2026 New Track Coverage

[Turbo004]

22nd March:

DISASTER!

Sunday 1113 Kings Cross to Hull (1H03) is listed in PSUL as going Loversall Carr Jn - Doncaster Flyover West - Decoy South Jn - Decay North.

However, on 22nd March 2026, it went under Doncaster Flyover straight through to Decoy North and Doncaster P4, despite being early at Loversall Carr! Is that normal, or I was just unlucky?

OK, that was disappointing, I thought. Let's try the up-side loop. Just when I thought I had plenty of time to cross to P8 to catch the 1305 Doncaster to KGX (1143 ex-Bradford Interchange 1A83), the latter turned up 14min late, was replatformed to P3, and also went under Doncaster Flyover, instead of Decoy North Jn - Doncaster Flyover West - Doncaster Flyover East - Loversall Carr.

Such is life!

A long time ago when I tried both these PSUL's they both took two attempts. Hopefully the same happens for you. When i did it they were totally different services but it must have been about 10 years ago. I think you can check these days on Real Time Trains on a week by week basis in the detailed view to see if the trains take booked route. The timing point to see if there was a time would be Doncaster Flyover West. Hope that helps.

 

[xotGD]

A long time ago when I tried both these PSUL's they both took two attempts. Hopefully the same happens for you. When i did it they were totally different services but it must have been about 10 years ago. I think you can check these days on Real Time Trains on a week by week basis in the detailed view to see if the trains take booked route. The timing point to see if there was a time would be Doncaster Flyover West. Hope that helps.

I did the flyover southbound when I just happened to be on the right train from Leeds to King's Cross one day. An unplanned bonus.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

The rare Rochdale Platform 2 is in use today thanks to engineering works (2.5tph).

 

[Sunil_P]

I did the flyover southbound when I just happened to be on the right train from Leeds to King's Cross one day. An unplanned bonus.

This isn't about the flyover per se (I've done it in both directions in any case!), these are the down side loop connecting the main line at Loversall Carr Jn with Doncaster Flyover West Jn (which should have been done on 1H03), and the up loop connecting Doncaster Flyover East Jn with Loversall Carr Jn on the main line (which should have been done on 1A83).

BTW the flyover is now a PSUL route (since the December '25 timetable change), given that most Lincoln line trains have been switched to use Black Carr - Bessacarr Jns (I still need to do the latter northbound!).

PS. thanks @Turbo004 for the advice!

 

[pokemonsuper9]

The rare Rochdale Platform 2 is in use today thanks to engineering works (2.5tph).View attachment 201249

In total today's new track

Rochdale Platform 2
Crossover to arrive in Platform 2 from the North

Stalybridge North Jn -> P1 -> Guide Bridge
Manchester Airport P1 (and crossover to go towards Heald Green)

 

[NER1621]

28 March
Eaglescliffe to York and return using the low-level freight lines avoiding Northallerton station (because of p.way work in the station itself)

Can also be done tomorrow.

 

[Sunil_P]

30th March:

Barking bay P3 (District Line) departure (arrival done in 2018)
Dagenham East bay platform arrival/departure

 

[Sunil_P]

9th April:

Bull Street to Millennium Point
Millennium Point to Corporation St
The West Midlands Metro (partial) extension towards Eastside opened last weekend, though at the new junction at the moment, you can only do Bull Street TO Albert Street, and Albert Street TO Corporation Street.

(also reprised Corporation St to Bull St both ways to account for the new junction)

 

[Techniquest]

13/04/2026

My first new track in quite some time, with exception to the bay platform at Shaw & Crompton in late February:

Bull Street to Millenium Point
Millenium Point to Corporation Street

That’s the Midland Metro re-ticked for the time being. Roll on the new extension to Merry Hill!

 

[steamybrian]

15/04/2026

Thornton Junction to Leven

18/04/2026

Robertsbridge Junction to Northbridge Street Level Crossing (Rother Valley Railway)

 

[route101]

Took two services which took me over some new track.

Sheffield to York - Section from Rotherham up to Church Fenton is new.

Leeds to York - section beyond Castleford to Chuch Fenton is new.

Regret not doing a Leeds to Selby service as it covers the Eastern curve at Church Fenton.

 

[Sunil_P]

19th April:

Retford P2 (high level) to Thrumpton West Jn (low level line), both ways.
1345 from Worksop to Retford, 1414 from Retford in the current timetable

 

[Andy Pacer]

Dont usually post a lot in this thread (mainly as I don't have a lot to go at) but did the Bury St Edmunds to Cambridge (via Newmarket) section yesterday. Nice to go somewhere I've not been !

