Henley-on-Thames every 15 minutes

[Bald Rick]

There are other units which require a 7 minute turnaround time.

And other units that need 3 minutes.

Some would come from the Regatta, some would come from Local Government and some would come from national government.

None of whom will be remotely interested in this. Hence why it will not happen.

Can you imagine the headlines, or indeed the comments on these pages, if a Government decided to invest tens of millions of pounds in a project just so that a comparatively few people, who will generally be comparatively very wealthy, have a slightly less cramped and more frequent journey to Henley once a year so they can buy their pints of Pimms at £17 a go?

 

[HSTEd]

You'd have better luck replacing the railway with a gondola ropeway of some description.

Journey time would be comparable to rail due to the low speed of the line and waiting time at peak times would be nearly zero (and very small at other times!).

If you wanted to push it, you could probably make a deal with some ski resort or other to get more cabins for the Regatta, which is obviously outside the ski season!

 

[BerkshireRails]

You seem completely off your rocker.
I know this is speculative, but your suggestions are cloud cuckoo land.

There is a bus service doing all of this, so why would millions be spent on what is a semi rural branchline, which outside of Regatta week barely fills a 2 car turbo

Because there is a plan for a massive new housing estate, and trams result in more local investment from their presence. Also, the whole point of this thread is to see if a train every 15 minutes is possible for the Regatta. The use of trams isn't my idea; I would much rather electrify it with 25kV AC OLE and use 387s, which would allow the Regatta line. The tram idea comes from AlastairFraser.

And other units that need 3 minutes.



None of whom will be remotely interested in this. Hence why it will not happen.

Can you imagine the headlines, or indeed the comments on these pages, if a Government decided to invest tens of millions of pounds in a project just so that a comparatively few people, who will generally be comparatively very wealthy, have a slightly less cramped and more frequent journey to Henley once a year so they can buy their pints of Pimms at £17 a go?

The Henley-on-Thames Branch was due for electrification as part of the Great Western Mainline electrification. That is because the other units on the branch are much shorter than the 345s. The 165s that normally work the branch are 47-70m, a 4-car 387 is 80m, a 9-car 345 is 246m long, so there is quite a big difference in the time it takes to walk from one end to another on the unit. Also, that was done to see if Mgameing123's suggestion of extending the Maidenheads to Henley-on-Thames would work.

 

[The Planner]

There are other units which require a 7 minute turnaround time.
View attachment 183320View attachment 183321

Some would come from the Regatta, some would come from Local Government and some would come from national government.

And its not many that do, its only significantly longer sets that require it and that is based on walking time stipulated by the TOC. When a proposed cost is worked up, the Regatta and councils will cough and say "maybe not then". In terms of national spending, its another waaay down a wish list.

 

[Bald Rick]

The Henley-on-Thames Branch was due for electrification as part of the Great Western Mainline electrification.

Yes it was. And it’s not now (until the battery trains arrive).

 

[Zomboid]

I could see it being wired round the corner until just short of the first bridge, so trains could shunt in and out using the wires and charge up on 25kV whilst in the bay platform. But if battery trains are indeed going to be a thing then that'll be the lot, at least for the foreseeable future.

 

[BerkshireRails]

I could see it being wired round the corner until just short of the first bridge, so trains could shunt in and out using the wires and charge up on 25kV whilst in the bay platform. But if battery trains are indeed going to be a thing then that'll be the lot, at least for the foreseeable future.

The plan with battery trains is to charge them at Henley.

 

[cactustwirly]

Because there is a plan for a massive new housing estate, and trams result in more local investment from their presence. Also, the whole point of this thread is to see if a train every 15 minutes is possible for the Regatta. The use of trams isn't my idea; I would much rather electrify it with 25kV AC OLE and use 387s, which would allow the Regatta line. The tram idea comes from AlastairFraser.

The Henley-on-Thames Branch was due for electrification as part of the Great Western Mainline electrification. That is because the other units on the branch are much shorter than the 345s. The 165s that normally work the branch are 47-70m, a 4-car 387 is 80m, a 9-car 345 is 246m long, so there is quite a big difference in the time it takes to walk from one end to another on the unit. Also, that was done to see if Mgameing123's suggestion of extending the Maidenheads to Henley-on-Thames would work.

Hardly massive only 200 houses.

Significantly more have been constructed south of the M4. 5000 with planning permission for more.
Where is your suggestion for these? Surely that's a bigger priority for public transport investment

 

[BerkshireRails]

Hardly massive only 200 houses.

Significantly more have been constructed south of the M4. 5000 with planning permission for more.
Where is your suggestion for these? Surely that's a bigger priority for public transport investment

There is 2,500 new homes being built in Twyford with a plan of a new station called Twyford Gardens, the question becomes do you extend the Henley-on-Thames Branch to Twyford Gardens and do the service enhancement on the Henley-on-Thames Branch at the same time.

 

[cactustwirly]

There is 2,500 new homes being built in Twyford with a plan of a new station called Twyford Gardens, the question becomes do you extend the Henley-on-Thames Branch to Twyford Gardens and do the service enhancement on the Henley-on-Thames Branch at the same time.

That's pure speculation those houses don't even have planning permission, and are unlikely to get it as it's not in the local plan + green belt land

 

[Benjwri]

There is 2,500 new homes being built in Twyford with a plan of a new station called Twyford Gardens, the question becomes do you extend the Henley-on-Thames Branch to Twyford Gardens and do the service enhancement on the Henley-on-Thames Branch at the same time.

No because they'll never build a station there in the first place.

 

[Zomboid]

Developers like to suggest places that stations could be built to serve their array of rabbit hutches, safe in the knowledge that no such station will ever be built. Especially when it's a mile away from an existing station.

 

[BlueLeanie]

Developers like to suggest places that stations could be built to serve their array of rabbit hutches, safe in the knowledge that no such station will ever be built. Especially when it's a mile away from an existing station.

It's not the developer's fault when a local authority's enthusiasm for sustainable, ethical, public transport is merely a slogan on their website.

In reality all "Developer Funding" is sourced from hidden charges to the home buyer. We need to change things to ensure that these costs are itemised and recoverable by the home owner if local authorities don't follow through with promised services and facilities.

 

[Benjwri]

It's not the developer's fault when a local authority's enthusiasm for sustainable, ethical, public transport is merely a slogan on their website.

In reality all "Developer Funding" is sourced from hidden charges to the home buyer. We need to change things to ensure that these costs are itemised and recoverable by the home owner if local authorities don't follow through with promised services and facilities.

The developers are never planning on funding an entire station in most cases. It’s a convenient way for them to jump through some planning hoops, then they can blame it on Network Rail when they can’t build their illogically placed station.