Ipswich Bacon chord

[Prairie_5542]

Went past this location a couple of weeks ago.

They have bridge decks painted in blue, in a car park of one of the industrial units 'ready to go'. They have done quite a bit since I last saw it. Will it be double track or single track (like the triangle at Manningtree)? Anyone know anymore? Completion date etc?? Thanks.

 

[swt_passenger]

Definitely double tracked.

There's a non-technical summary here on the infrastructure planning portal:

http://infrastructure.planningporta... Statement Volume 1 Non Technical Summary.pdf

I'll try and find a completion date somewhere...

...March 2014 is the date given in the most recent version of the CP4 enhancement milestones, from Jun 13.

 

[Prairie_5542]

Definitely double tracked.

There's a non-technical summary here on the infrastructure planning portal:

http://infrastructure.planningporta... Statement Volume 1 Non Technical Summary.pdf

I'll try and find a completion date somewhere...

...March 2014 is the date given in the most recent version of the CP4 enhancement milestones, from Jun 13.

Thank you! Any chane they will finish earlier? With the new chord, will it be the end of trains reversing at Ipswich yard? End of a Freightliner depot there?

It's all very interesting. Did they need a Transport and Works order for this new line also?

 

[swt_passenger]

The whole rationale for the scheme is to avoid the present reversals.

The TWA Order process has effectively been replaced by the planning inspectorate, for 'nationally significant' projects - it's probably explained on their home page somewhere:

http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk

 

[GB]

Run rounds will not dissapear. There will still be some services running round in Ipswich yard to wait for paths North.

The Freightliner depot will not change as its a crew booking on point, fuel point and maintenance facility.

 

[Prairie_5542]

Run rounds will not dissapear. There will still be some services running round in Ipswich yard to wait for paths North.

The Freightliner depot will not change as its a crew booking on point, fuel point and maintenance facility.

So will there still be freight trains coming through Chelmsford?

 

[GB]

Most certainly yes

 

[dk1]

Seem to remember that it was costed at £33m for single or £47m for double track. The sensible decision at the time was taken to install double as there was an approx £30m cost to alter at a later date. I just hope London Gateway doesnt spoil this investment as several shippers seem keen on moving unless thats just a ploy for Hutchinsons to lower their fees. The doubling of the branch from Derby Rd to Trimley has already had its planning permission extended a few years rather than get it done asap.

 

[GB]

Bit of a shame really as once the curve at Ipswich is in, the main capacity bottleneck will be the single line....even a couple of loops would help.

 

[The Ham]

slightly off topic, but in the works of Homer:

Mmmmm Bacon

 

[D365]

Slightly off topic, but in the works of Homer:

Mmmmm Bacon

Appropriate, with regards to your username

 

[Prairie_5542]

Ha ha! bacon! So if the chord is going to be double track, won't it make more sense to do the rest as double track as well? Won't the crossover on the GEML north of IPS cause problems?

 

[GB]

Ha ha! bacon! So if the chord is going to be double track, won't it make more sense to do the rest as double track as well?

It would make total sense to have the entire branch doubled. Unfortunately its too prohibitively expensive to do so. The latest I heard about the doubling developments was it is now only going to be doubled from Trimley to Ipswich side of Levington...I don't know if this is still the case.

Won't the crossover on the GEML north of IPS cause problems?

What sort of problems are you thinking about?

 

[Prairie_5542]

It would make total sense to have the entire branch doubled. Unfortunately its too prohibitively expensive to do so. The latest I heard about the doubling developments was it is now only going to be doubled from Trimley to Ipswich side of Levington...I don't know if this is still the case.



What sort of problems are you thinking about?

Intercity trains having to wait for a freight to cross the tracks.

 

[GB]

Things won't be a lot different in that respect. Services that come out the yard bound for Peterborough now have to traverse the Lowestoft/Felixstowe line as well as the up and down main at East Suffolk Junction. While this happens all other services are at a standstill.

With the chord, a service coming off the chord for Peterborough will block the up and down main while it crosses Europa Junction, but it will free up East Suffolk Junction for other services.