 

[Turbo004]

April 20th Watford - Rickmansworth direct (Watford North curve)

 

[Turbo004]

Harlesden Junction - Acton Central Wharf Junction

Acton Wells Junction - Mitre Bridge Junction

Both completed on 1st May on the InterCity 125 tour which I took from Stoke on Trent to Reading.

 

[route101]

Camp Hill Line on WMR.

Wolverhampton Tram Extension to the Railway Station.

 

[Techniquest]

Toddington to Broadway on the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Steam Railway

 

[pokemonsuper9]

The crossover at Stalybridge Junction to go to Platform 3 from Victoria
Guide Bridge - Stockport southbound (not single line sections)
Stockport Platform 3a (And associated crossover from Reddish South) - a very welcome surprise
Manchester Piccadilly Platform 11
Manchester Piccadilly Platform 8
The crossover just to the east of Manchester Victoria Platform 6

 

[Sunil_P]

10th May:

Reading Spur Jn to Reading New Jn "westbound" only
Done on a CrossCountry engineering diversion from Guildford to Reading (the connection from the former SR route to the GWR main line). Did the analogous connection "eastbound" via the underpass back in summer 2023.

 

[Techniquest]

10/05/2026

Wallingford to Cholsey (Cholsey & Wallingford Railway)

I was in the area on a cycling mission and remembered on the train to Radley that the heritage railway was nearby. When I saw trains were running and only £5 for the whole day, I jumped at the chance to combine my two loves!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

13/05/26

Bull Street - Millennium Point
Albert Street - Corporation Street

 

[Sunil_P]

17th May:

Connection to/from Grove Park P1 from/to the main line.
Direct London Bridge to Bromley North service today due to engineering on the Bromley South line.

#smallbeer

 

[Cambus731]

Did the Bromley North trains down and up on Sunday so that would have done a small bit of track and at least one crossover I’ve never done before. Didn’t need to update my Baker Atlas as they aren’t shown in there.

 

[Ziggy3legs]

Retford P2 (high level) to Thrumpton West Jn (low level) both ways.
Big shout out and many thanks to Sunil_P for posting this. I'd been looking to tick this off (or is it ink it in?) for several years but the services were too inconvenient being early morning /late evening. Until now! I hadn't picked up the latest change on PSUL. So once again, thanks for posting!

 

[xotGD]

Wensleydale Railway: Leeming Bar - Scruton

 

[Sunil_P]

Retford P2 (high level) to Thrumpton West Jn (low level) both ways.
Big shout out and many thanks to Sunil_P for posting this. I'd been looking to tick this off (or is it ink it in?) for several years but the services were too inconvenient being early morning /late evening. Until now! I hadn't picked up the latest change on PSUL. So once again, thanks for posting!

You're very welcome!


I note that Darlington has some new track/platforms, can anyone confirm the Up trains towards York all go outside the old train shed now?

 

[xotGD]

You're very welcome!


I note that Darlington has some new track/platforms, can anyone confirm the Up trains towards York all go outside the old train shed now?

Don't you use Real Time Trains, Dr P?

A 10 second search gives you the answer...


...yes!

 

[Sunil_P]

Don't you use Real Time Trains, Dr P?

A 10 second search gives you the answer...


...yes!

Um, thanks. I thought as much. Oh, well, I can work it into a trip to/from the Thornton West to North curve

 

[Techniquest]

Don't you use Real Time Trains, Dr P?

A 10 second search gives you the answer...


...yes!

In all fairness, unless one has been following the updates then it’s a reasonable question. I absolutely have not followed the progress, I heard the new platforms have opened as Geoff Marshall’s done a video on it. Not watched it as I unsubscribed when he started doing members-only videos.

Yes I am aware that’s probably petty but I have better things to do and other YouTubers to watch!

Fair to say my next trip through Darlington will feel strange!

 

[Kite159]

Um, thanks. I thought as much. Oh, well, I can work it into a trip to/from the Thornton West to North curve

At least these days the North curve is a lot easier with an hourly service towards Leven, compared to what it used to be like. On the other hand the south curve is now the hard one in that area.

Shows how some pieces of track can go from a half hourly service before the post Covid cuts to hardly anything. And how some pieces of track go the opposite direction.