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Class 92 and the Redhill-Tonbridge line
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ChristopherJ
Repeatedly returning banned member
The electrical components used by the class 92 are not compatible with the signalling technology on the route, and the cost to eliminate the issues were deemed too expensive by Railtrack.
The Tonbridge - Redhill Line, a part of CTR3 from Tonbridge - Clapham Junction via East Croydon, was electrified and intended to be used exclusively by international freight trains - Eurostars were not permitted to use CTR3 due to loading gauge issues at East Croydon - subsequently the only benefit of electrification of the route has been the introduction of electric domestic passenger services. :roll:
You would think that the signalling would have been upgraded as well and I thought it was when the line was electrified.
The sections on the line are large so I would imagine there would not be a lot equipment to replace, but then I am not a signal engineer.
The sections on the line are large so I would imagine there would not be a lot equipment to replace, but then I am not a signal engineer.
ChristopherJ
Repeatedly returning banned member
The same compatibility issues were encountered with the CTR2 and the WCML - both of which took almost five years to resolve - remember that 92s had to be dragged from as far south as Wembley in London just to receive maintenance at Crewe IEMD? :roll: Due to the failure to secure sufficient international freight traffic, what little existing traffic that was operated was only sufficient to justify CTR1 and CTR2 - to eliminate the issues with CTR3 was not deemed cost effective due to little potential international traffic. CTR3 is today almost predominantly used as a diversionary route for freight to/from Dollands Moor - obviously hauled by diesel traction.
It was always intended that CTR3 would be the core route for Eurostar services to London, because the Tonbridge - Redhill route is comparatively flat and straight in comparison to CTR1/2 and would therefore enable scope for constant 100mph operating speeds - but as I mentioned previously the loading gauge issues at East Croydon rendered the plan.
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Sure about that? It's also quite a bit further, not easy to get to Waterloo, and was full back then (still is).
The signalling compatibility issues stretch all the way up to and beyond Croydon, which is a rather different prospect than Redhill-Tonbridge.
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