Projects you'd build but will (probably) never happen

[fandroid]

A tunnelled Metro for Leeds.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jul 2023 ==

A light rail system around Bournemouth and Poole following roughly the rail routes that were abandoned but which already had created massive satellite developments and urban sprawl.

 

[islandmonkey]

A light rail system around Bournemouth and Poole following roughly the rail routes that were abandoned but which already had created massive satellite developments and urban sprawl.

Like this, but just think that Morebus m1 and m2 could be turned into tram routes.

Apart from that, non-car and non-slow-bus methods of transport for Wimborne and Ferndown would also be good.

 

[brad465]

Reopen the Somerset & Dorset railway. In reality I suspect Bath Green Park is far too developed now to be restorable as a station without one of the best business cases possible, while there isn't really anywhere else close by that an alternative could be built at, and I imagine a connection of the GWML isn't sensible either. Without the Bath end most of the line further south has a much lesser case for reopening.

 

[lrailadventure]

Reinstate the second platforms at Ormskirk and Burscough Junction. Reopen the Burscough Curves. Extend the Liverpool to Ormskirk service to continue through to Burscough and onto Southport. Alter the Preston to Ormskirk service so it no longer serves Ormskirk or Burscough Junction, but goes around the curves and continues through to Southport.

Either a new station south of Gloucester in the Quedgeley/Kingsway area on the exisiting line or a light rail system covering Quedgeley, Gloucester, Churchdown and Cheltenham.

 

[simonw]

Reopen the Somerset & Dorset railway. In reality I suspect Bath Green Park is far too developed now to be restorable as a station without one of the best business cases possible, while there isn't really anywhere else close by that an alternative could be built at, and I imagine a connection of the GWML isn't sensible either. Without the Bath end most of the line further south has a much lesser case for reopening.

If you are going to reopening it (presumably you are a fan of buying fresh air specials) then best to get it diverted to join the gwr near Lumley stoke and run into an expanded bath spa.

 

[brad465]

If you are going to reopening it (presumably you are a fan of buying fresh air specials) then best to get it diverted to join the gwr near Lumley stoke and run into an expanded bath spa.

I think you mean Limpley Stoke, assuming you're suggesting joining the Wessex mainline near Freshford.

 

[simonw]

I think you mean Limpley Stoke, assuming you're suggesting joining the Wessex mainline near Freshford.

Yes, auto correct strikes again

 

[brad465]

Yes, auto correct strikes again

Fair enough, back to the earlier point, I doubt trains on a reopened S&D would be empty, as a number of settlements have decent populations now, like Radstock, Midsomer Norton (assuming everyone here hasn't been murdered yet), Shepton Mallet and maybe Wells (given it's not on the main old route).

South of Templecombe the area is much sparser, unless loads of passenger traffic wanted to go to Poole and Bournemouth; there was an article in RAIL (earlier this year I think) that was an opinion piece on how much slower and difficult getting a series of buses (or going via Dorchester) from Bath/Bristol to the Dorset coast is now compared to the S&D. A Border's railway situation, where only part of the route is reinstated, is more likely than full reinstatement. I do believe though while you'll get a noticeable usage, it probably isn't yet enough to justify use when considering some of the work required to reinstate it, but then, the title of the thread does say will probably never happen.

 

[The0]

A train that could run on 3rd rail to 100mph and then use a battery to push to 125mph so u could get 125mph on 3rd rail lines maybe it could tilt to take advantage of its faster speeds and the battery could re charge on 3rd rail.

 

[islandmonkey]

A train that could run on 3rd rail to 100mph and then use a battery to push to 125mph so u could get 125mph on 3rd rail lines maybe it could tilt to take advantage of its faster speeds and the battery could re charge on 3rd rail.

Anyone informed enough around here to consider how well the conductor shoe would take that?

 

[zwk500]

Anyone informed enough around here to consider how well the conductor shoe would take that?

You'd need to raise the shoe before going above 100mph and use battery power completely, rather than as a top-up. I'd be interested to know how much current the train would draw when using 3rd rail at 100mph and trying to charge the battery...

