Marshlink Line 9 Week Closure

[Ibex]

It has been announced that a 9 week closure of the Marshlink line from Ashford International to Hastings will take place from 9th January despite local protest.

The closure is to allow Network Rail to carry out work on the Ore tunnel, replace bridges at Three Oaks and Doleham, and also maintenence of the embankments at Ashford International and Ham Street. There will also be track improvements between Rye and Hastings to allow for a line speed increase in the future.

Replacement buses and taxis will operate over the 9 week period.

Full article here.

 

[Nym]

That mean that TPE can borrow Marshlink's turbostars to deal with their chronic overcrowding while it's being done? Then a'la scotrail just keep them?

 

[OxtedL]

Announced a long time ago now. http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=53254

Would be nice to think that they'd take this opportunity to do something useful at all (to the rest of the line, other than to the tunnel), because 9 weeks is a long time...

I imagine the stock will just sit in Selhurst. Would be nice to lengthen some of the worse Uckfield workings, but given it's only a short term thing even that might not be a good idea.

 

[Ibex]

Oh embarrasing, I do apologise - that's what I get for not searching the forum beforehand.

 

[OxtedL]

Well, no, not necessarily, it is new news in that it has now been confirmed, and that thread is quite old, so a new one is probably fine. [Comma.]

I'm impressed by the Southern train in the BBC News article.

Thinking through your point a bit more Nym, the 171s are pretty much incompatible in their present form, so there's no chance of them going anywhere. But of course you knew that.

 

[Nym]

Nothing to stop them being used on independant diagrams, didn't mean to interwork them with anything else, although it would depend on drivers signing 171s... And yes I do know compatabilities

 

[ushawk]

The 171s will be running the normal diagrams between Brighton and Hastings as there arent any 377s to run them instead. No idea what will happen on the weekends, as usually when there is weekend work on the marshlink, the 171s are usually replaced by 377s.

I also dont know why the locals are protesting, its improving the line for a better service. If the service wasnt improved, they would complain again, no pleasing some people.

 

[Nym]

Wonder if they could lay 3rd rail while they're at it...

Throw the substations in later, just lay the rail while in a total possession..

 

[ushawk]

Would be nice but it isnt happening, even if it was to be electrified now - would Southern have the units to run a service ?

 

[Nym]

Just fudge the numbers on their 377/6 order to tack on more for Marshlink...

 

[ushawk]

Maybe move possible spare 455's down - would be fine running shuttles on the route - although this is a different topic altogether

 

[swt_passenger]

Well, no, not necessarily, it is new news in that it has now been confirmed, and that thread is quite old, so a new one is probably fine...

I disagree with the idea that it has just been 'confirmed'.

Engineering work closures of this nature are not announced on a basis of 'pending public consultation' - so it was never in doubt from the time it was first announced.

 

[ushawk]

Think the closure was announced in late October with the timetable of replacement services being announced last month.

Should also be posted that Southern are doing a special offer with tickets on the Marshlink route during the closure, detailed in this link - http://www.southernrailway.com/sout...works-southern-announces-special-fares-offer/

EDIT - looking at the past articles on the BBC News website, it was actually first posted in September, not October.

 

[OxtedL]

I disagree with the idea that it has just been 'confirmed'.

Engineering work closures of this nature are not announced on a basis of 'pending public consultation' - so it was never in doubt from the time it was first announced.

Well, it's nice to think it was, though...

 

[tempests1]

I disagree with the idea that it has just been 'confirmed'.

Engineering work closures of this nature are not announced on a basis of 'pending public consultation' - so it was never in doubt from the time it was first announced.

The work is going ahead AMCO (Amalagamated Construction) are undertaking the work as the contractor to Network Rail in addition the company will be also be attending to Bo Peep Tunnel at the same time. Dyer & Butler will be completing work on various bridges and culverts on the Rye Single Line. People will always moan but I believe Ore Tunnel is in a complete state and the work is essiential otherwise the tunnel could be totally out of compliance and would be shut down in the near future as a safety of the line issue. The local MP was very vocal on the issue but considering they are not a railway engineer or have a good understanding of the industry their views can very quickly be discounted

 

[IanXC]

That mean that TPE can borrow Marshlink's turbostars to deal with their chronic overcrowding while it's being done? Then a'la scotrail just keep them?

Wheres that like button got to!

Should also be posted that Southern are doing a special offer with tickets on the Marshlink route during the closure, detailed in this link - http://www.southernrailway.com/sout...works-southern-announces-special-fares-offer/

Top marks to Southern - 50% off for an period extending slightly longer than the closure. IMHO this should be the norm in situations like this.

 

[atomicdanny]

Shame though that they couldn't double track the single track parts and add third rail at the same time, but that's wishful thinking though !

 

[ushawk]

The work is going ahead AMCO (Amalagamated Construction) are undertaking the work as the contractor to Network Rail in addition the company will be also be attending to Bo Peep Tunnel at the same time. Dyer & Butler will be completing work on various bridges and culverts on the Rye Single Line. People will always moan but I believe Ore Tunnel is in a complete state and the work is essiential otherwise the tunnel could be totally out of compliance and would be shut down in the near future as a safety of the line issue. The local MP was very vocal on the issue but considering they are not a railway engineer or have a good understanding of the industry their views can very quickly be discounted

Im assuming the bit highlighted in bold will be done overnight/during weekends ?

 

[robertclark125]

Those moaning about the closure ought to ask this; would they rather have no work done, and then an accident occurs through neglect?

 

[tempests1]

Im assuming the bit highlighted in bold will be done overnight/during weekends ?

Bo Peep Tunnel
I could have been clearer it will be weekends!

Week 44 - 0145 Sun 28th to 0400 Mon 30th January 2012
Week 45 - 0145 Sat 04th to 0400 Mon 06th February 2012

 

[TheJRB]

Shame though that they couldn't double track the single track parts and add third rail at the same time, but that's wishful thinking though !

How nice it would be!

I think they're going to look into removing some of the Permanent Speed Restrictions on the line, specifically the one on the viaduct just outside Ashford station, but that might have been or will be on another occasion.

It's a line that could do with some extra care (and electrification!) as it's very popular and can get quite badly overcrowded. It deserves better than a two car diesel, but then a lot of lines can say that too.

I see that the adult return fare to Brighton via Tonbridge and Redhill (which takes around 2 hours 20 minutes) is £15 during this closure. Seems quite a good deal!

 

[paul1609]

A balanced view of the works whats being carried out is in our local rail groups blog at : http://marshlinkaction.wordpress.com/
The rail groups view is that the condition of ORE tunnel has forced Network Rail in to carrying out some long overdue maintenance on the line that has been allowed to run down over a long period.
Unfortunately electrification of Marshlink is not as simple as it may seem as with the exception of Hastings and Ashford the station platforms are between 1 to 3 coaches long and a lot of the track is close to life expired.
Personally I think the time for DC electrification has now passed and we should be pushing for AC to become an extension of the High Speed Line as this is our natural route up to town now,

The 171s are apparently being used to test a new composite brake pad on the Brighton Main Line during the closure. Understand that if any 170s come on the market Southern will be looking to snap up an extra 2 units for conversion to more 171s for the Uckfield Line where passengers numbers have more than doubled since the 171s were introduced,

No units will be moving north anytime soon.

 

[richardm]

To be fair to the user groups and local MP, they knew about the blockade some months in advance. The question was never about whether Ore Tunnel would have to be closed for the work, rather that the service should have re-started as a shuttle between Rye and Ashford.

Unfortunately this wasn't deemed practical by the TOC because the drivers are based in Eastbourne, and the diesel units mainly at St Leonards.