A few ECML questions!

[Blillpers]

Hi!
My very first post here... I travelled on the "Highland Chieftain" from Inverness to London today, it was very smoot and we arrived exactly on time. However, I now have a few questions regarding the southern ECML.

Most of the line from Peterborough to London seemed to be four track, exept for a section south of Peterborough and a viaduct a bit futher south (Welwyn Garden City?). Has there ever been any more tracks south of Peterborough? Seems as it could be a bottleneck with only two tracks... If it was, when was the tracks removed and why?

Also, north of Kings Cross there is a tunnel with 3 tubes (Gasworks tunnel?), but only the two western tubes had tracks in them. When and why was the tracks in the easternmost tunnel removed? And how far north stretched the 6-track section?

I´m sure that I will think of more questions soon...

 

[yorkie]

Welcome to the forum

Yes there are only 3 tracks for a few miles south of Peterborough, due to rationalisation that occurred decades ago when there were many less trains.

As for Welwyn, see Welwyn Viaduct section doubling - How?

As for Copenhagen & Gasworks Tunnels, see Kings Cross tunnel.

 

[Tomnick]

Parts of the line between Huntingdon and Peterborough have only ever been two track, with an additional running line in places. It can't all be blamed on rationalisation!

 

[D365]

Should be fully four-tracked and re-electrified as per the CP5 HLOS before 2019 - this section passes along Stilton Fen, plus a new station is planned (Alconbury/Huntingdon North) in the long term as part of "Alconbury Weald". Others have beaten me to it, but if you have more questions, I am The ECML Guru

 

[MidnightFlyer]

It was discussed on here in such brief detail that I can't find where, but I believe the only track rationalisation that occurred with electrification in the 1980s was a couple of miles of one of the Slows near Conington, just south of where the lines becomes two-track only between Huntingdon and Peterborough. That said, I'm not actually sure whether Huntingdon-Peterborough has ever been fully four-track.

 

[Aictos]

It was discussed on here in such brief detail that I can't find where, but I believe the only track rationalisation that occurred with electrification in the 1980s was a couple of miles of one of the Slows near Conington, just south of where the lines becomes two-track only between Huntingdon and Peterborough. That said, I'm not actually sure whether Huntingdon-Peterborough has ever been fully four-track.

Connington Loop is the only bit remaining of the old Up Slow in that area, the rest of it got lifted either just before or during electrification.

From Holme to Huntingdon not including the loop you only have the Up Fast, Down Fast and Down Slow which is why it's a bottleneck at times.

 

[Zoe]

The 1960 Sectional Appendix shows three tracks from Huntingdon to Stukely, then four to Connington, then three to Holme, then two to Yaxley, then four to Peterborough. There's a photo of the diagram in Stukely signal box at http://www.flickr.com/photos/32297024@N08/6364234235/sizes/l/in/photostream/ showing the four tracks to Connington.

 

[D365]

There have never been four tracks directly north of Huntingdon. In fact, the station used to be on a three-track section, but it was reconstructed as it was a major bottleneck. We now have the ugly canopy and a mish-mash of buildings!

 

[Bald Rick]

Should be fully four-tracked and re-electrified as per the CP5 HLOS before 2019

I wouldn't count on 4 tracks all the way.

 

[LE Greys]

Should be fully four-tracked and re-electrified as per the CP5 HLOS before 2019 - this section passes along Stilton Fen, plus a new station is planned (Alconbury/Huntingdon North) in the long term as part of "Alconbury Weald". Others have beaten me to it, but if you have more questions, I am The ECML Guru

That's a bit different from what I've heard, which mostly concentrates on Holme or Yaxley (sometimes called 'Peterborough South'). Where would this be in relation to Abbot's Ripton?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The 1960 Sectional Appendix shows three tracks from Huntingdon to Stukely, then four to Connington, then three to Holme, then two to Yaxley, then four to Peterborough. There's a photo of the diagram in Stukely signal box at http://www.flickr.com/photos/32297024@N08/6364234235/sizes/l/in/photostream/ showing the four tracks to Connington.

Yes, Yaxley was always a double-track bottleneck. So was the old Arlesey at one point, so it was pulled down and the new one opened (closer to the site of Three Counties).

 

[Skimble19]

There have never been four tracks directly north of Huntingdon. In fact, the station used to be on a three-track section, but it was reconstructed as it was a major bottleneck. We now have the ugly canopy and a mish-mash of buildings!

What ugly canopy? Unless you're referring to the ugly building on the northbound platform that replaced the lovely old canopies and platform buildings that were on the island platform?