16 coach trains on the BML

[London Trains]

Would it be viable to extend platforms at a limited set of stations on the BML (Victoria, Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath and Brighton) to allow 16 coach services to run along the line?

My idea would allow a 16 coach fast Brighton service to run (which would replace GX which would be removed entirely), and for Littlehampton and Eastbourne services to run together as a 16 coach train to Haywards Heath and divide like before, but allowing both portions to be 8 coaches (4 coach portions was one of the issues with the service before it was removed).

Calling patterns of 16 coach services:

2tph Victoria to Brighton (Clapham Jct, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath)

2tph Littlehampton and Eastbourne (Clapham Jct, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath, train divides and serves same stops as now)

 

[JonathanH]

Would it be viable to extend platforms at a limited set of stations on the BML (Victoria, Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath and Brighton) to allow 16 coach services to run along the line?

No. The track layout at all of those stations wouldn't allow it.

Platforms 18 and 19 at Victoria might allow 16 coach trains - see https://railforums.co.uk/threads/lo...ern-unit-stable-question.182821/#post-4008383 - but

Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport and Haywards Heath would be near impossible to extend to 16 coaches because of the space available north and south of the existing platforms and pointwork.

Likewise, the pointwork at Brighton would also prevent it (eg for access to the Lewes route and Lovers Walk).

Why do 16 coach trains need to run from Victoria to Brighton in any case? The process of running separate 8-coach trains to Littlehampton and Eastbourne is much better than what went before and any money spent on 16 coach platforms could far better be spent on something else (or just not spent).

 

[PGAT]

My goodness. Think of all the units you would need to couple for this to work. Also would a train of 350 metres need to travel slower for safety reasons?

 

[Minstral25]

Would it be viable to extend platforms at a limited set of stations on the BML (Victoria, Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath and Brighton) to allow 16 coach services to run along the line?

My idea would allow a 16 coach fast Brighton service to run (which would replace GX which would be removed entirely), and for Littlehampton and Eastbourne services to run together as a 16 coach train to Haywards Heath and divide like before, but allowing both portions to be 8 coaches (4 coach portions was one of the issues with the service before it was removed).

Calling patterns of 16 coach services:

2tph Victoria to Brighton (Clapham Jct, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath)

2tph Littlehampton and Eastbourne (Clapham Jct, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath, train divides and serves same stops as now)

Why?

More passengers use Thameslink than Victoria these days, so surely you wany 16 coach trains through the core (and spoiler - platforms too short)