder if Miles Platting bank is a constraint for the loaded workings, causing the lengthy diversion?

 

[Whistler40145]

Going downhill from Miles Platting with a fully loaded coal train might have been a braking problem.