How could Ely station be improved for service disruption?

saismee · 2026-09-03T03:20:33+0100

Split from: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...tr-great-northern.283224/page-44#post-7929906

MikeWM said:
While I agree Ely station could use more capacity, I'm not sure what can be realistically done - another platform is presumably never going to happen and they already make good use of the platforms they have. Maybe more use could be made of the down goods loop, though it is already irregularly used for out-of-place stock.

I had the thought that the goods lines that run parallel to the station could be turned into a fourth platform to accommodate more terminating services, thereby allowing some (or all) of the King's Lynn services to terminate at Ely instead of Cambridge when the Fen Line falls apart. It seems that the bridge next to the station might be in the way.

RailUK Forums

MikeWM · 2026-09-03T11:22:36+0100

saismee said:
I had the thought that the goods lines that run parallel to the station could be turned into a fourth platform to accommodate more terminating services, thereby allowing some (or all) of the King's Lynn services to terminate at Ely instead of Cambridge when the Fen Line falls apart. It seems that the bridge next to the station might be in the way.

I don't think there is space even if you ignore the bridge issue, without taking some land (and raising it) from the Kings School playing fields opposite, which presumably is a non-starter.

The station site is rather constrained in all directions, unfortunately. Even a south-facing island platform doesn't seem possible to fit in given the length of train it would have to accommodate to be of any use.

Magdalia · 2026-09-03T11:34:30+0100

saismee said:
I had the thought that the goods lines that run parallel to the station could be turned into a fourth platform to accommodate more terminating services, thereby allowing some (or all) of the King's Lynn services to terminate at Ely instead of Cambridge when the Fen Line falls apart. It seems that the bridge next to the station might be in the way.

There is only one goods line crossing the road at the north end of the station, and it is on a separate bridge from the other lines.

How would passengers get to and from this platform? I doubt that it would be possible to extend the subway that links platforms 2 and 3 to platform 1.

saismee · 2026-09-03T11:40:14+0100

MikeWM said:
I don't think there is space even if you ignore the bridge issue, without taking some land (and raising it) from the Kings School playing fields opposite, which presumably is a non-starter.

It certainly would eat up some of their land, there's no way around it.

Magdalia said:
How would passengers get to and from this platform? I doubt that it would be possible to extend the subway that links platforms 2 and 3 to platform 1.

Because of how the subway curves I also don't think it would be possible to extend it. I hate the subway's ramps and I think a new footbridge with lifts would be just about the only way.

Is there any other way to allow trains to terminate at Ely? Or is it just a case of GN not doing it because they don't want to, rather than it being impossible...

HamworthyGoods · 2026-09-03T11:45:12+0100

saismee said:
Split from: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...tr-great-northern.283224/page-44#post-7929906

I had the thought that the goods lines that run parallel to the station could be turned into a fourth platform to accommodate more terminating services, thereby allowing some (or all) of the King's Lynn services to terminate at Ely instead of Cambridge when the Fen Line falls apart. It seems that the bridge next to the station might be in the way.

So where do you put the freight trains being impacted by the same service disruption as passenger services if you take away the good loop?

saismee · 2026-09-03T11:54:47+0100

HamworthyGoods said:
So where do you put the freight trains being impacted by the same service disruption as passenger services if you take away the good loop?

I don't completely understand the layout, but there looks to be two loops. I'm sure you could get away with just one. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Another option would be another loop. Maybe an up loop north of the station between the two bridges? I don't see how the existing loop isn't enough.

dosxuk · 2026-09-03T11:58:36+0100

From Google Maps there appears to be a large amount of land between the existing tracks and the boundary adjacent to the fields. There is loads of room to the south side of the station for an additional platform and two tracks without encroaching on the fields.

This would never be a zero-cost project. Extending the subway would be cheap compared to building a new platform and providing new lines. Small bits of land are cheap compared to signals and points.

saismee said:
I don't completely understand the layout, but there looks to be two loops. I'm sure you could get away with just one. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Another option would be another loop. Maybe an up loop north of the station between the two bridges? I don't see how the existing loop isn't enough.

You can't run around a train if you've only got one track available.

saismee · 2026-09-03T12:08:09+0100

dosxuk said:
From Google Maps there appears to be a large amount of land between the existing tracks and the boundary adjacent to the fields. There is loads of room to the south side of the station for an additional platform and two tracks without encroaching on the fields.

This would never be a zero-cost project. Extending the subway would be cheap compared to building a new platform and providing new lines. Small bits of land are cheap compared to signals and points.

You can't run around a train if you've only got one track available.

I see. The loop doesn't need to be ripped up, just given a platform face. It could be cheaped out on by giving it a shorter platform (does Ely currently fit 12-coach trains?) to support the EMR, XC, and GA services. The existing long platforms can be used for the terminating trains.

Magdalia · 2026-09-03T12:49:51+0100

saismee said:
I don't completely understand the layout, but there looks to be two loops. I'm sure you could get away with just one. Please correct me if I am wrong.

You are wrong!

The main use for the loops is to fit the Felixstowe Intermodals between the passenger trains, especially over the single line between Ely Dock and Soham.

saismee said:
Another option would be another loop. Maybe an up loop north of the station between the two bridges? I don't see how the existing loop isn't enough.

It would not be long enough. The Intermodals are very long trains.

saismee said:
It could be cheaped out on by giving it a shorter platform (does Ely currently fit 12-coach trains?) to support the EMR, XC, and GA services. The existing long platforms can be used for the terminating trains.

The Ely platforms are all long enough for 12 cars. Furthermore, I think that they all have permissive working so that they can be shared by an 8 car train and a 2/3 car train. Platform 3 is booked to be used this way every weekday.

dk1 · 2026-09-03T17:34:57+0100

I have always found that Ely copes fairly well with service disruption. Platforms are all permissive and staff soon empty a train if it’s required out of the way into the down sidings to make space.

saismee · 2026-09-03T19:47:30+0100

Magdalia said:
It would not be long enough. The Intermodals are very long trains.

I should clarify that I meant a loop for shunting the passenger trains in/out.

dk1 said:
I have always found that Ely copes fairly well with service disruption. Platforms are all permissive and staff soon empty a train if it’s required out of the way into the down sidings to make space.

It is probably GN who need to perform better during disruption then. Make a bit more use of the platforms for terminating trains, even at a reduced service.

dk1 · 2026-09-03T21:08:07+0100

saismee said:
I should clarify that I meant a loop for shunting the passenger trains in/out.

It is probably GN who need to perform better during disruption then. Make a bit more use of the platforms for terminating trains, even at a reduced service.

To be fair their trains are the longest and have involvement in longer single line sections. They also have more complex traincrew issues.

How could Ely station be improved for service disruption?

saismee

Established Member

RailUK Forums

MikeWM

Established Member

Magdalia

Established Member

saismee

Established Member

HamworthyGoods

Established Member

saismee

Established Member

dosxuk

Established Member

saismee

Established Member

Magdalia

Established Member

dk1

Veteran Member

saismee

Established Member

dk1

Veteran Member