Improving the Penistone line

[Tim_UK]

There are other single line sections that deserve attention first such as the long (5 stations) stretch between Stocksmoor and Huddersfield. A loop at Honley or between there and Berry Brow (the platform of which occupies the track bed of the former up line)* would allow 2tph, which even with the long journey time to Meadowhall and Sheffield, I predict would see usage skyrocket, especially as it looks like the Saturday service is coming back!

*= A loop at Lockwood may be better, as it would allow a longer turnaround time at Huddersfield. Apologies for the topic diversion, if there's interest in discussing the potential for improvements on the Penistone line, I'll start a thread...

I have often thought that an every 30 minute service on the Penistone line would be amazing.

And I think a loop around Lockwood would do the trick. Allows a train to leave Huddersfield, crossover at Lockwood. And a train arriving in Huddersfield just after the last one left.

I’m don’t know if this is the best option.

There isn’t loads of space at Lockwood station. It obviously used to be 2 platform.


At the moment the peak time extras come off Huddersfield platform 1 or 4. Which to me is risky - a delay to the whole transpennine route if the inbound service from Sheffield is delayed.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Up until the last timetable change, the peak extra was formed using a unit that had just arrived from Leeds via Bradford, though I'm not sure it still is as the Bradford service is now a 153.
Lockwood would probably be the best place for a loop, as you say it allows a longer turnaround to swallow up any delays. However I'm not sure how easy it would be to provide step-free access to the second platform. Alternatively, putting a loop between stations (double tracking over Lockwood viaduct for example) would mean the platform isn't an issue, so would keep costs down.

P.S. Reported in the Trans-pennine Route Upgrade thread that the Penistone bay is being extended over the Christmas break... albeit to accommodate 3-car 150s that don't yet exist (or aren't yet with Northern).

P.P.S. Cheers for creating the thread, @Tim_UK ... I'd said I was going to do so but never got round to it!