Could the Braintree branch gain a passing loop and half hourly service?

[adrock1976]

I think even if the intermediates were served hourly* you still couldn't do 2tph on the current single line.

*Freeport would probably justify both 2tph.

No doubt part of the recent usage fall may be attributable to the never-ending GEML weekend engineering works. Note also that the service is already a shuttle on Sundays; it would be interesting to see how usage compares.


Cynically, if people drive to Witham, then the traffic isn't lost to rail, and some parking revenue comes in the door....

Was the Braintree branch ever double track or did it ever have passing loops?

If a loop or a section of double track is installed, this would allow a half hourly frequency shuttle to operate.

 

[30907]

No to both, though from satellite imagery I'd hazard a guess the earthworks might have been built for double track. The line was so quiet in the 50s that some trains were operated by railbus (I didn't remember - I googled images of the stations)!
The area is open enough for a loop either side of White Notley, though, if desired.

 

[Non Multi]

Was the Braintree branch ever double track or did it ever have passing loops?

If a loop or a section of double track is installed, this would allow a half hourly frequency shuttle to operate.

Looking at the NLS archive maps there were passing loops at Cressing (formerly Bulford) and Braintree. The line originally continued all the way to Bishop's Stortford.

 

[4-SUB 4732]

Cressing seems the smartest place - very isolated.

Either way, Braintree should be half-hourly; but how you’d achieve that is interesting.

You could portion off the Ipswich / attach some from Colchester Town etc to remove that one; meaning only an Ipswich and Clacton for stations between Witham and Colchester.

The alternative is to amend the paths so Braintree is a shuttle off peak?

 

[30907]

Looking at the NLS archive maps there were passing loops at Cressing (formerly Bulford) and Braintree.

Cressing had no second platform though - photos show it was a double-ended goods siding and unsignalled.

 

[Class 170101]

Cressing seems the smartest place - very isolated.

Either way, Braintree should be half-hourly; but how you’d achieve that is interesting.

You could portion off the Ipswich / attach some from Colchester Town etc to remove that one; meaning only an Ipswich and Clacton for stations between Witham and Colchester.

The alternative is to amend the paths so Braintree is a shuttle off peak?

The problem with attaching is that you would have to run wrong road from Kelvedon Crossovers to Witham.