Hitchin to Stotfold Rd down line

[William3000]

Just north of Hitchin the Cambridge line forks off to the north east. Heading northbound trains now use the grade separated curve which means trains to Cambridge and King’s Lynn don’t have to use the ladder crossing which blocks paths.

My question is: is the original down line ever used for workings, because since the grade separation opened I’ve never used it (is it used for freight where the incline of the grade separation is too great), and secondly would there be any merit in making the former line bi-directional to effectively provide de facto three tracking south west of Letchworth?

 

[Robin Edwards]

I think I'm right in saying that the flyover that takes the Cambridge-bound down trains from Hitchin, is only used for passenger units with the heavier freight workings still crossing on the flat north of Hitchin Station. I say this only because I once waited to photograph a particular freight working on the flyover and missed it as it had taken the old route crossing the fast lines towards Letchworth!

 

[William3000]

That makes sense. I presume it may be very occasionally used for passenger workings if the up ECML lines are clear and the King’s Lynn/Cambridge bound train is running late, but I’ve never seen it.

Freight traffic on the Hitchin to Cambridge line is very light in any case.

 

[Robin Edwards]

That makes sense. I presume it may be very occasionally used for passenger workings if the up ECML lines are clear and the King’s Lynn/Cambridge bound train is running late, but I’ve never seen it.

Freight traffic on the Hitchin to Cambridge line is very light in any case.

Yes it is but I guess the level of incline on the flyover precludes the hauling of heavy loads?

 

[swing]

I presume it may be very occasionally used for passenger workings if the up ECML lines are clear and the King’s Lynn/Cambridge bound train is running late, but I’ve never seen it.

The original line is definitely used for overtaking - a week or two back, I was on on a late running Cambridge train that was held on the flyover whilst a King's Lynn ran via the original line (in fact, I've seen this a fair few times over the years) - my memory says that when the flyover was first introduced, some trains (maybe only King's Lynn trains, as they generally don't stop at Hitchin?) were still pathed over the flat crossing, although I'e not looked to see if that's changed with the many timetable updates since.

 

[Magdalia]

Up to the 2018 timetable change there were sill a few trains booked via the old route.

 

[trebor79]

Isn't there one or two trains a day still routed over the ladder crossing to retain driver knowledge?

 

[ac6000cw]

Isn't there one or two trains a day still routed over the ladder crossing to retain driver knowledge?

That's my understanding too.

Freight traffic on the Hitchin to Cambridge line is very light in any case.

It's the normal route for the (sometimes twice) daily Hoo Junction - Whitemoor (and vv) trains, timed for 1400 tonnes, plus at present there are twice daily Willesden - Barrington spoil trains, timed for 2200 tonnes. So definitely not Ely - Peterborough levels of freight traffic, but it does have a reasonable amount - and the Barrington trains can be heavy.

Yes it is but I guess the level of incline on the flyover precludes the hauling of heavy loads?

AFAIK, yes - it's both inclined and curved (which increases rolling resistance). IIRC that's basically the reason the original flat route for down trains was retained after the flyover was opened.

 

[Zomboid]

I can't imagine they'll retain the diamond and double lead arrangement when it comes up for renewal, though. Making the old down line a reversible loop would seem to offer some benefits, but then how much traffic would it actually see? You could probably replace the ladder with a single arrangement and just signal the up line reversibly and the very few trains that wouldn't take flyover probably wouldn't get in the way enough to justify a loop.

 

[whoosh]

Just north of Hitchin the Cambridge line forks off to the north east. Heading northbound trains now use the grade separated curve which means trains to Cambridge and King’s Lynn don’t have to use the ladder crossing which blocks paths.

My question is: is the original down line ever used for workings, because since the grade separation opened I’ve never used it (is it used for freight where the incline of the grade separation is too great), and secondly would there be any merit in making the former line bi-directional to effectively provide de facto three tracking south west of Letchworth?

I think there would be merit in making the original down line bidirectional, yes. It would allow fast services in the Up direction from Cambridge/King's Lynn to gain access to the UP Fast without having to pass through Hitchin on the Up Slow - meaning if a stopping service is running late, or someone is holding the doors, or if there is a delay with a traincrew change at Hitchin, holding up a train in the platform there, the following fast train could pass it.

 

[philjo]

I was out for a walk yesterday afternoon and saw a 12 coach 700 waiting at Hitchin East junction for a Kings Lynn service coming on the old route to pass. I assume the Kings Lynn service was a few minutes late. The 700 would have been a Brighton to Cambridge service. The stopper appeared a few minutes later.