We’re looking at purchasing a property that backs onto the Doncaster Avoiding Line (between Hexthorpe junction & Bentley junction). Does anybody know what freight services use this route (times etc) and whether any overnight freight services use this line or they go through Doncaster station instead? Thanks!
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How many trains use the Doncaster avoiding line?
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Intermodal
Established Member
It's worth noting that regardless of what services use the line today, there is theoretically nothing preventing further services being added in the future
The YH working timetable will show the booked freight services over the route, https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/the-timetable/working-timetable/, obviously the WTT today is a little removed from reality but it should show you the freight paths booked over the route at least.
If you use the quick search on Realtimetrains, put Bentley Jn in and select ZZ for freight, you get this for today.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=actual&toc=ZZ
Ignore anything with Doncaster, Belmont or Hexthorpe in the origin or destination and anything in italics and you get 7 trains so far today, of which 2 ran via the station (Middleton Towers is near King's Lynn).
That will give you some idea - bear in mind that freight trains often run "as required" (Q).
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=actual&toc=ZZ
Ignore anything with Doncaster, Belmont or Hexthorpe in the origin or destination and anything in italics and you get 7 trains so far today, of which 2 ran via the station (Middleton Towers is near King's Lynn).
That will give you some idea - bear in mind that freight trains often run "as required" (Q).
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Thanks, most of the trains appear to be in italics. What does that mean?
Simply that they are passing that particular timing point, not stopping.
Surely the passing ones should be included too though?
They are all the passing ones, that link provides a snapshot of all trains today at that location. Note that not all of those trains ran, only the ones with a time under the far right (Act Dep) column.
crosscity
Member
If you're mithered about being woken up by trains, suggest you look somewhere else to live. You will have no recourse against Network Rail if night-time traffic does increase.
Intermodal
Established Member
Yep, quite embarrassing to have to try and argue that there shouldn't be trains near your house when you purchased a house next to trains.
Thanks everyone for your information! And for raising the point about possibility of traffic increase - with the inland port at Doncaster I can see this happening in the very near future. We’re currently about 150m away from a busy train line and station however a property that backs onto the line is a different story.
Also some interesting info about the Doncaster Avoiding Line - I’ve only really ever read posts on this forum related to passenger movements!
Also some interesting info about the Doncaster Avoiding Line - I’ve only really ever read posts on this forum related to passenger movements!
eastwestdivide
Established Member
It's unlikely that any trains from the inland port would use the avoiding line, as it would be going round the sun to meet the moon so to speak. The junctions face the wrong way, and the existence of the line doesn't help their routing to the container ports anyway.
Also, it's not a high speed line, so noise would be relatively low from the freight trains that use it, and it's very unlikely to have any regular passenger service over it in the future precisely because it avoids Doncaster station itself.
Also, it's not a high speed line, so noise would be relatively low from the freight trains that use it, and it's very unlikely to have any regular passenger service over it in the future precisely because it avoids Doncaster station itself.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
You should make such enquirers of the sellers (via your solicitor) that are required to satisfy your requirement for information in relation to the proposed purchase. You should also visit the property at suitable time to asses the impact of any trains passing the property. Only you can decide if you are prepared to accept the impacts caused by the trains.
palmersears
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In the absence of anything better to do, I've looked through RTT for the last week (2 Feb - 8 Feb) to see what freight uses the avoiding lines (numbers in brackets show trains that pass before 0600 or after 2200 each day):
Monday: 5 (2)
Tuesday: 15 (6)
Wednesday: 10 (5)
Thursday: 7 (3)
Friday: 6 (2)
Saturday: 4 (3)
Sunday: 0
Clearly this is not an exact science, there will be fluctuations in numbers from week to week, and I haven't distinguished between light engines and fully loaded trains.
Monday: 5 (2)
Tuesday: 15 (6)
Wednesday: 10 (5)
Thursday: 7 (3)
Friday: 6 (2)
Saturday: 4 (3)
Sunday: 0
Clearly this is not an exact science, there will be fluctuations in numbers from week to week, and I haven't distinguished between light engines and fully loaded trains.
Anything going to or from Iport, Up Decoy, Down Decoy or Belmont won’t be using the avoider.
Italics on RTT are used for scheduled times - they only appear in the Actual column if they have not passed the location yet, whether or not they are going to run that day.
ZL exile
Member
Last few days will have been less trains anyway, as the bridge over Thorne Road in Doncaster has just been renewed.
The_Train
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In the grand scheme of things it may not happen often but another thing to consider is the potential for overnight maintenance work that may take place. This is likely to involve heavy and noisy equipment as well as the possibility of locos idling (if engineering trains are on site) for long periods of time, as well as a night of passing trains using their horns (if other lines remain open while the work goes on).
As I say, it's likely to be highly infrequent that this happens but worth taking into account nonetheless
As I say, it's likely to be highly infrequent that this happens but worth taking into account nonetheless
Dr Hoo
Established Member
Regardless of how busy the line is at the moment it is inescapable that it is a potential route to serve major ports handling both bulk materials and unitised traffic as well as a major steelworks. (Other potential traffic objectives exist.)
It could easily become a lot busier in the future, especially if there is a modal shift from lorries to rail.
It could easily become a lot busier in the future, especially if there is a modal shift from lorries to rail.
That's on a different route though.
Gloster
Veteran Member
Is the property anywhere near a signal that trains are likely to be stopped at frequently? If that is the case, you might have locos chuntering away for long periods and then roaring as they start away. A train can be stopped at any signal, but in some cases it will only be infrequently.
swt_passenger
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There’s a map (and similar discussion) in the thread here:
East-West Doncaster avoiding lines (current usage)
Living far away, I’m interested (in a general sense) in the three lines that avoid Doncaster in a general E-W direction (see map). They are shown in green, blue and yellow. Is the following about right ? I’d be grateful for corrections and further (general) info on the traffic over these...
www.railforums.co.uk
EC Traveller
Member
^^ This, with knobs on ^^
My Dad bought a place, knew the line was out of use, they even pulled up the rails within a year.
Then later they relaid the whole thing and used it for a passenger loop and it took as much traffic as the main route in one direction.
eastwestdivide
Established Member
Bing maps showing Ordnance Survey here:
The line that passes Newton/Richmond Hill is the one in question.
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