 

[MattRat]

You'd need to raise the shoe before going above 100mph and use battery power completely, rather than as a top-up. I'd be interested to know how much current the train would draw when using 3rd rail at 100mph and trying to charge the battery...

Plus it's technically possible to go 110 mph on third rail already. A 442 went that fast on a world record run. Improve the third rail system and it's entirely possible it could be done in service. And at that point, no need to spend all that time and development trying to go 125 mph on third rail.

 

[islandmonkey]

You'd need to raise the shoe before going above 100mph and use battery power completely, rather than as a top-up. I'd be interested to know how much current the train would draw when using 3rd rail at 100mph and trying to charge the battery...

Even from an idiot's perspective, third rail just seems like a massive pain. I wonder if a project I'd build but will (probably) never happen would be to uprate the third rail to 1500V DC.

 

[YourMum666]

I would convert all the third rail lines to OHLE

 

[islandmonkey]

I would convert all the third rail lines to OHLE

Yes, or this.

 

[zwk500]

Plus it's technically possible to go 110 mph on third rail already. A 442 went that fast on a world record run. Improve the third rail system and it's entirely possible it could be done in service. And at that point, no need to spend all that time and development trying to go 125 mph on third rail.

The 442 did that to prove the 10% overspeed, which is not the same as being able to do it in service.

Even from an idiot's perspective, third rail just seems like a massive pain. I wonder if a project I'd build but will (probably) never happen would be to uprate the third rail to 1500V DC.

If you were converting to anything you'd convert to 3KV DC OLE but it'll never happen.

 

[Kingston Dan]

A fly over/dive under at Haymarket East junction to take the sub onto the Fife line tracks and reinstatement of a stub from Abbeyhill junction to the Granton branch plus electrification. This would be done to create a 20 minute frequency service Morningside-Craiglockhart-Gorgie-Haymarket- Waverley-Abbeyhill-Leith Walk (for the tram). It should be possible to do it end to end in 17-18 minutes with just two diagrams (I think).

 

[Whistler40145]

Build a chord to enable Windermere services to call at Carnforth

 

[Sunil_P]

I would re-bore all the deep-level Tubes in London to 16ft tunnel diameter to allow "proper" size trains.

It'll never happen

 

[Northumbriana]

If Cambridge is to become a 'mega city' I'm guessing the new part of the city will be between the current city centre and M11. I'd suggest a new central railway station and current mainline through the city goes through this on a more South East-North West alignment.

From here the following new railway lines could radiate away:

1) HSL to a Nottingham underground station and onto a revived HS2 Eastern leg.

2) Fast line to Northampton and Bedford. The Northampton line links to the WCML and the Bedford line continues to Oxford. I guess these would be new lines to support fast speeds.

3) Cambridge - Stansted Airport* - either tunnel to Stratford or connect with the existing line between Romford and Brentwood. With a link continuing South to cross the Thames and link with HS1.

*Branch to Colchester from Stansted Airport and Stansted - Chelmsford - Southend.

4) Restored Huntingdon line.

 

[Silenos]

*Branch to Colchester from Stansted Airport and Stansted - Chelmsford - Southend.

I have a vague recollection that at one time a central Essex line was indeed proposed in future development plans for the region, connecting the strip of towns along the north side of the Thames estuary directly to Chelmsford and points north. However it was many years ago and I can’t remember where I saw it.

 

[jaybles]

Please see thread title!

Hah! If we follow that to its logical conclusion we will have eradicated and rebuilt 99% of the network!

 

[HSTEd]

Hah! If we follow that to its logical conclusion we will have eradicated and rebuilt 99% of the network!

I wonder if it would not be better if we did....

We could probably achieve the service levels of today with far less complexity if it was all modern

 

[Silenos]

I wonder if it would not be better if we did....

We could probably achieve the service levels of today with far less complexity if it was all modern

Ah, the old ‘I wouldn’t start from here if I was you’

 

[Northumbriana]

I have a vague recollection that at one time a central Essex line was indeed proposed in future development plans for the region, connecting the strip of towns along the north side of the Thames estuary directly to Chelmsford and points north. However it was many years ago and I can’t remember where I saw it.

