Radford Junction to Trowell Junction line

[bananas]

How well used is this line? It runs through some well populated areas, and could benefit from a local service with some new stops/stations.

Of course, especially with the existing tram system continuing to require large subsidies, this will probably never happen, unless maybe some substantial development happens on the route to justify it.

But theoretically, I'm wondering about capacity: would any of these work?

• is there room in the timetable for, say, 4 tph stopping at 3 new stations (running between Nottingham and Ilkeston)
• or to give one track over to trams, maybe with passing loops where they'll fit (can you even run a tram service with a single track?)
• or to give the whole thing over to trams by rerouting existing services via Attenborough/Toton

(the last two would also involve a new tram alignment between Radford and Nottingham, but that's not what this post is about)

 

[MCR247]

How well used is this line? It runs through some well populated areas, and could benefit from a local service with some new stops/stations.

Of course, especially with the existing tram system continuing to require large subsidies, this will probably never happen, unless maybe some substantial development happens on the route to justify it.

But theoretically, I'm wondering about capacity: would any of these work?

• is there room in the timetable for, say, 4 tph stopping at 3 new stations (running between Nottingham and Ilkeston)
• or to give one track over to trams, maybe with passing loops where they'll fit (can you even run a tram service with a single track?)
• or to give the whole thing over to trams by rerouting existing services via Attenborough/Toton

(the last two would also involve a new tram alignment between Radford and Nottingham, but that's not what this post is about)

I think that any spare capacity on this line for stopping services might struggle for platform space at Nottingham.

The location of Nottingham station within the city may limit potential demand for local journeys when you consider the attractiveness of Nottingham’s buses.

Whilst the line does run through Beechdale and Wollaton, it is mostly backed onto by residential streets. I’m also not entirely sure where there’d be room to build the stations - the former Beechdale baths might’ve been a good option but that’s a little retail park now.

I think with the 2tph passengers in each direction, the line would be too busy to single, and the alignment seems quite tight so I’m not sure you’d have space to effectively 3 track parts of it (1 tram, 1 train plus passing loops for one or the other). This line/area also wouldn’t be top of my list as somewhere to extend the tram system to either - I just don’t see the demand being there personally.

 

[edwin_m]

The most likely site for a stop would be where the line passes the University of Nottingham campus. There's probably space there, and it is on the section also served by the Robin Hood Line which technically takes it out of scope for this thread but might allow a better service than otherwise.

I think there would be space for a stop at Radford Bridge Road, but not particularly good catchment and too close to the above to have both. There were some colliery exchange sidings here at one time. Trowell Road or Wollaton Vale would be a good locations for the surrounding areas if stations were being considered, but might not have enough space.

 

[2001olib]

How well used is this line? It runs through some well populated areas, and could benefit from a local service with some new stops/stations.

Of course, especially with the existing tram system continuing to require large subsidies, this will probably never happen, unless maybe some substantial development happens on the route to justify it.

But theoretically, I'm wondering about capacity: would any of these work?

• is there room in the timetable for, say, 4 tph stopping at 3 new stations (running between Nottingham and Ilkeston)
• or to give one track over to trams, maybe with passing loops where they'll fit (can you even run a tram service with a single track?)
• or to give the whole thing over to trams by rerouting existing services via Attenborough/Toton

(the last two would also involve a new tram alignment between Radford and Nottingham, but that's not what this post is about)

The bus from ilkeston would still probably be prefered. The location of ilkeston station isnt exactly ideal, plus the erewash valley can be busy at time meaning there wouldnt be much space to turn trains. Not the mention the previously mentioned location of nottingham station. I think the tram is a non starter, to ilkeston atleast. Even though a return journey on the train would be cheaper than both bus and tram, the bus is a far more convenient option.

 

[duffield]

IMHO any spare capacity on this line should be used to increase the Nottingham to Sheffield service to 3 tph with another all-stations service like the Leeds one. But I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be the capacity at Sheffield, so maybe an all stations Nottingham - Chesterfield shuttle would be useful (it could turn back in the underused P3). In reality though the best we're likely to get is longer units on the Nottingham-Leeds service when Leeds P17 is lengthened.

 

[158756]

The most likely site for a stop would be where the line passes the University of Nottingham campus. There's probably space there, and it is on the section also served by the Robin Hood Line which technically takes it out of scope for this thread but might allow a better service than otherwise.

I think there would be space for a stop at Radford Bridge Road, but not particularly good catchment and too close to the above to have both. There were some colliery exchange sidings here at one time. Trowell Road or Wollaton Vale would be a good locations for the surrounding areas if stations were being considered, but might not have enough space.

I'm surprised a station at the university campus has never been proposed (AFAIK). It wouldn't really compete well with buses for travel to the city centre, but as a destination and a more convenient station for the hospital, main university site and a large swathe of the city it surely has potential. A sticking point might be that it'd really need the Leeds/Liverpool/Norwich trains to call for the wider range of connections.

 

[MCR247]

I'm surprised a station at the university campus has never been proposed (AFAIK). It wouldn't really compete well with buses for travel to the city centre, but as a destination and a more convenient station for the hospital, main university site and a large swathe of the city it surely has potential. A sticking point might be that it'd really need the Leeds/Liverpool/Norwich trains to call for the wider range of connections.

I think that’s probably one the main reasons it hasn’t been. This flow would be the stations ‘bread and butter’ and would be the basis of getting all passing services to stop. The passengers travelling to other places would then be able to benefit. I don’t think the passenger numbers for elsewhere would make financial case work on their own