Bedford to Bletchley midland (BBM)

[Kipperthecat]

Can anyone give me some information on the Bedford to Bletchley midland line ? ( Which box controls it , was there any changes re. signalling in the last few years , what traffic uses it etc. )
I am specifically looking at any changes over the last 3 years (so just before COVID )

 

[Supercoss]

Main section controlled by MV Marston Vale (Ridgmont)
fringes at Bletchley to TK ( Tring to Keynes) from Rugby SCC
and at Bedford to WH West Hampstead, Bedford workstation
was resignalled back in September 2004 (6th)

 

[Kipperthecat]

Thanks

Are any of these controlled by Westcad ?
If so, when did they get commissioned ?
Has there been any changes to traffic ?
What about vegetation along the line ?

 

[John Webb]

Prior to Christmas 2023, the Marston Vale line at the Bedford end interfaced to the late 1970s entrance-exit panel at West Hampstead. This was decommissioned and a new temporary Signalling Control Centre set up in the WH building using Siemans WestCADS workstations. The MV line SCC East workstation (WS) interfaces with the new Bedford WS at West Hampstead. I don't know what system MV SCC uses.

Changes to traffic in the last couple of years is well-documented in another thread on this Forum as class 230s from Vivarail were being used and had to be withdrawn when Vivarail collapsed.

I've no idea about vegetation along the line; have a look for a 'driver's eyeview' of the line, perhaps?

 

[Frothy_B]

These seem quite specific questions, can I enquire as to what the information will be for?

 

[Kipperthecat]

Changes to traffic in the last couple of years is well-documented in another thread on this Forum as class 230s from Vivarail were being used and had to be withdrawn when Vivarail collapsed.

That is interesting. Do you happen to know when these trains were introduced/ withdrawn ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jan 2024 ==

These seem quite specific questions, can I enquire as to what the information will be for?

Just wondering why this line had a massive jump in WSTCF’s in 2022

 

[The Planner]

Wrong Side Track Circuit Failure as people will ask.

 

[Frothy_B]

From what I gather the 230s were the primary cause of the issue. I've read different things such as not being heavy enough to reliably operate the track circuits, but I don't know for certain.

There's a couple of areas down the line that are prone to poor adhesion and seemingly flooding.

The system is MCS, installed in the early 2000s when the whole line was resignalled. The 150s didn't seem to have this problem pre-2019 and I'm not aware of there being any issues since they have started running on the line again, albeit with a reduced service currently.

The 230s were withdrawn after the collapse of Vivarail in December last year.

 

[snowball]

The 230s were withdrawn after the collapse of Vivarail in December last year.

December last year is quite recent. I think you mean the previous December.

 

[Frothy_B]

December last year is quite recent. I think you mean the previous December.

I do indeed, thankyou for the correction. Still haven't caught up that we're in 2024 yet! December 2022 was the withdrawal.

 

[Sunil_P]

When will a "normal all-day" service make a comeback. Still just four round-trips daily, is it not?

 

[GatwickDepress]

When will a "normal all-day" service make a comeback. Still just four round-trips daily, is it not?

Last I heard was late January or early February depending on staff training, but I'm sure other members will know more than I.

 

[DarloRich]

Last I heard was late January or early February depending on staff training, but I'm sure other members will know more than I.

heard the same - I will believe it when I am sat on it!

 

[al green]

From a WMT newsletter on Monday:

"We are making good progress on our train crew training programmes as we look to reinstate the full timetable on the Marston Vale Line.
We expect to reinstate the full timetable by the end of January and will make an announcement regarding the precise date as soon as possible."

 

[duffield]

Sounds pretty promising. After all that's gone on with this line, I'd seriously doubt they would mention "end of January" unless they were very confident it can be achieved. After all, they could easily have said something like "the next couple of months" if they had doubts.

I'd like to travel this line again soon, Saturday 27th January would be ideal since EMR are only running as far as Bedford from the East Midlands so the trains will be very quiet, and more importantly the lost distance services will actually be stopping at Bedford rather than requiring a change at Kettering.