I vaguely remember that also, wasn't there a link from Chelmsford to Billericay proposed as part of it?

Hah! If we follow that to its logical conclusion we will have eradicated and rebuilt 99% of the network!

I wonder if it would not be better if we did....

We could probably achieve the service levels of today with far less complexity if it was all modern

I wonder what the network actually would look like if we collectively got our own way? Would it be less lines but of higher quality/capacity/speed/etc perhaps?

Maybe a focus on key city hubs, connecting them to each other and connecting satellite towns to those hubs but nothing else.

 

[jaybles]

I wonder what the network actually would look like if we collectively got our own way? Would it be less lines but of higher quality/capacity/speed/etc perhaps?

Maybe a focus on key city hubs, connecting them to each other and connecting satellite towns to those hubs but nothing else.

Probably a horrible mess, with many people with different opinions and biases!

A hub and spoke model works in principle, but a lot of the country isn't laid out that way.

 

[Mikey C]

If Cambridge is to become a 'mega city' I'm guessing the new part of the city will be between the current city centre and M11. I'd suggest a new central railway station and current mainline through the city goes through this on a more South East-North West alignment.

From here the following new railway lines could radiate away:

1) HSL to a Nottingham underground station and onto a revived HS2 Eastern leg.

2) Fast line to Northampton and Bedford. The Northampton line links to the WCML and the Bedford line continues to Oxford. I guess these would be new lines to support fast speeds.

3) Cambridge - Stansted Airport* - either tunnel to Stratford or connect with the existing line between Romford and Brentwood. With a link continuing South to cross the Thames and link with HS1.

*Branch to Colchester from Stansted Airport and Stansted - Chelmsford - Southend.

4) Restored Huntingdon line.

5) A new (or massively upgraded) line between Cambridge and Norwich. That whole corridor has massive potential for high tech growth, and needs something much better than the current service.

 

[A0]

If Cambridge is to become a 'mega city' I'm guessing the new part of the city will be between the current city centre and M11. I'd suggest a new central railway station and current mainline through the city goes through this on a more South East-North West alignment.

From here the following new railway lines could radiate away:

1) HSL to a Nottingham underground station and onto a revived HS2 Eastern leg.

2) Fast line to Northampton and Bedford. The Northampton line links to the WCML and the Bedford line continues to Oxford. I guess these would be new lines to support fast speeds.

3) Cambridge - Stansted Airport* - either tunnel to Stratford or connect with the existing line between Romford and Brentwood. With a link continuing South to cross the Thames and link with HS1.

*Branch to Colchester from Stansted Airport and Stansted - Chelmsford - Southend.

4) Restored Huntingdon line.

Bit in bold - there is precisely nothing of any significance between Northampton and Cambridge - and no real demand for travel between Northampton and Bedford, nor Northampton and Cambridge. EWR will provide the connection from Cambridge to the WCML, so not sure you need something else.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Jul 2023 ==

5) A new (or massively upgraded) line between Cambridge and Norwich. That whole corridor has massive potential for high tech growth, and needs something much better than the current service.

Cambridge - Norwich services take ~ 1h 20m to cover about 70 miles with 6 stops. Northampton - London, a similar distance, takes about 1 hour to cover the same with the same number of stops. Bearing in mind the WCML is a 100 mph + mainline. I'm not sure Norwich - Cambridge can justify being uplifted to WCML standards is remotely viable. Electrifying it might give some journey time improvement, but I can't see it being uplifted to full mainline standards.

 

[jh64]

A nice straight-line high-speed viaduct from Newcastle to Carlisle so I can visit my nephews and niece in under half an hour!

 

[spyinthesky]

Nothing to build for me yet, just an integrated transport system.
The choice of where I live is mine but to get to any one of my 4 nearest stations by public transport is a journey by bus(es) and walk with journey times ranging from 49 minutes to 1 hour 21 minutes.
To get to my nearest station by public transport I must go via either 2nd or 3rd nearest station to get there.
Getting from A-B quicker seems to be the favourite on here, I just can’t get to A