Barnt Green to Bromsgrove Electrification - What is the status ?

[PhilipW]

Can anyone update on the status of the electrification extension from Barnt Greeen to Bromsgrove ?

My understanding is that the Government has approved the scheme and that money is available, but the sticking point is the funding for the new station at Bromsgrove. Unless there is a new station which allows trains to turnaround there, there is no point in proceeding with the electrification works. The funding for the station is partly coming from local councils.

So, has funding for the new station been agreed ?
If so, when is work expected to start ?

 

[The Planner]

Still sitting in GRIP 4 on our side, which is the final option stage. No idea if funding has been agreed but it won't start until the Redditch scheme has finished which isn't planned until 2013 .

 

[swt_passenger]

The Oct 11 update to the CP4 enhancement plan included:

The third party funding intended for the relocation of Bromsgrove Station, a prerequisite for electrification and the extension of the Cross City Line services, remains unsecured and is now in doubt. The scheme is therefore on hold with consequent slippage of programme dates.

...confirming the planner's understanding.

 

[lancastrian]

Can anyone update on the status of the electrification extension from Barnt Greeen to Bromsgrove ?

My understanding is that the Government has approved the scheme and that money is available, but the sticking point is the funding for the new station at Bromsgrove. Unless there is a new station which allows trains to turnaround there, there is no point in proceeding with the electrification works. The funding for the station is partly coming from local councils.

So, has funding for the new station been agreed ?
If so, when is work expected to start ?

In stead of stopping at bromsgrove, surely the best thing to do would be to continue through to Worcester Shrubb Hill and turn the service around there. plus the benefit of extending the overhead along the Birmingham to Bristol route.

 

[The Planner]

Not enough units and the infrastructure wouldnt support 3tph after Stoke Works.

 

[Schnellzug]

Are they really? Why's that? So they can use electric traction up the Lickey for hybrid Voyagers? Perhaps they'll change engines on freights to 92s at Bromsgrove.

 

[Class172]

What The Planner is referring to is the fact there is a single line section between Stoke Works Jct - Droitwich Spa. I also guess you would be pushing the limits of the semaphores at Droitwich/Worcester, on top of the 2tph Snow Hill services.

Personally, I don't see how Bromsgrove will justify all the trains it will get as part of the Cross-city extension.

Following electrification it will have 3tph on stopping Cross-city services and an additional 1tph on BHM-HFD runs; I have used Bromsgrove myself and it is not as busy as other nearby stations (no names mentioned). I would rather see Barnt Green used as an interchange station than Bromsgrove as it is more ideally situated for trains to Redditch.

Following this I don't think Bromsgrove then deserves to be served at all by the peak hour 'extra' BHM-GMV services as it will already have 4tph from Birmingham (3 Cross-city; 1 BHM-HFD).

Surely it would just be easier to give the line 2tph throughout the day to at least Worcester (as in the current 170 operated services). In an ideal world though, I would want electrification to Worcester and extend Cross-cities to there.

 

[The Planner]

Personally, I don't see how Bromsgrove will justify all the trains it will get as part of the Cross-city extension.

Supressed demand, new station and a big car park and the people will use it.

In an ideal world though, I would want electrification to Worcester and extend Cross-cities to there.

Not.a.chance.

 

[Class172]

Supressed demand, new station and a big car park and the people will use it.

Same could be said for other places…

Not.a.chance.

I did say in an ideal world; I am aware of things that would prevent it.

 

[The Planner]

Same could be said for other places…

I don't disagree, but Bromsgrove were prepared to stump up a load of cash towards it, that is the difference.