Calder Valley Line

[willbaforceday]

I semi regularly travel on the Calder Valley line and have started to wonder a few things. Why is the ride always so rough in the tunnel between Low Moor and Bradford? Partway through it starts and then jumps around a bit, but has a strange noise too (same thing happens in the tunnel next to New Pudsey.) And why is the approach to New Pudsey from Bradford side always so slow?

 

[dodecahedron67]

I semi regularly travel on the Calder Valley line and have started to wonder a few things. Why is the ride always so rough in the tunnel between Low Moor and Bradford? Partway through it starts and then jumps around a bit, but has a strange noise too (same thing happens in the tunnel next to New Pudsey.) And why is the approach to New Pudsey from Bradford side always so slow?

New Pudsey bradford side has a 30mph limit through the tunnel - I think it’s actually quite a deceivingly tight curve inside the tunnel

As for rough riding, that’s just the joy of the CAF build quality on the 195s…

 

[thejuggler]

The whole of south Bradford is littered with former mineworkings (I've seen an adit 18m below ground level not far from Bradford Interchange), some workings are shallower than this (just 1-2m in some areas). This can cause subsidence and uneven rails.

During construction of Low Moor station they found at least one mineshaft.

Slow approach to New Pudsey is due to the 30 limit. After years of using the line its probably due to the 'S' curve the tunnel lies on, the station is on a curve and you really notice it on the Leeds bound platform.

There is also the gradient on the line towards Leeds to consider. Theres a 30m drop in elevation from the highest point near Laisterdyke to New Pudsey station.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

New Pudsey bradford side has a 30mph limit through the tunnel - I think it’s actually quite a deceivingly tight curve inside the tunnel

As for rough riding, that’s just the joy of the CAF build quality on the 195s…

I raise you Bramhope Tunnel in the early 90s at 60mph on a Class 141!

 

[Rikki Lamb]

I raise you Bramhope Tunnel in the early 90s at 60mph on a Class 141!

Those things moved well in Morley tunnel too. The doors would fly open when a cl158 on TPE duties whizzed past.