 

[bnm]

For those not in the know, including me, could someone explain the story behind the name, "Bacon Chord".

In my neck of the woods we have a "Rhubarb Curve". So named after a local tavern, the Rhubarb Tavern, and the wild rhubarb growing behind. Also, possibly referencing a local 19th century quack doctor (Dr Day - who also got the nearby junction named after him) who believed that rhubarb was a panacea - prescribing it for a multitude of ailments.

I think there might be a spin-off topic in this - unusual railway location names..... Mods?

 

[Prairie_5542]

Things won't be a lot different in that respect. Services that come out the yard bound for Peterborough now have to traverse the Lowestoft/Felixstowe line as well as the up and down main at East Suffolk Junction. While this happens all other services are at a standstill.

With the chord, a service coming off the chord for Peterborough will block the up and down main while it crosses Europa Junction, but it will free up East Suffolk Junction for other services.

I wonder if any new passenger services will be created from this? for example FLX to CBG?

 

[dk1]

Ha ha! bacon! So if the chord is going to be double track, won't it make more sense to do the rest as double track as well? Won't the crossover on the GEML north of IPS cause problems?

Confused a bit. BFC will be double but this work doesn't include the a branch after Westerfield. I have heard that Europa Jcn will be 30-50mph so should be better than entering Ipswich Yd at 25mph.

 

[WestCountry]

I wonder if any new passenger services will be created from this? for example FLX to CBG?

Not a chance. Ipswich is a much bigger destination in its own right, and allows changes for Colchester/Harwich/London. Bypassing it would make no sense at all.

 

[Prairie_5542]

Not a chance. Ipswich is a much bigger destination in its own right, and allows changes for Colchester/Harwich/London. Bypassing it would make no sense at all.

Fair point. How about railtours then? Also just thought, as they will have a triangle they can rotate stock round, for example if a EMU/DMU had first class facing the wrong way etc?

 

[dk1]

I wonder if any new passenger services will be created from this? for example FLX to CBG?

Compared to Norwich Ipswich local passenger numbers have never been substantial off the main line. Avoiding it is hopeless so no, no direct traffic & only the very odd crank special would be envisaged.

 

[edwin_m]

The chord has double junctions both ends, so trains can be timetabled to enter and leave at the same end at the same time. Ipswich yard and the Felixstowe branch are single leads so can only take trains in one direction at a time.

The chord allows 30mph running, whereas trains entering/leaving the yard have to run much more slowly for safety reasons and therefore block the main lines for longer.

The chord is also long enough for the longest freight train to wait for an onward path without blocking either passenger line.

 

[snowball]

For those not in the know, including me, could someone explain the story behind the name, "Bacon Chord".

It passes through or close to the site of a former bacon factory.

 

[Prairie_5542]

It passes through or close to the site of a former bacon factory.

Correct! Will the land in the 'triangle' be leased to industrial units etc?? There is access down from the road bridge. Lorries are stored on the bridge end at the moment.

 

[swt_passenger]

It passes through or close to the site of a former bacon factory.

It is going to be formally known as the 'Ipswich Chord' according to NR and the planning stuff I linked to. Be interesting to see if Bacon (Factory) Chord sticks...

 

[dk1]

It is going to be formally known as the 'Ipswich Chord' according to NR and the planning stuff I linked to. Be interesting to see if Bacon (Factory) Chord sticks...

I prefer Bacon Factory Curve but whether its Chord or Curve im sure the Porcine related title will stick in the same way as Javelin has for the 395s.

 

[edwin_m]

It passes through or close to the site of a former bacon factory.

I heard it alleged that they dumped the unwanted bits of the pigs out the back somewhere, so the ground remediation was probably quite interesting.

 

[snowball]

I heard it alleged that they dumped the unwanted bits of the pigs out the back somewhere.

I'd have thought they would have sold them to a sausage factory.

 

[TheKnightWho]

I'd have thought they would have sold them to a sausage factory.

The bones, maybe?

 

[Whistler40145]

Is it planned in the future to electrify the Bacon Curve & the line to Felixstowe?